UPSC Mains 2023 GS1 Q12 — Medieval Indian History
What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society? (Answer in 250 words )
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- WhatHow
- Scope keywords
- major technological changesSultanate periodinfluenceIndian society
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identification of specific innovations in irrigation, textiles, architecture, and paper-making.
- The link between technology and economic shifts (e.g., urbanization, crop patterns).
- The social impact of new technologies on labor, class structure, and knowledge dissemination.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too heavily on political history or battles instead of technological tools.
- Attributing later Mughal-era innovations (like specific artillery improvements) to the Sultanate period.
- Failing to mention the 'Saqiya' (Persian wheel) or the spinning wheel, which are central to this topic.
- Neglecting the 'influence on society' part by only listing the inventions without analyzing their social consequences.
- Dimensions required
- Agrarian/Economic (Irrigation and productivity)Cultural/Intellectual (Paper and literacy)Industrial/Craft (Textiles and weaving)Architectural (Arcuate style vs Trabeate style)
- Marks allocation hint
Devote approximately 100 words to identifying and describing the 4-5 key technological changes. Use the remaining 150 words to analyze the impact on society, specifically focusing on urbanization, the rise of artisanal classes, and the democratization of knowledge through paper.
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