Two rulers. Two very different stories. Mahmud of Ghazni came to India 17 times, took everything he could, and went back. Muhammad Ghuri came once and stayed. These two centuries were not just about battles. The same period that saw temples destroyed at Somnath also saw the Cholas sailing their navy all the way to Southeast Asia. Bhaskara II was solving algebra problems that Europe would not catch up with for centuries. At Khajuraho, the Chandellas were building temples that are still considered wonders. This was not a time of only loss. It was a time of turning tides.
This page has MCQ questions based on Chapter 4, Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries, from the unit Tapestry of the Past in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 7 Part 2, published by NCERT under the CBSE curriculum. The chapter covers a wide range, from Ghaznavid and Ghurid invasions to the naval power of the Cholas, the scholar-king Bhoja, the magnificent Hoysala temples, and the social reforms of Basaveshvara.
Take a look at the key topics and dates this chapter covers:
- Hindu Shahis and the Khyber Pass: Ruled the northwest and guarded the main invasion route into India.
- Mahmud of Ghazni’s campaigns, 1000-1008 CE: Defeated the Hindu Shahis and entered the Indus plains. He later launched 17 raids into India.
- Destruction of Somnath temple, 1026 CE: Mahmud raided and looted the Somnath temple in Saurashtra.
- Mahmud’s death, 1030 CE: Died at Ghazni at 58 and did not build lasting rule in India beyond Punjab.
- Al-Biruni, around 1017 CE: Persian scholar who learned Sanskrit and wrote a rich account of Indian knowledge and culture.
- Bhaskara II (Bhaskaracharya), born 1114 CE: Great mathematician and astronomer who wrote Lilavati in 1150 CE.
- Reign of Rajaraja Chola I, 985-1014 CE: Expanded Chola power and built the Brihadishvara temple at Thanjavur.
- Reign of Rajendra Chola I, 1014-1044 CE: Extended the empire northward and led a naval campaign against Shrivijaya in 1025 CE.
- Paramara king Bhoja, reign 1010-1055 CE: Scholar-king of Malwa who founded Bhojpur and wrote on many subjects.
- Kakatiya dynasty, 12th century: Rose in present-day Telangana and built Warangal fort and the Thousand Pillar temple.
- Hoysala dynasty: Famous for the finely carved temples of Belur and Halebidu.
- First Battle of Tarain, 1191 CE: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghuri.
- Second Battle of Tarain, 1192 CE: Muhammad Ghuri returned and defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Muhammad Ghuri captures Delhi: Sought permanent control and left Qutb-ud-din Aibak to strengthen his rule.
- Bakhtiyar Khilji destroys Nalanda and Vikramashila: Burned major Buddhist centres during his Bengal campaign.
- Deaths of Muhammad Ghuri and Bakhtiyar Khilji, 1206 CE: Both died in the same year.
- Ramanujachary and Basaveshvara: Thinker-saints who challenged caste barriers and opened spirituality to all.
- Angkor Wat, 12th century: Huge temple in Cambodia showing the spread of Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia.
This chapter matters because it shows the moment when India’s history took a sharp turn. The Ghaznavid and Ghurid invasions brought a new kind of challenge, one that would shape north India for centuries to come. But the chapter also shows what India kept doing through all of this, building temples, writing mathematics, reforming society, and sending its culture across the seas. Understanding this period is essential for any student who wants to make sense of how medieval India was shaped.
Test how well you know this chapter with these MCQ questions for Class 7 Social Science and sharpen your preparation for exams.
Class 7 Chapter 4 Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Part 2 MCQ Questions with Answers
Class 7 SST Chapter 4 Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Part 2 MCQ Questions
1. Which dynasty controlled the Khyber Pass before being overrun by the Ghaznavids?
a) Senas
b) Hindu Shahis
c) Eastern Gangas
d) Hoysalas
Answer:
b) Hindu Shahis
2. Why was the Khyber Pass important in Indian history?
a) It was used only for farming
b) It connected India only to Sri Lanka
c) It was a major route for trade and invasions
d) It was the capital of the Ghaznavids
Answer:
c) It was a major route for trade and invasions
3. The capital of the Ghaznavids was
a) Delhi
b) Ghazna
c) Kannauj
d) Nadia
Answer:
