Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class History Book Solutions Chapter 3 Political, Social and Economic Conditions of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th Century Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 3 Political, Social and Economic Conditions of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th Century
Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Explain the political condition of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What was the general political condition of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, the political condition of Punjab was very unstable. As a result of the wrong policies of Lodhi Sultans lawlessness prevailed all around. The ruling class remained engrossed in pleasure-seeking. Feasts were held every day in the courts. The female dancers took part in these celebrations in a big number and drinking sessions were freely held. As a result, nobody had time to attend to the problems of the people. The govt, officials had become corrupt to the core and bribery was rampant; so much so that Qazis and Ulemas delivered justice only when their palm was greased. The Muslims perpetrated. tyranny on the Hindus and converted them to Islam at the point of the sword.
The state administration had collapsed. Taking advantage of such conditions, Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab declared himself independent. In this regard, he invited Babar to invade India. Babar defeated Daulat Khan Lodhi towards the end of 1525 A.D. and took control of Punjab. He defeated Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat on 21 April 1526 A.D. and founded the Mughal rule in India.
Question 2.
“At the beginning of the 16th century, Punjab was a cockpit of triangular struggle”. Explain.
Or
Explain the triangular struggle of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, Punjab was a cockpit of triangular struggle. This triangular struggle began between Babar, the ruler of Kabul, Ibrahim Lodhi, the ruler of Delhi and Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab. Daulat Khan Lodhi wanted to become an independent ruler of Punjab. When Ibrahim Lodhi came to know about it, he ordered Daulat Khan Lodhi to present himself in the royal court. In order to escape the wrath of the Sultan, Daulat Khan Lodhi sent his younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. When he reached Delhi, he was arrested and thrown into prison.
Somehow, Dilawar Khan managed to escape from the prison. On reaching Punjab, he narrated to Daulat Khan Lodhi, his father, the treatment meted out to him in Delhi. In order to take revenge for this insult, he invited Babar to invade India, which was already looking for such a golden opportunity. In this triangular struggle, Babar Came out victorious. In 1525¬26 A.D. he not only took control of Punjab but also occupied Delhi. Thus, the foundation of Mughal rule in India was laid.
Question 3.
Who was Daulat Khan Lodhi? What were the causes of the struggle between Daulat Khan Lodhi and Ibrahim Lodhi?
Or
Write a short note on Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Answer:
Daulat Khan Lodhi was the Governor of Punjab. He was appointed to this post in 1500 A.D. The main cause of the struggle between Daulat Khan Lodhi and Ibrahim Lodhi was that the former wanted to be an independent ruler of Punjab. For this purpose, he hatched a conspiracy with Alam Khan, the foster brother of Ibrahim Lodhi, who wanted to acquire the throne of Delhi. When Ibrahim Lodhi came to know about it, he issued an order to Daulat Khan Lodhi to present himself in the royal court of Delhi. In order to escape the wrath of the Sultan, Daulat Khan sent his younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. When Dilawar Khan reached there, he was arrested and put into prison. He was ill-treated in jail. But soon he succeeded in escaping from jail. On reaching Punjab, he appraised his father Daulat Khan of the ill-treatment meted out to him in Delhi. Daulat Khan invited Babar to invade India, in order to take revenge for the insult. Later on Daulat Khan Lodhi turned against Babar. Babar defeated him in 1525 A.D and occupied Punjab.
Question 4.
Who was Babar? When and how many times did he invade Punjab? Write briefly about these invasions.
Or
Give a brief account of Babar’s five invasions over Punjab.
Answer:
Babar was the ruler of Kabul. He invaded Punjab five times from 1519 A.D. to 1526 A.D. He invaded Punjab for the first time in 1519 A.D. Babar captured Bhera and Bajaur regions during this invasion. As soon as Babar returned, the people took back their control. In the same year, Babar invaded Punjab for the second time. This time Babar occupied Peshawar. During his third invasion over Punjab in 1520 A.D. Babar brought Bajaur, Bhera and Sialkot under his control. After this, he attacked Saidpur. Babar thoroughly plundered Saidpur during this invasion. The Mughal army arrested Guru Nanak also along with other people. Later on, with the intervention of Babar, Guru Nanak was released. In 1524 A.D. on the invitation of Daulat Khan Lodhi, Babar invaded Punjab for the fourth time and seized it without much difficulty. Later on, Daulat Khan Lodhi turned against Babar. In order to teach Daulat Khan Lodhi a lesson, Babar invaded Punjab for the 5th time in November 1525 A.D. He defeated Daulat Khan Lodhi and occupied Punjab. After this, Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi on April 21, 1526 A.D. in the first battle of Panipat. Thus, Babar established the Mughal dynasty in India. ‘
Question 5.
When did Babar invade Saidpur? What is its importance in Sikh History?
Answer:
Babar invaded Saidpur in 1520 A.D. The people of this place stoutly resisted Babar. Consequently, Babar got angry. His forces massacred people in a large number, set the houses and palaces on fire after plundering them. Thousands of women were taken into custody and they were maltreated. Guru Nanak was in Saidpur at that time and he wrote in his ‘Babar Bani’ about the tyranny of the Mughal army on people. The army of Babar had arrested Guru Ji also. Later on, when Babar came to know about the piety of Guru Nanak, he at once ordered his release. Babar wrote in his autobiography Tuzak-i-Babri that if he had known that such a great saint was living in that city, he would never have attacked and ransacked it. On the intervention of Guru Nanak, several innocent people were let off.
Question 6.
Why and where did the battle take place between Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi?
Or
Give a brief account of the First Battle of Panipat.
Or
Explain the First Battle of Panipat and its significance.
Answer:
Babar invaded India for the fifth time in November 1525 A.D. to teach Daulat Khan a lesson. Hearing the news of Babar’s invasion, Daulat Khan got frightened, that he took refuge in the fort of Malout in Hoshiarpur district. Babar besieged the fort. Daulat Khan surrendered after some resistance. Babar pardoned him. Now, Babar once again captured the whole of Punjab. Encouraged by this victory, he decided to attack Delhi, which was being ruled by Ibrahim Lodhi. So, he ordered his army to march towards Delhi. When Ibrahim got the news, he marched towards Punjab to face Babar with an army of one lakh. Babar had 20 thousand soldiers in his army. Both the armies fought a fierce battle near Panipat on 21 April 1526 A.D. This battle is known as the first battle of Panipat. In this battle, Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated and killed. In this way, the reign of the Lodhi dynasty in India came to an end and Babar founded the Mughal empire in India.
Question 7.
What led to the victory of Babar in the first battle of Panipat?
Or
Give a brief account of the causes of the victory of Babar and the defeat of the Afghans in India.
Answer:
Many factors were responsible for Babar’s victory in the battle of Panipat. Ibrahim Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi was notorious for his ill-treatment and the tyranny caused to his nobles and his subjects. They wanted to get rid of such a ruler. The army of Ibrahim Lodhi was also very weak. Most of the soldiers had joined him with the purpose of looting. Their methods of fighting were also outdated and they lacked proper training. Ibrahim committed a political blunder in not attacking Babar’s army for 8 days in Panipat. Had he not allowed Babar to strengthen his security, the results of the battle might have been different. Babar was an able commander. He had a vast experience of fighting battles. The artillery of Babar created havoc. The soldiers of Ibrahim could not face them with their swords, bows and arrows. With all these factors, the Afghans were defeated and Babar came out victorious.
Question 8.
Explain the social condition of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What do you know about the social condition of Punjab at the time of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev?
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, the society of Punjab was divided into two main classes-the Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims being related to the ruling class, enjoyed some special privileges. They were appointed to high offices of the State. On the other hand, the Hindus were deprived of all their rights. The Muslims called them Kafirs (non-believers). The Muslims perpetrated so much tyranny on the Hindus that several Hindus embraced Islam under duress. At that time, the condition of women was not good. The dresses of upper-class Muslims used to be costly and were made of silk or velvet. The garments worn by the people of the lower class and the Hindus were simple. Hunting, horse racing, chess-playing, dancing, music, animal-fighting and playing cards were the main sources of entertainment of the people.
Question 9.
What was the condition of women in the society of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century? Explain briefly.
Answer:
The condition of the women-folk in the society of Punjab, at the beginning of the 16th century, was highly deplorable. The women were considered not equal in status to men. They were confined within the four walls of the house. At that time many girls were killed as soon as they were born. They were married off in their childhood. As a result, no attention was given to girls’ education. Sati System was also at its climax. A widow was not allowed to re-marry. She was forced to lead a hellish life. The condition of Muslim women was also not good. Many prescriptions in society existed for them. They were treated as objects of sensual pleasure. Their condition had become deplorable due to prostitution, the divorce system and the purdah system. Women of high-class Muslims enjoyed some special privileges but they were few in number.
Question 10.
Into which classes were the Muslim society of Punjab divided and what type of life did they lead, at the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Muslim society was divided into three classes:
- Upper Class: The Upper Class of Muslim society comprised the nobles, Khans, Sheikhs, Qazis and Ulemas. People of this class led a life of pleasure, luxury and comfort. They lived in palatial buildings. Most of their time was spent on celebrations. Although Qazis and Ulemas were religious leaders, most of them had gone astray from their path.
- Middle Class: The Middle Class included traders, soldiers, peasants and petty officials of the state government. There was a big gap between their life and that of upper-class people, But their standard of living was much better than that of the upper-class Hindus.
- Lower Class: This class consisted of mostly slaves and servants. Their life was not good. They had to bear the tyranny of their masters.
Question 11.
What was the social condition of Muslims of Punjab, at the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Give an account of the Muslim classes of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The Muslim society of Punjab at the beginning of the sixteenth century had the following main features :
1. Three Classes: The Muslim society in Punjab at the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into three groups—upper class, middle class and lower class.
- Upper Class: The upper class of the Muslim society consisted of Amirs, Khans, Sheikhs, Maliks, Iqtadars, Ulemas, Qazis etc. They led a life of luxury and extravagance. They lived in grand palaces.
- Middle Class: It consisted of the soldiers, traders, farmers and subordinate officials of the government. There was a considerable difference between the standard of living of this class and that of the upper class. However, their social status was much better than that of the Hindus.
- Lower Class: It consisted of slaves, servants and labourers. They were in a very large number. They had to work hard to earn their livelihood! Their life was not satisfactory. They were often subjected to the tyranny of their masters.
2. Position of Women: The condition of women in Muslim society was not satisfactory in any way. They were the least educated. The Purdah system was in vogue. Polygamy and divorce had made the lives of Muslim women more pitiable.
3. Diet: The Muslims belonging to the upper class enjoyed delicious food of many kinds. It included meat, halwa, puri, butter, fruits and vegetables. The lower class ate very simple food.
4. Dress: The Muslims of the upper class used to wear very costly dresses. Such dresses were made of silk and velvet. These dresses were studded with many kinds of precious stones and jewels. People of the lower class used to wear cotton clothes. Men wore kurta and pyjamas and women wore long burqas.
5. Education: No remarkable progress was made in the field of education at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, mastabas and madrasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and mastabas whereas higher education was provided in the madrassas. Madrasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and Multan were well-known centres. education for -the Muslims in Punjab.
Question 12.
What was the social condition of the Hindus in the society of Punjab, at the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Make a mention of the social condition of Hindus in Punjab in the opening of the 16th Century.
Answer:
1. Caste System: The Hindu society was mainly divided into four castes and many sub-castes. The Brahmans occupied the topmost position in society. The main occupation of the Kshatriyas was to fight and rule. But under the changed circumstances, they had adopted new occupations like trade, agriculture etc. The Vaishyas, however, continued to follow their old occupations of trade and agriculture. The Shudras were treated badly in those days.
2. Position of Women: The position of women in Hindu society was also not satisfactory. She was deprived of those rights which were given to men. No attention was paid to girls’ education. The women were compelled to remain confined within the four walls of their houses for their whole lives. Purdah had become very popular among Hindu women. The custom of Sati was also on the rise.
3. Diet: The diet of the Hindus was very simple. Most of them were vegetarian. Their meals consisted of wheat, rice, vegetables, ghee and milk. They avoided meat, garlic and onion. The diet of the poor included coarse bread and lassi.
4. Dress: The dress of the Hindus was simple. They usually wore cotton clothes. Men used to wear dhoti and kurta and turban on their heads. The Brahmans wore only dhoti. Women wore a sari, choli (a blouse-like dress) and lehnga (a skirt-like dress). The poor clad their bodies with a single cotton cloth (chadar). The Hindu men and women were also fond of wearing ornaments.
