Rulers and Buildings Extra Questions Chapter 5 Class 7 History
Here given Chapter 7 Rulers and Buildings Class7 History Extra Questions will be helpful in knowing all the important topics present in the chapter and score more marks in the examinations. Class 7 Extra Questions is the best way through which one can revise all the questions and answers which can be asked in the exams.
Chapter 5 Rulers and buildings Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. In which language the two bands of inscription were found written under the balcony of Qutab Minar?
Answer
Arabic language.
2. What is pietra-dura?
Answer
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
3. Corbelled technique was used in the construction of ___________.
Answer
Arch.
4. What was the name of the roof style that was adopted by rulers of Bengal?
Answer
A thatched hut.
5. Who constructed the Kandariya Mahadeva temple?
Answer
Chandela dynasty.
6. Name the Pandya king who invaded Srilanka.
Answer
Shrimara Srivallabha.
7. Name the first building that was constructed by using the architectural style pietra dura.
Answer
Taj Mahal.
8. State a feature of french churches that could be visible from a distance.
Answer
Tall spires and bell towers.
9. When a garden is divided into 4 symmetric gardens by artificial channels, they are called ________.
Answer
Chahar bagh
10. Rajendra I seized the sun pedestal from the ___________.
Answer
Chalukyas.
11. Who constructed Hauj-i-Sultani?
Answer
Shamsud- din-Iltutmish
12. Name the ruler who has been described in an inscription as having qualities of Moses and Solomon.
Answer
Alauddin.
13. The Somnath temple was destroyed by ___________.
Answer
Mahmud Ghazni.
14. Where is tomb of Salim Chisti located?
Answer
Fatehpur Sikri.
15. How did Persian Court chronicles describe Muslim Sultans?
Answer
They described the Sultan as the Shadow of God.
16. What was a Shikhara?
Answer
Shikhara was the top most portion of the shrine.
17. How many storeys are in Qutb Minar?
Answer
Five storeys.
18. Who were Moses and Solomon?
Answer
They were great lawgivers of the past.
Chapter 5 Rulers and buildings Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. Write a short note on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra?
Answer
The construction of the Akbar tomb was begun by Akbar himself but was completed by Jahangir. The tomb is located in the centre of a huge garden and is square shaped. It consists of five storeys. It has fresco done on its walls and the holy Quran's versus engraved on stone tiles.
2. Name the important Mughal Gardens which have survived till date.
Answer
Shalimar Bagh at Lahore and Srinagar, Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, Kabul Bagh in Panipat & the Pinjore Garden in Punjab are the important gardens of Mughal period that have survived till date.
3. Write short note on 'Agra Fort'?
Answer
Akbar had built several buildings and forts, but the most impressive among them is the Agra Fort which was completed in 1571 A.D. Red sand stone was used for the construction and, has many gates named Amar Singh Dwar, Hathi Dwar etc. The Jahangir Mahal, Mariam Mahal etc. are among the places built in Agra Fort. The Agra Fort required 2,000 stone-cutters, 2,000 cement and lime-stone makers and 8,000 labourers.
4. Describe one of the most magnificent buildings of Fatehpur Sikri.
Answer
The most magnificent buildings of Fatehpur Sikri are the mosque and the gateway. It is called the 'Buland Darwaja' or the 'lofty gate'. It was built to commemorate the victory of Gujarat by Akbar. The arch of Buland Darwaja is about 41 meters. It is a 'half dome portal' style gate.
5. How is the 'trabeate' principle of architecture different from the 'arcuate'?
Answer
In ‘trabeate’ principle of architecture rooms, doors and windows are made by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns. In the arcuate principle of architecture the weight of the superstructure above the doors and windows is sometimes carried by arches.
6. What kind of structures was built between eight and eighteenth century by the kings and their officers?
Answer
Two kinds of structures were built between eight and eighteenth century by the kings and their officers. The first were forts, palaces and tombs. These were safe, protected and grandiose places of rest in this world and the next. The second were structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravan serais and bazaars. Kings were expected to care for their subjects and by making structures for their use and comfort, rulers hoped to win their praise.
7. What was the chief interest of Jahangir and name the two famous buildings of his reign?
Answer
Jahangir's chief interest was in painting rather than in architecture. Despite this, two buildings constructed during his reign are famous- Akbar's tomb at Sikandra and Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb at Agra.
