{Paper} History UPSC Mains 2012

History Paper - 1

SECTION - A

1. Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write short notes of about 40 words on each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim:(i) A prehistoric site
(ii) A chalcolithic site
(iii) A religious centre
(iv) A prehistoric site
(v) An art centre
(vi) A prehistoric site
(vii) An art centre
(viii) A port
(ix) A capital town
(x) A prehistoric site
(xi) A post Mauryan town
(xii) An Art centre
(xiii) A prehistoric site
(xiv) A chalcolithic site
(xv) A chalcolithic site
(xvi) A chalcolithic site
(xvii)  A prehistoric site
(xviii) An art centre
(xix) A chalcolithic site
(xx) A chalcolithic site

Question 2.

(a) Evaluate the significance of seals and sealings in the reconstruction of socio-economic and religious life of the Harappan people.
(b) Justify Pliny's statement the Rome was being drained out of its gold by India during the first century of the Christian era.

Question 3.

(a) Discuss the extent, settlement patterns and subsistence economy of the megalithic cultures.
(b) Assess the educational system in early India and identify important educational institutions of the period.

Question 4.

(a) Examine the role of adhyaksha in the Mauryan administration.
(b) Analyse the vibrant cultural activities in peninsular India during 550-750 CE. Compare and contrast it with the situation in contemporary North India.

SECTION - B

5. Write short notes in not more than 150 words on each:(a) Evaluate Rajtarangini as asource of history.
(b) Medieval Indian towns were merely as extension of villages. Comment.
(c) Assess the contribution of the Acharyas in the development of the ideological basis of bhakti.
(d) Discuss the Cauraoancashika and Jain styles of paintings. Can the Cauraoancashika style truly be called the precursor of pothi format?
(e) Give social background to the rice of the Maratha movement during the seventeenth century.

Question 6.(a) What kind of changes were visualised by historians on Indian feudalism ? Examine critically.
(b) Analyse the social composition and the role of mobility under the successors of Iltutmish. How did it affect the contemporary politics?

Question 7.(a) Evaluate the role of nadu and magaram in the growth of urbanisation under the Cholas.
(b) How did theMongol invasions affect the Delhi Sultanate and the north-western frontier policy of the Delhi Sultans ?

Question 8.(a) State the structure of medieval village society in Northern India. What were the passive forms of resistance of the peasants in the medieval period?
(b) How was the Afghan nobility responsible for the decline of the Afghan empires ? Discuss.