Samacheer Class 7 Social Science - Sources of Medieval India

1. Uttiramerur plates provide details about administration in a Brahmadeya village. These inscriptions, particularly from the Chola period, offer valuable insights into the local self-governance and administrative systems, including the election of village assembly members. 2. Muhammad Ghori had stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his gold coins and had his name inscribed on it. This was a notable practice that indicated a degree of cultural assimilation or strategic outreach to the local population during his rule. 3. 3.6 grams of silver amounted to a Jital. The Jital was a widely used copper or billon coin in medieval India, particularly during the Delhi Sultanate, and its value was often linked to specific weights of silver or copper. 4. Minhaj-us-siraj was patronised by Sultan Nazir-ud-din Mahmud of the Slave Dynasty. Minhaj-us-siraj was a prominent historian and chronicler of the Delhi Sultanate, known for his work 'Tabaqat-i Nasiri,' which provides a detailed account of the early Islamic rule in India. 5. An Italian traveller Nicolo Conti visited Vijayanagar Empire in 1420. His accounts offer valuable foreign perspectives on the grandeur, administration, and cultural life of the Vijayanagar Empire during its flourishing period.

1. Pallichchandam was the land donated to the Jaina institution. This statement is True. Inscriptions from medieval South India often mention different types of land grants, and Pallichchandam specifically referred to land given for the maintenance of Jaina monasteries and institutions. 2. The composition of metal coins gives us information on the political condition of the empire. This statement is False. While the composition of metal coins can provide insights into the economic prosperity, availability of metals, and sometimes the artistic preferences of a ruler, it does not directly reveal the political condition of an empire. Political conditions are better understood through inscriptions, chronicles, and administrative records. 3. The high cost of copper made palm leaf and paper cheaper alternatives for recording royal orders and events in royal courts. This statement is True. Copper plates were durable but expensive, so for everyday records, royal orders, and literary works, more affordable materials like palm leaves (especially in South India) and paper (which became more common in North India) were widely used. 4. Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller, visited the Chola Empire in 1522. This statement is False. Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagar Empire, not the Chola Empire, around 1520-1522. His detailed accounts provide valuable information about the city of Hampi and the Vijayanagar rulers.

1. A Jital contained 4.6 grains of Silver. This statement is False. A Jital was primarily a copper or billon coin, and its silver content, if any, varied greatly. The specific weight of 4.6 grains of silver is not consistently associated with a Jital. The value and composition of Jitals fluctuated across different periods and rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. 2. Minhaj – us – siraj patronized by sultan Nazro udin Muhammed. This statement is True. Minhaj-us-Siraj, a prominent historian of the Delhi Sultanate, was indeed patronized by Sultan Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, the eighth sultan of the Mamluk dynasty. His work, 'Tabaqat-i Nasiri,' is a crucial source for understanding the history of the early Sultanate period. 3. Khafi Khan was the courtier Akbar. This statement is False. Khafi Khan was a historian during the reign of Aurangzeb, not Akbar. His work, 'Muntakhab-ul-Lubab,' is a significant historical account of the Mughal Empire, particularly focusing on the later period of Aurangzeb's rule.

During medieval times, several important mosques and forts were constructed, reflecting the architectural prowess and religious and strategic needs of the rulers. Important Mosques include the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid in Delhi, one of the earliest mosques built in India after the Islamic conquest; the Moth-ki Masjid, a beautiful mosque built during the Lodi dynasty; the Fatehpur Sikri Dargah, which includes the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti and the grand Buland Darwaza; and Charminar in Hyderabad, an iconic monument and mosque built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. Important Forts from this period include the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a prominent Mughal fort; the Chittor Fort in Rajasthan, known for its historical significance and numerous battles; the Gwalior Fort, an ancient hill fort with a rich history; the Red Fort in Delhi, a magnificent Mughal fort built by Shah Jahan; and the Forts of Daulatabad and Firozshah Kotla, which served as strategic strongholds and capital cities at various times.

The picture and the legend on the coins convey the names of kings with their titles and portraits, events, places, dates, dynasties, and logos.
The composition of metals in the coins gives us information on the economic condition of the empire.
Mention of the king’s achievements like military conquests, territorial expansion, trade links, and religious faith can also be found in the coins.
Muhammad Ghori had stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his gold coins and had his name inscribed on it.
This coin tells us that this early Turkish invader was in all likelihood liberal in religious outlook. Copper Jitals are available for the study of the period of the Delhi Sultans.
Silver Tanka introduced by Iltutmish, Ala-ud-din Khalji’s gold coins, Muhammad-bin- Tughluq’s copper token currency is indicative of coinage as well as the economic prosperity or otherwise of the country of the time. A jital contained 3.6 grains of silver. Forty-eight jitals were equal to 1 silver tanka.

1. Khafi Khan was a courtier of Emperor Aurangazeb. He was a notable historian who authored 'Muntakhab-ul-Lubab,' a significant chronicle of the Mughal Empire, particularly focusing on Aurangzeb's reign. 2. Tiruvalangadu copper plates belong to Rajendra Chola I. These copper plates are crucial historical documents that provide extensive details about the genealogy, conquests, and administrative achievements of the Chola dynasty, especially during the reign of Rajendra Chola I. 3. Shalabhoga was the land for the maintenance of the school. In medieval South India, various types of land grants were made, and Shalabhoga specifically designated land whose revenues were used for the upkeep and functioning of educational institutions. 4. Sekkizhar compiled Periyapuranam. Sekkizhar was a great Tamil poet and saint who authored the Periyapuranam, a monumental hagiographical work detailing the lives of the sixty-three Nayanmars, the Saivite saints of Tamil Nadu. 5. Tarikh (or) Tahquiq is an Arabic word meaning history. This term was widely used in medieval Islamic historiography to refer to historical accounts and chronicles, providing narratives of rulers, events, and societies. 6. Muhammad bin Tughluq transferred his capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Dauladabad) in the south. This controversial decision was made in an attempt to better control the Deccan region and the southern parts of his vast empire, though it ultimately proved to be an unsuccessful and arduous undertaking.

The composition of metals used in coins serves as a reliable indicator of an empire's economic prosperity and stability. Precious metals such as gold and silver are rare, valuable, and highly sought after in any economy. When an empire possesses sufficient wealth and resources to mint coins from these precious metals rather than from base metals, it demonstrates that the state has accumulated considerable treasure and maintains strong economic control. The use of gold and silver coins indicates that the empire had access to trade networks, mining resources, and the financial capacity to support such production. Furthermore, the purity and weight of these metal coins reflect the empire's creditworthiness and economic confidence. If an empire begins to debase its coins by reducing the proportion of precious metals, it signals economic decline and loss of purchasing power. Conversely, consistent use of high-quality precious metal coins throughout an empire's reign suggests sustained economic prosperity, successful trade, military strength, and effective administration. Therefore, numismatic evidence, or the study of coins, provides historians with concrete material proof of an empire's economic health during different periods of its rule.