APSET Paper 2 Mock Test - 5 (History) - AP TET MCQ

Before attempting such a question we need to understand the meaning of such philosophy.

PHILOSOPHY

1) Visistha Advaita - (literally "Advaita with uniqueness; qualifications") is a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy. It is non-dualism of the qualified whole, in which Brahman alone exists, but is characterized by multiplicity. It can be described as qualified monism or qualified non-dualism or attributive monism.

2) Dwita Siddhanta - Dvaita is a Sanskrit word that means "duality, dualism". The term refers to any premise, particularly in theology on the temporal and the divine, where two principles (truths) or realities are posited to exist simultaneously and independently.

3) Advaitasiddhant - is one of the classic Indian paths to spiritual realization. It postulates that the true Self – individual soul, Atman , shorn of avidya – is the same as the highest reality, Brahman. The phenomenal world is described as an illusory appearance that is other than the real as well as the unreal (sadasadvilakṣaṇa).

4) Dwita Advaita – it was balance between Visistha Advaita and Advaita

So, here is the correct match:

PHILOSOPHY PROPOUNDER

1). Visistha Advaita - a. Ramanuja

2). Dwita Advaita - b. Nimbaraka

3). Dwita Siddhanta - c. Madhava Acharya

4). Advaitasiddhant - d. Shankaracharaya

Key Points

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Greeks in effect maintained a political presence at the doorstep, and sometimes within India, down to the 1st century CE with the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Indo-Greek Kingdoms, with many noticeable influences on the arts of the Maurya Empire (c.321–185 BCE) especially. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2 is correct. Excavations in the ancient palace of Pataliputra have brought to light Hellenistic sculptural works, and Hellenistic influence appears in the Pillars of Ashoka at about the same period. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is correct. This art was not purely Greek. It was the outcome of the Greek contact with non-Greek conquered people after Alexander’s death. Gandhara art was its best example in India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• Hellenistic influence on Indian art and architecture reflects the artistic and architectural influence of the Greeks on Indian art following the conquests of Alexander the Great, from the end of the 4^th century BCE to the first centuries of the common era.
• During the Maurya period (c. 321–185 BCE), and especially during the time of Emperor Ashoka (c.268–232 BCE), Hellenistic influence seems to have played a role in the establishment of Indian monumental stone architecture.

Dastak was the trade permit sanctioned to the East India Company by the Mughal government. Under the terms and conditions of Farrukh Siyar’s farman of 1717 the East India Company was entitled to trade in Bengal without paying the normal customs duty. Based on the right derived from the imperial farman, the company used to issue dastaks authorising their agents to trade customs-free within the province of Bengal. The nawab had issued parwanas to all his officials to honour the dastaks when the company traders produced it to them on demand. According to the farman of 1717, this right of free trade covered by the dastaks was restricted to the company alone. This right, according to the farman, was not to be exercised by the company's private traders. But in practice, the private traders of the company generally abused the free trade right by producing the dastak to the chowkies of the government. Also, the company sold dastaks at high price not only to European private traders but also to native merchants. The abuse of dastak was, in fact, one of the key issues of conflicts between the nawab and the company.

The correct answer is ​places of exquisite stone art and architecture.

Key Points

• In the history of Indian art and architecture, the Gupta period occupies an important place.
• But most of the architecture of this period is lost due to foreign invasions like that of Huns.
• The sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimen of Gupta art.
  • The ruins of the temple were fortified in the 18th century by Raja Baghel Raja Vikramaditya.
  • The fortification consisted of a square enclosure and parapets, giving a fortress kind of look.
  • The temple has many relics belonging to the Gupta period, which date back to as old as the 5th and 6th centuries.
• The Bhitari monolithic pillar of Skandagupta is also remarkable.
  • The inscription is extremely important in understanding the chronology of the various Gupta rulers.
  • It also mentions the conflict between Skandagupta and the Pushyamitras as well as the Hunas.
• In Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, an ancient temple dating back to the Gupta period (5th century) has been discovered recently.
  • The stairs of the temple had ‘shankhalipi’ inscriptions, which were deciphered by the archaeologists as saying, ‘Sri Mahendraditya’, the title of Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty.
    • Shankhalipi or “shell-script” is a term used by scholars to describe ornate spiral characters assumed to be Brahmi derivatives that look like conch shells or shankhas.

