Section-A
Question 1: When was the Meiji Constitution of 1889 replaced by a new constitution?
Answer: d) 1947
Explanation: The Meiji Constitution, which was enacted in 1889, was replaced by the post-war constitution in 1947 after Japan’s defeat in World War II. This new constitution, known as the Constitution of Japan, was written under the influence of the Allied powers, particularly the United States.
Question 2: Mesopotamia is in modern ________.
Answer: d) Iraq
Explanation: Mesopotamia, which means “land between rivers,” refers to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This historical region corresponds largely to present-day Iraq, although it also includes parts of Syria and Turkey.
Question 3: ________ family was considered as the norm in Mesopotamian society.
Answer: a) Nuclear
Explanation: In ancient Mesopotamia, the nuclear family, consisting of a man, a woman, and their children, was the typical family structure. It was the most common family unit in the region, although extended families did exist.
Question 4: Identify the given image from the following options:
Answer: c) Pont du Gard, near Nimes, France
Explanation: The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge located in France. It is a remarkable example of Roman engineering and was designed to carry water over 50 kilometers to the city of Nîmes.
Question 5: Assertion (A): Next to the emperor and the Senate, the other key institution of imperial rule was the army, and the army hated and feared the senate.
Reason (R): The army was a source of often unpredictable violence, especially in the tense conditions of the third century when the government was forced to tax more heavily to pay for its mounting military expenditures.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: In the Roman Empire, the military had considerable power and often played a pivotal role in determining the stability of the government. Tensions between the Senate and the military arose, particularly in the third century, when the empire was struggling with economic difficulties and the heavy taxation required to fund the military.
Question 6: What was the period of Guyuk’s reign?
Answer: b) 1247-1249
Explanation: Guyuk was a Khan of the Mongol Empire, ruling briefly from 1247 to 1249. His reign was marked by conflicts with the other Mongol leaders, and he was eventually succeeded by his cousin, Mongke Khan.
Question 7: Assertion (A): The name Mesopotamia is derived from the Greek words mesos and potamos.
Reason (R): Mesopotamia is the land between three main rivers- Great Zab, Euphrates, and the Tigris rivers.
Answer: c) A is true but R is false.
Explanation: The term Mesopotamia is indeed derived from the Greek words mesos (middle) and potamos (river), meaning “the land between rivers.” However, Mesopotamia is primarily defined by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, not the Great Zab, which is an additional river in the region but not one of the primary rivers.
Question 8: Identify an anthropologist with the help of the following information:
He composed a lecture on The Great Australian Silence.
He condemned historians for not making any records of aborigines.
Answer: a) W.E.H. Stanner
Explanation: W.E.H. Stanner was an Australian anthropologist and historian who criticized the way Aboriginal Australians had been ignored in historical records. His famous work, “The Great Australian Silence,” highlighted the lack of attention given to Indigenous peoples in Australian history.
Question 9: Where did Feudalism take its roots?
Answer: b) France
Explanation: Feudalism, as a political and economic system, originated in France during the early medieval period. It spread across Europe, but its core institutions and practices were rooted in French society.
Question 10: Consider the following statements and select the correct option from the following:
i) Ur was a town whose ordinary houses were systematically excavated in the 1930s.
ii) Narrow winding streets in Ur indicate that wheeled carts could not have reached many of the houses.
iii) Narrow winding streets and the irregular shapes of house plots in Ur indicate perfect town planning.
Answer: d) i and ii
Explanation: Ur, an ancient Sumerian city in Mesopotamia, was excavated in the 1930s. The narrow, winding streets of Ur were indeed a result of the city’s ancient planning, which limited the use of wheeled carts in residential areas. The irregular shapes of the plots did not reflect “perfect” planning, but rather the organic growth of the city.
Question 11: Find out the correct chronological order from the following options:
- Brunelleschi designs the Duomo in Florence
- Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales published
- University established in Florence
- Ottoman Turks defeat the Byzantine ruler of Constantinople
Answer: b) i, ii, iii, iv
Explanation: The correct chronological order is as follows:
- The University of Florence was established in the 14th century.
- Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was published around 1387.
- Brunelleschi designed the Duomo in Florence in the early 15th century.
- The Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453.
Question 12: When was the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed?
Answer: d) 1895
Explanation: The Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed in 1895 after the First Sino-Japanese War, which resulted in China ceding Taiwan and other territories to Japan.
Question 13: Which among the following is correctly matched?
List I | List II
(A) Thomas More’s | Ninety-Five Theses
(B) Martin Luther | Utopia
(C) Isaac Newton | Principia Mathematica
(D) Andreas Vesalius | The Social Contract
Answer: c) Option (C)
Explanation: Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687) is one of the foundational works of physics and mathematics. The other options are mismatched.
Question 14: Who collected taille?
Answer: c) The Peasantry
Explanation: The taille was a tax levied on peasants in medieval France, which was collected by the monarchy and local lords.
Question 15: Edo is now called ________.
Answer: a) Tokyo
Explanation: Edo was the former name of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Question 16: Roman Empire was seized by ________.
Answer: d) Sassanians
Explanation: The Roman Empire was never fully seized by the Sassanians, but the Sassanian Empire was one of Rome’s major rivals in the East, especially in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.
Question 17: Who defeated the Sung ruler of southern China?
Answer: b) Qubilai Khan
Explanation: Qubilai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, defeated the Southern Song Dynasty (Sung rulers) in the 13th century, leading to the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in China.
Question 18: Assertion (A): In the reign of Louis XIII of France, a meeting was held of the French consultative assembly. After this, it was not summoned again for nearly two centuries, till 1789.
Reason (R): The first order i.e. clergy did not want to share power with the three orders.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The Estates-General, a consultative assembly, was last summoned during the reign of Louis XIII and was not called again until the French Revolution in 1789. The clergy (first estate) often resisted sharing power with the nobility or common people.
Question 19: Which of these statements is false about Cicero?
Answer: d) He was a British officer
Explanation: Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, and essayist, who was contemporary with Julius Caesar. He was not a British officer.
Question 20: Match the following and select the correct option:
List I | List II
- 1603 | A. Tokugawa Ieyasu establishes the Edo shogunate
- 1868 | B. Korea annexed
- 1889 | C. Meiji Constitution enacted
- 1910 | D. Restoration of Meiji
Answer: a) 1 – A, 2 – D, 3 – C, 4 – B
Explanation: This is the correct chronological order of significant events in Japanese history. The Tokugawa shogunate was established in 1603, the Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868, the Meiji Constitution was enacted in 1889, and Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910.
Question 21: It laid the foundation for the prosperity of Australia:
Answer: c) Mining Industry
Explanation: The mining industry, particularly during the gold rushes of the 19th century, played a crucial role in Australia’s economic development and prosperity.
Section–B
1. Discuss the main features of European feudalism. OR Describe the merits and demerits of the feudal system.
Features of European Feudalism:
- Hierarchy of Power: Feudalism was a hierarchical system where power was concentrated in the hands of the monarch, who granted lands (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. At the bottom were the peasants or serfs, who worked the land.
- Land Ownership and Vassalage: The king owned all the land and granted portions of it to nobles (lords) in exchange for military service. These lords would in turn grant parts of their land to lesser lords (vassals) and protect them.
- Manorial System: The manorial system was a key component of feudalism. It was a way of organizing rural economy, where the manor (the lord’s estate) was the center of agricultural production and the serfs worked the land.
- Mutual Obligations: Lords provided land, protection, and justice, while vassals pledged military service and loyalty. Serfs worked the land in return for protection and a place to live.
Merits of Feudalism:
- Stability: Feudalism provided stability in a time of constant warfare and invasions, as local lords ensured protection for peasants and vassals.
- Decentralized Power: It distributed power and responsibility, allowing local control over small territories, which was important in medieval Europe where communication and central authority were limited.
