NCERT Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond Part 1 Chapter 02 Reshaping Indias Political Map PDF Download

Chapter 2: Reshaping India's Political Map

The Big Questions

1. How did foreign invasions and the rise of new dynasties reshape India's political boundaries during this period?
2. How did Indian society respond to invasions? How did India's economy adapt during times of political instability?
3. What impact did this period have on the lives of the people?

[Figure 2.1: An aerial view of the Qutub Minar complex, Delhi]

[Figure 2.2: Timeline showing major events from 1200 to 1480, including the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate (1206), the Bahmani Sultanate (1347), the re-establishment of the Mewar Kingdom (1326), the Vijayanagara Empire (1336), Timur's attack on Delhi (1398), and the arrival of the Portuguese in India (1498)]

The period in this chapter and the next is often called the latter part of the medieval period of Indian history. The term 'medieval' (i.e., 'between two ages') was originally applied to European history, roughly from the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century CE) to the Renaissance (Europe's cultural revival in the 14th - 16th centuries, nurtured by the rediscovery of Greek and Roman art and literature). It was once thought to mark a dark age before the development of modern science; but, of course, Europe's and India's histories are very different, so applying the same term 'medieval' to both is not ideal, and historians do not always agree on which period it covers in India. We will sometimes have to use the term 'medieval' but for us it simply means the period from the 11th to the 17th centuries.

In 'Tapestry of the Past' chapters, we have tried to keep as few dates as possible - only those that mark important reference points. You will find it helpful to keep revisiting the timelines in those chapters. Revisit the maps too, as they will help you visualise the geography that was traversed by armies, common people, traders, scholars or spiritual figures.

[Figure 2.2: Timeline showing major events from 1520 to 1800, including the First Battle of Panipat and establishment of the Mughal Empire (1526), the Battle of Talikota and destruction of Vijayanagara city (1565), the Second Battle of Panipat and Akbar's decisive victory (1556), the Battle of Haldighati and Maharana Pratap forced to retreat (1576), the Battle of Saraighat and the Ahoms defeat of the Mughals (1671), the formation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh (1699), the beginning of Maratha control of Delhi (1754), and the establishment of the Sikh Empire (1799)]

Spellings, spellings ...

Because of difficulties in transcribing the Persian script in the Roman script, you will find some alternative spellings in parentheses here and there. For instance, 'Khalji' or 'Khilji' are the same. Similarly, we use here the now standard spelling of 'Mughal' spelling, but alternatives such as 'Mughul' or 'Moghul' are still sometimes used.

A new era in India's journey began in the early 11th century. Invasions from beyond the Hindu Kush mountains reshaped India's political map. No doubt, India had seen much warfare in earlier periods, but the spate of invasions by people from outside the Indian subcontinent during this period was unprecedented. Many of these invaders were Central Asian - Turkic or Afghan. They were drawn to India not only for her reputed riches and for territorial ambitions, but also often to spread, by force of violence if necessary, their own versions of their religion.

Teacher's Note

When you read about invasions in this period, remember that 'invasion' means armies entering from outside the subcontinent and conquering territory. Look at the timelines carefully: invasions did not happen all at once, but at different times across different regions of India. This is why the political map kept changing - no single power controlled all of India throughout this entire period.

Let us now explore in this chapter the ever-changing landscape of India from the 13th century onward.

Teacher's Note

You will notice the text uses terms like 'medieval', 'Turkic', and 'Afghan' to describe different groups and periods. These are labels historians use to organize history, but remember that the people living then did not think of themselves as 'medieval' - they were just living their lives. Keep this in mind as you learn about the various kingdoms and empires that rose and fell during this time.

Key Points

• From the early 11th century onward, India experienced a series of invasions from Central Asia by Turkic and Afghan peoples, which reshaped its political boundaries and kingdoms.
• The term 'medieval period' in Indian history refers to the 11th to 17th centuries, but historians do not always agree on this division since it was originally applied to European history.
• Invaders were motivated by India's wealth, territorial ambitions, and the desire to spread their religion through force.
• During this period, India's political map constantly changed as different kingdoms and empires rose and fell in different regions.
• Timelines and maps are important tools to track the sequence of invasions and the establishment of different dynasties across various parts of India.

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