• During the reign of Masud Shah, towards the end of 1245 AD, Mongols captured Multan which was recovered by Balban.
• During the reign of Ghiyasuddin Balban, there were Mongolian invasions in 1279 AD and 1286 AD.
• During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, in 1292 AD, Abdullah, the leader of the Mongols, came to the northern part of India but later about 4000 Mongols were converted to Islam and came to be known as the 'New Muslaman'.
• During the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, there was no Mongol Invasion but Timur, the Lame attacked India in 1398 AD i.e. after his death.

• Rafi-ud-Darajat (1719):
  • He was the 11th Mughal Emperor.
  • Ajit Singh of Marwar placed him on the throne after assassinating Farrukhsiyar.
  • In February 1719, the Mughal emperor he had assigned the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi rights over the six Mughal subas of the Deccan to Raja Shahu.
  • In return for Chauth, Raja Sahu would maintain a contingent of 15,000 Maratha soldiers for the service and protection of the emperor.
  • In return for Sardeshmukhi, Marathas were responsible for maintaining peace and order in these subas by preventing robbery and rebellions.
  • He was cremated near the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli in Delhi.
• Chauth:
  • ​It was 1/4^th of the land revenue paid to the Marathas to avoid the Maratha raids.
  • It was nomi­nally levied at 25% on revenue or produce.
• Sardeshmukhi:
  • It was an additional levy of 10% on those lands on which the Marathas claimed hereditary rights.
  • This was an additional levy of 10% on Chauth.

Additional Information

• Farrukhsiyar (1713-1719):
  • ​​After killing Jahandar Shah with the help of the Sayyid brothers, Farrukhsiyar became the 10th Mughal emperor.
  • He followed a policy of religious tolerance by abolishing Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax.
  • In 1717, he gave farmans to the British permitting them the right to reside and trade in the Mughal Empire.
  • In 1719, the Sayyid brothers, with the help of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, dethroned Farrukhsiyar.
  • Later, he was blinded and killed.
• Rafi-ud-Daulah (1719):
  • He is also known as Shah Jahan II.
  • He was the 12th Mughal Emperor.
  • After his short-lived brother Rafi-ud-Darajat, he was throned by the Sayyid brothers.
• Muhammad Shah (1719-1748):
  • He was the 13th Mughal emperor.
  • With the help of Asaf Jah I, the Sayyid brothers were murdered.
  • He was given the title of ‘Rangeela’ due to his luxurious lifestyle.

The correct answer is 2-3-4-1.

Key Points

• Narshimhavarman I (630-668 CE) succeeded his father Mahendravarman I.
  • He is considered to be the greatest Pallava ruler.
  • He took the title of Mamalla (great warrior).
  • He defeated and killed Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II and destroyed the Chalukyan capital Vatapi.
    • He took the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi) in order to commemorate this remarkable victory.
• Dantidurga (reigned 735–756 CE), also known as Dantivarman II was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta.
  • He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them.
  • Then he annexed the Chalukyan kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
• Dharmapala (reigned c. 770–810) succeeded Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in Bengal and one who raised the glory of the kingdom to great heights.
  • It may be mentioned that in the famous tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, to establish control over Northern India, Dharmapala played a very crucial role.
• Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a king belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty.
  • He was the most well-known king of this dynasty.
  • Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala (reigned c. 890–910), the Pratihara empire reached its peak of prosperity and power.
  • The Gurjara-Pratiharas, or simply, the Pratiharas (8th century CE - 11th century CE) held their sway over western and northern India.