- Security for Peasants: Despite being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, serfs had guaranteed protection from external threats and were given land to work on.
Demerits of Feudalism:
- Inequality: Feudalism was highly unequal, with the vast majority of the population living as serfs who had limited rights and were bound to the land.
- Limited Social Mobility: There was little opportunity for serfs to rise in status. The social class one was born into often determined their whole life.
- Fragmentation: Political fragmentation occurred as a result of feudalism, with multiple small territories and lords competing for power, hindering the development of unified nation-states.
2. What were the chief objectives of the Reformation Movement?
The chief objectives of the Reformation were:
- Religious Reform: To challenge and reform the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, which was seen as corrupt. Martin Luther, one of the key leaders of the Reformation, criticized practices like the sale of indulgences.
- Return to Scripture: Reformers emphasized sola scriptura (scripture alone), advocating that the Bible should be the sole authority for Christian faith and practice, as opposed to church tradition and papal authority.
- Rejection of Church Corruption: The Reformation aimed to address the perceived moral decay and financial corruption within the Church, such as the abuse of indulgences and the lavish lifestyles of church officials.
- Spread of Education: Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin promoted the importance of literacy and education so that people could read the Bible and understand it for themselves.
3. Suppose the emperor Trajan had actually managed to conquer India and the Romans had held on to the country for several centuries. In what ways do you think India might be different today?
If the Roman Empire had successfully conquered India and held on to the country for several centuries, India might have been significantly different in several ways:
- Cultural Influence: Roman culture, art, and architecture might have had a profound influence on Indian society. We could have seen a blending of Roman and Indian cultures in terms of clothing, customs, and social structures.
- Infrastructure Development: The Romans were known for their advanced engineering, so India might have seen Roman-style infrastructure such as roads, bridges, aqueducts, and cities built with Roman architectural styles.
- Governance and Law: India could have adopted Roman legal principles, which were highly developed. The Roman concept of law and citizenship might have shaped Indian governance and society.
- Religious Impact: Christianity might have spread to India much earlier, potentially becoming a dominant religion. The Romans’ state-sponsored religion could have had an effect on Indian religious practices.
- Economic Integration: Trade between Rome and India might have been more deeply integrated, leading to a more connected economy across Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
4. Why did the Guomindang, despite its attempts to unite China, fail?
The Guomindang (Nationalist Party) failed to unite China for several reasons:
- Weak Central Authority: Despite efforts, the Guomindang struggled with establishing a strong central government. China remained fragmented due to the influence of warlords in different regions.
- Internal Division: The Guomindang was plagued by internal divisions between its leaders, such as Chiang Kai-shek and his rivals. This weakened their ability to present a united front.
- Japanese Invasion: The Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s diverted resources and attention, weakening the Guomindang’s efforts at unification. This led to a loss of support from the population.
- Communist Challenge: The rise of the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong was another factor. The Guomindang’s failure to gain popular support, combined with Communist military and ideological strength, led to the eventual defeat of the Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War.
5. Division of labour is one of the important features of urban life. Explain it with an example.
Division of labor refers to the separation of tasks in a society or organization to increase efficiency. In urban life, this process is essential for the smooth functioning of cities.
Example: In a large city, the workforce is divided into various professions such as teachers, doctors, engineers, shopkeepers, drivers, and construction workers. This specialization allows people to focus on tasks they are skilled in, improving overall productivity. For instance, in a hospital, doctors focus on diagnosing and treating patients, nurses assist with care, and administrative staff handle paperwork, ensuring a more effective healthcare system. Similarly, in a factory, different workers perform specialized roles in production, leading to faster and more efficient manufacturing processes.
6. What was the significance of the southern region of Mesopotamia? OR How did Mesopotamians write?
Significance of the Southern Region of Mesopotamia:
- The southern region of Mesopotamia, known as Sumer, is considered the cradle of civilization. It was where the first urban societies, like Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, emerged.
- Agriculture: The fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers enabled the growth of agriculture, leading to surplus food production.
