History MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for History - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - External Criticism

Key Points

• External Criticism
  • External criticism refers to the process of evaluating the authenticity or genuineness of a source.
  • This involves verifying whether the document, artifact, or source is real and not a forgery.
  • It focuses on aspects such as the material, date, authorship, and origin of the source.
  • External criticism ensures that the source is legitimate before evaluating its content for accuracy or meaning.

Additional Information

• Corroboration
  • This involves comparing multiple sources to confirm the accuracy or reliability of information.
  • It ensures consistency across sources and strengthens the validity of historical claims.
• Internal Criticism
  • Internal criticism focuses on analyzing the content of a source to evaluate its accuracy and truthfulness.
  • This includes assessing the logic, language, and intent of the author.
• Secondary Criticism
  • Secondary criticism deals with analyzing secondary sources, which are interpretations or analyses based on primary sources.
  • It examines the reliability of the author's conclusions drawn from primary data.

The correct answer is - Sardar Patel

Key Points

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Sardar Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India, played a crucial role in the unification of India post-Independence.
  • He emphasized the importance of unity, peace, and harmony as prerequisites for national progress and development.
  • The slogan, "If our goal is to take Mother India to new heights in the world, then the first condition for that is unity, peace and harmony," reflects his vision for a unified India.
  • His efforts to integrate princely states into the Indian Union were pivotal in ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation.
• Relevance of the Slogan
  • This slogan aligns with Sardar Patel's philosophy of building a strong and harmonious nation.
  • It emphasizes the need for internal stability to achieve global recognition and advancement.

Additional Information

• Role of Sardar Patel in Indian History
  • He was instrumental in the integration of 562 princely states into the Indian Union after Independence.
  • As India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, he played a key role in shaping the administrative framework of the country.
  • He established the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other civil services to ensure efficient governance.
• Legacy of Sardar Patel
  • He is commemorated as the architect of modern India for his efforts in unifying the nation.
  • The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, was built in Gujarat as a tribute to him.

The correct answer is - J.R. Seeley

Key Points

• J.R. Seeley
  • In 1883, J.R. Seeley referred to India as a "mere geographical expression" lacking any sense of national unity.
  • This statement reflects the colonial view that India was a collection of diverse regions, languages, and cultures, rather than a unified nation.
  • Seeley's remark emphasized the British narrative of India being politically fragmented before colonial rule, which was used to justify their governance.
  • Such statements were part of the British strategy to undermine the idea of a unified Indian identity during the freedom struggle.

Additional Information

• Other Colonial Thinkers
  • John Strachey
    • In his book "India: Its Administration and Progress," Strachey argued that there was no such thing as an "Indian nation."
    • He believed that India's diversity in culture and religion made it incapable of forming a unified national identity.
  • Thomas Babington Macaulay
    • Best known for introducing English education in India, Macaulay also emphasized India's linguistic and cultural diversity to justify British rule.
    • He aimed to create a class of "Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, opinions, morals, and intellect."
  • Lord Dufferin
    • The Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, Dufferin supported the British narrative of India's disunity but did not explicitly refer to India as a "geographical expression."
• Impact on the Indian Freedom Movement
  • Statements like Seeley's were challenged by Indian leaders who worked to foster a sense of national unity.
  • The Indian National Congress (founded in 1885) aimed to unite Indians across regional and cultural lines to demand self-governance.
  • Reformers and leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Rabindranath Tagore emphasized India's historical and cultural unity in response to such colonial narratives.

The correct answer is - D.H. Buchanan

Key Points

• D.H. Buchanan
  • D.H. Buchanan was a noted economic historian who extensively studied the impact of British colonial policies on Indian villages.
  • The statement highlights the transformative effect of railways introduced during British rule, which disrupted the self-sufficient village economy of India.
  • Railways facilitated the penetration of external markets and led to the erosion of the traditional village structure, which was once largely isolated.
  • Buchanan’s works provide an objective analysis of how industrialization and colonial policies reshaped rural India.