b) Ghazna
4. What title did Mahmud assume?
a) Maharajadhiraja
b) Chakravarti
c) Sultan
d) Samanta
Answer:
c) Sultan
5. Which city did Mahmud find enormously wealthy in 1018?
a) Mathura
b) Madurai
c) Vengi
d) Kalyani
Answer:
a) Mathura
6. Which temple did Mahmud destroy and plunder in Gujarat?
a) Jagannatha temple
b) Brihadishvara temple
c) Somnath temple
d) Lakshmana temple
Answer:
c) Somnath temple
7. Which scholar accompanied Mahmud on some of his campaigns and later wrote extensively on India?
a) Banabhatta
b) Al-Biruni
c) Kalhana
d) Jayadeva
Answer:
b) Al-Biruni
8. Which classic Indian text did Al-Biruni translate into Arabic?
a) Arthashastra
b) Yogasutras
c) Ramcharitmanas
d) Rajatarangini
Answer:
b) Yogasutras
9. Bhaskaracharya is best known as a great
a) sculptor and painter
b) musician and poet only
c) mathematician and astronomer
d) warrior and naval commander
Answer:
c) mathematician and astronomer
10. Which work of Bhaskaracharya uses riddles and problems to teach mathematics?
a) Manasollasa
b) Gita Govindam
c) Lilavati
d) Samarangana Sutradhara
Answer:
c) Lilavati
11. After the decline of the Palas, which dynasty became dominant over much of Bengal?
a) Sena dynasty
b) Chahamanas
c) Paramaras
d) Chaulukyas
Answer:
a) Sena dynasty
12. Which poet was hosted by the Senas?
a) Someshvara III
b) Jayadeva
c) Basaveshvara
d) Prithviraja III
Answer:
b) Jayadeva
13. Which eastern Indian dynasty initiated the construction of the Jagannatha temple at Puri?
a) Senas
b) Paramaras
c) Eastern Gangas
d) Ghurids
Answer:
c) Eastern Gangas
14. The Kakatiyas built their capital at
a) Ajmer
b) Orugallu
c) Dhara
d) Halebidu
Answer:
b) Orugallu
15. Which temple is mentioned as a fine example of Kakatiya architecture?
a) Thousand Pillar temple at Hanamkonda
b) Kandariya Mahadeva temple
c) Bhojeshwar temple
d) Brihadishvara temple
Answer:
a) Thousand Pillar temple at Hanamkonda
16. Which Hoysala ruler broke away from Chalukya overlordship?
a) Vijayabahu I
b) Vishnuvardhana
c) Rajaraja Chola
d) Mularaja II
Answer:
b) Vishnuvardhana
17. Which Chola ruler is associated with the Brihadishvara temple at Thanjavur?
a) Rajendra Chola I
b) Rajaraja Chola
c) Vijayalaya
d) Bhoja
Answer:
b) Rajaraja Chola
18. Rajendra Chola I launched a successful naval expedition against the
a) Ghaznavids
b) Hindu Shahis
c) Shrivijaya Empire
d) Senas
Answer:
c) Shrivijaya Empire
19. Which king of Malwa was known both for warfare and for scholarship?
a) Bhoja Paramara
b) Suheldev
c) Jayapala
d) Anandapala
Answer:
a) Bhoja Paramara
20. Which battle brought a major victory to Muhammad Ghuri over Prithviraja III?
a) Battle of Panipat
b) First Battle of Tarain
c) Second Battle of Tarain
d) Battle of Talikota
Answer:
c) Second Battle of Tarain
Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Part 2 Assertion-Reason Questions
1. Assertion (A): Mahmud of Ghazni did not try to build a permanent empire deep inside India. Reason (R): After his campaigns, he usually returned to Ghazni with plunder.
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
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Assertion (A): Al-Biruni is remembered as an important scholar of India. Reason (R): He learned Sanskrit, studied Indian texts, and wrote about Indian religion, philosophy, geography, and sciences.
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
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
3. Assertion (A): The Kakatiyas strengthened agriculture in their region. Reason (R): They promoted village self-governance, an efficient revenue system, and irrigation infrastructure.
