Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 Solutions (NCERT 2026–27) – Reshaping India’s Political Map
These Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 solutions cover Reshaping India’s Political Map from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part I), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. This ‘Tapestry of the Past’ chapter traces the later medieval period (roughly the 13th to 17th centuries) — the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughals, and the resistance offered by the Rajputs, Ahoms, Sikhs and many regional kingdoms. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.
Class: 8Subject: Social ScienceBook: Exploring Society: India and BeyondChapter: 2Theme: Tapestry of the Past (Medieval India)Session: 2026–27
Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 – Overview
Chapter 2, Reshaping India’s Political Map, covers the later ‘medieval’ period of Indian history, roughly the 11th to 17th centuries. From the early 11th century, invasions from beyond the Hindu Kush reshaped India’s political boundaries. The chapter follows the Delhi Sultanate (Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis) and its constant instability and violent successions, alongside the resistance of the Eastern Gangas, Hoysalas, Musunuri Nayakas and Rana Kumbha. It then traces the Vijayanagara Empire under Krishnadevaraya and its fall at the Battle of Talikota (1565), the rise of the Mughals from Babur to Aurangzeb, and the determined resistance of the Rajputs, Ahoms and Sikhs. It closes by examining the administration of the Sultanate and the Mughals (the iqta and mansabdari systems) and the economic and social life of ordinary people.
Key Concepts & Terms
Medieval period: literally ‘between two ages’. Borrowed from European history, here it simply means the period in India from about the 11th to the 17th centuries.
Sultanate: a territory ruled by a ‘Sultan’, a title adopted by some Muslim rulers. The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) saw five successive Turkic-Afghan dynasties — the Mamluks (Slave dynasty), Khiljis (Khaljis), Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis.
Iconoclasm: the rejection or destruction of icons or religious images considered idolatrous; this period saw many such attacks on Buddhist, Jain and Hindu temple images.
Jizya: a tax imposed by some sultans on non-Muslim subjects in return for protection and exemption from military service. Akbar abolished it; Aurangzeb later reimposed it.
Iqta system: a Sultanate arrangement in which territories were assigned to nobles (iqtadars) to collect taxes for the Sultan’s treasury, chiefly to maintain the army. The posts were not hereditary.
Mansabdari system: Akbar’s system in which officers (mansabdars) held a rank (mansab) and had to maintain a fixed number of troops, horses and elephants for the state; they were usually paid through land grants (jagirs), and so were also called jagirdars.
Sulh-i-kul: Akbar’s doctrine of ‘peace with all’ or tolerance of all faiths, promoted through interfaith dialogue and the appointment of Hindu officials.
Jauhar: the act of Rajput women jumping into mass fires to avoid capture and enslavement — seen as a heroic act of final resistance and a means of preserving honour.
Guerrilla warfare: a style of fighting in which small groups, using their knowledge of the terrain, carry out surprise attacks and ambushes to defeat larger armies — used by Maharana Pratap and the Ahoms.
Other key terms:Turkic (peoples and cultures of Central Asia stretching to Turkey and Siberia), Infidel (someone who does not share a given faith), Token currency (Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s copper coins valued as silver/gold), Paik system (Ahom system of compulsory labour/military service for land rights), Khalsa (the martial brotherhood founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699), Hundi (a written instruction to make a payment — a precursor to banking), and Ik Onkar (Guru Nanak’s message of the oneness of God).
“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions
All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.
1. Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?
ANSWERSimilarities: Both were centralised states headed by a single supreme ruler (a sultan or an emperor) who was the political and military head and was assisted by a council of ministers in charge of different departments. Both relied heavily on land revenue and on maintaining large armies, both expanded their territories through military campaigns, and both faced frequent rebellions and resistance from regional kingdoms.Differences: The Delhi Sultanate depended mainly on military might and frequent plunder; successions were often violent, so reigns were short (a sultan’s average reign was hardly nine years). Its iqta system assigned territories to non-hereditary nobles to collect taxes for the army.The Mughals, especially Akbar, combined military power with political strategy and tolerance — marriage alliances with Rajputs, abolition of the jizya, appointment of Hindu officials and the doctrine of sulh-i-kul. Akbar reorganised the administration into provinces (subahs) with specialised ministers and introduced the mansabdari system and Todar Mal’s efficient revenue survey. Mughal reigns were also generally longer and more stable than those of the sultans.
2. Why did kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire and the Ahom Kingdom manage to resist conquest for a longer time compared to others? What geographical, military, and social factors contributed to their success?