5. Means of Entertainment: The Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
Question 13.
Give a brief account of prevalent education in Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
No special progress was made in the field of education at the beginning of the 16th century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, mastabas and madrasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and mastabas whereas higher education was provided in madrasas. Madrasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and – Multan were the well-known centres of education for the Muslims in Punjab. Besides these, Jalandhar, Sultanpur, Samana, Narnaul, Bathinda, Sirhind, Sialkot and Kangra were other important centres of education in Punjab. The Hindus received education from the Brahmins in the temples and pathshalas. They received elementary education at these’ places. There was no centre of higher education for the Hindus in Punjab. The Hindus belonging to the rich class sent their wards to the madrassas of the Muslims for higher education. However, their number used to be very negligible as the Muslims hated them.
Question 14.
What were the main means of entertainment of the people of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting and polo. They were fond of horse riding and witnessing animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and cheaper. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-e-Barat etc. with great pomp and show. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
Question 15.
Give a brief account of the economic condition of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
Explain the economic condition of Punjab during the 16th century.
Or
Briefly mention the economic condition of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
1. Agriculture: At the beginning of the sixteenth century, agriculture was the main occupation of the people of Punjab. The soil of Punjab was very fertile. The land was large and more and more land could be brought under cultivation. The people of Punjab were hard working. Agriculture was mainly dependent upon rain. Wheat, barley, maize, rice and sugarcane were major crops. Due to the rich harvests, Punjab was called the Granary of India.
2. Industries: Next to agriculture, industry was the main occupation of the people of Punjab. There were industries run both by the state and the individuals. The textile industry was the most famous industry in Punjab. Besides the textile industry, there were other industries that manufactured leather goods, arms, utensils, toys and articles of ivory.
3. Animal Rearing: Some people of Punjab were engaged in animal rearing also. This included animals like cows, oxen, buffaloes, horses, ponies, camels, sheep and goats. Milk and wool were obtained from these animals. Horses, ponies, camels and oxen were used for carrying goods.
4. Trade: The trade of Punjab was much developed. Trade was carried on by certain categories of people. In those days the foreign trade of Punjab was carried on mainly with Afghanistan, Egypt, the Arab countries, Syria, Tibet, Bhutan and China. Foodgrains, textile, silk, cottonseed and sugar were exported to these countries and in turn, Punjab imported horses, arms, fur, dry fruit and musk from these countries.
5. Standard of Living: In those days, the standard of living of all the people of Punjab was not the same. The upper class of Muslims rolled in wealth and thus led a luxurious life. The upper class of Hindus also had much wealth, but the class of Muslims enjoyed a better standard of living whereas the Hindus of the middle class were not having a good standard of living. The poor and the farmers in the society had a very low standard of living.
Question 16.
Give a brief account of agriculture in Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, agriculture was the main occupation of people in Punjab. Land in Punjab was very fertile. There was no dearth of land to bring it under cultivation. People here were very hard-working. Canals, ponds and wells were used for irrigation. Due to these reasons, there used to be bumper harvests despite the fact that old methods were used for farming. The main crops of Punjab were wheat, barley, maize, rice and sugarcane. Besides, cotton, mustard, jawar, bajra and pulses were also cultivated. As there used to be bumper harvests, Punjab was called Granary of India.
Question 17.
What do you know about the Punjab industries at the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
Next to agriculture, industry was the main occupation of the people of Punjab. There were industries run both by the state and the individuals. The state-owned industries were situated in big cities, whereas the industries run by individuals were situated in villages. The textile industry was the most famous industry in Punjab. As silk cloth was in great demand among the people of upper classes, so it was produced in a big quantity. Samana, Sunam, Sirhind, Dipalpur, Jalandhar, Lahore and Multan were famous centres of silk textile. Chicken (embroidered fine muslin) was produced in Gujarat and Sialkot. Multan and Sultanpur were famous for calico (chintz). Sialkot was known for its dhotis, sarees, turbans and embroidered best quality lungis. Amritsar, Kangra and Kashmir were famous centres of woollen textiles. Besides the textile industry, there were other industries that manufactured leather goods, arms, utensils, toys and articles of ivory.
Question 18.
Give a brief account of the trade of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
Give an account of the main industries of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The trade of Punjab was much developed. Trade was carried on by certain categories of people. The Kshatriyas, Mahajan’s, Banias, Soods and Aroras among the Hindus and Bohras and Khojas among the Muslims carried on trade. Transportation of goods was carried on by Banjaras. The traders travelled in groups for fear of burglars and dacoits. The institution of Hundi was in vogue. The money lenders lent money on interest. Special markets were organised On the occasions of fairs and festivals. Such markets were held at Multan, Lahore, Jalandhar, Dipalpur, Sirhind, Sunam, Samana etc. in Punjab. People came to these markets in a very large number and purchased their necessities. Special markets were held for animals also. In those days the foreign trade of Punjab was carried on mainly with Afghanistan, Egypt, the Arab countries, Syria, Tibet, Bhutan and China. Foodgrains, textile, silk, cottonseed and sugar were exported to these countries and in turn, Punjab imported horses, arms, fur, dry fruit and musk from these countries.
Question 19.
What was the living standard of people at the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
In those days, the standard of living of all the people of Punjab was not the same. The upper-class Muslims rolled in wealth and thus led a luxurious life. They lived in big palaces. They wore costly clothes. They ate a rich diet. Wine and women were part of their life. A large number of servants, slaves and women were always at their disposal. The upper-class Hindus also had much wealth, but the Muslims used to loot them. So, they spent their wealth stealthily. The middle-class Muslims enjoyed a better standard of living whereas the Hindus of the middle class were not having a good standard of living. The Hindus could hardly make both ends meet. The poor and the farmers in the society had a very low standard of living. They could neither taste good food nor wear good clothes. They always remained under the debt of the money-lenders.
Essay Type Questions:
Question 1.
Describe the political condition of Punjab at the time (In the beginning of the 16th century) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth.
Or
While describing briefly the invasions of Babar over Punjab, explain the causes of his success.
Or
Describe the political condition of Punjab in the beginning of 16th century.
Answer:
The political condition of Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. In those days the Punjab was under the Sultanate of Delhi. The Sultans of the Lodhi dynasty were ruling at that time. Thus, it becomes essential for us to know briefly about the rule of Lodhi Sultans for proper , understanding of the political condition of the Punjab.
The Punjab Under the Lodhis:
In the beginning of the 16th century, anarchy and conspiracies prevailed everywhere in the Punjab.
1. Tatar Khan Lodhi : Bahlol Lodhi had appointed Tatar Khan Lodhi, one of his near relatives, as Governor of the Punjab in 1469 A.D. He ruled over the Punjab with an iron hand till 1485 A.D. He raised the banner of revolt against Bahlol Lodhi in 1485 A.D. due to some reasons. The Sultan sent his son Prince Nizam Khan, who later succeeded to the throne as Sikandar Lodhi, to crush the revolt of Tatar Khan. Tatar Khan was killed while fighting with Prince Nizam Khan.
2. Daulat Khan Lodhi : Daulat Khan Lodhi was the son of Tatar Khan Lodhi. Sultan Sikandar Lodhi appointed him the Governor of the Punjab in 1500 A.D. He remained fully loyal during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi, but he started thinking of becoming independent with the cooperation of his three sons (Ghazi Khan, Haji Khan and Dilawar Khan) during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi. He even started conspiring with Alam Khan Lodhi, a step-brother of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi, who wanted the throne of Delhi for himself. When the Sultan came to know about these conspiracies, he summoned Daulat Khan to the royal court. Daulat Khan Lodhi, sent his younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. Dilawar Khan was taken prisoner by the Sultan and was treated very badly. However, he managed to escape from the prison and quickly reached Punjab. He narrated the bad treatment meted out to him by the Sultan to his father, Daulat Khan. Daulat Khan Lodhi in order to avenge this insult, invited Babar to invade India.
3. Condition of Subjects : In the beginning of the sixteenth century, the condition of the subjects was also very deplorable. The rulers used to indulge in luxuries and merry-making. Extravagant parties had become a daily routine of the court. None had time to take care of the public. As a consequence of this, the government officials became corrupt. Bribery was common. Not to speak of the Sultan, even Qazis and Ulemas took bribe and delivered justice accordingly. All sorts of atrocities were let loose on the Hindus. They were being converted to Islam by force. Those, who refused were put to death. In short, atrocities, cruelties, corruption and intrigue were prevalent all over. The prevailing political condition of the time has been aptly described by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Var Majh, “Kal kati raje kasai, Dharam pankhkar udriya, Koor amavas sach chandrama dise nahin keh chariya.” This Kali age is like a sword, the Kings are butchers. Goodness has taken wings and flown away. There is pitch darkness and the moon of truth shines nowhere.
Invasions of Babar:
A triangular contest began for the possession of Punjab in 1519 A.D. It took place between Ibrahim Lodhi, Daulat Khan Lodhi and Babar. Finally Babar won the struggle. He had to invade India five times to- fulfil his aim.’ A brief description of these invasions is given below :
1. First Invasion of Babar 1519 AL.D. : Babar was the ruler of Kabul. In order to expand his empire, Babar concentrated on India, because anarchy and lawlessness prevailed in India at that time. He stormed the border areas of the Punjab in his first invasion of India in 1519 A.D. This time he captured Bhera and Bajaur without facing any resistance. He placed these areas under the charge of Hindu Beg and himself returned to Kabul.
2. Second Invasion of Babar 1519 A.D.: People of Bhera and Bajaur pushed out Hindu Beg from their region soon after Babar had returned to Kabul. So, Babar attacked the Punjab, the second time in September, 1519 A.D. Now, he captured Peshawar. However, he had to return as a revolt had broken out in Badakhshan.
3. Third Invasion of Babar 1520 A.D.: Babar’s third invasion of the Punjab took place in 1520 A.D. During this invasion he easily captured Bhera, Bajaur and Sialkot. Then he attacked Saidpur (Eminabad). The people of Saidpur resisted the attack, so Babar in a fit of fury massacred a large number of people in cold blood.
The whole city was mercilessly plundered. Thousands of women were captured and molested. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was present in Saidpur at that time, has mentioned in ‘Babar Vani’ the atrocities let loose on the people by Babar’s army. Guru Nanak Dev writes, ‘‘Khurasan he ruleth and Hindustan he has invaded. No blame to Thee, who ordaineth. The Moghuls hath come for retribution. So much suffering had been inflicted, People cry in agony. Hath Thou not felt?” Babar’s soldiers had arrested Guru Nanak Dev Ji also. Later, when Babar came to know that his soldiers had arrested a great saint, he immediately ordered his release. Babar writes in his autobiography Tuzak-i-Babari that if he had known that such a great saint lived in this town, he would have never attacked it.
4. Fourth Invasion of Babarl524 A.D. : Babar attacked Punjab the fourth time in 1524 A.D. at the invitation of Daulat Khan Lodhi. He reached Lahore without meeting any stiff resistance. At Lahore, some Afghan Chiefs resisted him against the wishes of Daulat Khan. As a result, Babar flew into a rage and Lahore experienced a reign of terror, destruction and savagery. A large number of people were killed. Houses and streets were set on fire. Then, Babar reached Dipalpur and captured it with the cooperation of Daulat Khan Lodhi. It was also mercilessly sacked. Thereafter, he took control of the Jalandhar Doab. Thus, having conquered the Punjab, Babar placed the territories of Jalandhar Doab and Sultanpur under the charge of Daulat Khan Lodhi. But, as it was much below the expectation of Daulat Khan Lodhi, he along with his son Haji Khan, revolted against Babar. Babar defeated them, but they fled and took refuge in Shivalik hills. Soon after Babar returned to Kabul, Daulat Khan came back to Punjab, defeated the Mughals and recaptured the Punjab.
5. Fifth Invasion of Babar 1525-26 A.D. : Babar invaded India for the fifth time in November 1525 A.D. to teach Daulat Khan a lesson. Hearing the news of Babar’s invasion, Daulat Khan got frightened, that he took refuge in the fort” of Malout in Hoshiarpur district. Babar besieged the fort. Daulat Khan surrendered after some resistance. Babar pardoned him. Now, Babar once again captured the whole of Punjab. Encouraged by this victory, he decided to attack Delhi, which was being ruled by Ibrahim Lodhi. So, he ordered his army to march towards Delhi. When Ibrahim got the news, he marched towards the Punjab to face Babar with an army of one lakh. Babar had 20 thousand soldiers in his army. Both the armies fought a fierce battle near Panipat on 21 April, 1526 A.D. This battle is known as the first battle of Panipat. In this battle Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated and killed. In this way, the reign of the Lodhi dynasty in India came to an end and Babar founded the Mughal empire in India.
Causes of Babar’s Success:
There were many causes (factors) responsible for Babar’s victory in the first battle of Panipat. Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi was quite unpopular among the chiefs a nd the public for his indecent behaviour and cruelties. So, they wanted to get rid of such an incompetent ruler. The army of Ibrahim Lodhi was very weak. Many soldiers in his army had gathered for the purpose of looting only. Their method of warfare was obsolete and they lacked planning. Ibrahim Lodhi committed a grave political and military blunder, when he did not attack Babar’s army for eight days. If, he had not allowed Babar to consolidate his defence system, the result of the battle might have been different. Babar was an able army general. He had a good experience of wars and battles. His use of artillery caused havoc among the Afghan soldiers. The above description makes it clear that there was anarchy and unrest in Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century and it had become an arena of battles and conspiracies.
Question 2.
Discuss the social condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
The social condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. The society was divided into two major classes, namely the Hindus and the Muslims. The Muslims enjoyed many privileges, because they belonged to the ruling class. On the other hand, the Hindus, who formed the majority of population, were deprived of almost all the rights. They were called ‘Kafirs’ and ‘Zimmies.’. Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax were for’cibly charged from the Hindus. The Muslims subjected the Hindus to so much atrocity that a large number of them were compelled to embrace Islam. The condition of women in the society was worse than that of animals. In the words of Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, “When Guru Nanak appeared on the horizon, the Indian society had already become static and decadent.”
Features of the Muslim Society:
The Muslim society of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century had the following main features :
1. Three Classes : The Muslim society in the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into three groups—upper class, middle class and lower class.
(a) Upper Class : The upper class of the Muslim society consisted of Amirs, KhAnswer: Sheikhs, Maliks, Iqtadars, Ulemas, Qazis etc. They led a life of luxury and extravagance. They lived in grand palaces. They spent most of their time in merry¬making and feasts. Only during the days of battles were an exception to it. Ulemas and Qazis were religious leaders of the Muslims. Their main duty was to explain Islamic laws and deliver justice to people. But, many of the Ulemas and Qazis of that time had gone astray from their real path.
(b) Middle Class: It consisted of the soldiers, traders, farmers and subordinate officials of the government. There was a considerable difference between the standard of living of this class and that of the upper class. However, their social status was much better than that of the Hindus.
(c) Lower Class : It consisted of slaves, servants and labourers. They were in a very large number. They had to work hard to earn their livelihood. Their life was not satisfactory. They were often subjected to the tyranny of their masters. The condition of the slaves working in the courts was somewhat better than those working in the houses. Sometimes they could reach to high positions in the court.
2. Position of Women: The condition of women in the Muslim society was not satisfactory in any way. They were the least educated. The Purdah system was in vogue. Institutions of polygamy and divorce had made the lives of Muslim women more pitiable. Only women of the upper class Muslim society were granted some facilities, but their number was very small.
3. Diet: The Muslims belonging to the upper class enjoyed delicious food of many kinds. It included meat, halwa, puri, butter, fruits and vegetables. They were very much fond of chewing the betel (pan) and the betel-nut (supari). They drank many kinds of flavoured cold drinks (sharbats) in the summer. The lower class ate very simple food.
4. Dress : The Muslims of the upper class used to wear very costly dresses. Such dresses were made of silk and velvet. These dresses were studded with many kinds of precious stones and jewels. People of lower class used to wear cotton clothes. Men wore kurta and pyjama and women wore long burqas. Both men and women were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments of the upper class were made of precious stones, jewels, gold and silver, whereas ornaments of the lower class were very simple and ordinary. The ladies used many kinds of cosmetics.
5. Education : No remarkable progress was made in the field of education in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, maktabs and madarasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and maktabs whereas higher education was provided in the madarasas. Madarasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and Multan were the well known centres of education for the Muslims in the Punjab. Besides these, Jalandhar, Sultanpur, Samana, Narnaul, Bathinda, Sirhind, Sialkot and Kangra were other important centres of education in the Punjab.
6. Means of Entertainment: The Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting and polo. They were fond of horse riding and watching animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these fairs, musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and chaupar. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-e-Barat etc. with great pomp and show.
Features of the Hindu Society:
Following were the main features of the Hindu society in the beginning of sixteenth century :
1. Caste System : The Hindu society was mainly divided into four castes and many sub-castes. The Brahmans occupied the topmost position in the society. Their supreme position had received a great set back with the establishment of Muslim rule in India. Even, then all the rituals of the Hindus were performed by them alone.
The main occupation of the Kshatriyas was to fight and rule. But under the changed circumstances, they had adopted new occupations like trade, agriculture etc. The Vaishyas however, continued to follow their old occupations of trade and agriculture. The Shudras were treated badly in those days. Besides these four main castes, the Hindu society of those days was divided into many other castes and sub-castes. According to Nicoli Conti, an Italian traveller, there were 84 sub¬castes among the Hindus. These castes badly hated one another. The high-caste people contemptuously treated the people of low castes. The caste-system was in fact a blot on the face of the Hindu society. It had weakened the Hindu society to the extent, that its very foundations had been shaken.
2. Position of Women : The position of women in the Hindu society was also not good. She was deprieved of rights given to men. No attention was paid towards girl’s education. So, they remained uneducated. As the Muslims used to take away young Hindu girls forcibly in those days, so, they \vere married at an early age. The women were compelled to remain confined within the four walls of their houses for their whole lives. Purdah had become very popular among the Hindu women. The custom of sati was also on the rise. According to sati system, after the death of her husband, the widow was forcibly burnt alive along with the dead body of her husband on the same pyre. The re-marriage of the widow was not permitted.
3. Diet: The diet of the Hindus was very simple. Most of them were vegetarian. Their meals consisted of wheat, rice, vegetables, ghee and milk. They avoided meat, garlic and onion. The diet of the poor included coarse bread and lassi.
4. Dress: The dress of the Hindus was simple. They usually wore cotton clothes. Men used to wear dhoti and kurta and a turban on their heads. The Brahmans wore only dhoti. Women wore sari, choli (a blouse-like dress) and lehnga (a skirt¬like dress). The poor clad their bodies with a single cotton cloth (chadar). The Hindu men and women were also fond of wearing ornaments.
5. Means of Entertainment : The Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
6. Education: The Hindus received education from the Brahmans in the temples and pathshalas. They received elementary education at these places. There was no centre of higher education for the Hindus in the Punjab. The Hindus belonging to the rich class sent their wards to the madarasas of the Muslims for higher education. However, their number used to be very negligible as the Muslims hated them.
Question 3.
Explain the political and social conditions of Punjab at the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Or
Give a brief account of the political and social conditions of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The political condition of Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. In those days the Punjab was under the Sultanate of Delhi. The Sultans of the Lodhi dynasty were ruling at that time. Thus, it becomes essential for us to know briefly about the rule of Lodhi Sultans for proper , understanding of the political condition of the Punjab.
The Punjab Under the Lodhis:
In the beginning of the 16th century, anarchy and conspiracies prevailed everywhere in the Punjab.
1. Tatar Khan Lodhi : Bahlol Lodhi had appointed Tatar Khan Lodhi, one of his near relatives, as Governor of the Punjab in 1469 A.D. He ruled over the Punjab with an iron hand till 1485 A.D. He raised the banner of revolt against Bahlol Lodhi in 1485 A.D. due to some reasons. The Sultan sent his son Prince Nizam Khan, who later succeeded to the throne as Sikandar Lodhi, to crush the revolt of Tatar Khan. Tatar Khan was killed while fighting with Prince Nizam Khan.
2. Daulat Khan Lodhi : Daulat Khan Lodhi was the son of Tatar Khan Lodhi. Sultan Sikandar Lodhi appointed him the Governor of the Punjab in 1500 A.D. He remained fully loyal during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi, but he started thinking of becoming independent with the cooperation of his three sons (Ghazi Khan, Haji Khan and Dilawar Khan) during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi. He even started conspiring with Alam Khan Lodhi, a step-brother of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi, who wanted the throne of Delhi for himself. When the Sultan came to know about these conspiracies, he summoned Daulat Khan to the royal court. Daulat Khan Lodhi, sent his younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. Dilawar Khan was taken prisoner by the Sultan and was treated very badly. However, he managed to escape from the prison and quickly reached Punjab. He narrated the bad treatment meted out to him by the Sultan to his father, Daulat Khan. Daulat Khan Lodhi in order to avenge this insult, invited Babar to invade India.
3. Condition of Subjects : In the beginning of the sixteenth century, the condition of the subjects was also very deplorable. The rulers used to indulge in luxuries and merry-making. Extravagant parties had become a daily routine of the court. None had time to take care of the public. As a consequence of this, the government officials became corrupt. Bribery was common. Not to speak of the Sultan, even Qazis and Ulemas took bribe and delivered justice accordingly. All sorts of atrocities were let loose on the Hindus. They were being converted to Islam by force. Those, who refused were put to death. In short, atrocities, cruelties, corruption and intrigue were prevalent all over. The prevailing political condition of the time has been aptly described by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Var Majh, “Kal kati raje kasai, Dharam pankhkar udriya, Koor amavas sach chandrama dise nahin keh chariya.” This Kali age is like a sword, the Kings are butchers. Goodness has taken wings and flown away. There is pitch darkness and the moon of truth shines nowhere.
Invasions of Babar:
A triangular contest began for the possession of Punjab in 1519 A.D. It took place between Ibrahim Lodhi, Daulat Khan Lodhi and Babar. Finally Babar won the struggle. He had to invade India five times to- fulfil his aim.’ A brief description of these invasions is given below :
1. First Invasion of Babar 1519 AL.D. : Babar was the ruler of Kabul. In order to expand his empire, Babar concentrated on India, because anarchy and lawlessness prevailed in India at that time. He stormed the border areas of the Punjab in his first invasion of India in 1519 A.D. This time he captured Bhera and Bajaur without facing any resistance. He placed these areas under the charge of Hindu Beg and himself returned to Kabul.
2. Second Invasion of Babar 1519 A.D.: People of Bhera and Bajaur pushed out Hindu Beg from their region soon after Babar had returned to Kabul. So, Babar attacked the Punjab, the second time in September, 1519 A.D. Now, he captured Peshawar. However, he had to return as a revolt had broken out in Badakhshan.
3. Third Invasion of Babar 1520 A.D.: Babar’s third invasion of the Punjab took place in 1520 A.D. During this invasion he easily captured Bhera, Bajaur and Sialkot. Then he attacked Saidpur (Eminabad). The people of Saidpur resisted the attack, so Babar in a fit of fury massacred a large number of people in cold blood.
The whole city was mercilessly plundered. Thousands of women were captured and molested. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was present in Saidpur at that time, has mentioned in ‘Babar Vani’ the atrocities let loose on the people by Babar’s army. Guru Nanak Dev writes, ‘‘Khurasan he ruleth and Hindustan he has invaded. No blame to Thee, who ordaineth. The Moghuls hath come for retribution. So much suffering had been inflicted, People cry in agony. Hath Thou not felt?” Babar’s soldiers had arrested Guru Nanak Dev Ji also. Later, when Babar came to know that his soldiers had arrested a great saint, he immediately ordered his release. Babar writes in his autobiography Tuzak-i-Babari that if he had known that such a great saint lived in this town, he would have never attacked it.
4. Fourth Invasion of Babarl524 A.D. : Babar attacked Punjab the fourth time in 1524 A.D. at the invitation of Daulat Khan Lodhi. He reached Lahore without meeting any stiff resistance. At Lahore, some Afghan Chiefs resisted him against the wishes of Daulat Khan. As a result, Babar flew into a rage and Lahore experienced a reign of terror, destruction and savagery. A large number of people were killed. Houses and streets were set on fire. Then, Babar reached Dipalpur and captured it with the cooperation of Daulat Khan Lodhi. It was also mercilessly sacked. Thereafter, he took control of the Jalandhar Doab. Thus, having conquered the Punjab, Babar placed the territories of Jalandhar Doab and Sultanpur under the charge of Daulat Khan Lodhi. But, as it was much below the expectation of Daulat Khan Lodhi, he along with his son Haji Khan, revolted against Babar. Babar defeated them, but they fled and took refuge in Shivalik hills. Soon after Babar returned to Kabul, Daulat Khan came back to Punjab, defeated the Mughals and recaptured the Punjab.
