Grade: VII

Subject: HISTORY

Topic: KHILJI AND TUGHLAQ DYNASTIES

1. Why didn’t Alauddin annex the Deccan territories? [3]
 Alauddin realised that it would be difficult to control the Deccan territories from far-
away Delhi.
 He only wanted and treasures of the Deccan in order to maintain a huge army.
 He preferred to get tributes from the defeated Deccan rulers.

2. Write about the Market regulations introduced by Alauddin Khilji. [4]

 Alauddin Khilji set up three markets. The first is for food grains. The second market is
for the cloth of all kinds and expensive items such as sugar, ghee, oil, and dry fruits,
etc. The third market was for horses, slaves, and cattle.
 Each market was under the control of the Shahana.
 The Prices of all commodities were fixed and prices of essential items were kept low.
 Strict punishments were given to merchants who under-weighed goods or cheated on
price.
 Merchants were not allowed to hoard grains.

3. What measures did Alauddin take against the Nobility? [4]

 The nobles were not allowed to hold parties without the consent of the Sultan.
 An efficient spy system was maintained to check the activities of the nobles.
 Nobles could not form marriage alliances without the permission of the Sultan.
 Gambling and drinking wine was strictly prohibited.

4. Alauddin also made sweeping changes in the military administration. Explain. [4]
 Alauddin Khilji maintained a strong and huge standing army to safeguard his empire.
 He introduced the system of branding of horses (dagh) and maintenance of descriptive
register of soldiers (chehra) to prevent false musters and corrupt practices.
 Alauddin paid the salaries in cash.
 Nobles were not allowed to maintain armies.

5. What measures were taken to protect the kingdom from Mongol invasions? [4]
 The Forts along the Mongol route were repaired and the frontier provinces were
placed under the best generals.
 The army was reorganized and strengthened.
 Mongol leaders were captured and trampled to death by elephants.
 The Mongols who had embraced Islam and had settled in Delhi were mercilessly,
massacred.

6. Why was Tughlaq considered a learned scholar of his times? [3]

 He had a great thirst for knowledge and spent his time in the company of learned
men.

Worksheet No:
Grade: VII
Subject: HISTORY

 He had an extraordinary memory and mastered logic, philosophy, mathematics

astronomy and other sciences.
 He was a lover of literature, poetry, art and music and patronized it.

7. Historians call Muhammad bin Tughlaq a ‘wise fool’, ‘mad man’ and an ‘idealist and
visionary.’ Give reason for this contradiction. [2]
 He was a diligent ruler and undertook many projects.
 The ideas were brilliant but they were poorly executed.

8. Why did Mohammad bin Tughlaq transfer the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? [2]
 Daulatabad was a more central location to rule the Sultanate from.
 The capital in the centre would be safe from a possible Mongol attack.

9. How did the transfer of capital prove to be a failed scheme? [4]

 Many of his ministers, soldiers and the public felt homesick and missed their
hometown.
 The climate and terrain of Daulatabad also proved a challenge.
 Moreover, it became impossible to control north India, which now lay exposed to a
Mongol attack.
 Tughlaq ordered the return to Delhi. The whole exercise had drained the treasury.

10. Why was token currency introduced by Tughlaq and why did it fail? [4]
 Muhammad introduced bronze and copper coins to combat the shortage of silver
during that time.
 People became dishonest and began to illegally mint the token coins, in bulk at home.
 Money lost its value as it was difficult to differentiate between the royal and fake
coins.
 Traders refused to accept the fake coins and trade came to a standstill. The economy
collapsed.

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