Debates of State Formation in Early Medieval India – UGC NET – Practice Questions

State Formation in Early Medieval India

1. According to Lasson and John Burgess, a state is best defined as:
A. A religious community with cultural unity
B. A group of villages under military control
C. A community of people with an organized authority as the highest source of force
D. A society based only on economic exchanges

2. Which of the following is NOT considered an essential element of a state?
A. Population
B. Territory
C. Government
D. Religion

3. In ancient Indian political thought, the term ‘Praja’ refers to:
A. Territory
B. Bureaucracy
C. Population
D. Taxation

4. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

5. Marx’s concept of the Asiatic Mode of Production emphasized:
A. Capitalist industrialization
B. Democratic decentralization
C. Static and unchanging village communities
D. Rapid urbanization

6. Which historian strongly critiqued the Oriental Despotism thesis in the Indian context?
A. Jadunath Sarkar
B. Romila Thapar
C. RS Sharma
D. Vincent Smith

7. Assertion (A): Nationalist historians viewed the early medieval Indian state as centralized.
Reason (R): They aimed to establish continuity between ancient and medieval empires.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

8. The early medieval period in Indian history broadly extends from:
A. 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE
B. Mid-6th century CE to 13th century CE
C. 13th century CE to 18th century CE
D. 1st century CE to 5th century CE

9. Which model viewed Indian villages as communally landowning units?
A. Nationalist Historiographical Model
B. Segmentary State Model
C. Asiatic Mode of Production
D. Integrative Model

10. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
D- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)

11. Which scholar’s ideas formed the basis of Oriental Despotism?
A. Max Weber
B. Karl Marx
C. Gramsci
D. Engels

12. The relationship between ruling class and peasants in the Asiatic model was based primarily on:
A. Democratic negotiations
B. Religious authority
C. Appropriation of surplus through coercion
D. Industrial production

13. Assertion (A): The Oriental Despotism model viewed Indian society as dynamic.
Reason (R): It emphasized regular political transformation.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.
B. Both (A) and (R) are false.
C. (A) is false, but (R) is also false.
D. (A) is true, but (R) is false.

14. Which feature is associated with nationalist historiography of the early medieval state?
A. Fragmented sovereignty
B. Segmentary polity
C. Strong bureaucracy
D. Stateless society

15. Feudalism in medieval India emphasized:
A. Industrial capitalism
B. Patron–peasant relations based on obligations
C. Merchant guild autonomy
D. Democratic land ownership

16. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)
D- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

17. The term ‘Oriental Despotism’ refers to:
A. Federal governance
B. Tribal republics
C. Absolute authority of rulers over society
D. Democratic assemblies

18. Which historian is associated with studies on regional state formation in early medieval India?
A. RC Majumdar
B. BD Chattopadhyaya
C. Irfan Habib
D. DD Kosambi

19. Assertion (A): Both Oriental Despotism and nationalist models considered medieval Indian states strong.
Reason (R): Both accepted decentralization as dominant.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.
B. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
C. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
D. Both (A) and (R) are false.

20. Which among the following is NOT a characteristic of feudalism?
A. Military obligations
B. Land grants
C. Patron-client relationship
D. Industrial labor contracts

21. Who among the following critiqued the idea of an unchanging Indian society?
A. Vincent Smith
B. RS Sharma and BD Chattopadhyaya
C. Max Müller
D. Al-Biruni

22. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
D- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)

23. In feudal society, peasants lived on:
A. State-owned factories
B. Religious lands only
C. Patron’s property
D. Communal tribal lands

24. Which of the following best describes a vassal in feudalism?
A. King’s minister
B. Merchant guild head
C. Tenant of nobles
D. Temple priest

25. The nationalist historians attempted to negate:
A. Ancient empires
B. Colonial administration
C. Changes in state structure during the early medieval period
D. Religious institutions

26. Assertion (A): In feudalism, nobles received lands from kings.
Reason (R): The exchange was linked with military service.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation.
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

27. Which model sees the early medieval state as territorially defined?
A. Feudal Model
B. Oriental Despotism
C. Nationalist Historiographical Model
D. Integrative Polity Model

28. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

29. The chief source of power in Lasson and Burgess’s definition of state is:
A. Religion
B. Economy
C. Organized authority
D. Culture

30. Which concept best explains the appropriation of peasant surplus through force?
A. Liberalism
B. Mercantilism
C. Oriental Despotism
D. Humanism

31. The feudal system was primarily based on:
A. Industrial production
B. Free labor market
C. Land-based hierarchy and obligations
D. Maritime trade

32. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(i)
D- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

33. Assertion (A): State and society are unrelated concepts in political theory.
Reason (R): Society functions independently of political authority.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.
B. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
C. Both (A) and (R) are false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

34. Which historian emphasized Indian feudalism in the early medieval period?
A. RS Sharma
B. Percy Brown
C. Romila Thapar
D. RC Dutt

35. In the feudal order, peasants paid all EXCEPT:
A. Labor
B. Product share
C. Respect
D. Industrial tax

36. Which of the following best reflects the nationalist interpretation of the state?
A. Fragmented sovereignty
B. Weak monarchy
C. Centralized territorial empire
D. Stateless peasant republics

37. Assertion (A): The Asiatic Mode of Production considered villages to have private property rights.
Reason (R): Peasants exercised complete ownership over land.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.
B. Both (A) and (R) are false.
C. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
D. (A) is true, but (R) is false.

38. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

39. Which among the following was emphasized by Oriental Despotism theorists?
A. Democratic rights
B. Irrigation funded by the ruling class
C. Private land ownership
D. Federal administration

40. The medieval feudal relationship between king and nobles was primarily based on:
A. Elections
B. Religious rituals
C. Land in exchange for military service
D. Trade monopoly

41. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
A. Karl Marx — Asiatic Mode of Production
B. BD Chattopadhyaya — Critique of stagnation thesis
C. Nationalist Historians — Stateless polity
D. RS Sharma — Indian Feudalism

42. Assertion (A): Nationalist historians viewed the medieval Indian state as bureaucratic.
Reason (R): They denied the continuity of ancient empires.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true.
B. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. Both (A) and (R) are false.

43. The concept of feudalism generally includes:
A. Free market capitalism
B. Hierarchical land relations
C. Universal suffrage
D. Factory-based labor

44. Which of the following is an incorrect statement about the Asiatic Mode of Production?
A. Villages were communally landowning
B. Society was considered static
C. Peasants had strong private property rights
D. Surplus extraction occurred through coercion

45. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)
D- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

46. The highest source of force in a state, according to Lasson and Burgess, is:
A. Economy
B. Army
C. Judiciary
D. Organized authority

47. Which of the following historians associated medieval India with feudalism?
A. RS Sharma
B. James Mill
C. Elliot and Dowson
D. Abul Fazl

48. The concept of a territorially defined state was emphasized mainly by:
A. Oriental Despotism theorists
B. Marxists
C. Nationalist historians
D. Colonial administrators

49. Assertion (A): Feudal peasants received military protection from patrons.
Reason (R): In return, peasants provided labor and a share of produce.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation.
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

50. Which among the following best captures the debate on the early medieval Indian state?
A. Agreement on decentralization
B. Uniformity of historiographical interpretation
C. Different scholars interpreting the state through different conceptual models
D. Absence of political authority