SEMESTER II : QUESTION BANK

SOCIAL FORMATIONS & CULTURAL PATTERNS

OF THE ANCIENT WORLD - II

2016
Paper 1

1. What role did patrician and plebeian orders play in modifying the structure of the Roman
Republic ( 509-27 BC)
2. Evaluate the contraction of Augustus Caesar towards the establishment of the Roman
Empire.
3. Do you agree with the view that slavery was institutionalised I Ancient roman ? Give
reasons.
4. Examine the causes for the decline of the Roman Empire.
5. Outline the major developments in the feudal organization of production in Western
Europe between 8th to 11th Centuries.
6. Analyze the causes for the onset of crisis within feudalism in Europe in the 14th century.
7. Evaluate the socio-economic and political changes during the Abbasid caliphate.
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. roman civil wars
b. Rise and spread of christianity
c. Pre islami Arabia
d. Emergence of towns and trade in medieval Europe.

Paper 2

1. Why did the conflict of the “social orders” fail to resolve the social tensions in the roman
republic ?
2. Do you agree that slavery played a central role in the growth of roman economy and
society ?
3. Critically evaluate Augustus’s rise to power
4. Describe the processes that contributed to the emergence of feudal relations in early
medieval Europe.
5. How did the growth of technology and the development of towns change economy and
society in medieval Europe ?
 6. Critically evaluate Muhammad’s success in unifying the tribes of Arabia in the 7th
century CE
7. Write an essay in the Umayyad or the Abbasid Caliphate.
8. Write a short note on any two of the following :
a. Roman culture
b. Decline of Rome
c. Peasant rebellions in Europe in the 14th and 15th century
d. Al-Rashidun Caliph.

2017
(old course)

1. Discuss the nature of social struggles that characterized the period of the Roman
Republic ( 509 - 27 BC )
2. How far did the process of Pax- Romana ( roman peace ) contribute to the establishment
of order and stability in the roman empire ? Give reasons.
3. Analyse the role of slavery in ancient Rome
4. Evaluate the important developments in the emergence of feudalism in western Europe
5. Assess the significance of the growth of towns and trade in the feudal economy and
society of western Europe between 12th and 13th century.
6. How did the Christianity influence the social and cultural life of Europe ? Discuss.
7. Account for the emergence and success of islam before the Umayyad caliphate.
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. Roman senate
b. Julius caesar
c. Crisis in feudalism
d. Abbasid caliphate

(new course)

1. Discuss the developments of political institutions in Athens and Sparta.

2. Evaluate the role and significant of slavery in ancient Greece and Roman economy
3. Examine the factors responsible for the decline of the Roman Empire
4. Examine the important developments in the transition from slavery to feudalism in
medieval Europe.
5. What was the impact of towns and trade on the feudal economy in medieval Europe ?
6. Give an overview of the historical conditions which led to the beginning of islam in Arab
7. Examine the nature of caliphates under the Umayyad and the Abbasid
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. greek culture
b. Pax Romana
c. Religion and culture in medieval Europe
d. Urbanization and trade in the medieval Arab world.

2018
1. Trace the different stages which marked the growth of the athenian polis
2. Was slavery instrumental in the making f the ancient Greece and Roman empire ?
3. Examine the contributions of Augustus Caesar in the making of the Roman empire.
4. Critically analyze the main phases of feudalism in medieval Europe.
5. Assess the major factors leading to the crisis of feudalism.
6. What were the major social, political and economic changes from Umayyad to the
Abbasid caliphates ?
7. Give an account of contributions made by Islam in the field of culture or urban traditions.
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. Greek culture
b. Conflict of the orders
c. Feudal culture
d. Mohammad and Islam

2019
1. Throw light on the important chinese that contribute to the establishment of democratic
institutions in Athens
2. How did slavery sustain agrarian economy, trade and urbanisation in the classical
Grecco-Roman world ?
3. Discuss the importance of the conflict of orders and its crucial role in shaping the history
of the roman republic.
4. Examine the important characteristic features of feudalism from the 11th to the 14th
century in Europe.
5. Discuss the main trends associated with feudal crisis
6. What were the factors that contributed to the rise if Islam in Arabia ?
7. Analyze the nature of the caliphate state under the abbasids.
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. greek religion
b. Feudal culture
c. Crisis of roman empire
d. Umayyad caliphate.
 HISTORY OF INDIA - II

2016
Paper 1

1. ‘Asoka’s Dhamma was mainly an extension of his administrative policy’. Do you agree ?
2. Discuss the non-agrarian economy from 200 BCE to 300 CE with special reference to
commerce, craft production and currency.
3. On the basis of available sources discuss social changes from 300 BCE to 300 CE
4. Review the political formations under the kushanas and Satavahanas
5. Write an essay on agrarian expansion and urban changes from 4th Century CE to 750 CE
6. Trace the growth and development of Puranic theistic cults during the period of study.
7. Write an essay on important features of Pallava and Chalukya art and architecture.
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. Mauryan Art
b. Mahayana Buddhism
c. Purushartha and Samskaras
d. Scientific and technical treaties