ANSWERGeographical factors: Both kingdoms were protected by their location. Vijayanagara lay far to the south, beyond the easy reach of Delhi, with its capital Hampi shielded by rocky, hilly terrain. The Ahom kingdom lay in the Brahmaputra Valley of the Northeast, guarded by dense forests, hills and rivers that were difficult for outside armies to cross.Military factors: Vijayanagara built strong forts and powerful armies and reached its peak under Krishnadevaraya. The Ahoms used guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of the terrain; at the Battle of Saraighat (1671) their commander Lachit Borphukan, with 10,000 men, defeated a much larger Mughal force of 30,000.Social factors: Vijayanagara enjoyed cultural unity and prosperity, with rulers patronising art, temples and literature. The Ahoms used the paik system, under which every able-bodied man gave labour or military service in exchange for land, allowing the state to raise a large force without a permanent army; they also assimilated local culture and encouraged diverse faiths, building strong social cohesion.
3. Imagine you are a scholar in the court of Akbar or Krishnadevaraya. Write a letter to a friend describing the politics, trade, culture, and society you are witnessing.
ANSWERThis is a creative-writing activity, so answers will vary. A model letter (from Akbar’s court):Dear friend, I write to you from Fatehpur Sikri, the wondrous city our Emperor Akbar has built. The politics here are remarkable — the Emperor rules a vast empire divided into provinces, each managed by ministers such as the Diwan for finance and the Mir Bakhshi for the army, with mansabdars maintaining troops for the state. Yet he prefers alliances to war: he has married into Rajput families, abolished the jizya, and welcomes Hindus into high office.The trade is bustling — markets overflow with textiles, spices and grain, and merchants come from Persia and Arabia. In culture, the Emperor has set up a ‘house of translation’ where the Mahabharata and Ramayana are being rendered into Persian with beautiful miniature paintings; music, calligraphy and architecture flourish. Society is diverse, and through his doctrine of sulh-i-kul, people of many faiths live and work together. I feel fortunate to witness such an age. — Yours sincerely, [Name].
4. How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some years? What could have led to such a change?
ANSWERIn his early reign Akbar followed his predecessors’ example of brutality — for instance, the massacre of about 30,000 civilians at Chittorgarh. Over time, however, he grew tolerant and benevolent.Reasons for the change: As his empire grew, Akbar realised that force alone could not hold such a vast land together; political strategy was more effective and lasting. He also gained in knowledge and reflection — as recorded by Abul Fazl, he came to feel shame at having forced others into his faith and questioned what loyalty could be expected from people converted under compulsion.This led him to win support through marriage alliances with neighbouring kingdoms, welcome Rajput and regional leaders, abolish the jizya, appoint Hindu officials, hold interfaith dialogues, and promote the doctrine of sulh-i-kul (‘peace with all’). Tolerance helped him expand and stabilise the empire and earn the loyalty of many Rajput rulers.
5. What might have happened if the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota? Imagine and describe how it could have changed the political and cultural history of south India.
ANSWERThis is an imaginative question, so reasoned answers are accepted. The Battle of Talikota (1565) was lost when the Deccan Sultanates formed a coalition and defeated Vijayanagara, after which the great city of Hampi was sacked and left in ruins, and the empire fragmented.If Vijayanagara had won: the magnificent city of Vijayanagara might have survived intact, preserving its grand temples, palaces and the Vitthala temple with its ‘musical pillars’. A strong, united Vijayanagara could have kept south India politically stable and independent for longer, resisting the Deccan Sultanates and perhaps slowing the later spread of Mughal influence southward.Culturally, the empire’s patronage of Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada literature, temple architecture and the arts could have continued to flourish, and trade with foreign merchants (such as the Portuguese horse-sellers) would have thrived. South India’s political and cultural map might have looked very different.
6. Many values promoted by early Sikhism, including equality, seva, and justice, remain relevant today. Select one of these values and discuss how it remains relevant in contemporary society.
ANSWERAny one value, well explained, is accepted. A model answer on equality:Guru Nanak taught the oneness of God (Ik Onkar) and the equality of all human beings, rejecting distinctions of caste, wealth or birth. This value remains deeply relevant today. Modern democratic societies are built on the idea that all people are equal before the law and deserve the same rights, dignity and opportunities regardless of religion, caste, gender or background.The Sikh tradition of langar — a free community kitchen where everyone sits together and eats the same food — is a living example of equality in action. In a world that still struggles with discrimination, the early Sikh emphasis on equality reminds us to treat every person with fairness and respect. (You may instead choose seva — selfless service — or justice, and explain its relevance similarly.)
