South Asia 1450-1750

What was a significant characteristic of South Asia from the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries?

• It was predominantly agricultural with little trade.

• It was a prosperous and diverse place with large empires.

• It was isolated from other parts of the world.

• It was under constant warfare with no stable governance.

What was the Mughal Empire known for in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries?

• Limited access to resources and poor administrative systems.

• Ethnically and religiously pluralist state with new administrative systems.

• Lack of significant trade networks.

• Homogeneous religious practices.

Which of the following was a common feature of Indian society in 1450?

• It was divided into small, homogeneous communities.

• It was predominantly urban with little agricultural output.

• It was home to diverse societies including multiple religious groups.

• It was completely unified under a single religious belief.

How did the rulers of fifteenth century India promote religious and cultural diversity?

• By enforcing a single state religion.

• By isolating different religious communities.

• By encouraging people of every faith to serve in their courts.

• By limiting interactions between different religious groups.

Under whose reign did the Mughal Empire reach its peak, expanding from Afghanistan to Bengal and southwards to the central Indian Deccan?

• Babur

• Humayun

• Akbar

• Shah Jahan

What was a significant contribution of Emperor Akbar to the Mughal monetary system?

• He introduced the gold dinar as the sole currency.

• He established the silver rupee as a prominent currency.

• He banned the use of metallic coins.

• He implemented a barter system exclusively.

How did Akbar's policies affect the social structure under Mughal rule?

• They restricted interactions between different social groups.

• They led to a decrease in the mobility of the lower classes.

• They facilitated a more connected and dynamic social structure.

• They maintained strict social hierarchies without change.

What was one of the cultural policies implemented by Akbar?

• He discouraged the use of local languages.

• He formalized the policy of "universal toleration."

• He banned all forms of art and music.

• He promoted only Islamic traditions.

What role did marriages play in the Mughal alliances during Akbar's reign?

• They were discouraged to maintain purity of lineage.

• They were used to build durable alliances with Hindu Rajputs.

• They were solely for personal relationships without political implications.

• They were banned to avoid conflicts of interest.

How did Aurangzeb's representation of his authority differ from his predecessors?

• He presented himself as a liberal and secular ruler.

• He portrayed himself as a military dictator.

• He represented himself as quasi-divine, the "Shadow of God on Earth."

• He avoided any personal representation in public.