Paper 2

1. ‘Ashoka’s dhamma was mainly an extension of his administrative policy’. Do you agree?
2. Discuss the non agrarian economy from 200 BCE to 300 BCE with special reference to
commerce, craft production and currency.
3. On the basis of available sources, discuss social changes from 300 BCE to 300 CE.
4. Review the main features of Satavahana polity.
5. Write an essay on agrarian expansion and urban changes from 4th century CE to 750 CE.
6. Trace the growth of Puranic during the period of study.
7. Write an essay on important features of Pallava art and architecture.
8. Short notes on:
a. Mauryan art
b. Mahayana buddhism
c. Kanishka I
d. Scientific and technical treatises

2017
( old course )
 1. Critically examine the Mauryan economy on the basis of available sources
2. Describe the nature of social stratification in terms of varna, jati and gender
differentiation from 200 BCE to 300 CE.
3. Describe the features of Asoka’s policy of Dhamma and evaluate its impact on the
downfall of the Mauryan dynasty.
4. Write an essay on the Kushanas and satavahanas polity
5. Review the debate on the price of urban decline with reference to tide, currency and
urban settlement from 4th century CE to 7th Century CE.
6. Trace the growth development puranic theistic cults during the period of study.
7. Write an essay on the features of Pallava and Chalukya art and architecture.
8. Write short notes on any two of following :
a. mathura and gandhara art
b. Varnasharmadharma and Samskaras
c. Sanskrit literature
d. Beginning of Tantrism

Paper 1

1. How far do you agree that ashoka’s dhamma was an administrative tool to keep the
empire intact?
2. Assess the significance of the period from c.300 BCE to 300 CE in the history of
Tamilakam.
3. Trace the growth of urban centers, crafts production and trade from c. 200 BCE to 300
CE.
4. Describe the nature of social stratification in terms of varna, jati, untouchability and
gender from c. 600 BCE to 300 CE.
5. What changes did land grants bring in terms of agrarian expansion, production relations
and land rights from the 4th century to 750 CE?
6. Critically examine the main features of puranic hinduism during the period of your study.
7. Outline the main features of temple architecture in India between c. 4th century CE to
750 CE.
8. Short notes on:
a. Monarchy and ganas/sanghas
b. Relationship between state and forest
c. Mauryan art and architecture
d. Teachings of Mahavira
Paper 2
1. Outline the important features of the society and economy of north India between 300
BCE and 300 CE.
2. Account for the decline of the Mauryan empire.
3. Assess the significance of satavahana rule in the early history of the Deccan.
4. Explain the model of “Indian feudalism”. How far does it help us to understand the early
medieval period?
5. Give an account of administration under the Guptas. How far did it differ from that of the
mauryas?
6. Write an essay on vaishnavism and shaivism.
7. Explain the progress in the field of art and architecture from 300 CE to 750 CE.
8. Short notes on:
e. Sanchi
f. Harshavardhana
g. Alvars and nayanars
h. Beginning of tantrism

2018
1. Examine the main features of Asoka’s policy of Dhamma, how far is it correct to say that
it was the code of social ethics ?
2. Describe the main features of Kushana polity. What new features did they bring in the
existing political system ?
3. Examine the nature of internal and external trade between c. 200 BCE to 300 CE.
4. Examine the impact of the land grains in terms of agrarian expansion, production
relations and land rights during the early medieval period.
5. Discuss varna system, proliferation of jatis, changing norms of marriage and inheritance
in the period between c. 4th century CE to 750 CE.
6. Trace the growth of puranic hinduism during the period of your study
7. Outline the main features of temple architecture between c. 4th century to 750 CE
8. Write short notes on any two of the following :
a. stupa architecture.
b. Relationship between state and forest
c. Tamilakam
d. Teachings of Buddha.

2019
1. In the light of the recent research critically examine the nature of Mauryan state
2. How far would you agree with the view that the concept of Tina is central to the
understanding of social, economic and political history of Tamilakam during the period
between 300 BCE to 300 CE ?
3. Examine the state of agrarian economy and production relations during the period
between c. 600 BCE to 300 BCE.
4. Critically discuss the nature of Indians internal and external trade during the period
between c. 300 BCE to 300 CE. How far did trees contribute to the spread of Buddhism
outside India ?
5. Evaluate the conditions of trade, currency, and urban centers of India during the period
between 4th century CE and 750 CE.
6. Outline the changes in the varna and jati systems during the period between 4th century
CE and 750 CE
7. Trace the development of sculpture art in India during the period between 300 BCE and
600 CE.
8. Write a short note on any two of the following :
a. Untouchability in the ancient India
b. Teachings of the buddha
c. Vaishnavism
d. Scientific and technical treatises