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CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

Cultural Currents: 13th to 17th Centuries

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
The Mughal garden at Srinagar named in the chapter is:
  1. Brindavan Gardens
  2. Lalbagh
  3. Lodhi Garden
  4. Nishat Bagh
2.
Who was Raja Mansingh Tomar?
  1. promoted dhrupad at Gwalior
  2. an Italian traveller who wrote about schools in Karnataka
  3. the European astronomer who published his model in 1543
  4. proposed a planetary model in 1500
3.
Bikaner is known for:
  1. pattachitra painting on cloth
  2. the Taj Mahal
  3. pashmina
  4. painters from the Mughal court
4.
What is pashmina?
  1. very fine wool from Himalayan goats
  2. protection of a product’s regional name
  3. rich cloth woven with raised patterns
  4. a four-part garden
5.
Nilakantha Somayaji proposed his planetary model in 1500; Tansen joined Akbar’s court in 1562. How many years apart were these?
  1. 62 years
  2. 59 years
  3. 63 years
  4. 72 years
6.
The book says Purandaradasa may have composed up to 4,75,000 songs. If that were spread over 50 years, how many a year would that be?
  1. 50,000 songs
  2. 4,750 songs
  3. 10,500 songs
  4. 9,500 songs
7.
Nilakantha Somayaji proposed his planetary model in 1500. How many years before 1572 was that?
  1. 72 years
  2. 29 years
  3. 82 years
  4. 73 years
8.
The Persian sambuseh became which Indian food?
  1. samosa
  2. naan
  3. khichri
  4. jalebi
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Who was Tansen?
10.
Who was each? (a) Amir Khusrau (b) Razia Sultan
11.
What is each place known for? (a) Bikaner (b) Hampi
12.
Explain each term: (a) pashmina (b) charbagh
13.
Which came first, and by how many years? (a) Pietro Della Valle wrote about schools in Karnataka (1623) (b) Tansen joined Akbar’s court (1562)
14.
A Banaras weaver makes 24 brocade saris in a year. If 14 of them are sold at a fair, what fraction of the saris is that, in lowest terms?
15.
Name the place known for each: (a) pashmina (b) the ruins of the Vijayanagara capital
16.
According to the chapter, Nilakantha Somayaji proposed his model in 1500 and Copernicus in 1543. (a) How many years earlier was Nilakantha? (b) How many years before 1815 was 1500?
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
How did painting develop in this period?
18.
Match each with its contribution: (a) Nilakantha Somayaji (b) Nur Jahan (c) Madhava. Choose from: a Kerala mathematician who found series for π; proposed a planetary model in 1500; had coins struck in her name.
19.
(a) Put these in order, earliest first: Tansen joined Akbar’s court (1562); Nilakantha Somayaji proposed his planetary model (1500); Razia Sultan became ruler of Delhi (1236). (b) How many years from the first to the last? (c) What does one of these tell us about culture in this period?
20.
Compare the messages or work of Abul Fazl and Raja Mansingh Tomar. What did each contribute, and what did they share?
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

Answer key

Cultural Currents: 13th to 17th Centuries · AW-8SS-CCT-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) Nishat Bagh—
2(a) promoted dhrupad at Gwalior—
3(d) painters from the Mughal court—
4(a) very fine wool from Himalayan goats—
5(a) 62 years1562 − 1500 = 62
6(d) 9,500 songs4,75,000 ÷ 50
7(a) 72 years1572 − 1500
8(a) samosa—
9A great musician at Akbar’s court, one of his “nine gems”.—
10(a) a poet of Delhi who wrote in Persian and Hindavi (b) the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate—
11(a) painters from the Mughal court (b) the ruins of the Vijayanagara capital—
12(a) very fine wool from Himalayan goats (b) a four-part garden—
13Tansen joined Akbar’s court, by 61 years1623 − 1562
147/1214/24 = 7/12
15(a) Kashmir and Ladakh (b) Hampi—
16(a) 43 years (b) 315 years1543 − 1500; 1815 − 1500
17Court painters made small, detailed miniature paintings; painters from the Mughal court also worked in places like Bikaner, and pattachitra on cloth flourished in Odisha.—
18(a) proposed a planetary model in 1500 (b) had coins struck in her name (c) a Kerala mathematician who found series for π—
19(a) Razia Sultan became ruler of Delhi; Nilakantha Somayaji proposed his planetary model; Tansen joined Akbar’s court (b) 326 years (c) Answers will vary; see the chapter.—
20Abul Fazl: Akbar’s court historian who wrote the Akbarnama; Raja Mansingh Tomar: promoted dhrupad at Gwalior. Both enriched the culture of their time through music, poetry or writing that is still remembered.—