5. Fifth Invasion of Babar 1525-26 A.D. : Babar invaded India for the fifth time in November 1525 A.D. to teach Daulat Khan a lesson. Hearing the news of Babar’s invasion, Daulat Khan got frightened, that he took refuge in the fort” of Malout in Hoshiarpur district. Babar besieged the fort. Daulat Khan surrendered after some resistance. Babar pardoned him. Now, Babar once again captured the whole of Punjab. Encouraged by this victory, he decided to attack Delhi, which was being ruled by Ibrahim Lodhi. So, he ordered his army to march towards Delhi. When Ibrahim got the news, he marched towards the Punjab to face Babar with an army of one lakh. Babar had 20 thousand soldiers in his army. Both the armies fought a fierce battle near Panipat on 21 April, 1526 A.D. This battle is known as the first battle of Panipat. In this battle Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated and killed. In this way, the reign of the Lodhi dynasty in India came to an end and Babar founded the Mughal empire in India.
Causes of Babar’s Success:
There were many causes (factors) responsible for Babar’s victory in the first battle of Panipat. Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi was quite unpopular among the chiefs a nd the public for his indecent behaviour and cruelties. So, they wanted to get rid of such an incompetent ruler. The army of Ibrahim Lodhi was very weak. Many soldiers in his army had gathered for the purpose of looting only. Their method of warfare was obsolete and they lacked planning. Ibrahim Lodhi committed a grave political and military blunder, when he did not attack Babar’s army for eight days. If, he had not allowed Babar to consolidate his defence system, the result of the battle might have been different. Babar was an able army general. He had a good experience of wars and battles. His use of artillery caused havoc among the Afghan soldiers. The above description makes it clear that there was anarchy and unrest in Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century and it had become an arena of battles and conspiracies.
The social condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. The society was divided into two major classes, namely the Hindus and the Muslims. The Muslims enjoyed many privileges, because they belonged to the ruling class. On the other hand, the Hindus, who formed the majority of population, were deprived of almost all the rights. They were called ‘Kafirs’ and ‘Zimmies.’. Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax were for’cibly charged from the Hindus. The Muslims subjected the Hindus to so much atrocity that a large number of them were compelled to embrace Islam. The condition of women in the society was worse than that of animals. In the words of Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, “When Guru Nanak appeared on the horizon, the Indian society had already become static and decadent.”
Features of the Muslim Society:
The Muslim society of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century had the following main features :
1. Three Classes : The Muslim society in the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into three groups—upper class, middle class and lower class.
(a) Upper Class : The upper class of the Muslim society consisted of Amirs, KhAnswer: Sheikhs, Maliks, Iqtadars, Ulemas, Qazis etc. They led a life of luxury and extravagance. They lived in grand palaces. They spent most of their time in merry¬making and feasts. Only during the days of battles were an exception to it. Ulemas and Qazis were religious leaders of the Muslims. Their main duty was to explain Islamic laws and deliver justice to people. But, many of the Ulemas and Qazis of that time had gone astray from their real path.
(b) Middle Class: It consisted of the soldiers, traders, farmers and subordinate officials of the government. There was a considerable difference between the standard of living of this class and that of the upper class. However, their social status was much better than that of the Hindus.
(c) Lower Class : It consisted of slaves, servants and labourers. They were in a very large number. They had to work hard to earn their livelihood. Their life was not satisfactory. They were often subjected to the tyranny of their masters. The condition of the slaves working in the courts was somewhat better than those working in the houses. Sometimes they could reach to high positions in the court.
2. Position of Women: The condition of women in the Muslim society was not satisfactory in any way. They were the least educated. The Purdah system was in vogue. Institutions of polygamy and divorce had made the lives of Muslim women more pitiable. Only women of the upper class Muslim society were granted some facilities, but their number was very small.
3. Diet: The Muslims belonging to the upper class enjoyed delicious food of many kinds. It included meat, halwa, puri, butter, fruits and vegetables. They were very much fond of chewing the betel (pan) and the betel-nut (supari). They drank many kinds of flavoured cold drinks (sharbats) in the summer. The lower class ate very simple food.
4. Dress : The Muslims of the upper class used to wear very costly dresses. Such dresses were made of silk and velvet. These dresses were studded with many kinds of precious stones and jewels. People of lower class used to wear cotton clothes. Men wore kurta and pyjama and women wore long burqas. Both men and women were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments of the upper class were made of precious stones, jewels, gold and silver, whereas ornaments of the lower class were very simple and ordinary. The ladies used many kinds of cosmetics.
5. Education : No remarkable progress was made in the field of education in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, maktabs and madarasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and maktabs whereas higher education was provided in the madarasas. Madarasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and Multan were the well known centres of education for the Muslims in the Punjab. Besides these, Jalandhar, Sultanpur, Samana, Narnaul, Bathinda, Sirhind, Sialkot and Kangra were other important centres of education in the Punjab.
6. Means of Entertainment: The Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting and polo. They were fond of horse riding and watching animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these fairs, musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and chaupar. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-e-Barat etc. with great pomp and show.
Features of the Hindu Society:
Following were the main features of the Hindu society in the beginning of sixteenth century :
1. Caste System : The Hindu society was mainly divided into four castes and many sub-castes. The Brahmans occupied the topmost position in the society. Their supreme position had received a great set back with the establishment of Muslim rule in India. Even, then all the rituals of the Hindus were performed by them alone.
The main occupation of the Kshatriyas was to fight and rule. But under the changed circumstances, they had adopted new occupations like trade, agriculture etc. The Vaishyas however, continued to follow their old occupations of trade and agriculture. The Shudras were treated badly in those days. Besides these four main castes, the Hindu society of those days was divided into many other castes and sub-castes. According to Nicoli Conti, an Italian traveller, there were 84 sub¬castes among the Hindus. These castes badly hated one another. The high-caste people contemptuously treated the people of low castes. The caste-system was in fact a blot on the face of the Hindu society. It had weakened the Hindu society to the extent, that its very foundations had been shaken.
2. Position of Women : The position of women in the Hindu society was also not good. She was deprieved of rights given to men. No attention was paid towards girl’s education. So, they remained uneducated. As the Muslims used to take away young Hindu girls forcibly in those days, so, they \vere married at an early age. The women were compelled to remain confined within the four walls of their houses for their whole lives. Purdah had become very popular among the Hindu women. The custom of sati was also on the rise. According to sati system, after the death of her husband, the widow was forcibly burnt alive along with the dead body of her husband on the same pyre. The re-marriage of the widow was not permitted.
3. Diet: The diet of the Hindus was very simple. Most of them were vegetarian. Their meals consisted of wheat, rice, vegetables, ghee and milk. They avoided meat, garlic and onion. The diet of the poor included coarse bread and lassi.
4. Dress: The dress of the Hindus was simple. They usually wore cotton clothes. Men used to wear dhoti and kurta and a turban on their heads. The Brahmans wore only dhoti. Women wore sari, choli (a blouse-like dress) and lehnga (a skirt¬like dress). The poor clad their bodies with a single cotton cloth (chadar). The Hindu men and women were also fond of wearing ornaments.
5. Means of Entertainment : The Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
6. Education: The Hindus received education from the Brahmans in the temples and pathshalas. They received elementary education at these places. There was no centre of higher education for the Hindus in the Punjab. The Hindus belonging to the rich class sent their wards to the madarasas of the Muslims for higher education. However, their number used to be very negligible as the Muslims hated them.
Economic Condition:
Question 4.
What do you know about agriculture, trade and industries of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteeth century?
Or
Describe the main features of the economic condition of Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Answer:
The economic condition of the people of the Punjab was very good in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Firstly, the soil of the Punjab was very fertile which yielded rich crops with less labour. Secondly, the five great rivers flowed in the Punjab and the land irrigated by them yielded gold (i.e. rich crops). Thirdly, the Punjabis were very hard working. Fourthly, many new towns and cities were founded during the Sultanate period. These were connected with each other through roads. Consequently, they had become very famous trade centres. Fifthly, the entire Indian trade with the countries of Central Asia was carried through the Punjab only.
1. Agriculture : In the beginning of the sixteenth century, agriculture was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab. The soil of the Punjab was very fertile. Land was large and more and more land could be brought under cultivation. The people of the Punjab were hard working. Canals, tanks and wells were used for irrigation. Thus, although the farmers of the Punjab used old methods of farming. They got rich yield of crops on account of the reasons described above. Wheat, barley, maize, rice and sugarcane were major crops. Besides, cotton-seeds, millet, mustard, and many kinds of pulses were grown. Due to the rich harvests the Punjab was called the Granary of India.
2. Industries : Next to agriculture, industry was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab. There were industries run both by the state and the individuals. The state owned industries were situated in big cities, whereas the industries run by individuals were situated in villages. The textile industry was the most famous industry of the Punjab. As silk cloth was in great demand among the people of upper classes, so it was produced in large quantity. Samana, Sunam, Sirhind, Dipalpur, Jalandhar, Lahore and Multan were famous centres of silk textile. Chicken (embroidered fine muslin) was produced in Gujarat and Sialkot. Multan and Sultanpur were famous for calico (chintz). Sialkot was known for its dhotis, sarees, turbans and embroidered best quality lungis. Amritsar, Kangra and Kashmir were famous centres of woollen textiles. Besides textile industry, there were other industries which manufactured leather goods, arms, utensils, toys and articles of ivory.
3. Animal Rearing: Some people of the Punjab were engaged in animal rearing also. This included animals like cows, oxen, buffaloes, horses, ponies, camels, sheep and goats. Milk and wool were obtained from these animals. Horses, ponies, camels and oxen were used for carrying goods.
4. Trade : The trade of the Punjab was much developed. Trade was carried on by certain categories of people. The Kshatriyas, Mahajans, Banias, Soods and Aroras among the Hindus and Bohras and Khojas among the Muslims carried on trade. Transportation of goods was carried on by Banjaras. In those days the foreign trade of the Punjab was carried on mainly with Afghanistan, Egypt, the Arab countries, Syria, Tibet, Bhutan and China. Foodgrains, textile, silk, cotton seed and sugar were exported to these countries and in turn the Punjab imported horses, arms, fur, dry fruit and musk from these countries.
5. Commercial Towns : In the beginning of sixteenth century Lahore and Multan were the two most important commercial towns of the Punjab. Besides, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Batala, Bathinda, Sunam, Ropar, Ferozepur, Sultanpur, Pathankot, Sialkot, Kjillu, Chamba and Kangra were also famous for trade and commerce.
6. Standard of Living: In those days, the standard of living of all the people of the Punjab was not the same. The upper class of Muslims rolled in wealth and thus led a luxurious life. The upper class of Hindus also had much wealth, but the Muslims used to loot them. So, they spent their wealth stealthily. The middle class of Muslims enjoyed a better standard of living whereas the Hindus of the middle class were not having a good standard of living. The Hindus could hardly make both ends meet. The poor and the farmers in the society had a very low standard of living. They could neither taste good food nor wear good clothes.
Question 5.
Briefly discuss the social and economic conditions of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What were the social and economic conditions of the people of Punjab in the 16th century?
Or
What were the social and economic conditions of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century? Discuss it.
Answer:
The social condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. The society was divided into two major classes, namely the Hindus and the Muslims. The Muslims enjoyed many privileges, because they belonged to the ruling class. On the other hand, the Hindus, who formed the majority of population, were deprived of almost all the rights. They were called ‘Kafirs’ and ‘Zimmies.’. Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax were for’cibly charged from the Hindus. The Muslims subjected the Hindus to so much atrocity that a large number of them were compelled to embrace Islam. The condition of women in the society was worse than that of animals. In the words of Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, “When Guru Nanak appeared on the horizon, the Indian society had already become static and decadent.”
Features of the Muslim Society:
The Muslim society of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century had the following main features :
1. Three Classes : The Muslim society in the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into three groups—upper class, middle class and lower class.
(a) Upper Class : The upper class of the Muslim society consisted of Amirs, KhAnswer: Sheikhs, Maliks, Iqtadars, Ulemas, Qazis etc. They led a life of luxury and extravagance. They lived in grand palaces. They spent most of their time in merry¬making and feasts. Only during the days of battles were an exception to it. Ulemas and Qazis were religious leaders of the Muslims. Their main duty was to explain Islamic laws and deliver justice to people. But, many of the Ulemas and Qazis of that time had gone astray from their real path.
(b) Middle Class: It consisted of the soldiers, traders, farmers and subordinate officials of the government. There was a considerable difference between the standard of living of this class and that of the upper class. However, their social status was much better than that of the Hindus.