7. Imagine you are a trader in a port city (Surat, Calicut or Hooghly). Describe the scenes you see as regards goods, people you trade with, movement of ships, etc.
ANSWERThis is a creative activity; descriptions will vary. A model answer (a trader at Surat):The harbour is alive from dawn. Ships of every size crowd the waters — some built by our own stitched-plank craftsmen, others belonging to merchants from Arabia, Persia and Central Asia. Laden oxen and carts move through crowded markets carrying our famous goods for export: fine cotton and silk textiles, spices, sugar, dyes, timber and jewellery.In return, foreign traders bring horses, silk, metals and luxury goods, for India imports far less than it exports. I deal with merchants of many faiths and languages, and we settle large payments not with heavy coin but through the hundi system — written instructions that let money travel safely across borders. The port hums with the wealth and energy of a land that travellers call one of the richest in the world.
Extra Practice Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Name the five dynasties that ruled the Delhi Sultanate.
ANSWERThe five successive Turkic-Afghan dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate were the Mamluks (or ‘Slave dynasty’), the Khiljis (Khaljis), the Tughlaqs, the Sayyids and the Lodis (Lodhis).
Q2. What was the iqta system?
ANSWERThe iqta system was a Delhi Sultanate arrangement in which territories were assigned to nobles called iqtadars to collect taxes. After expenses, the revenue was meant to go to the Sultan’s treasury, mainly to maintain the army. These posts were not hereditary.
Q3. Who was Krishnadevaraya?
ANSWERKrishnadevaraya was the most celebrated ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, under whom (in the 16th century) it reached its peak. He secured the empire’s dominance over the Deccan, patronised poets and scholars in Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada, himself composed the Telugu epic Amuktamalyada, and gave grants to many temples such as Tirupati.
Q4. What was the Battle of Saraighat and why is it important?
ANSWERThe Battle of Saraighat (1671) was fought on the Brahmaputra River near present-day Guwahati. The Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan, with 10,000 men, defeated a much larger Mughal force of 30,000. It is important because it showed the Ahoms’ skilful use of terrain and guerrilla tactics and helped them preserve their independence.
Q5. What was the mansabdari system introduced by Akbar?
ANSWERThe mansabdari system was Akbar’s administrative system in which officers (mansabdars) were given a rank (mansab) and had to maintain a fixed number of troops, horses, camels and elephants for the state. This allowed the empire to assemble an army quickly without a permanent central force. Mansabdars were usually paid by land grants (jagirs), so they were also called jagirdars.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate.
ANSWERThe Delhi Sultanate was formed after the defeat of King Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 and was established in 1206. Five Turkic-Afghan dynasties ruled in succession — the Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis. At its height under Ala-ud-din Khilji it expanded across north and central India and repelled Mongol invasions, while his general Malik Kafur carried campaigns into the south. Muhammad bin Tughlaq brought most of the Subcontinent under one ruler for the first time since the Mauryas, but his schemes — shifting the capital to Daulatabad and introducing token currency — were poorly executed and caused great loss and economic decline. The Sultanate was marked by instability and violent successions, with a sultan’s average reign hardly nine years. Timur’s devastating attack on Delhi at the end of the 14th century left the city in ruins. Afterwards the Lodis ruled the last, much-shrunken phase, until Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, ending the Sultanate and founding the Mughal Empire.
Q2. How did various Indian kingdoms and communities resist the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals?
ANSWERResistance came from many quarters. The Eastern Ganga kingdom of Kalinga, under Narasimhadeva I, repelled the Sultanate and built the Konark Sun temple. The Musunuri Nayakas rallied over 75 chieftains and expelled Tughlaq forces from Warangal. The Hoysalas fended off attacks in the south, and Rana Kumbha of Mewar resisted from Rajasthan. Against the Mughals, the Rajputs — especially Maharana Pratap, who fought at Haldighati (1576) and continued guerrilla warfare with Bhil support — refused to submit. The Ahoms used terrain and guerrilla tactics to win the Battle of Saraighat (1671). The Sikhs, under Gurus Hargobind and Gobind Singh, formed armies and the Khalsa to resist persecution. Tribal groups like the Bhils, Gonds (Rani Durgavati), Santhals and Kochs, and peasant communities like the Jats, also fought back. This widespread resistance steadily eroded imperial power.
Q3. Describe the economic life and the role of temples and trade in India during this period.