- Trade and Culture: It was a hub for trade due to its access to rivers and proximity to other ancient civilizations, and it became a center for cultural and technological advancements like writing and the wheel.
How Mesopotamians wrote:
- The Mesopotamians invented cuneiform, one of the earliest known systems of writing, around 3500 BCE. Cuneiform was written by pressing a reed stylus into soft clay tablets, forming wedge-shaped marks.
- Cuneiform began as a system of pictographs but evolved into a more abstract script used for recording everything from administrative details and legal contracts to literature, like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Section-C
1. Discuss the main features of European feudalism. OR Describe the merits and demerits of the feudal system.
Features of European Feudalism:
- Hierarchy of Power: Feudalism was a hierarchical system where power was concentrated in the hands of the monarch, who granted lands (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. At the bottom were the peasants or serfs, who worked the land.
- Land Ownership and Vassalage: The king owned all the land and granted portions of it to nobles (lords) in exchange for military service. These lords would in turn grant parts of their land to lesser lords (vassals) and protect them.
- Manorial System: The manorial system was a key component of feudalism. It was a way of organizing the rural economy, where the manor (the lord’s estate) was the center of agricultural production, and the serfs worked the land.
- Mutual Obligations: Lords provided land, protection, and justice, while vassals pledged military service and loyalty. Serfs worked the land in return for protection and a place to live.
Merits of Feudalism:
- Stability and Security: Feudalism provided stability in a time of constant warfare and invasions. Local lords ensured protection for peasants and vassals, making it a system that could thrive despite external threats.
- Decentralized Power: Power was decentralized, allowing local rulers (lords) to have control over their territories. This was especially crucial in medieval Europe, where communication was slow, and central authority was difficult to maintain.
- Mutual Dependence: The feudal system created a sense of mutual dependence where lords needed vassals for military service, and peasants needed the protection of lords, ensuring some level of security for everyone.
Demerits of Feudalism:
- Inequality: Feudalism was inherently unequal. The majority of the population, particularly peasants and serfs, had limited rights and were bound to the land.
- Limited Mobility: Social mobility was extremely limited. People were generally born into their roles, with little opportunity to change their social status.
- Fragmentation: Feudalism led to political fragmentation, as local lords often competed for power. This created instability and hindered the development of centralized governance and national unity.
2. What were the chief objectives of the Reformation Movement?
The chief objectives of the Reformation were:
- Religious Reform: To challenge and reform the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences and other perceived corrupt practices. Reformers like Martin Luther criticized these practices.
- Return to Scripture: Reformers like Martin Luther emphasized the principle of sola scriptura (scripture alone). They believed that the Bible should be the sole authority for Christian beliefs and practices, rejecting the authority of the Pope and church traditions.
- Moral and Financial Corruption: The Reformation aimed to address the moral and financial corruption within the Church. The lavish lifestyles of Church officials, including the Pope, were seen as morally corrupt.
- Spread of Education: Reformers like Luther and John Calvin advocated for literacy and education, believing that people should be able to read the Bible themselves and interpret it in their own ways, without the Church’s intermediary.
3. Suppose the emperor Trajan had actually managed to conquer India and the Romans had held on to the country for several centuries. In what ways do you think India might be different today?
If the Roman Empire had successfully conquered India and held it for centuries, India might be different in several ways:
- Cultural Influence: Roman culture, art, and architecture would likely have influenced Indian culture. We might see a blending of Roman and Indian customs, clothing, and social practices.
- Infrastructure: The Romans were known for their advanced engineering and construction. India might have had Roman-style roads, aqueducts, and buildings with Roman architectural influences, which could have enhanced trade and urban development.
- Legal Systems: Roman law could have shaped India’s legal system, with a more codified system of law and governance, possibly reducing the local autonomy of kings and regions.
- Religious Change: Christianity might have spread earlier to India, and the Roman state’s adoption of Christianity could have influenced religious practices in India, potentially changing the religious landscape.
- Economic Growth: Trade between India and the Roman Empire might have flourished, leading to greater economic integration with the Mediterranean world. This could have boosted industries like textiles, spices, and gems, which were already prominent in India.
4. Why did the Guomindang, despite its attempts to unite China, fail?
The Guomindang (Nationalist Party) failed to unite China for several reasons:
- Warlord Influence: China was fragmented due to the powerful warlords in different regions who controlled large areas and resisted central control, making it difficult for the Guomindang to assert authority.
- Internal Division: The Guomindang was internally divided, particularly between its military leaders and political factions. Chiang Kai-shek’s leadership, although strong, was not universally accepted by all factions within the party.
- Japanese Invasion: The Japanese invasion in the 1930s diverted resources and attention away from internal unification. The Guomindang’s efforts to consolidate power were significantly weakened by the war with Japan.
- Communist Challenge: The rise of the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong presented a significant ideological and military challenge to the Guomindang. The communists’ appeal to peasants and their successful military campaigns ultimately led to the Guomindang’s defeat in the Chinese Civil War.
5. Division of labor is one of the important features of urban life. Explain it with an example.
Division of labor refers to the specialization of tasks in society or within an organization to increase efficiency. In urban life, this is crucial as it allows cities to function effectively and for individuals to focus on tasks they are skilled at.
Example: In a hospital, division of labor is clearly visible. Doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating illnesses, nurses provide patient care, and administrative staff manage records and appointments. This division allows each person to perform their specialized role, increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system. Similarly, in a factory, workers are assigned specific tasks (assembly, quality control, packaging), leading to faster production and higher output than if one person did everything.
6. What was the significance of the southern region of Mesopotamia? OR How did Mesopotamians write?
Significance of the Southern Region of Mesopotamia:
- Sumerian Civilization: The southern region of Mesopotamia, specifically Sumer, is considered the cradle of civilization. It was here that the first urban societies, such as Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, emerged.
- Agriculture and Irrigation: The fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers supported early agricultural practices. The development of irrigation systems allowed surplus food production, which fueled urbanization.
- Cultural and Technological Advancements: Mesopotamians made significant contributions in writing (cuneiform), the wheel, mathematics, astronomy, and law. The region was a hub for trade, culture, and technological progress.
How Mesopotamians wrote:
- The Mesopotamians invented cuneiform, one of the earliest systems of writing, around 3500 BCE. It involved pressing a reed stylus into soft clay tablets to create wedge-shaped marks.
- Initially, cuneiform began as pictographs, but it evolved into a more complex system used for record-keeping, trade, legal documentation, and literature. Cuneiform was used to write down administrative records, contracts, and stories, like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Section – D
1. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Text: Formal education was not the only way through which humanists shaped the mind of their age. Art, architecture, and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas. Artists were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were sought with as much excitement as ancient texts: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration for the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386-1456) broke new ground with his life-like statues. Artists’ concern to be accurate was helped by the work of scientists.
Questions:
- Besides education, in what other ways did the humanists shape the minds of their age?
- The humanists shaped the minds of their age through art, architecture, and books, which were effective in transmitting humanist ideas.
- Examine the sentence: Artists’ concern to be accurate was helped by the work of scientists.
- This sentence suggests that scientists’ discoveries and studies in areas like anatomy and proportion contributed to artists’ ability to create more accurate and lifelike representations in their artwork.
- What was the source of inspiration for the artists?
- The artists were inspired by the material remains of Roman culture and ancient texts, particularly the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women from Roman sculptures. This admiration led them to continue the Roman artistic traditions.
2. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Text: Slavery was an institution deeply rooted in the ancient world, both in the Mediterranean and in the Near East, and not even Christianity when it emerged and triumphed as the state religion (in the fourth century) seriously challenged this institution. It does not follow that the bulk of the labor in the Roman economy was performed by slaves. That may have been true of large parts of Italy in the Republican period (under Augustus there were still 3 million slaves in a total Italian population of 7.5 million) but it was no longer true of the empire as a whole. Slaves were an investment, and at least one Roman agricultural writer advised landowners against using them in contexts where too many might be required (for example, for harvests) or where their health could be damaged (for example, by malaria). These considerations were not based on any sympathy for the slaves but on hard economic calculation. On the other hand, if the Roman upper classes were often brutal towards their slaves, ordinary people did sometimes show much more compassion. See what one historian says about a famous incident that occurred in the reign of Nero. As warfare became less widespread with the establishment of peace in the first century, the supply of slaves tended to decline and the users of slave labor thus had to turn either to slave breeding or to cheaper substitutes such as wage labor which was more easily dispensable. In fact, free labor was extensively used on public works at Rome precisely because an extensive use of slave labor would have been too expensive. Unlike hired workers, slaves had to be fed and maintained throughout the year, which increased the cost of holding this kind of labor. This is probably why slaves are not widely found in the agriculture of the later period, at least not in the eastern provinces. On the other hand, they and freedmen, that is, slaves who had been set free by their masters, were extensively used as business managers, where, obviously, they were not required in large numbers. Masters often gave their slaves or freedmen capital to run businesses on their behalf or even businesses of their own.
Questions:
- Infer the reason for the decline in the supply of slaves in the first century.
- The decline in the supply of slaves in the first century was mainly due to less widespread warfare. As peace was established, there were fewer opportunities for capturing slaves in battle, leading to a decrease in the number of slaves available.
- Prudent landowners gradually switched over to slave breeding or hiring paid laborers. What is slave breeding?
- Slave breeding refers to the practice of deliberately encouraging slaves to reproduce in order to increase the slave population, rather than relying on capturing slaves through warfare or trade.
- Why were the landowners advised against using slaves where too many of them were required?
- Landowners were advised against using slaves in large-scale labor situations (such as harvests) because too many slaves would increase the cost of maintaining them, and their health could be damaged (for example, from malaria), which would make them less productive and more costly to keep.
3. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Text: Because of the inadequacy which we often felt on feast days, for the narrowness of the place forced the women to run towards the altar upon the heads of the men with much anguish and noisy confusion, [we decided] to enlarge and amplify the noble church… We also caused to be painted, by the exquisite hands of many masters from different regions, a splendid variety of new windows… Because these windows are very valuable on account of their wonderful execution and the profuse expenditure of painted glass and also a goldsmith… who would receive their allowances, namely, coins from the altar and flour from the common storehouse of the brethren, and who would never neglect their duty, to look after these [works of art].
- Abbot Suger (1081-1151) about the Abbey of St Denis, near Paris.
Questions:
- Why was it decided to enlarge and amplify the noble church?
- The decision to enlarge and amplify the church was made because of the narrowness of the place, which caused inadequate space for the people, especially women, who had to rush towards the altar, leading to anguish and noisy confusion.
- With what names, the big churches were called?
- Big churches were often called “noble churches” as seen in Abbot Suger’s description of the Abbey of St Denis.
- Why were an official master craftsman and a goldsmith appointed in the big churches?
- An official master craftsman and a goldsmith were appointed in big churches to look after the works of art, such as the new windows, and to ensure that they were properly maintained. They were also compensated with coins from the altar and flour from the storehouse.
Section – E
1.On the given map of Britain, locate and label the industrial areas with appropriate symbols:
- Glasgow: Located in Scotland, known for shipbuilding, engineering, and textile industries.
- Newcastle: A major industrial city in the northeast of England, historically famous for coal mining, shipbuilding, and steel manufacturing.
- Nottingham: Known for textile production, particularly lace making.
- Leicester: An industrial city in the East Midlands, known for textile manufacturing and later the hosiery industry.
On the given map, three places have been marked as A and B which are associated with human habitation in Australia in the early period. Identify any two of them and write their correct names on the lines marked near them.
- Place A: Sydney – The first British colony established in 1788.
- Place B: Melbourne – Founded in 1835, it became a major settlement in Australia.