Additional Information

• Impact of Railways in Colonial India
  • The introduction of railways under British rule served as a tool for economic exploitation but also modernized transportation and communication.
  • Railways facilitated the export of raw materials such as cotton and jute from rural areas to international markets.
  • They disrupted the self-sufficient agrarian economy, exposing villages to global market forces and increasing dependence on external trade.
• Self-Sufficient Village Economy
  • Before colonial intervention, Indian villages were largely self-contained units with minimal interaction with external markets.
  • Villages were characterized by a barter system and local production, catering primarily to their own needs.
  • The British policies and infrastructural developments, including railways, fundamentally altered this traditional system.
• Economic Historians
  • Other notable economic historians like R.C. Dutt and Dadabhai Naoroji also analyzed the adverse impact of British policies on India.
  • R.C. Dutt highlighted the economic drain caused by British exploitation, while Dadabhai Naoroji coined the term “Drain of Wealth”.
  • Their works complement Buchanan’s analysis by providing broader perspectives on colonial economic policies.

The correct answer is - a - iv, b - i, c - iii, d - ii

Key Points

• Marc Bloch - The Historian’s Craft
  • Marc Bloch was a key figure in the Annales School of historical writing.
  • The Historian’s Craft is a seminal book that outlines the methodology and philosophy of history writing.
  • It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in historical research.
• Fernand Braudel - The Structures of Everyday Life
  • Fernand Braudel is one of the most influential historians of the 20th century and a prominent member of the Annales School.
  • The Structures of Everyday Life is part of his trilogy "Civilization and Capitalism," which explores the material foundations of society.
  • It focuses on the long-term structures of the economy, demography, and culture.
• Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie - The Territory of the Historian
  • Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie is known for his work in microhistory and historical anthropology.
  • The Territory of the Historian discusses his innovative approaches to history, including the use of quantitative data and climate studies.
• Jacques Derrida - Writing and Difference
  • Jacques Derrida, a philosopher, is the founder of deconstruction, a method used to analyze texts.
  • Writing and Difference is a collection of essays that applies deconstruction to literature, philosophy, and history.

Additional Information

• Annales School
  • The Annales School is a historiographical movement founded in France in the 20th century.
  • It emphasizes the use of social sciences in history, long-term historical trends, and the integration of environmental, economic, and cultural factors.
  • Key figures include Marc Bloch, Fernand Braudel, and Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie.
• Deconstruction
  • Deconstruction is a critical approach developed by Jacques Derrida that focuses on the instability of meaning in texts.
  • It challenges traditional interpretations by uncovering contradictions and ambiguities in language and logic.
  • Widely used in literary criticism, philosophy, and even history.
• Microhistory
  • A method of historical research focusing on a small unit of study, such as a single event, community, or individual.
  • Popularized by historians like Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie through works like "Montaillou, The Promised Land of Error."
  • Aims to uncover broader historical themes through in-depth local analysis.

The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points

About Alluri Sitaram Raju:

• In 1922, Indian revolutionary Alluri Sitaram Raju led the Rampa Rebellion against the British raj for their imposition of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which severely restricted the free movement of the tribal community within their own forests.
• Under the implications of this Act, the community was unable to fully carry out the traditional Podu agricultural system, which involved shifting cultivation.
• The armed struggle came to a violent end in 1924, when Raju was captured by police forces, tied to a tree, and shot by a firing squad. His heroics resulted in him being titled manyam veerudu, or ‘the hero of the jungle’.

Additional InformationKomaram Bheem:

• Born in Telangana’s Adilabad district in 1901, Bheem was a member of the Gond community and grew up in the populated forests of the Chanda and Ballalpur kingdoms.
• Komaram Bheem had escaped from prison to a tea plantation in Assam.
• Here, he heard about the rebellion being led by Alluri and found a new sense of inspiration to protect the Gond tribe to which he belonged.

The correct answer is the Battle of Buxar.

Key Points

• The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764.
• The Battle of Buxar (1764) was the battle which was fought between English Forces, and a combined army of Mir Qasim.
• The battle was the outcome of the misuse of Farman and Dastak, and also the trade expansionist aspiration of the English, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Oudh Shah Alam II, and the Mughal Emperor.
• The battle of Buxar proved itself to be a turning point in the history of India.
• In 1765, Shuja-ud-daulah and Shah Alam signed a treaty at Allahabad with Clive who had become the Governor of the company.
• Under these treaties, the English company secured the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, which gave the company the right to collect revenue from these territories.