Muhammad Bin Qasim was the first Muslim to invade India in 712 A.D. He conquered Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus river but did not advance further. So, (C) is the correct answer. Timur Lang or Timur the Lame was a Muslim conqueror who invaded India in 1398. The ruler of Delhi at the time was Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Chengiz Khan was a Mongol ruler.  He conquered some kingdoms on the banks of River Indus in 1221 A.D. The ruler of Delhi at that time was Iltutmish. Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan who invaded India several times between 1747 and 1767, the most famous being the invasion of 1761, when he defeated the Marathas in the 3rd battle of Panipat.

Swami Dayanand’s greatest asset was his mastery over the Sanskrit language and the Vedas. In 1875, he founded the Arya Samaj. Its main aim was to propagate the true knowledge of the Vedas and discard all evils that had crept into the Hindu society later in its name. He opposed untouchability. He was similarly opposed to polytheism, avataravada and ritualism. His slogan was ‘go back to the Vedas’ whose authority he accepted. For the first time in the history of India, the Vedas were printed in India under his patronage. Personally, his most important work was Satyartha Prakasha (The Light of Truth).

His followers started a Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) School and College in Lahore (now in Pakistan) in 1886.

The correct answer is option 3) ​Calcutta & Peshawar.

• Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate the empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal.
• This road was renamed the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar.
• At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata.
• It is bifurcated into 2 segments: (a) National Highway (NH)-1 from Delhi to Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:

• Serving as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India, Patel was instrumental in convincing the princely states to accede to India.
• Known as the "Iron Man of India," his firm but diplomatic approach ensured that the majority of princely states became part of the Indian Union, maintaining India's territorial integrity.

V.P. Menon:

• As the Secretary of the States Department, and a close advisor to Sardar Patel, V.P. Menon played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in the process of integration.
• He was involved in negotiations with the rulers of the princely states and was instrumental in formulating the terms of accession.
• His efforts, along with Patel's, led to the successful integration of over 560 princely states into the Indian Union.

Additional Information

• The Maharaja of Kashmir and the Nizam of Hyderabad, mentioned in options 3 and 4, were rulers of princely states that presented significant challenges to integration, but it was Patel and Menon's negotiations and strategic moves that ultimately led to their inclusion in the Indian Union.

The correct answer is Naqshbandi.

Key Points

• Naqshbandi sect was believed to be the most orthodox among Sufi sects.
• It is the Sunni order of Sufism. It was one of the four major Sufism sects in India including Chisti, Qadriyya, Suhrawardiyya.
• It got its name from Baha-Ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari and traces its spiritual lineage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Abu Bakr, who was father-in-law, companion, and successor of Muhammad.
• Abu Bakr was the first Caliph of Sunni Islam.

The correct answer is Karanika.

Key Points

• Major administrative officers of the Gupta period were
  • Karanika - The officer responsible for the safe custody of land records
  • Sandivigraha - Minister of foreign affairs.
  • Nagar Srehtis - Officers looking after the city administration.
  • Kumaramatyas and Ayuktas - Officers responsible for maintaining deep contact between a king and provincial administration.

Additional Information

• The Gupta Dynasty ruled the mid-to-late 3rd century to 543 AD in Ancient India.
• The dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta.
• They are believed to have been feudatories of the Kushanas.
• The original kingdom of the Guptas comprised Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with their center of power at Prayag.​
• The Gupta period is referred to as the 'Golden Age' in ancient India.
• Vishnugupta was the last ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
• Ghatotkacha, Chandragupta I, Chandragupta II, Skandagupta, and Samudragupta are the important kings of the Gupta dynasty.

Both the given statements (A) and (R) are false.

Important Points

• In Akbar’s reign, the jagirs were carefully assessed so that their revenues were roughly equal to the salary of the mansabdar.
• During Aurangzeb’s reign, this was no longer the case and the actual revenue collected was often less than the granted sum.
• There was also a huge increase in the number of mansabdars, which meant a long wait before they received a jagir.
• These and other factors created a shortage in the number of jagirs.
• As a result, many jagirdars tried to extract as much revenue as possible while they had a jagir.