ANSWERDespite political instability, India between the 13th and 17th centuries remained one of the wealthiest regions in the world, thanks to its strong agrarian base, artisanal industries and extensive trade. Agriculture was the mainstay, with land revenue usually one-fifth of produce (raised to one-half by some sultans); expanded irrigation allowed multiple crops, both food and non-food (such as cotton for textiles). Craftspeople made textiles, weapons, utensils and ornaments, and shipbuilding supported river and overseas trade. India exported far more than it imported, through ports like Calicut, Surat and Hooghly. The hundi system let merchants transfer money across borders without carrying currency, while trader communities like the Marwaris developed credit and trust networks. Temples were major economic centres too — supported by donations (dana) of land and wealth, they ran markets, built irrigation works and pilgrim accommodations, and provided merchants with credit. However, the wealth was concentrated among rulers, courtiers and merchants, while peasants and labourers often faced harsh conditions, especially in the late 1600s.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. The Delhi Sultanate was formed after the defeat in 1192 of which king?
(a) Rana Sanga (b) Prithviraj Chauhan (c) Ibrahim Lodi (d) Narasimhadeva I
2. Which ruler shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and introduced token currency?
(a) Ala-ud-din Khilji (b) Babur (c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq (d) Timur
3. The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was won by:
(a) Akbar (b) Babur (c) Humayun (d) Sher Shah Suri
4. The Vijayanagara Empire was destroyed after which battle in 1565?
(a) Battle of Haldighati (b) Battle of Khanwa (c) Battle of Talikota (d) Battle of Saraighat
5. Who founded the Khalsa in 1699?
(a) Guru Nanak (b) Guru Arjan (c) Guru Tegh Bahadur (d) Guru Gobind Singh
6. The Ahom commander who defeated the Mughals at the Battle of Saraighat (1671) was:
For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.
A-R 1. Assertion: A Delhi sultan’s average reign was hardly more than nine years.
Reason: Successions were often violent, with almost two sultans out of three seizing power by eliminating their predecessor.
A-R 2. Assertion: Akbar abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims.
Reason: Akbar promoted the doctrine of sulh-i-kul and sought to win the support of people of all faiths.
A-R 3. Assertion: The Ahoms were able to preserve their independence against the Mughals.
Reason: They used their knowledge of the terrain and guerrilla tactics, as shown at the Battle of Saraighat.
A-R 4. Assertion: Aurangzeb continued Akbar’s policy of religious tolerance.
Reason: Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya, banned practices he regarded as un-Islamic, and ordered the destruction of several temples.
A-R 5. Assertion: The hundi system made merchants less vulnerable to plunder.
Reason: A hundi was a written instruction to make a payment, allowing money to be transferred across borders without carrying currency.
Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(A), 4-(D), 5-(A).
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
How to score full marks in this chapter
Memorise the order of the five Sultanate dynasties (Mamluks → Khiljis → Tughlaqs → Sayyids → Lodis) and the key dates — 1206 (Delhi Sultanate), 1336 (Vijayanagara), 1526 (First Panipat / Mughals), 1565 (Talikota), 1671 (Saraighat), 1699 (Khalsa). For comparison questions (Q1), use a two-sided structure (similarities, then differences). Always link a ruler to one concrete achievement or example — Akbar & sulh-i-kul, Krishnadevaraya & Amuktamalyada, Lachit Borphukan & Saraighat, Maharana Pratap & Haldighati. For activity and ‘imagine’ questions, give a clear, well-organised, reasoned answer.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing the First Battle of Panipat (1526, Babur) with the Second Battle of Panipat (1556, Akbar vs Hemu).
Mixing up the Battle of Talikota (fall of Vijayanagara) with the Battle of Saraighat (Ahom victory) or Haldighati (Maharana Pratap).
Saying Akbar was always tolerant — he was ruthless early on (e.g. Chittorgarh) and grew tolerant later.
Reversing Akbar and Aurangzeb on the jizya — Akbar abolished it; Aurangzeb reimposed it.
Confusing the iqta system (Sultanate) with the mansabdari system (Mughal/Akbar).
Leaving creative or activity questions (Q3, Q5, Q6, Q7) blank — write your own reasoned response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 2 of Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society about?
Chapter 2, Reshaping India’s Political Map, covers the later medieval period (about the 11th to 17th centuries). It traces the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire and the Mughals, the resistance of the Rajputs, Ahoms and Sikhs, and the administration and economic life of the time.
Which dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate?
Five successive Turkic-Afghan dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate: the Mamluks (or ‘Slave dynasty’), the Khiljis (Khaljis), the Tughlaqs, the Sayyids and the Lodis. It lasted from 1206 until Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
What is the exercise heading for Chapter 2 of Exploring Society?
The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 2 is headed Questions and activities and contains 7 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.