(c) Lower Class : It consisted of slaves, servants and labourers. They were in a very large number. They had to work hard to earn their livelihood. Their life was not satisfactory. They were often subjected to the tyranny of their masters. The condition of the slaves working in the courts was somewhat better than those working in the houses. Sometimes they could reach to high positions in the court.
2. Position of Women: The condition of women in the Muslim society was not satisfactory in any way. They were the least educated. The Purdah system was in vogue. Institutions of polygamy and divorce had made the lives of Muslim women more pitiable. Only women of the upper class Muslim society were granted some facilities, but their number was very small.
3. Diet: The Muslims belonging to the upper class enjoyed delicious food of many kinds. It included meat, halwa, puri, butter, fruits and vegetables. They were very much fond of chewing the betel (pan) and the betel-nut (supari). They drank many kinds of flavoured cold drinks (sharbats) in the summer. The lower class ate very simple food.
4. Dress : The Muslims of the upper class used to wear very costly dresses. Such dresses were made of silk and velvet. These dresses were studded with many kinds of precious stones and jewels. People of lower class used to wear cotton clothes. Men wore kurta and pyjama and women wore long burqas. Both men and women were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments of the upper class were made of precious stones, jewels, gold and silver, whereas ornaments of the lower class were very simple and ordinary. The ladies used many kinds of cosmetics.
5. Education : No remarkable progress was made in the field of education in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, maktabs and madarasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and maktabs whereas higher education was provided in the madarasas. Madarasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and Multan were the well known centres of education for the Muslims in the Punjab. Besides these, Jalandhar, Sultanpur, Samana, Narnaul, Bathinda, Sirhind, Sialkot and Kangra were other important centres of education in the Punjab.
6. Means of Entertainment: The Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting and polo. They were fond of horse riding and watching animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these fairs, musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and chaupar. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-e-Barat etc. with great pomp and show.
Features of the Hindu Society:
Following were the main features of the Hindu society in the beginning of sixteenth century :
1. Caste System : The Hindu society was mainly divided into four castes and many sub-castes. The Brahmans occupied the topmost position in the society. Their supreme position had received a great set back with the establishment of Muslim rule in India. Even, then all the rituals of the Hindus were performed by them alone.
The main occupation of the Kshatriyas was to fight and rule. But under the changed circumstances, they had adopted new occupations like trade, agriculture etc. The Vaishyas however, continued to follow their old occupations of trade and agriculture. The Shudras were treated badly in those days. Besides these four main castes, the Hindu society of those days was divided into many other castes and sub-castes. According to Nicoli Conti, an Italian traveller, there were 84 sub¬castes among the Hindus. These castes badly hated one another. The high-caste people contemptuously treated the people of low castes. The caste-system was in fact a blot on the face of the Hindu society. It had weakened the Hindu society to the extent, that its very foundations had been shaken.
2. Position of Women : The position of women in the Hindu society was also not good. She was deprieved of rights given to men. No attention was paid towards girl’s education. So, they remained uneducated. As the Muslims used to take away young Hindu girls forcibly in those days, so, they \vere married at an early age. The women were compelled to remain confined within the four walls of their houses for their whole lives. Purdah had become very popular among the Hindu women. The custom of sati was also on the rise. According to sati system, after the death of her husband, the widow was forcibly burnt alive along with the dead body of her husband on the same pyre. The re-marriage of the widow was not permitted.
3. Diet: The diet of the Hindus was very simple. Most of them were vegetarian. Their meals consisted of wheat, rice, vegetables, ghee and milk. They avoided meat, garlic and onion. The diet of the poor included coarse bread and lassi.
4. Dress: The dress of the Hindus was simple. They usually wore cotton clothes. Men used to wear dhoti and kurta and a turban on their heads. The Brahmans wore only dhoti. Women wore sari, choli (a blouse-like dress) and lehnga (a skirt¬like dress). The poor clad their bodies with a single cotton cloth (chadar). The Hindu men and women were also fond of wearing ornaments.
5. Means of Entertainment : The Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
6. Education: The Hindus received education from the Brahmans in the temples and pathshalas. They received elementary education at these places. There was no centre of higher education for the Hindus in the Punjab. The Hindus belonging to the rich class sent their wards to the madarasas of the Muslims for higher education. However, their number used to be very negligible as the Muslims hated them.
The economic condition of the people of the Punjab was very good in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Firstly, the soil of the Punjab was very fertile which yielded rich crops with less labour. Secondly, the five great rivers flowed in the Punjab and the land irrigated by them yielded gold (i.e. rich crops). Thirdly, the Punjabis were very hard working. Fourthly, many new towns and cities were founded during the Sultanate period. These were connected with each other through roads. Consequently, they had become very famous trade centres. Fifthly, the entire Indian trade with the countries of Central Asia was carried through the Punjab only.
1. Agriculture : In the beginning of the sixteenth century, agriculture was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab. The soil of the Punjab was very fertile. Land was large and more and more land could be brought under cultivation. The people of the Punjab were hard working. Canals, tanks and wells were used for irrigation. Thus, although the farmers of the Punjab used old methods of farming. They got rich yield of crops on account of the reasons described above. Wheat, barley, maize, rice and sugarcane were major crops. Besides, cotton-seeds, millet, mustard, and many kinds of pulses were grown. Due to the rich harvests the Punjab was called the Granary of India.
2. Industries : Next to agriculture, industry was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab. There were industries run both by the state and the individuals. The state owned industries were situated in big cities, whereas the industries run by individuals were situated in villages. The textile industry was the most famous industry of the Punjab. As silk cloth was in great demand among the people of upper classes, so it was produced in large quantity. Samana, Sunam, Sirhind, Dipalpur, Jalandhar, Lahore and Multan were famous centres of silk textile. Chicken (embroidered fine muslin) was produced in Gujarat and Sialkot. Multan and Sultanpur were famous for calico (chintz). Sialkot was known for its dhotis, sarees, turbans and embroidered best quality lungis. Amritsar, Kangra and Kashmir were famous centres of woollen textiles. Besides textile industry, there were other industries which manufactured leather goods, arms, utensils, toys and articles of ivory.
3. Animal Rearing: Some people of the Punjab were engaged in animal rearing also. This included animals like cows, oxen, buffaloes, horses, ponies, camels, sheep and goats. Milk and wool were obtained from these animals. Horses, ponies, camels and oxen were used for carrying goods.
4. Trade : The trade of the Punjab was much developed. Trade was carried on by certain categories of people. The Kshatriyas, Mahajans, Banias, Soods and Aroras among the Hindus and Bohras and Khojas among the Muslims carried on trade. Transportation of goods was carried on by Banjaras. In those days the foreign trade of the Punjab was carried on mainly with Afghanistan, Egypt, the Arab countries, Syria, Tibet, Bhutan and China. Foodgrains, textile, silk, cotton seed and sugar were exported to these countries and in turn the Punjab imported horses, arms, fur, dry fruit and musk from these countries.
5. Commercial Towns : In the beginning of sixteenth century Lahore and Multan were the two most important commercial towns of the Punjab. Besides, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Batala, Bathinda, Sunam, Ropar, Ferozepur, Sultanpur, Pathankot, Sialkot, Kjillu, Chamba and Kangra were also famous for trade and commerce.
6. Standard of Living: In those days, the standard of living of all the people of the Punjab was not the same. The upper class of Muslims rolled in wealth and thus led a luxurious life. The upper class of Hindus also had much wealth, but the Muslims used to loot them. So, they spent their wealth stealthily. The middle class of Muslims enjoyed a better standard of living whereas the Hindus of the middle class were not having a good standard of living. The Hindus could hardly make both ends meet. The poor and the farmers in the society had a very low standard of living. They could neither taste good food nor wear good clothes.
Question 6.
Give a brief account of the religious condition of the people of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
In the 16th century, two main religions Hinduism and Islam were prevalent. These religions were divided into several sects further. Besides these, Buddhism and Jainism were also popular. A brief description of these religions is as follows :
1. Hinduism: Hinduism was the most important religion of the people of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century. Hindus believed in the Vedas. Ramayana and Mahabharata were extremely popular among the people of Punjab in the 16th century. Brahmans hold the supreme position during this period. All customs from birth till death were considered incomplete without the presence of the BrahmAnswer: The following sects were popular in Hinduism in Punjab :
(a) Shaivism: Shaivism was very popular at the beginning of the 16th century in Punjab. Most of the people were devotees of Shiva. They had established Shivalayas at several places, where the teachings of Shaivism were imparted. Those who believed in Shaivism were called Jogis. The main branch of the Jogis was called Nathpanthi. It was established by Gorakhnath. Because they pierced their ears to wear kundals, they were also referred to as ‘Kaanfate Jogi’. The main centre of the Jogis in Punjab was at Gorakhnath ka Tilla in Jhelum. The Jogis preached against the Brahmanic customs and caste system.
(b) Vaishnavism: Vaishnavism was also quite popular in Punjab. The people of this sect worshipped Vishnu and his incarnations. In this period, Sri Ram and Sri Krishna were worshipped as incarnations of Vishnu. Several huge and beautiful temples were built in several parts of Punjab. The devotees of this sect did not consume wine or flesh.
(c) Shaktism: Shaktism was quite prevalent among the people of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century. The people of this sect worshipped Durga, Kali and other deities. They considered these goddesses as the symbol of power. To please these deities, animals were sacrificed. Several temples were constructed in their memory. Of these, the famous temples were Jwala Ji, Chintapurni, Chamunda Devi and Naina Devi.
2. Islam: Islam was founded by Prophet Muhammad Sahib in the 7th century A.D. in Mecca. He vehemently opposed the social and religious malpractices prevalent in society. He gave the message of one God and the mutual brotherhood of mankind. At the beginning of the 16th century, Islam spread fervently. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, all the Sultans who ruled over India were Muslims. Secondly, they converted people to Islam at the point of a sword. The followers of Islam were divided into Sunni and Shia sects. The number of Sunni Muslims was greater and they had orthodox ideas. The religious leaders of Muslims were called the Ulemas. They interpreted the Islamic laws and inspired the people to spend a pious life. They looked down upon the other religions with hatred.
3. Sufism : Sufism was a sect that was associated with Islam. This sect was popular in Punjab. This sect was divided in 12 Silsilas. The Chishti and Suhrawardi Silsilas of Punjab were most popular. Thaneswar, Hansi, Narnaul and Panipat were the famous centres of the Sufis. The people of this sect believed in only one Allah. They respected all religions. They considered service to humanity as their greatest responsibility. They believed in music. The Sufis inspired the Hindus and Muslims to maintain cordial relations, encouraged the Sultans to give up fanaticism and contributed appreciably towards the development of music and literature.
4. Jainism : Jainism was prevalent amongst the traders. The people of this sect believed in 24 Tirthankaras, Triratnas, Ahimsa, principle of Karma and Nirvana. They did not believe in the existence of God.
5. Buddhism : In the 16th century, Buddhism was a part of Hinduism. Lord Buddha was considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Very few people of Punjab followed Buddhism. Guru Nanak Dev Ji has described the religious condition of the people of Punjab in the 16th century in his compositions. According to him, both the Hindus and the Muslims observed several religious rituals such as rubbing ash on the body, putting tilak on the forehead, piercing ears for wearing kundals, bathing in the rivers, observing rozas and worshipping the tombs etc. People had completely forgotten the true spirit of religion. In the end, we agree with the words of Dr. Hari Ram Gupta, “In short, at the time of Guru Nanak’s advent both the religions in India, Hinduism and Islam, had become corrupt and degraded. They had lost their pristine purity and glory.”
Question 7.
Describe the social and religious condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th’century.
Answer:
The social condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was very deplorable. The society was divided into two major classes, namely the Hindus and the Muslims. The Muslims enjoyed many privileges, because they belonged to the ruling class. On the other hand, the Hindus, who formed the majority of population, were deprived of almost all the rights. They were called ‘Kafirs’ and ‘Zimmies.’. Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax were for’cibly charged from the Hindus. The Muslims subjected the Hindus to so much atrocity that a large number of them were compelled to embrace Islam. The condition of women in the society was worse than that of animals. In the words of Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, “When Guru Nanak appeared on the horizon, the Indian society had already become static and decadent.”
Features of the Muslim Society:
The Muslim society of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century had the following main features :
1. Three Classes : The Muslim society in the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into three groups—upper class, middle class and lower class.
