SHAHEED RAJPAL DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL

HALF YEARLY EXAM (2020-21)

CLASS: XII
SUBJECT: HISTORY
Time: 2 Hours + 20 Minutes M.M.: 50

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper is divided into three sections A & B.
3. Section A consists of objective type questions to be attempted on MS Forms. Click on the
link to open objective question paper.
4. Section B consists of subjective type questions to be written and uploaded on assignment
in PDF format.
5. Write your Roll No, Name, Class & Section on each page of the answer sheet.
6. Uploading Time : 20 minutes.
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SECTION A (OBJECTIVE PAPER)

Time: 40 min M.M.: 20

CLICK AND OPEN THE LINK FOR OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uVdSLCoxHUWYThBldv57gDBo_XO6jZJEpNxN-
NAZAPVUM1REVERNTUlaSklXUDZRUlI5T0U1MktQWC4u

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SECTION B (SUBJECTIVE PAPER)

Time: 1 hr 20 min M.M.: 30

1- Early Harappan archaeologists found certain objects which seem unusual and unfamiliar but
may have had a religious significance. Substantiate. (3)

2- Explain the main features of the Mauryan administration. (3)

3- Why did the rulers of Vijayanagara Empire give much priority to water management? Discuss
with examples. (3)

4- Explain the observations of Domingo Paes on Vijayanagara Empire. (3)

5- Sufism evolved as a reaction to the growing materialism of the Caliphate as a religious and
political institution. Elucidate. (4)

6- What is Numismatics? How has the study of coins helped the Numismatists to reconstruct
possible commercial network? (8)

7- Read the following source carefully and answer the question that follow :
 The Wealthy Shudra

This story, based on a Buddhist text in Pali known asthe MajjhimaNikaya, dialogue between a king
named Avantiputta and a disciple of the Buddha named Kachchana. While it may not be literally
true, it revealsBuddhist attitudestowards varna.

Avantiputta asked Kachchana what he thought about Brahmanas, who held that they were the
best caste and that all other castes were low ; that Brahmanas were a fair caste while all other
castes were dark; that only Brahmanas were pure, not non-Brahmanas; that Brahmanas were
sonsof Brahma,bornof hismouth,bornofBrahma,formedbyBrahma, heirstoBrahma.
Kachchana replied: “What if a Shudra was wealthy ... would another Shudra ... or a Kshatriya
or a Brahmana or aVaishya ...speak politely to him?”

Avantiputta replied that if a Shudra had wealth or corn or gold or silver, he could have as his
obedient servant another Shudra to get up earlier than he, to go to rest later, to carry out his
orders, to speak politely; or he could even have a Kshatriya or a Brahmana or a Vaishya as
his obedientservant.

Kachchana asked: “This being so, are not these four varnas exactly the same?”
Avantiputta conceded that therewas no difference amongst the varnas on this count.

1- Why did the Brahmana consider themselves superior to other caste? (2)
2- How could a Shudra improve his status according to Kachchana? (2)
3- What does this story reveal about Buddhist attitude towards Varna? (2)