Why do you think Vijayanagara incorporated agricultural tracts within the fortified area ?
- A.To promote high yield agriculture under State supervision
- B.To protect the agricultural belt from the sieges of an invading army
- C.To protect the agriculture from stray animals
- D.To protect the agriculture from drought
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, To protect the agricultural belt from the sieges of an invading army. Medieval sieges aimed to starve a city into surrender, so Vijayanagara kept fields and food inside its walls.
The Persian ambassador Abdur Razzaq, who visited in the 1440s, described seven lines of fortification around the city, with fields, gardens and houses between them. Historians explain that a siege could last months or even years, and rulers therefore built large granaries and enclosed farmland within the walls so that the city could feed itself. Water from the Tungabhadra was brought to these fields through canals and tanks such as the Kamalapuram tank.
A is wrong because the walls were built for defence; there is no evidence they served state-run high-yield farming. C is wrong because massive stone fortifications were not needed to keep out stray animals. D is wrong because walls cannot prevent drought; that was handled through tanks, canals and the river.
Exam tip: Vijayanagara walls enclosed farmland to survive sieges; Abdur Razzaq described seven lines of forts.
Practice Questions
View allWhich Arab scientist could be given the credit of christening the mathematical discipline of algorithm?
- A.Al-Khwarizmi
- B.Ibn al-Haytham
- C.Ibn Rushd
- D.Ibn Sina
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The word 'algorithm' comes from the Latin form of his name, Algoritmi, used in translations of his work on Hindu-Arabic numerals.
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- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
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The inscription asks that a member own land and a house, but it sets the age limit at 35 to 70 years, not 30 to 60.
Read the full explanation →Who gifted the Badshah Nama to King George in 1799?
- A.Abul Fazl
- B.Abdul Hamid Lahori
- C.Nawab of Awadh
- D.William Jones
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In 1799 the Nawab of Awadh presented an illustrated manuscript of the Badshah Nama to King George III of Britain, and it is now kept in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.
Read the full explanation →The Truman Doctrine of 1947 was announced to achieve which one of the following ?
- A.Containment of the USSR
- B.Increasing agricultural production in the USA
- C.Offering friendship to Europe
- D.Strengthening the UNO
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The Truman Doctrine pledged American support to countries resisting communist pressure, so as to stop the spread of Soviet influence.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following Women’s Associations and their important associates in early twentieth century India :
1. Women’s Indian Association of 1917 : Margaret Cousins
2. National Council of Women in India of 1925 : Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
3. Bharat Stree Mahamandal of 1910 : Lady Meherbai Tata
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?
- A.1, 2 and 3
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 2 only
- D.1 only
Show answer
Margaret Cousins was a founder of the Women’s Indian Association, but pairs 2 and 3 have their associates swapped. The Women’s Indian Association was founded at Adyar, Madras, in 1917 by Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dorothy Jinarajadasa and others; it campaigned for women’s franchise and education.
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