(a) Upper Class : The upper class of the Muslim society consisted of Amirs, KhAnswer: Sheikhs, Maliks, Iqtadars, Ulemas, Qazis etc. They led a life of luxury and extravagance. They lived in grand palaces. They spent most of their time in merry¬making and feasts. Only during the days of battles were an exception to it. Ulemas and Qazis were religious leaders of the Muslims. Their main duty was to explain Islamic laws and deliver justice to people. But, many of the Ulemas and Qazis of that time had gone astray from their real path.
(b) Middle Class: It consisted of the soldiers, traders, farmers and subordinate officials of the government. There was a considerable difference between the standard of living of this class and that of the upper class. However, their social status was much better than that of the Hindus.
(c) Lower Class : It consisted of slaves, servants and labourers. They were in a very large number. They had to work hard to earn their livelihood. Their life was not satisfactory. They were often subjected to the tyranny of their masters. The condition of the slaves working in the courts was somewhat better than those working in the houses. Sometimes they could reach to high positions in the court.
2. Position of Women: The condition of women in the Muslim society was not satisfactory in any way. They were the least educated. The Purdah system was in vogue. Institutions of polygamy and divorce had made the lives of Muslim women more pitiable. Only women of the upper class Muslim society were granted some facilities, but their number was very small.
3. Diet: The Muslims belonging to the upper class enjoyed delicious food of many kinds. It included meat, halwa, puri, butter, fruits and vegetables. They were very much fond of chewing the betel (pan) and the betel-nut (supari). They drank many kinds of flavoured cold drinks (sharbats) in the summer. The lower class ate very simple food.
4. Dress : The Muslims of the upper class used to wear very costly dresses. Such dresses were made of silk and velvet. These dresses were studded with many kinds of precious stones and jewels. People of lower class used to wear cotton clothes. Men wore kurta and pyjama and women wore long burqas. Both men and women were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments of the upper class were made of precious stones, jewels, gold and silver, whereas ornaments of the lower class were very simple and ordinary. The ladies used many kinds of cosmetics.
5. Education : No remarkable progress was made in the field of education in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. They held classes in mosques, maktabs and madarasas. The government gave them grants. Primary education was given in the mosques and maktabs whereas higher education was provided in the madarasas. Madarasas were usually situated in cities. Lahore and Multan were the well known centres of education for the Muslims in the Punjab. Besides these, Jalandhar, Sultanpur, Samana, Narnaul, Bathinda, Sirhind, Sialkot and Kangra were other important centres of education in the Punjab.
6. Means of Entertainment: The Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting and polo. They were fond of horse riding and watching animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these fairs, musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and chaupar. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-e-Barat etc. with great pomp and show.
Features of the Hindu Society:
Following were the main features of the Hindu society in the beginning of sixteenth century :
1. Caste System : The Hindu society was mainly divided into four castes and many sub-castes. The Brahmans occupied the topmost position in the society. Their supreme position had received a great set back with the establishment of Muslim rule in India. Even, then all the rituals of the Hindus were performed by them alone.
The main occupation of the Kshatriyas was to fight and rule. But under the changed circumstances, they had adopted new occupations like trade, agriculture etc. The Vaishyas however, continued to follow their old occupations of trade and agriculture. The Shudras were treated badly in those days. Besides these four main castes, the Hindu society of those days was divided into many other castes and sub-castes. According to Nicoli Conti, an Italian traveller, there were 84 sub¬castes among the Hindus. These castes badly hated one another. The high-caste people contemptuously treated the people of low castes. The caste-system was in fact a blot on the face of the Hindu society. It had weakened the Hindu society to the extent, that its very foundations had been shaken.
2. Position of Women : The position of women in the Hindu society was also not good. She was deprieved of rights given to men. No attention was paid towards girl’s education. So, they remained uneducated. As the Muslims used to take away young Hindu girls forcibly in those days, so, they \vere married at an early age. The women were compelled to remain confined within the four walls of their houses for their whole lives. Purdah had become very popular among the Hindu women. The custom of sati was also on the rise. According to sati system, after the death of her husband, the widow was forcibly burnt alive along with the dead body of her husband on the same pyre. The re-marriage of the widow was not permitted.
3. Diet: The diet of the Hindus was very simple. Most of them were vegetarian. Their meals consisted of wheat, rice, vegetables, ghee and milk. They avoided meat, garlic and onion. The diet of the poor included coarse bread and lassi.
4. Dress: The dress of the Hindus was simple. They usually wore cotton clothes. Men used to wear dhoti and kurta and a turban on their heads. The Brahmans wore only dhoti. Women wore sari, choli (a blouse-like dress) and lehnga (a skirt¬like dress). The poor clad their bodies with a single cotton cloth (chadar). The Hindu men and women were also fond of wearing ornaments.
5. Means of Entertainment : The Hindus were fond of singing, dancing and music. They played chess and cards also. They entertained themselves through animal fights and wrestling. Besides, they celebrated their festivals with great enthusiasm.
6. Education: The Hindus received education from the Brahmans in the temples and pathshalas. They received elementary education at these places. There was no centre of higher education for the Hindus in the Punjab. The Hindus belonging to the rich class sent their wards to the madarasas of the Muslims for higher education. However, their number used to be very negligible as the Muslims hated them.
In the 16th century, two main religions Hinduism and Islam were prevalent. These religions were divided into several sects further. Besides these, Buddhism and Jainism were also popular. A brief description of these religions is as follows :
1. Hinduism: Hinduism was the most important religion of the people of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century. Hindus believed in the Vedas. Ramayana and Mahabharata were extremely popular among the people of Punjab in the 16th century. Brahmans hold the supreme position during this period. All customs from birth till death were considered incomplete without the presence of the BrahmAnswer: The following sects were popular in Hinduism in Punjab :
(a) Shaivism: Shaivism was very popular at the beginning of the 16th century in Punjab. Most of the people were devotees of Shiva. They had established Shivalayas at several places, where the teachings of Shaivism were imparted. Those who believed in Shaivism were called Jogis. The main branch of the Jogis was called Nathpanthi. It was established by Gorakhnath. Because they pierced their ears to wear kundals, they were also referred to as ‘Kaanfate Jogi’. The main centre of the Jogis in Punjab was at Gorakhnath ka Tilla in Jhelum. The Jogis preached against the Brahmanic customs and caste system.
(b) Vaishnavism: Vaishnavism was also quite popular in Punjab. The people of this sect worshipped Vishnu and his incarnations. In this period, Sri Ram and Sri Krishna were worshipped as incarnations of Vishnu. Several huge and beautiful temples were built in several parts of Punjab. The devotees of this sect did not consume wine or flesh.
(c) Shaktism: Shaktism was quite prevalent among the people of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century. The people of this sect worshipped Durga, Kali and other deities. They considered these goddesses as the symbol of power. To please these deities, animals were sacrificed. Several temples were constructed in their memory. Of these, the famous temples were Jwala Ji, Chintapurni, Chamunda Devi and Naina Devi.
2. Islam: Islam was founded by Prophet Muhammad Sahib in the 7th century A.D. in Mecca. He vehemently opposed the social and religious malpractices prevalent in society. He gave the message of one God and the mutual brotherhood of mankind. At the beginning of the 16th century, Islam spread fervently. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, all the Sultans who ruled over India were Muslims. Secondly, they converted people to Islam at the point of a sword. The followers of Islam were divided into Sunni and Shia sects. The number of Sunni Muslims was greater and they had orthodox ideas. The religious leaders of Muslims were called the Ulemas. They interpreted the Islamic laws and inspired the people to spend a pious life. They looked down upon the other religions with hatred.
3. Sufism : Sufism was a sect that was associated with Islam. This sect was popular in Punjab. This sect was divided in 12 Silsilas. The Chishti and Suhrawardi Silsilas of Punjab were most popular. Thaneswar, Hansi, Narnaul and Panipat were the famous centres of the Sufis. The people of this sect believed in only one Allah. They respected all religions. They considered service to humanity as their greatest responsibility. They believed in music. The Sufis inspired the Hindus and Muslims to maintain cordial relations, encouraged the Sultans to give up fanaticism and contributed appreciably towards the development of music and literature.
4. Jainism : Jainism was prevalent amongst the traders. The people of this sect believed in 24 Tirthankaras, Triratnas, Ahimsa, principle of Karma and Nirvana. They did not believe in the existence of God.
5. Buddhism : In the 16th century, Buddhism was a part of Hinduism. Lord Buddha was considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Very few people of Punjab followed Buddhism. Guru Nanak Dev Ji has described the religious condition of the people of Punjab in the 16th century in his compositions. According to him, both the Hindus and the Muslims observed several religious rituals such as rubbing ash on the body, putting tilak on the forehead, piercing ears for wearing kundals, bathing in the rivers, observing rozas and worshipping the tombs etc. People had completely forgotten the true spirit of religion. In the end, we agree with the words of Dr. Hari Ram Gupta, “In short, at the time of Guru Nanak’s advent both the religions in India, Hinduism and Islam, had become corrupt and degraded. They had lost their pristine purity and glory.”
Short Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Explain the political condition of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What was the political condition of Punjab in the beginning of. 16th century?
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century, the political condition of the Punjab was very unstable. As a result of the wrong policies of Lodhi Sultans, lawlessness prevailed all around. The govt, officials had become corrupt to the core and bribery was rampant. The Muslims converted the Hindus to Islam at the point of the Sword. Seaving the situation, the governor of Punjab Daulat-Khan-Lodhi invited Babar to attack India.
Question 2.
“In the beginning of the 16th century, the Punjab was a cockpit of triangular struggle”. Explain.
Or
Explain the triangular struggle of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What do you know about the triangular struggle in Punjab?
Or
Write in brief about the triangular struggle of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th Century.
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century the Punjab was a cockpit of triangular struggle. This triangular struggle began between Babar, the ruler of Kabul, Ibrahim Lodhi, the ruler of Delhi and Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of the Punjab. Daulat Khan Lodhi wanted to become an independent ruler of the Punjab. When Ibrahim Lodhi came to know about it, he imprisioned Daulat Khan Lodhi’s younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. In order to take revenge of this insult, he invited Babar to invade India. In this triangular struggle, Babar came out victorious.
Question 3.
Who was Daulat Khan Lodhi?
Or
Write a short note on Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Answer:
Daulat Khan Lodhi was appointed as the Governor of the Punjab in 1500 A.D. Daulat Khan Lodhi wanted to be an independent ruler of the Punjab. When Ibrahim Lodhi came to know about it, he issued an order to Daulat Khan Lodhi to present himself in the royal court of Delhi. In order to escape the wrath of the Sultan, Daulat Khan sent his younger son Dilawar Khan to Delhi. When Dilawar Khan reached there, he was arrested and put into prison. But soon, he succeeded in escaping from the jail. Daulat Khan invited Babar to invade India, in order to take revenge of the insult.
Question 4.
Write any three causes of the invasions of Babur over India.
Answer:
- He wanted to expand his empire.
- He wanted to plunder the wealth of India.
- He wanted to spread Islam in India.
Question 5.
When did Babar invade Saidpur? What is its importance in Sikh History?
Or
Give a brief account of Babar’s third invasion over Punjab.
Answer:
Babar invaded Saidpur in 1520 A.D. The people of this place stoutly resisted Babur. Consequently, Babar got angry. His forces massacred people in a large number, set the houses and palaces on fire after plundering them. Thousands of women were taken into custody and they were maltreated. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in Saidpur at that time and he wrote in his ‘Babar Bani’ about the tyranny of the Mughal army on people. The army of Babar had arrested the Guru Nanak Dev Ji also. Later on, when Babar came to know about the piety of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he at once ordered his release.
Question 6.
Write a brief note on the first battle of Panipat.
Or
Give a brief account of the first battle of Panipat.
Or
Explain the first battle of Panipat and its significance
Answer:
Babar invaded Punjab for the fifth time in November 1525 A.D. to teach Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab, a lesson. After putting up a brief resistance, Daulat Khan Lodhi surrendered. Encouraged by the conquest of Punjab, Babar decided to clash against Ibrahim Lodhi. With this objective in mind, he ordered his army to march towards Delhi. On April 21, 1526 A.D. both armies clashed in the first battle of Panipat. Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated and killed in this battle. Consequently, the rule of the Lodhi dynasty in India came to an end and it led to the foundation of the Mughal dynasty.
Question 7.
What were the three results of the first battle of Panipat?
Answer:
- Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated.
- It led to the end of the Delhi Sultanate.
- It led to the foundation of Mughal rule.
Question 8.
What led to the victory of Babar in the first battle of Panipat?
Or
Give a brief account of the causes of the victory of Babar and the defeat of the Afghans in India.