8. Which was Akbar's most famous construction?
Answer
The crowning achievement of Akbar's reign is considered to be palace-cum-fort complex at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar wanted a peaceful and pretty place with good natural environment. So he had chosen Fatehpur Sikri for this purpose. He commenced its building in 1572 and completed it in 1580. It is built on a hill with large artificial lake. It has many buildings based on Gujarati and Bengali style, including fanciful kiosk, balconies and deep caves.
9. Why were the temples destroyed in the Medieval period?
Answer
As kings very often attacked each other kingdoms, they very often targeted these buildings to destroy the power and wealth of their opponents. They decorated their temples with seized images from defeated kingdoms.
10. Give a brief description of Mughal's Chahr bagh.
Answer
Mughals had keen interest in planning and laying out formal gardens. These gardens were placed within rectangular walled enclosures and were divided into four quarters by artificial channels. These gardens were called chahar bagh, meaning four gardens because of their symmetrical division into quarters. It was Akbar who started the construction of chahar bagh. Other Mughal rulers who followed this were Jahangir and Shah Jahan. They built the most beautiful chahar bagh in Kashmir, Agra and Delhi.
11. Describe Shah Jahan's audience halls.
Answer
Shah Jahan’s audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque. The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla, the direction faced by Muslims at prayer, since everybody faced that direction when court was in session. These architectural features suggested that the king was the representative of God on earth.
12. Give a brief description of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple built in the early eleventh century.
Answer
The Kandariya Mahadeva temple was constructed by the King Dhangadeva in 999. It was dedicated to shiva. It contained an ornamatal gateway which led to an entrance and the main hall where dances were performed. The image of the chief deity was kept in the main shrine called garbhagriha. The king, his immediate family and priests gathered at garbhagriha for ritual worship.
13. Describe the styles of temple architecture in India.
Answer
Indian temple architecture is classified in three different styles:
• The North Indian style or Nagara.
• The South Indian style or Dravida.
• The amalgamation of north and south Indian style is called the Vesara.
14. What are the main features of Humayun's tomb constructed between 1562 and 1571?
Answer
The central towering dome and the tall gateway, i.e. pishlaq, the important aspects of Mughal architecture, were first visible in this tomb. The tomb was placed in the centre of a huge formal chahar bagh and built in the tradition known as ‘eight paradises’ or hasht bihisht- a central hall surrounded by eight rooms. The building was constructed with red sandstone, edged with white marble.
Chapter 5 Rulers and buildings Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb was predecessor of Taj Mahal. Explain.
Answer
Itmad-ud-Daula tomb was one of the significant buildings of Jahangir reign. It was built by Jahangir's wife and Itmad-ud-Daulah's daughter, Nur Jahan. It is square shaped and on all the four corners there are small eight sided minarets. It is fully made of white marble inlaid with coloured stones. Here, the principle of Pietra dura (engraving of coloured stones in different motifs) was introduced first in India. The tomb is considered to be the precursor of Taj Mahal due to the use of marble and Pietra Dura.
2. Shah Jahan' reign witnessed a huge amount of architectural activity in Agra and Delhi. Explain this statement by giving examples.
Answer
Shah Jahan is often called the ’Engineer king’ as he built a large number of buildings especially in Agra and Delhi. The different elements of Mughal architecture were fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis.
• The ceremonial halls of public and private audience (diwan-i-khas o am) were carefully planned. His audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque.
• He made a new city in Delhi called Shahjahanabad (present-day Old Delhi). He shifted his capital from Agra to Shajahanabad. The imperial place commanded the riverfront.
• The most famous building of Shah Jahan is the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is known as the grandest architectural accomplishment of his reign. It was built in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Here the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south.
• Other buildings constructed by Shah Jahan are the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid at Delhi and the Moti Masjid at Agra.
3. How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?
Answer
Rulers in the Middle Ages were very fond of building temples, mosques, etc.
• Besides being places of worship, they were also meant to demonstrate the power, wealth and devotion of the patron.
• An example of this Rajarajeshvara temple. An inscription mentions that it was built by the King Rajarajadeva for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram. Here it is worth mentioning that the names of the ruler and the god are very similar. The king took the god’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to appear like a god. Through the rituals of worship one god, i.e. Rajarajadeva honoured another, i.e. Rajarajeshvaram.
• All the largest temples were constructed by kings. The other, lesser deities in the temple were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler.
• The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies. As they worshipped their deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth.