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Reshaping India's Political Map – Class 8 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 8 Social Science, chapter 2. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Between the 13th and 17th centuries, the political map of India changed greatly. The Delhi Sultanate ruled much of north India from 1206 to 1526, while powerful kingdoms such as Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis rose in the south. From 1526 the Mughals built a large empire, though regional powers such as the Rajputs and Ahoms resisted them.

The Delhi Sultanate

Five dynasties ruled: the Mamluks (1206–1290), Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis (till 1526).
Iltutmish and Razia Sultan were notable Mamluk rulers; Alauddin Khalji controlled market prices and built a large army.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted the capital to Daulatabad and introduced token currency, both of which failed.

The south and regional kingdoms

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka; Krishnadeva Raya was its most famous ruler, and Hampi was its capital.
The Bahmani kingdom (1347) ruled the Deccan; it later split into five sultanates.
The Ahoms of Assam defeated the Mughals at Saraighat in 1671 under Lachit Borphukan.

The Mughal Empire

Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat (1526) and founded the Mughal Empire.
Akbar (1556–1605) expanded the empire, introduced the mansabdari system and a policy of sulh-i-kul (peace with all).
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal; after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the empire weakened.

Key terms

Sultanate: a state ruled by a sultan
Mansabdari system: Akbar's system of ranking officials by the number of soldiers they maintained
Sulh-i-kul: Akbar's policy of peace and tolerance towards all
Token currency: coins of cheap metal given the value of silver coins by the ruler's order

Important questions with answers

Name the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate.2 marks

The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by five dynasties in order: the Mamluks (Slave dynasty), the Khaljis, the Tughlaqs, the Sayyids and the Lodis. It lasted from 1206 to 1526.

What was the mansabdari system?3 marks

The mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar. Officials called mansabdars were given ranks (mansabs) that fixed their salary and the number of horsemen they had to maintain. They were paid through revenue assignments called jagirs, and could be transferred or promoted by the emperor, which kept them loyal.

Describe the major changes in India's political map from the 13th to the 17th century.5 marks

In 1206 Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Delhi Sultanate, which was ruled by the Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties until 1526. Rulers such as Alauddin Khalji expanded it and controlled markets, while Muhammad bin Tughlaq's experiments failed. In the south, the Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka and reached its height under Krishnadeva Raya, with Hampi as its capital, while the Bahmani kingdom (1347) ruled the Deccan and later split into five sultanates. In 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat and founded the Mughal Empire. Akbar (1556–1605) expanded it through conquest and alliances, organised it through the mansabdari system and followed sulh-i-kul. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, and Aurangzeb extended the empire further south. Regional powers resisted: Rana Pratap fought at Haldighati (1576), and the Ahoms defeated the Mughals at Saraighat (1671). After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire weakened and regional powers rose.

Quick revision

Delhi Sultanate 1206–1526.
Vijayanagara 1336; Krishnadeva Raya; Hampi.
Mughals from 1526; Akbar's mansabdari and sulh-i-kul.
Ahoms won at Saraighat, 1671.

Exam tips

Remember the order of Sultanate dynasties: Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi.
Link battles with dates: Panipat I (1526), Panipat II (1556), Haldighati (1576), Saraighat (1671).

Practice MCQs

The Mughal Empire was founded by
1. Akbar
2. Babur
3. Humayun
4. Sher Shah
Show answer
Answer: (b) Babur. He won the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
The capital of the Vijayanagara Empire was
1. Delhi
2. Agra
3. Hampi
4. Bijapur
Show answer
Answer: (c) Hampi. Its ruins are a World Heritage Site.
The Taj Mahal was built by
1. Akbar
2. Aurangzeb
3. Shah Jahan
4. Jahangir
Show answer
Answer: (c) Shah Jahan. He built it in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
The last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate was the
1. Tughlaq
2. Khalji
3. Lodi
4. Mamluk
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lodi. Ibrahim Lodi lost to Babur in 1526.
The ruler who shifted the capital to Daulatabad was
1. Alauddin Khalji
2. Muhammad bin Tughlaq
3. Iltutmish
4. Firoz Shah
Show answer
Answer: (b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq. The move caused great hardship.
Akbar's system of ranking officials was the
1. iqta system
2. jagirdari only
3. mansabdari system
4. ryotwari system
Show answer
Answer: (c) mansabdari system. Ranks were based on the number of soldiers maintained.
The Ahom general who defeated the Mughals at Saraighat (1671) was
1. Lachit Borphukan
2. Rana Pratap
3. Shivaji
4. Krishnadeva Raya
Show answer
Answer: (a) Lachit Borphukan. The victory kept Assam independent.
Akbar's policy of 'sulh-i-kul' meant
1. war with all
2. peace and tolerance towards all
3. heavy taxes
4. closing temples
Show answer
Answer: (b) peace and tolerance towards all. It promoted harmony among religions.

All chapters of Class 8 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.