Answer:
- Ibrahim Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi was notorious for his ill-treatment and the tyranny caused to his nobles and his subjects. They wanted to get rid of such a ruler,
- Babar was an able commander.
- The artillery of Babar created havoc. The soldiers of Ibrahim Lodhi could not face them with their swords, bows and arrows.
Question 9.
According to Guru Nanak Dev Ji why the rulers were unjust?
Answer:
- They used to collect Jaziya and pilgrimage tax from the Hindus.
- They fleeced the peasants and committed untold atrocities on the people.
- They did not provide justice to the people without taking any bribes.
Question 10.
What was the social condition of Punjab, at the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
What do you know about the social condition of Punjab at the time of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
Answer:
At the beginning of the 16th century, the society of Punjab was divided into two main classes-the Muslims and Hindus. The Muslims being related to the ruling class, enjoyed some special privileges. They were appointed to high offices of the State. On the other hand, the Hindus were deprived of all their rights. The Muslims perpetrated so much tyranny on the Hindus that several Hindus embraced Islam under duress. At that time, the condition of women was also pitiable.
Question 11.
What was the condition of women in the society of Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century? Explain briefly.
Describe the condition of women in Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The condition of the women folk in society of Punjab, in the beginning of the 16th century was not satisfactory. Child marriage was prevalent in the society at that time. The women were deprieved all those rights which were given to men. Hindu society. As the birth of a girl was deemed an ill-omen, many of them were killed as soon as they were bom. Sati system was also at its climax. A widow was not allowed to re-marry. Muslim society also imposed many restrictions on women.
Question 12.
Into which classes was the Muslim society of the Punjab divided and what type of life did they lead, in the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Give an account of the Muslim classes of Punjab in the beginning of 16th century.
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century, the Muslim society was divided into three classes-
- Upper Class : Ihe upper class of Muslim society comprised the nobles, Khans, Shaikhs, Qazis and Ulemas. People of this class led a life of pleasure, luxury and comfort.
- Middle Class : The middle class included traders, soldiers, peasants and petty officials of the state government.
- Lower Class : This class consisted of mostly the slaves and servants. Their life was not good. They had to bear the tyranny of their masters.
Question 13.
What was the social condition of Muslims of Punjab, in the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Throw light on the condition of Muslim society of Punjab on the eve of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth.
Answer:
The social condition of Muslims of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century was very good in comparison to the Hindus. At that time, the Muslim society was divided into three classes. The upper class led a life of luxury and extravagance. The status of the middle class was much better than that of the Hindus. The lower class had to work hard to earn their livelihood. Their life was miserable. The condition of women in the Muslim society was not good.
Question 14.
What was the social condition of the Hindus in the society of the Punjab, in the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Make a mention of the social condition of Hindus in Punjab in the opening of 16th Century.
Answer:
The condition of the Hindus in society of the Punjab, in the beginning of 16th century, was deplorable. They were deprived of almost all the rights. They were called Kafirs and Zimmies. A Jaziya tax was forcibly charged from them. The Muslims forced them at the point of the sword to embrace Islam. The Hindu society was fragmented into many castes and sub-castes. It system had thoroughly weakened the very roots of the Hindu society.
Question 15.
Give a brief account of prevalent education in the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
No special progress was made in the field of education in the beginning of the 16th century. Ulemas and Maulvis taught the Muslims. Primary education was given in the mosques and maktabs, whereas higher education was provided in madarasas. Lahore and Multan were the well-known centres of higher education for the Muslims in the Punjab. The Hindus received their elemantry education from the Brahmins in the temples and pathshalas. They received their higher education with the Muslims.
Question 16.
Write a note on the means of entertainment of the people of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
What were the main means of entertainment of the people of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century, the Muslims entertained themselves in many ways. They were very fond of hunting polo, dancing, singing, music, chess, wrestling, horse riding and witnessing animal fights. They used to take part in fairs and festivals with great enthusiasm. In these, musicians and dancers entertained the viewers. They were also great lovers of playing chess and chaupar. They celebrated their festivals like Id, Nauroz and Shab-i-Barat etc. with great pomp and show.
Question 17.
Give a brief account of the economic condition of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Or
Briefly explain the economic condition of Punjab during the 16th century.
Or
Briefly mention the economic condition of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The economic condition of people in Punjab was quite sound in the beginning of the 16th century. Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. The soil of Punjab being fertile, resulted in bumper harvests. For this reason, Punjab was called granary of India. The other occupation of people in Punjab was industry. The textile industry, leather industry, arms manufacturing and wood work were the famous industries of the Punjab, at that time. These industries were owned both by the government and the public. Trade, at that time, was good in Punjab.
Question 18.
Give a brief account of the agriculture in the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century, agriculture was the main occupation of people in the Punjab. Land in Punjab was very fertile. People here were very hard-working. Canals, ponds and wells were used for irrigation. Due to these reasons, there used to be bumper harvests. Main crops of the Punjab were wheat, barley, cotton, maize, rice and sugarcane. Punjab was called the granary of India.
Question 19.
What do you know about the Punjab industries in the beginning of the 16th century?
Or
Give an account of the main industries of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
Next to agriculture, industry was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab. The state owned industries were situated in big cities, whereas the industries run by individuals were situated in villages. The textile industry was the most famous industry of the Punjab. Samana, Sunam, Sirhind, Dipalpur, Jalandhar, Lahore, Multan, Amritsar and Kashmir were famous centres of silk textile. Other industries manufactured leather goods, arms, utensils, toys and articles of ivory.
Question 20.
Give a brief account of the trade of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
The trade of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century was developed. Transportation of goods was carried on by Banjaras. Special markets were organised on the occasions of fairs and festivals’. Foreign trade of the Punjab was carried on mainly with Afghanistan, Egypt, the Arab countries, Syria, Tibet, Bhutan and China. Foodgrains, textile, silk, cotton and sugar were exported. Punjab imported horses, arms, fur, dry fruit and musk etc.
Question 21.
What was the living standard of people in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century the standard of living of all the people of the Punjab was not the same. The upper class of Muslims rolled in wealth and thus led a luxurious life. The upper class of Hindus also had much wealth, but the Muslims used to loot them. The middle class of Muslims enjoyed a better standard of living than the Hindus. The lower class were not having good standard of life. They led a pitiable life.
Question 22.
What was the religious condition of Hinduism in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
Hinduism was the cardinal religion of the people of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century. The Hindus believed in the Vedas. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata were very popular at that time. The Hindus worshipped various gods and goddesses and believed in going on pilgrimage to holy places and taking bath in holy rivers. They showed deep reverence to the BrahmAnswer: No religious ceremony could be observed without the blessings of the Brahmins.
Question 23.
Write a short note on Islam.
Or
What was the condition of Islam in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
Besides Hinduism, the other dominating religion in Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century was Islam. It was founded by Prophet Mohammad at Mecca in the 7th century. He condemned the social and religious evils prevalent in the Arabian society. He preached the oneness of God and the brotherhood of mankind. According to him, a Muslim should follow five principles. These principles were called the five pillars of life.
Question 24.
Who were Ulemas? What were their main functions?
Answer:
- Who were Ulemas? Ulemas were the religious leaders of Islam.
- Main functions of the Ulemas.
The main functions of the Ulemas were :
- They used to explain the Islamic laws (Shariyats).
- They used to encourage the Sultan to take Jihad against the Hindus.
- They prepared plans and projects for the spread of Islam.
Question 25.
Write a short note on the Sunnis.
Or
The Sunni Muslims.
Answer:
There was the majority of Sunni Muslims in Punjab. All Sultans of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Emperors belonged to the Sunnis. So, they encouraged the Sunnis and provided many facilities to them. All Qazis, Muftis and Ulemas, who did justice and imparted education, belonged to the Sunnis. The Sunnis were disciples of Prophet Mohammad Sahib. They considered Quran their most sacred scripture. They believed in one God (Allah). Allah was omnipresent and all-powerful and kind. They were not religiously tolerant. So, they were bitter opponents of Hindus. They called them ‘Kafirs’.
Question 26.
Who were the Shias? Explain.
Or
The Shias.
Answer:
Another popular sect in Punjab was the Shias. They also belonged to Prophet Mohammad Sahib like Sunnis. Their sacred scripture was Quran. They believed in one Allah. They also performed Namaz five times a day. They observed fast in the month of Ramzan. They also considered a pilgrimage to Mecca, once in life, a necessity. Though there were many similarities between the Sunnis and the Shias yet there were many differences in them. These differences made them opponents of each other.
Question 27.
Write the main teachings of Sufism.
Answer:
In the beginning of the 16th century, Sufism had become very popular. They believed in Allah. According to them, Allah is omnipotent and omnipresent. One could realise Allah only through love. They started the traditions of Qawalis. They considered service of mankind as service to God. They did not believe in caste system. They respected other faiths.
Objective Type Questions:
Question 1.
What was the political condition of the Punjab at the time of Babar’s invasion?
Answer:
Very pitiable.
Question 2.
What did Guru Nanak Dev Ji say about the political condition of the Punjab?
Answer:
Bribery and untruthfulness were very much common.
Question 3.
Who ruled over Delhi at the time of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
Or
Who was the founder of Lodhi dynasty?
Answer:
Bahlol Lodhi.
Question 4.
Who was Sikandar Lodhi?
Answer:
He was the Sultan of India from 1489 to 1517 A.D.
Question 5.
When did Sikandar Lodhi occupy the throne of Delhi?
Answer:
1489 A.D.
Question 6.
When did Ibrahim Lodhi occupy the throne?
Answer:
1517 A.D.
Question 7.
Who was the last ruler of Lodhi dynasty?
Answer:
Ibrahim Lodhi.
Question 8.
Who was Daulat Khan Lodhi?
Answer:
He was Governor of Punjab from 1500 A.D. to 1525 A.D.
Question 9.
Who was the ruler of Punjab in the beginning of 16th century?
Answer:
Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Question 10.
What do you understand by the triangular struggle of the Punjab?
Answer:
Struggle which ensued between Ibrahim Lodhi, Daulat Khan Lodhi and Babar for power in the early 16th century.
Question 11.
Of which place was Babar the ruler?
Answer:
Kabul.
Question 12.
Who was Babar?
Answer:
Babar was the ruler of Kabul.
Question 13.
When did Babar first invade Punjab?
Answer:
1519 A.D.
Question 14.
Why did Babar invade India? Give any one cause.
Answer:
He wanted to expand his empire.
Question 15.
Which of Babar’s invasions is compared to the ‘Bridal Procession of Sins’ by Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
Answer:
Third invasion of Babar (Saidpur).
Question 16.
When did Babar invade Saidpur?
Answer:
1520 A.D.
Question 17.
Which Sikh Guru Sahiban was imprisoned at the time of invasion of Saidpur by Babar?
Answer:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Question 18.
Which Mughal emperor had imprisioned Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
Answer:
Babar.
Question 19.
When was the first battle of Panipat fought?
Answer:
April 21, 1526.
Question 20.
Between whom was the first battle of Panipat fought?
Answer:
Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi.
Question 21.
Mention any one important result of first battle of Panipat.
Answer:
Foundation of Mughal rule in India.
Question 22.
Into which two main classes the society of Punjab was divided in the beginning of ’16th century?
Answer:
Muslim and Hindu.
Question 23.
Name three classes of the Muslim society in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
Three classes
(a) Upper class,
(b) Middle class and
(c) Lower class.
Question 24.
Mention any one feature of upper class in Muslim society in Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
They lived a luxurious life.
Question 25.
Into how many classes was the Hindu society of Punjab divided in the early 16th century?
Answer:
Four classes—
(a) The Brahman,
(b) Khatri,
(c) Vaish and
(d) Shudra.
Question 26.
What was the condition of Shudras in Hindu society of Punjab in the early 16th century?
Answer:
Pitiable.
Question 27.
Name any one centre of Islamic education in the Punjab in the 16th century.
Answer:
Lahore.
Question 28.
What was the main occupation of the people of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century?
Answer:
Agriculture.
Question 29.
Name any one crop raised in Punjab during the beginning of 16th century?
Answer:
Wheat.
Question 30.
Which was the most famous industry of Punjab in the early 16th century?
Answer:
Textile industry.
Question 31.
Name any one important woollen centre of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
Amritsar.
Question 32.
Name two items of export from Punjab in the early 16th century.
Answer:
Textiles and foodgrains.
Question 33.
Name any one trader community of Punjab in the early 16th century.
Answer:
Mahajan.
Question 34.
What was the name of the main sect of Punjabi Jogis in the beginning of 16th century?
Answer:
Nath Panthis and Gorakh Panthis.
Question 35.