• Aurangzeb was unable to control these developments in the last years of his reign and the peasantry therefore suffered tremendously.

Thus, we can conclude that both the given statements (A) and (R) are false.

Bhagat Singh was convicted and executed at the young age of 23 for his involvement in the assassination of John Saunders (Lahore Conspiracy Case). Saunders was a British police officer. Bhagat Singh and his comrades sought revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai which was caused by brutal police. They were convicted after a trial by s Special Tribunal which sentenced them to death by hanging. On 23 March, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were executed.

• ​Sattriya dance in the modern form was introduced by the Vaishnava saint Shankaradeva and is inspired by the Bhakti movement.

The correct answer is 64 gates and 570 towers.

Key Points

• Megasthenes was a Greek Diplomat, Historian, and ethnographer whose extensive writings about the cultures of India gave an insight into the lives of ancient Indians during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Seleucid-Mauryan War around 305 BC, Megasthenes became an ambassador for Seleucus I to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra.
• The compilation of Megasthenes’ work is known as Indica.
• According to the writings of the Greek diplomat Megasthenes, Pataliputra, is the capital surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers that rivaled the splendors of contemporaneous Persian sites such as Susa and Ecbatana.

Additional Information

• The capital of the Maurya empire was Patliputra.
• The founder of the Maurya empire was Chandragupta Maurya.
• Chandragupta, with the help of an intelligent and politically astute Brahmin, Kautilya usurped the throne by defeating Dhana Nanda in 321 BC.
• His reign lasted from 321 BC to 297 BC.
• He abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Bindusara, and went to Karnataka with Jain monk Bhadrabahu. He had embraced Jainism and is said to have starved himself to death according to the Jain tradition at Shravanabelagola.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

Zamindars during Mughals:

• Zamindars were a class of people in the countryside that lived off agriculture but did not participate directly in the processes of agricultural production.
• These were the zamindars who were landed proprietors who also enjoyed certain social and economic privileges by virtue of their superior status in rural society.
• Caste was one factor that accounted for the elevated status of zamindars; another factor was that they performed certain services (khidmat) for the state. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
• The zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat, meaning property.
  • Milkiyat lands were cultivated for the private use of zamindars, often with the help of hired or servile labour.
  • The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
• Zamindars also derived their power from the fact that they could often collect revenue on behalf of the state, a service for which they were compensated financially.
  • Control over military resources was another source of power.
  • Most zamindars had fortresses (qilachas) as well as an armed contingent comprising units of cavalry, artillery and infantry. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
• Contemporary documents give an impression that conquest may have been the source of the origin of some zamindaris.
• The dispossession of weaker people by a powerful military chieftain was quite often a way of expanding a zamindari.
• It is, however, unlikely that the state would have allowed such a show of aggression by a zamindar unless he had been confirmed by an imperial order (sanad).
• Zamindars spearheaded the colonisation of agricultural land and helped in settling cultivators by providing them with the means of cultivation, including cash loans.
• The buying and selling of zamindaris accelerated the process of monetisation in the countryside.
• In addition, zamindars sold the produce from their milkiyat lands.
• There is evidence to show that zamindars often established markets (haats) to which peasants also came to sell their produce.

