Resistance and Resilience (1000–1700 CE)
Short Questions and Answers
Q1. What is resilience?
Answer:
Resilience is the ability to survive and adapt to difficult situations while preserving cultural, social and spiritual traditions.
Q2. What is resistance?
Answer:
Resistance means actively opposing a force or authority to protect political power, territory, interests or cultural identity.
Q3. Who was Nāikī Devī?
Answer:
Nāikī Devī was the queen of the Chaulukya kingdom. In 1178, she defeated Muhammad Ghurī at Kasahrada near Mount Abu.
Q4. What was the main objective of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Answer:
The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by Harihara and Bukkā to check the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate into peninsular India.
Q5. What was Swarājya?
Answer:
Swarājya means self-rule. It refers to an independent, self-governing territory free from external control.
Q6. Who was Lachit Borphukan?
Answer:
Lachit Borphukan was an Ahom commander who defeated the Mughal fleet at the Battle of Saraighat in 1671.
Q7. What was the Khalsa?
Answer:
The Khalsa was a Sikh order established and developed by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It adopted a distinct martial code.
Q8. What is Bhakti?
Answer:
Bhakti is a tradition of personal devotion to the divine. It emphasised equality, inclusion, simplicity and devotion expressed through local languages.
Q9. What was the meaning of Sulh-i-Kul?
Answer:
Sulh-i-Kul meant “peace with all,” “universal toleration” or “absolute peace.” It was adopted as a state policy during the later part of Akbar’s reign.
Q10. What was a hundi?
Answer:
A hundi was a financial instrument that functioned as a bill of exchange. It facilitated commercial transactions and long-distance money transfers without carrying large amounts of currency.
Long Questions and Answers
Q1. Explain the relationship between resistance and resilience.
Answer:
Resistance means actively opposing a force or authority to protect territory, political power and cultural identity. Resilience is the ability to survive difficulties and adapt to changing circumstances. Resilience provides the strength needed to continue resisting challenges. Together, they helped Indian society preserve its traditions and independence.
Q2. How did Indian rulers resist invasions during the 11th and 12th centuries?
Answer:
Several Indian rulers opposed Turkish invasions to protect their territories. The Hindu Shāhis, Chandellas, Solankīs and Chauhāns fought against the invaders. Queen Nāikī Devī defeated Muhammad Ghurī at Kasahrada in 1178. Gujarat, Malwa, Bundelkhand and several states of Rajputana continued their resistance.
Q3. Why did several kingdoms resist the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate?
Answer:
The Delhi Sultanate introduced administrative practices such as the iqta system, which increased the burden on peasants. Its military campaigns also led to the destruction of sacred sites belonging to local communities. As a result, several kingdoms resisted to protect their political authority and preserve their socio-cultural traditions.
Q4. Describe the resistance of Mahārāṇā Pratāp against the Mughals.
Answer:
In 1576, Mahārāṇā Pratāp fought the Mughal forces in the Battle of Haldighati. He adopted guerrilla warfare and used the rugged Aravalli terrain to launch surprise attacks and ambushes. The Battle of Dewair in 1582 helped him regain control over Mewar. He reclaimed most of his ancestral territories during the 1580s.
Q5. Explain how the Ahom kingdom maintained its independence.
Answer:
The Ahoms used their knowledge of Assam’s forests, rivers and monsoon cycles to resist invasions. They relied on strategic alliances, guerrilla tactics and the Paik system. Their navy used fast boats called bāchārī for river warfare. In 1671, Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughal fleet at the Battle of Saraighat.
Q6. Describe the rise and achievements of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Answer:
Harihara and Bukkā established the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 to check the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate into southern India. Its rocky terrain and river provided natural defence. The empire expanded its territory and became a wealthy centre of trade, culture and political power. It also encouraged literature in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit.
Q7. Explain the role of forts in the Maratha resistance.
Answer:
The Marathas built forts such as Raigad and Sinhagad to strengthen their defence against the Mughals. These forts served as strategic bases for guerrilla warfare and provided safe retreats. They also functioned as centres of administration and justice. Strong defences, water supplies and armouries helped the Marathas withstand prolonged sieges.
Q8. How did the Sikhs develop spiritual and political resilience?
Answer:
Sikhism emphasised devotion to one God, social equality and the rejection of rituals. The persecution of Sikh Gurus encouraged the community to organise itself for collective resistance. Guru Hargobind established the Akāl Takht, and Guru Gobind Singh developed the Khalsa in 1699. Later, the Sikhs organised armed groups called misals to defend their communities and territories.
Q9. What were the causes of Jat resistance against the Mughals?
Answer:
During the 17th century, the Jats faced heavy taxes and exploitation under Mughal rule. These economic hardships, combined with Aurangzeb’s religious policies, increased their resentment. In 1669, Gokul Jat led a rebellion against the Mughal Empire. The Jats continued their resistance through further rebellions despite repeated Mughal military campaigns.
Q10. How did the Bhakti tradition promote equality and solidarity?
Answer:
The Bhakti tradition emphasised devotion, simplicity, inclusion and socio-religious equality. Saints composed devotional hymns in local languages, making their teachings accessible to wider sections of society. Community singing and satsang brought people together across social divisions. The participation of women saints also strengthened shared identities and solidarity.
Q11. Explain the difference between Nirguṇa Bhakti and Saguṇa Bhakti.
Answer:
Nirguṇa Bhakti focuses on devotion to a formless divine, while Saguṇa Bhakti centres on a divine with attributes. Both were important streams of the Bhakti tradition. Bhakti saints expressed their devotion through hymns and local languages. These practices helped preserve spiritual traditions and reach diverse communities.
Q12. How did temples contribute to the social, cultural and economic life of India?
Answer:
Temples served as centres of religion, education, culture and artistic activities. They provided employment to architects, artisans, sculptors, priests and musicians. Temples received donations and land grants, supported irrigation and agricultural development, and extended credit to cultivators and merchants. They also strengthened the political legitimacy of rulers.
Q13. How did Indian communities preserve temples despite invasions and destruction?
Answer:
Local rulers, merchant guilds and religious communities maintained and restored temples during this period. For example, Kumāra Kampana restored a temple at Kannanur, while Toḍar Mal and Rājā Mān Singh supported the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. From the 16th century, some temples were built in less visible locations. These adaptations helped communities continue their religious practices.
Q14. Explain how agriculture and irrigation contributed to economic growth between 1000 and 1700 CE.
Answer:
The expansion of cultivation increased agricultural production and state revenue. Irrigation technologies such as rope pulleys and the Persian wheel improved agricultural output. In the Vijayanagara Empire, irrigation ranged from extensive canal networks to small rain-fed fields. Agricultural development provided resources that supported trade and strengthened economic resilience.
Q15. Describe the growth of trade and commerce during this period.
Answer:
Inland trade connected different regions with Central Asia, while trading communities such as the banjārās linked rural and urban markets. From the 13th century, maritime trade expanded between western India, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Hundis helped merchants conduct transactions and transfer money over long distances. Indian merchants also worked as traders, shippers, bankers, brokers and interpreters.
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