Whom did the Jogis worship?
Answer:
Lord Shiva.
Question 36.
Why were Jogis called Kanphate Jogis?
Answer:
Because they donned huge rings in their ears.
Question 37.
What do you mean by Shaivism?
Answer:
The people of Shaivism believed in the worship of Lord Shiva.
Question 38.
What do you mean by Vaishnavism?
Answer:
The people of this sect believed in the worship of Lord Vishnu.
Question 39.
What do you mean by Shaktism?
Answer:
The people of this sect believed in the worship of Kali, Durga and other goddesses.
Question 40.
By whom was Islam founded?
Answer:
Prophet Mohammad.
Question 41.
In how many pillars Islam believed?
Answer:
Five pillars.
Question 42.
By whom was Chishti Silsila founded in India.?
Answer:
Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti.
Question 43.
At which place Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti founded Chisti Silsila?
Answer:
Ajmer.
Question 44.
Who was the most famous Chishti leader in Punjab?
Answer:
Shaikh Farid.
Question 45.
By whom was Suharwardi Silsila founded?
Answer:
Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria.
Question 46.
Where was the foundation of Suharwardi Silsila laid?
Answer:
Multan.
Question 47.
Give any one principle of the Sufis?
Answer: Sufis believed in one God.
Question 48.
Who were Ulemas?
Answer:
They were the religious leaders of the Muslims.
Question 49.
What is meant by Jaziya?
Answer:
It was a religious tax collected from Non-Muslims.
Question 50.
Give any one principle of Bhakti Movement.
Answer:
Bhaktas believed in one God.
Question 51.
Who was the founder of Bhakti Movement in Punjab?
Answer:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Question 52.
Bring out the main point of difference between the teachings of Bhaktas and those of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Answer:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not believe in incarnation, while the Bhaktas fully believed in it.
Fill in the blanks:
1. The political situation of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was quite ………………
Answer:
deplorable
2. Bahlol Lodhi founded Lodhi dynasty in …………………
Answer:
1451 A.D.
3. In 1469 A.D. at- the time of Guru Nanak Ji’s birth, ………………. was the king of Delhi.
Answer:
Bahlol Lodhi
4. Ibrahim Lodhi succeeded to the throne of Delhi in ………………..
Answer:
1517 A.D.
5. Daulat Khan Lodhi was appointed the Governor of the Punjab in …………….
Answer:
1500 A.D.
6. From 1519 A.D. to 1526 A.D., a ………………. struggle started for power in Punjab.
Answer:
triangular
7. In 1504 A.D. Babar became the ruler of ………………..
Answer:
Kabul
8. Babar invaded Punjab ………………….. times between 1519 A.D. to 1526 A.D.
Answer:
five
9. Babar invaded Punjab in ………….. for the first time.
Answer:
1519 A.D.
10. Babar imprisoned Guru Nank Dev Ji during …………….. invasion.
Answer:
Skidpur
11. The first battle of Panipat was fought on ………………….
Answer:
April 21, 1526 A.D.
12. In the beginning of the 16th century Muslim society of Punjab was divided into …………….. classes.
Answer:
three
13. Main centres of Islamic education in Punjab were ………………. and …………………
Answer:
Lahore, Multan
14. In the beginning of 16th century, the ………………. occupied top most position in the Hindu Society.
Answer:
Brahmans
15. The condition of women in Punjab was ………………… in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
deplorable
16. Most of the Hindus were ……………….. in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
vegetarian
17. In the beginning of the 16th century, ………………. was the main occupation of the people of Punjab.
Answer:
agriculture
18. The ……………… industry was the most famous industry of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
Textile
19. …………… and ………………… were the two important woollen centres of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
Amritsar, Kashmir
20. ……………….. and ……………. were two famous trade centres of the Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
Lahore, Multan
21. Yogi sect was founded by …………………..
Answer:
Gorakh Nath
22. ……………….. was the founder of Bhakti Movement.
Answer:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
23. Islam was founded by …………………
Answer:
Prophet Mohammad
24. The most famous Chishti leader in Punjab was …………………….
Answer:
Shaikh Farid Ji
True Or False:
1. The political situation of the Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was quite good.
Answer:
False
2. Sikandar Lodhi founded the Lodhi dynasty.
Answer:
False
3. In 1457 A.D. BahloL Lodhi sat on the throne.
Answer:
True
4. Sikandar Lodhi succeeded to the throne in 1489 A.D.
Answer:
True
5. Ibrahim Lodhi was the new ruler in 1517 A.D.
Answer:
True
6. Daulat Khan LOdhi was appointed as Governor of the Punjab in 1469 A.D.
Answer:
False
7. Babar was born in 1494 A.D.
Answer:
False
8. Babar occupied Kabul in 1504 A.D.
Answer:
True
9. Babar invaded India in 1519 A.D. for the first time.
Answer:
True
10. Babar attacked Saidpur in 1526 A.D.
Answer:
False
11. Guru Nanak Dev Ji compared the ‘Babar’s invasion on Saidpur to ‘Bridal procession of Sins’
Answer:
True
12. The first battle of Panipat was fought between Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 A.D.
Answer:
True
13. The Muslim society of Punjab in the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided into two groups.
Answer:
False
14. Lower class of Muslim society consisted mainly of the peasants.
Answer:
False
15. The women in the Muslim society were highly respected in the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Answer:
False
16. Lahore and Multan were the well known centres of the education for Muslims in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
True
17. The Brahmans occupied the top most position in the Hindu society in the beginning of £he 16th century.
Answer:
True
18. The main Occupation of the Kshatriyas was agriculture in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
False
19. The position of women in Hindu society was very pitiable in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
True
20. In the beginning of thel6th century, animal rearing was the main occupation of the people of Punjab.
Answer:
False
21. In the beginning of thel6th century, wheat was richly harvested in Punjab.
Answer:
True
22. The textile industry was the most famous industry of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century.
Answer:
True
23. Kashmir was the famous centre of woollen shawls in the 16th century.
Answer:
True
24. Nath Panthi sect of Yogis was founded by Gorakh Nath.
Answer:
True
25. Islam was founded by Prophet Mohammad.
Answer:
True
26. Chisti Silsila was founded by Shaikh Muinuddin Chisti.
Answer:
True
27. Shaikh Farid Ji was the prominent preacher of Chisti Silsila in Punjab.
Answer:
True
28. Shaikh Baha-ud-din laid the foundation of Suharawardi Silsila.
Answer:
True
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who founded Lodhi dynasty?
(a) Bahlol Lodhi
(b) Daulat Khan Lodhi
(c) Sikandar Lodhi
(d) Ibrahim Lodhi.
Answer:
(a) Bahlol Lodhi
2. When did Bahlol Lodhi succeed the throne of Delhi?
(a) In 1437 A.D.
(b) In 1451 A.D.
(c) In 1489 A.D.
(d) In 1577 A.D.
Answer:
(b) In 1451 A.D.
3. When did Ibrahim Lodhi succeed the throne of Delhi? ,
(a) In 1489 A.D.
(b) In 1516 A.D.
(c) In 1517 A.D.
(d) In 1526 A.D.
Answer:
(c) In 1517 A.D.
4. Who was Daulat Khan Lodhi?
(a) Governor of Punjab
(b) Governor of Delhi
(c) Governor of Awadh
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(a) Governor of Punjab
5. When was Daulat Khan Lodhi appointed as Governor of Punjab?
(a) In 1489 A.D.
(b) In 1500 A.D.
(c) In 1517 A.D.
(d) In 1526 A.D.
Answer:
(b) In 1500 A.D.
6. Who was not included in the triangular struggle of Punjab?
(a) Babar
(b) Daulat Khan Lodhi
(c) Ibrahim Lodhi
(d) Alam Khan Lodhi.
Answer:
(d) Alam Khan Lodhi.
7. When did Babar first invade Punjab?
(a) In 1509 A.D.
(b) In 1519 A.D.
(c) In 1520 A.D.
(d) In 1524 A.D.
Answer:
(b) In 1519 A.D.
8. When did Babar invade Saidpur?
(a) In 1519 A.D.
(b) In 1520 A.D.
(c) In 1524 A.D.
(d) In 1526 A.D.
Answer:
(b) In 1520 A.D.
9. Which Guru was imprisoned by Babar during Saidpur invasion?
(a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
(b) Guru Amar Das Ji
(c) Guru Hargobind Ji
(d) Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Answer:
(a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
10. When was the first battle of Panipat fought between Ibrahim Lodhi and Babar?
(a) In 1519 A.D.
(b) In 1525 A.D.
(c) In 1526 A.D.
(d) In 1526 A.D.
Answer:
(c) In 1526 A.D.
11. Who was defeated in the first battle of Panipat?
(a) Babar
(b) Maharana Partap
(c) Ibrahim Lodhi
(d) Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Answer:
(c) Ibrahim Lodhi
12. Into how many classes, the Muslim society was divided in the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Answer:
(b) Three
13. Who were not included in upper class of Muslim society in the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Maliks
(b) Shaikhs
(c) Iqtadars
(d) Traders
Answer:
(d) Traders
14. Who belonged to middle class of Muslim society in the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Traders
(b) Soldiers
(c) Farmers
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above
15. Who among the following did not belong to lower class of Muslim society?
(a) Qazi
(b) Servants
(c) Slaves
(d) Labourers.
Answer:
(a) Qazi
16. Name the main Islamic education centre in the Punjab in the 16th century.
(a) Sirhind
(b) Jalandhar
(c) Peshawar
(d) Lahore
Answer:
(d) Lahore
17. Name the main occupation of the people of Punjab in the beginning of 16th century.
(a) Trade
(b) Agriculture
(c) Industry
(d) Animal-rearing.
Answer:
(b) Agriculture
18. Which were the main crops raised in Punjab during the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Wheat
(b) Rice
(c) Sugarcane
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above
19. Which was the important industry of Punjab in the 16th century?
(a) Leather industry
(b) Textile industry
(c) Armaments industry
(d) Ivory industry.
Answer:
(b) Textile industry
20. Which city was not important woollen centre of Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Jalandhar
(b) Amritsar
(c) Kashmir
(d) Kangra
Answer:
(a) Jalandhar
21. Name the most important Trade centre of the Punjab in the 16th century.
(a) Lahore
(b) Ludhiana
(c) Jalandhar
(d) Amritsar
Answer:
(a) Lahore
22. Which was the main religion in Punjab in the beginning of the 16th century?
(a) Islam
(b) Hinduism
(c) Christianity
(d) Sikhism
Answer:
(b) Hinduism
23. Who founded the Yogis sect Nathpanthi?
(a) Gorakhanath
(b) Shivanath
(c) Mahatma Buddha
(d) Swami Mahavira.
Answer:
(a) Gorakhanath
24. How many avataras of Vishnu are mentioned in Puranas?
(a) 5
(b) 10
(c) 24
(d) 25
Answer:
(c) 24
25. Which of the following sect is not related with Hinduism in the early 16th century?
(a) Shaivism
(b) vaishmavism
(c) Shaktism
(d) Sufism
Answer:
(d) Sufism
26. Who was the founder of Islam?
(a) Abu Bakr
(b) Umar
(c) Prophet Mohammad Sahib
(d) Ali
Answer:
(c) Prophet Mohammad Sahib
27. When was Islam founded?
(a) In 5th century
(b) In sixth century
(c) In 7th century
(d) In eigth century
Answer:
(c) In 7th century
28. Who was the first Khalifa of Islam?
(a) Ali
(b) Abu Bakr
(c) Umar
(d) Usman.
Answer:
(b) Abu Bakr
29. Sufi mode of idealogy is known as
(a) Pir
(b) Dargah
(c) Tasawaf
(d) Silsila.
Answer:
(c) Tasawaf
30. Who was the founder of Chisti Silsila?
(a) Shaikh Muinuddin Chisti
(b) Shaikh Bahuddin Zakaria
(c) Shaikh Farid Ji
(d) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
Answer:
(a) Shaikh Muinuddin Chisti
31. Who was the famous Chisti saint of Punjab?
(a) Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya
(b) Sheikh Farid
(c) Shaikh Qutabuddin Bekhtiyar
(d) Khawaja Muinuddin Chisti.
Answer:
(b) Sheikh Farid
32. Where was the main centre of Suharawadi Silsila in Punjab?
(a) Multan
(b) Lahore
(c) Jalandhar
(d) Amritsar.
Answer:
(a) Multan
33. Who started the tradition of Qawalis?
(a) Islam
(b) Sufis
(c) Hindus
(d) Sikhs
Answer:
(b) Sufis