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
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
4. Assertion (A): Rajendra Chola I occupied the Shrivijaya Empire permanently after defeating it. Reason (R): His naval expedition was mainly punitive and aimed at achieving specific objectives.
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
Answer:
d) A is false, but R is true
5. Assertion (A): Muhammad Ghuri’s invasions had a more lasting political impact than Mahmud’s raids. Reason (R): He sought territorial conquest and left trusted commanders behind to consolidate his gains.
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
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Part 2 Fill in the blanks Questions
1. The main mountain pass controlled by the Hindu Shahis was the __________ Pass.
Answer:
Khyber
2. Mahmud defeated Jayapala’s son __________ in 1008.
Answer:
Anandapala
3. Mahmud carried out __________ campaigns in India.
Answer:
17
4. The Persian scholar who studied India deeply was __________.
Answer:
Al-Biruni
5. Bhaskara II is better known as __________.
Answer:
Bhaskaracharya
6. The mathematical work of Bhaskaracharya that teaches through riddles is called __________.
Answer:
Lilavati
7. The Sena capital was __________.
Answer:
Nadiya
8. The Kakatiya capital Orugallu is present-day __________.
Answer:
Warangal
9. The Hoysala capitals included Velapura and __________.
Answer:
Dvarasamudra
10. Rajaraja Chola built the __________ temple at Thanjavur.
Answer:
Brihadishvara
11. The narrow sea route important in Chola trade rivalry was the Strait of __________.
Answer:
Malacca
12. Bhoja Paramara founded the town of __________.
Answer:
Bhojpur
13. The general left behind by Muhammad Ghuri was __________.
Answer:
Qutb-ud-din Aibak
14. Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed important Buddhist centres like Nalanda and __________.
Answer:
Vikramashila
Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Part 2 True or False Questions
1. The Hindu Shahis controlled an important entry route into the Subcontinent.
Answer:
True
2. Mahmud established his capital in Delhi after defeating the Hindu Shahis.
Answer:
False
3. Al-Biruni translated Patanjali’s Yogasutras into Arabic.
Answer:
True
4. The Senas mainly promoted Buddhist institutions in Bengal.
Answer:
False
5. The Eastern Gangas are linked in the chapter with the Jagannatha temple at Puri.
Answer:
True
6. The Kakatiyas ruled much of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Answer:
True
7. The Hoysalas are famous mainly for desert forts and camel warfare.
Answer:
False
8. Rajendra Chola I sent a diplomatic mission to China.
Answer:
True
9. Muhammad Ghuri was defeated by Prithviraja III in the Second Battle of Tarain.
Answer:
False
10. Agriculture remained the mainstay of the economy during this period.
Answer:
True
Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Part 2 Match the following Questions
Question 1
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Hindu Shahis | A. Scholar who wrote on India |
| 2. Mahmud of Ghazni | B. Controlled the Khyber Pass |
| 3. Al-Biruni | C. Destroyed and plundered Somnath |
| 4. Bhaskaracharya | D. Author of Lilavati |
| 5. Senas | E. Dynasty that rose in Bengal after the Palas |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Hindu Shahis | B. Controlled the Khyber Pass |
| 2. Mahmud of Ghazni | C. Destroyed and plundered Somnath |
| 3. Al-Biruni | A. Scholar who wrote on India |
| 4. Bhaskaracharya | D. Author of Lilavati |
| 5. Senas | E. Dynasty that rose in Bengal after the Palas |
Question 2
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Kakatiyas | A. Built Brihadishvara temple |
| 2. Hoysalas | B. Capital at Orugallu |
| 3. Rajaraja Chola | C. Famous temples at Belur and Halebidu |
| 4. Bhoja Paramara | D. Defeated Prithviraja III at Tarain |
| 5. Muhammad Ghuri | E. Scholar-king of Malwa |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Kakatiyas | B. Capital at Orugallu |
| 2. Hoysalas | C. Famous temples at Belur and Halebidu |
| 3. Rajaraja Chola | A. Built Brihadishvara temple |
| 4. Bhoja Paramara | E. Scholar-king of Malwa |
| 5. Muhammad Ghuri | D. Defeated Prithviraja III at Tarain |