The correct answer is Subaltern Historiography. Key Points

• Subaltern historiography is a historical approach that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily in South Asia and was developed by scholars like Ranajit Guha and Dipesh Chakrabarty.
• It aims to uncover the experiences and perspectives of marginalized and oppressed groups who have been traditionally excluded or ignored in mainstream historical narratives.
• Range of topics extending in time from the Mughal period to the nineteen seventies:
  • Subaltern historiography is interested in studying the experiences of marginalized groups throughout history, spanning from the Mughal period (16th to 19th centuries) to the 1970s.
  • It recognizes that the subaltern condition is not limited to a specific time period but has persisted over centuries.
• Range of topics in theme from communalism to industrial labour:
  • ​Subaltern historiography examines a wide range of themes.
  • It explores issues related to communalism, which refers to conflicts and divisions between different religious or ethnic communities.
  • It also focuses on industrial labour, considering the experiences of workers and labouring classes in the context of industrialization and capitalism.
• Range of topics in manner from the descriptive to the conceptual:
  • Subaltern historiography employs diverse methodologies and approaches.
  • On one hand, it includes descriptive studies that provide detailed accounts of the lives, struggles, and aspirations of subaltern groups.
  • On the other hand, it also incorporates conceptual analyses that delve into the underlying structures, ideologies, and power dynamics that shape subaltern experiences.
• In summary, subaltern historiography seeks to give voice to the marginalized and oppressed groups throughout history by addressing a wide range of topics, exploring themes such as communalism and industrial labour, and adopting descriptive and conceptual approaches to understand their experiences.

• It challenges dominant narratives and aims to provide a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of history.

Therefore based on the above discussion, the correct answer is Subaltern Historiography.

There are more than one similarity between Jainism and Buddhism.

Similarities between Jainism and Buddhism:

• Both believed in Karma and rebirth.
• Both allowed Shudras and women to follow the religion
• Both preached truth, non-violence, celibacy and detachment.
• Both opposed the caste system but could not eliminate it.
• Both were founded by Kshatriyas in eastern India.

The English Education Act was a legislative Act of the Council of India in 1835 giving effect to a decision in 1835 by William Bentinck, the Governor-General of British India to reallocate funds the East India Company was required by the British Parliament to spend on education and literature in India. In the same year, British Government designated English as the medium of education for schools and universities.

The correct answer is All threeKey PointsThe Rise of East India Company (EIC)

• The British East India Company was founded as a joint-stock company in 1600.
• In 1600, the Company issued a charter allowing English trade with eastern countries such as South Africa (Cape of Good Hope) and also in the west-south straits of Magellan.
• Their initial foray into India was as traders, but they soon realised that ruling India was more profitable.
• They dominated and ruled India until 1900.
• Their sole intention in the first 50 years of the 18th century was to trade in India and profit.
• This changed in 1650 when a new generation of British traders took over the guards and sought political power in order to gain a free hand in trade in India and keep rival Europeans out.
• In 1691, the Company was granted exemption from the payment of customs duties in Bengal in return for Rs. 3,000 a year.
• In 1698, the Company acquired the zamindari of the three villages Sutanati, Kalikata, and Govindpur where the English built Fort William around its factory. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
• These villages soon grew into a city, which came to be known as Calcutta (now Kolkata).
• During the first half of the 18th century, Bengal was ruled by strong Nawabsnamely Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan.
• Nawabs of Bengal exercised strict control over the English traders and prevented them from misusing their privileges.
• Nor did they allow them to strengthen fortifications at Calcutta or to rule the city independently.
• British settlements in Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta became the nuclei of flourishing cities.

The Maratha Wars, fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy, were a series of conflicts that took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These wars significantly contributed to the decline of Maratha power in India and the expansion of British territorial control. There were three major Maratha Wars, leading to the eventual dismantling of the Maratha Confederacy, a formidable power in the Indian subcontinent during the 18th century.

1. First Maratha War (1775-1782): This conflict began as a result of British support for one faction over another in a succession dispute for the position of Peshwa (the prime minister and de facto ruler) of the Maratha Empire. It concluded with the Treaty of Salbai, which established a status quo.
2. Second Maratha War (1803-1805): Triggered by the British attempt to annex Maratha territories under the guise of alleged misgovernance, this war ended with British victory and the Treaty of Deogaon (in Orissa) and the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon, resulting in significant territorial losses for the Marathas.
3. Third Maratha War (1817-1818): Also known as the Pindari War, this final conflict led to the end of the Maratha Empire. The British forces decimated the Pindari bands (irregular horsemen plunderers allied with the Marathas) and defeated the last of the Maratha leaders, leading to the annexation of their territories into the British Raj.