Additional Information

• Battle of Kirkee: This battle was fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in 1817. Mir Qasim was not involved in this battle as he had died more than 50 years earlier.
•  Battle of Plassey: The Battle of Plassey was on June 23, 1757, on the banks of the Hooghly River in Bengal, India. It marked a decisive victory for the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, over the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and his French allies.
• Battle of Lahore: This battle was fought in 1849 between the British East India Company and the Sikh Empire. Mir Qasim was not involved in this battle as he had died more than 30 years earlier.

Uthiramerur is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated 90 kilometres southwest of Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu.

The inscription lays down the following qualifications for a nominee:

• The temple inscriptions of Uthiramerur are notable for their historical descriptions of rural self-governance.
• They indicate that Uthiramerur had two village assemblies: Sabha and Ur.
• The Sabha was an exclusively Brahmin (priestly class) assembly, while the Ur was made up of people belonging to all the classes.
• Members of a Sabha should fulfil the following criteria:
  • Own a tax-paying land, sized at least one-fourth of a Veli (about an acre and a half).
  • The land-owning requirement was reduced to one-eighth Veli for people who had learned at least one Veda and one Bhashya.
  • Residence in a house built on self-owned land.
  • Age between 35 and 70 years was required.
  • Knowledge of mantras and the Brahmanas (Vedic literature) was a must.

Hence, those who have not submitted their accounts cannot be a member of a Sabha.

By the end of the 17th century, the Mughal Empire started facing multiple crises. Emperor Aurangazeb, who was the last powerful Mughal Emperor, had exhausted the military and the financial resources of his empire by fighting a long war in Deccan.

• The efficiency of the imperial administration broke down and Mughal Emperors were not able to keep a check on the powerful mansabdars. (mansabdar referred to an individual holding a mansab, meaning a position or rank.)
• Three Mughal provinces that stand out prominently are Awadh, Hyderabad, and Bengal.
• The Mansabdars of these provinces took advantage of the late 17th-century crisis.

In the 18th century, Bengal gradually broke away from the Mughal control under Murshid Quli Khan.

• He was appointed as naib of Bengal i.e. Deputy to the Governor of the province.
• He quickly grasped the power and commanded the revenue administration of the state.
• In order to reduce the influence of Mughals in Bengal, he transferred all Mughal jagirdars to Orissa and ordered a major reassessment of the revenues of Bengal.

Additional Information

• Nadir Shah was the ruler of Iran. In 1739, he sacked and plundered Delhi and carried away a huge amount of wealth. 
• Alivardi Khan was the Nawab of Bengal from 1740-1756. He came to the throne after Murshid Quli Khan. 
• Burhan-ul-Mulk was the Subadar of Awadh. He manages the political, financial, and military affairs of the province of Awadh. 

Hence, it becomes clear that in the 18th century, Bengal gradually broke away from the Mughal control under Murshid Quli Khan. 

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule compared the conditions of Blacks in the United States to the Dalits in India about 150 years ago.​

Important Points

1. In 1873 Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule wrote a book named  "Ghulamgiri" which means "Slavery".
2. Before 10 years of writing this book the American Civil War has been fought, leading to the end of slavery in America.
3. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule dedicated his book to all those Americans who had fought to free the Slaves.
4. Thus establishing a link between the lower caste of India "Dalits" and the black slaves "Negros" in America.

​Hence, Mahatma Phule compares oppressive condition of lowers castes of India to the black slavery of the united states.

The correct answer is Sikandar Lodi.

Key Points

• The original name of the Sikandar Lodi was Nizam Khan.
• Sikandar Lodi (1489 to 1517) was a ruler of the Lodhi dynasty.
• He established Agra city in 1504.
• He shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1506.
• Jauna khan was the childhood name of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.
• Farid was the childhood name of Shershah Suri. 

Additional Information

•  Sikandar Lodi was the son of Bahlul Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty.
  • He ruled from 1489 AD to 1517 AD and was known for his military campaigns against neighboring kingdoms.
  •  Sikandar Lodi was succeeded by his son, Ibrahim Lodi, who was defeated by Babur in the Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD, leading to the end of the Lodi dynasty and the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.
• Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah was a ruler of the Slave dynasty in India, who ruled from 1316 AD to 1320 AD.
• Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty before it was overthrown by Babur. Bahlul Lodi was the founder of the Lodi dynasty and the father of Sikandar Lodi.

Remarriage is the legal union after the dissolution of the previous marriage. In Hindu society, widows have not been permitted to remarry.

Important Points

Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856

• The 1856 Act removed the obstacles in the path of remarriage of Hindu widows and legalized widow remarriage.

• The objective of the act was to promote the welfare of women.
• This act legalizes the Remarriage of Hindu widows and declares that any such issue of remarriage of women will not be considered illegitimate.

Hence, it is clear that the year 1856 was significant in the history of Indian Society because of Hindu Widow Remarriage Act was passed.

Additional Information

• An Act against female infanticide was passed in 1870.
• An Act against Sati System was passed in 1829.

The correct answer is 'He did not function as a Judge and policeman.'

Key Points

• Role of Grama-Bhojaka:
  • The Grama-Bhojaka was an important village headman in ancient India, often acting as the intermediary between the village and the king.
  • He was responsible for collecting taxes from the villagers on behalf of the king, ensuring that the revenue system functioned smoothly.
• Generational Position:
  • Typically, the position of Grama-Bhojaka was hereditary, passed down through generations within the same family.
  • This continuity helped maintain stability and local governance in the village.
• Land and Labor:
  • The Grama-Bhojaka often owned significant tracts of land within the village.
  • He utilized slaves and hired workers to cultivate his land, ensuring a steady production of crops.

Additional Information

• Judicial and Police Functions:
  • Contrary to the incorrect statement, the Grama-Bhojaka did perform judicial and policing functions within the village.
  • He acted as a judge in local disputes and also took on the role of a policeman, maintaining law and order in the village.
• Significance in Local Administration:
  • The Grama-Bhojaka was a crucial figure in local administration, ensuring effective governance and communication between the village and higher authorities.
  • His role was integral in implementing royal directives at the village level, contributing to the overall administrative efficiency of the kingdom.

Medieval India refers to a long period of the history of the Indian subcontinent between the "ancient period" and "modern period".

• At the time of the slave dynasty, there were four ministers: the Wazir, the Ariz-i-mamalik, the diwan-i-insha, and the diwan-i-rasalat. 
• Diwan-i-ariz was next to the Wazir and was the controller general of the military. He recruited troops and maintain the army men and horses.

Important Points

Firoz-Shah-Tughlaq:

• Firoz-Shah-Tughlaq established a department for his slaves called Diwan-I-Bandagan.
• The officer-in-charge of this department was the Wakil-i-dar.

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq increased the number of slaves by capturing the defeated soldiers and young persons during the war.

Hence, the correct answer is Firoz Shah Tughlaq set up a separate department of slaves.

Additional Information

Medieval Indian rulers:

Alauddin Khilji succeeded Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji and ascended the throne.

• Domestic Policies of Alauddin Khilji
  • ​Ala-ud-din followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
  • He introduced four ordinances to prevent repeated revolts.
  • He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands
  • He restructured the spy system.
  • He banned social parties and wine.
  • He introduced a permanent standing army.
  • He started the system of branding of horses and a descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption.
  • He fixed the prices of necessary commodities which were below the normal market rates.
  • He strictly prohibited black marketing.
  • Revenue was collected in cash and not in kind.
  • He followed discriminatory policies towards the Hindus and imposed the Jizya, a grazing tax and a house tax on the Hindu community. 
• Marketing System
  • Officers called Diwan-i-Riyasat were appointed in the offices called Shahana-i-mandi to standardize the market.
  • Merchant s should have to register themselves in the office (Shahana-i-mandi) before selling their goods at the fixed rates.

Balban:

• Adopted two-pronged strategies against the Mongols.
• Firstly, he exchanged embassies by the Mongol courts.
• Secondly, he created two defence lines. The first across the region of Lahore, Multan, and Dipalpur under Prince Muhammad. The second line was laid in Sunam, Samana, and Bhatinda under his youngest son, Prince Buhgra Khan.
• He reorganized the central military department i.e. Diwan-i-Arz in order to strengthen the monarchy.

• He increased the power and prestige of Ariz-i-Mamalik.​

Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq:

• Muhammad bin Tughluq (also Prince Fakhr Malik Jauna Khan, Ulugh Khan; c. 1290 – 20 March 1351) was the Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351.
• He was the eldest son of Ghiyas -ud -Din -Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughluq dynasty. His wife was the daughter of the Raja of Dipalpur.

• Muhammad ascended to the Delhi throne upon his father's death in 1325.