1. How do historians generally divide time into different periods?
   A) Based only on religious events
   B) Based on significant social, economic, and political changes
   C) According to the rulers of different dynasties
   D) By considering only wars and conflicts
   
2. Which three periods were traditionally used by British historians to classify Indian history?
   A) Hindu, Muslim, and Christian
   B) Ancient, Medieval, and Modern
   C) Hindu, Muslim, and British
   D) Vedic, Gupta, and Mughal
   
3. Why is the division of history into ‘Hindu’, ‘Muslim’, and ‘British’ periods considered problematic?
   A) Because it is based only on the religion of rulers and ignores other aspects of history
   B) Because these terms were not used by people in the past
   C) Because it does not consider the contributions of non-rulers
   D) All of the above
   
4. What is the main problem with dividing history into broad periods?
   A) It makes history too easy to understand
   B) It assumes that major changes happened suddenly, rather than gradually
   C) It does not focus on kings and wars
   D) It ignores technological advancements
   
5. Which factor is NOT usually considered when dividing history into periods?
   A) Social and economic changes
   B) Political transformations
   C) The personal life of rulers
   D) Cultural developments
   
6. Which period is often described as the ‘Medieval Period’ in Indian history?
   A) 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
   B) 700 CE – 1750 CE
   C) 1750 CE – 1947 CE
   D) 5000 BCE – 1000 BCE
   
7. Why do historians today prefer economic and social factors for periodization rather than religious factors?
   A) Because economic and social factors affect a larger section of society
   B) Because religion is not important in history
   C) Because economic and social changes happen quickly
   D) Because only kings were interested in religion
   
8. Which of the following is considered an important aspect of historical change over time?
   A) The rise and fall of empires only
   B) The growth of cities, agriculture, and trade
   C) The development of scientific fiction
   D) The number of wars fought in a century
   
9. Why is the term Modern Period often debated by historians in the Indian context?
   A) Because it is associated with colonial rule and does not always represent progress
   B) Because the Mughal Empire still existed during that time
   C) Because people stopped using traditional practices
   D) Because India had no trade relations with Europe
   
10. What is the key purpose of periodization in history?
    A) To simplify complex historical events and understand change over time
    B) To ensure all events are classified under rulers’ names
    C) To separate history into unconnected parts
    D) To remove the study of ancient civilizations
    

---

Answers and Explanations

1. B) Based on significant social, economic, and political changes
   Historians divide history into periods based on major changes in society, economy, and politics.
   
2. C) Hindu, Muslim, and British
   British historians classified Indian history based on the religion of rulers, which is now considered an oversimplified approach.
   
3. D) All of the above
   This classification ignores cultural, economic, and social developments and reduces history to religious rule.
   
4. B) It assumes that major changes happened suddenly, rather than gradually
   Historical changes occur over time and cannot always be divided into clear-cut periods.
   
5. C) The personal life of rulers
   Historical periods are divided based on broader social, economic, and political changes rather than individual rulers’ personal lives.
   
6. B) 700 CE – 1750 CE
   The medieval period in India is usually considered to be from 700 CE to 1750 CE, covering the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire.
   
7. A) Because economic and social factors affect a larger section of society
   Focusing on economic and social history helps understand changes that impacted the majority of people, not just rulers.
   
8. B) The growth of cities, agriculture, and trade
   Historical changes include urbanization, economic development, and technological progress.
   
9. A) Because it is associated with colonial rule and does not always represent progress
   In India, the modern period is linked to British colonial rule, which led to both progress and exploitation.
   

A) To simplify complex historical events and understand change over time
Periodization helps organize history into meaningful sections to study developments more effectively.