The impact of the Maratha Wars was profound, as it not only signaled the collapse of the last major indigenous power in India but also marked the extension of British domination over almost the entire subcontinent. The British were able to exert control over India not only through military might but also through political alliances, strategic marriages, and fomenting divisions among local rulers, a strategy known as "Divide and Rule."

Hence, the correct answer is A) The British, whose military and political machinations against the Maratha Confederacy led to its eventual decline and the consolidation of British rule in India.

The correct answer is Guru Angad Dev Ji.

• Guru Angad (31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552) was the second of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• He was born in a Hindu family, with the birth name Lehna, in the village of Harike (now Sarae Naga, near Muktsar) in the northwest Indian subcontinent.
• Bhai Lehna grew up in a Khatri family (Kshatriya, traditionally warriors), his father was a small-scale trader, he worked as a pujari (priest) and religious teacher centered around goddess Durga.
• He met Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and became a Sikh. He served and worked with Guru Nanak for many years.
• Guru Nanak gave Bhai Lehna the name Angad, chose Angad as the second Sikh Guru instead of his sons.
• He is remembered in Sikhism for adopting and formalizing the Gurmukhi alphabet from pre-existing Indo-European scripts such as the Tankre of the Himalayan region.
• He began the process of collecting the hymns of Nanak, contributed 62 or 63 hymns of his own. Instead of his son, he chose a Vaishnava Hindu Amar Das as his successor and the third Guru of Sikhism.

The history of ancient Tamil kingdoms i.e. Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas came to be known from Sangam Literature.

Tanjore paintings are characterised by rich, flat and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems. The theme of this form of painting is Hindu Gods and Goddess. Hence, the pictures of child Krishna dominated the painting. It was developed by the Chola rulers.

The distinct school of Mysore painting evolved from the paintings of Vijayanagar times during the reign of the Vijayanagar Kings. The rulers of Vijayanagar and their feudatories encouraged literature, art, architecture, religious and philosophical discussions. With the fall of the Vijayanagar empire after the Battle of Talikota, the artists who were till then under royal patronage migrated to various other places like Mysore, Tanjore, Surpur, etc. Absorbing the local artistic traditions and customs, the erstwhile Vijayanagar School of Painting gradually evolved into the many styles of painting in South India, including the Mysore and Tanjore schools of painting.

• Historical Materialism, a core concept in Marxist philosophy, emphasizes the economic system (mode of production) as the foundation for understanding social change throughout history.

• The mode of production refers to how a society produces goods and services. It includes the following:

1. Forces of Production: This refers to the technology, tools, and human labor used in production.

2. Relations of Production: This refers to the social relationships people have during production, such as the relationship between owners and workers.

• Historical Materialism suggests that the forces of production constantly develop, leading to contradictions with the existing relations of production. This creates tension and eventually a revolution, leading to a new mode of production and a new social order. For example, the rise of machinery in capitalism created a class conflict between factory owners (bourgeoisie) and workers (proletariat).
• Historical Materialism offers a powerful tool for analyzing social change and class struggle. However, critics argue it overemphasizes economics and downplays the role of ideas, culture, and individual agency in history.

Additional Information

• Great leaders and historical figures: While influential, these figures are seen by Marxists as products of their time and the underlying economic conditions. They may act as catalysts for change, but the underlying cause lies in the economic base.
• Ideas, philosophies, and religions: Marx acknowledged the importance of ideas, but argued they are shaped by the material conditions of society. Religion, for instance, might be used to justify an existing class structure.
• Natural disasters and environmental upheavals: These can certainly impact societies, but Historical Materialism focuses on long-term, systemic change driven by economic factors.

Manu Smriti (Pre-Gupta period) is the oldest Smriti.

Duke Memorandum is associated with Sir William Duke, a member of the English Round Table Group and he had formulated a scheme which eventually became the basis of Joint Report of Montague and Chelmsford.

Hence, the correct option is B.