CBSE SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (FULL MARKS)

Class 11 – History (Course A)

Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires

Maximum Marks: 40

Time: 1½ Hours

SECTION – A (1 × 6 = 6 Marks)

Objective / Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. Who were the nomads of the Eurasian steppe mainly dependent on for their livelihood?
Answer: They depended mainly on pastoral animals such as sheep, goats, horses, and camels.

Q2. What was the literal meaning of the title “Genghis Khan”?
Answer: “Genghis Khan” means “Universal Ruler.”

Q3. Name the grand assembly where Mongol leaders elected their khans.
Answer: The Kurultai.

Q4. Which system did the Mongols use to organise their army into units of 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000?
Answer: The decimal military system.

Q5. Who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China?
Answer: Kublai Khan.

Q6. What was the Mongol passport used by merchants called?
Answer: The Paiza.

SECTION – B (Short Answer Questions – 3 × 4 = 12 Marks)

Q7. Describe any three features of the social structure of the Mongols. (3 marks)

Answer:

1. Clan-Based Society: Mongol society was organised into clans (oboq), which were linked by kinship.
2. Role of Women: Women managed households, herding, and sometimes even acted as regents during the absence of male leaders.
3. High Social Mobility: Status depended on loyalty and merit rather than noble birth; even slaves (nökors) could rise to become commanders.

Q8. Explain any three major military strategies introduced by Genghis Khan. (3 marks)

Answer:

1. Feigned Retreat: Mongol forces pretended to flee, luring enemies into traps.
2. High Mobility: Fast-moving cavalry allowed them to cover vast distances rapidly.
3. Intelligence System: Spies, scouts, and the ‘yam’ relay stations ensured fast and accurate information flow.

Q9. Highlight three reasons behind the conflict between the Mongols and the Khwarazm Empire. (3 marks)

Answer:

1. Murder of Envoys: The Khwarazm Shah executed Mongol trade envoys, provoking war.
2. Commercial Tensions: Restrictions on Mongol merchants in Central Asian markets.
3. Political Rivalry: Both powers wanted control of Central Asian trade routes.

Q10. Write any three features of the Pax Mongolica. (3 marks)

Answer:

1. Security on the Silk Route: Travel and trade became safe across Eurasia.
2. Cultural Exchange: Spread of technologies like gunpowder, printing, and medical knowledge.
3. Movement of Travellers: Figures like Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta could move easily across Mongol territories.

SECTION – C (Long Answer Questions – 5 × 2 = 10 Marks)

Q11. Discuss the rise of Genghis Khan from Temujin to the founder of the Mongol Empire. (5 marks)

Answer:

• Early Hardships: Born as Temujin in 1162, he faced poverty and clan hostility after his father’s death.
• Personal Alliances: Through friendships (anda) and marriage with Börte, he built strong political alliances.
• Merit-Based Support: He attracted followers by rewarding loyalty and skill, not aristocratic birth.
• Defeating Rival Tribes: He defeated powerful tribes like the Tatars, Kereyits, Naimans, and Merkits, unifying the steppe.
• Kurultai of 1206: Temujin was proclaimed Genghis Khan, marking the unification of all Mongol tribes and the birth of the Mongol Empire.

Q12. Describe the administrative and political organisation of the Mongol Empire under and after Genghis Khan. (5 marks)

Answer:

• Supreme Authority of the Khan: Elected in a kurultai; believed to be chosen by Tengri (Heaven).
• Decentralisation: After Genghis Khan, the empire split into four khanates—Golden Horde, Ilkhanate, Chagatai, and Yuan—each run by a branch of his descendants.
• Religious Tolerance: All faiths—Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Shamanism—were protected; priests exempt from taxes.
• Census and Taxation: Regular census conducted; taxes often collected by merchant associations or local elites.
• Legal Framework (Yasa): Strict laws on theft, desertion, and discipline ensured order across the vast empire.

SECTION – D (Source-Based Question – 4 Marks)

Q13. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

“The Mongols promoted long-distance trade across Eurasia. Merchants were given paiza passes, and relay stations (yam) ensured safety and quick communication. The security they provided brought travellers like Marco Polo across their empire.”

a) What was the purpose of the paiza?
b) How did the yam system help the Mongols?
c) What was one significant impact of Mongol protection of trade routes?

Answer:
a) The paiza allowed merchants to travel freely and receive official protection.
b) The yam system enabled fast communication and efficient transmission of military and administrative messages.
c) It encouraged safe long-distance trade and travel, leading to increased cultural and technological exchange.

SECTION – E (Essay / Long Answer – 8 Marks)

Q14. Evaluate the impact of the Mongol military system and organisation in the creation of the largest land empire in world history. (8 marks)

Answer (Model Full-Marks):

• Superior Cavalry: Mongol soldiers were expert horsemen, able to shoot accurately while riding at high speed.
• Decimal Army Structure: Units of 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 ensured discipline, coordination, and clarity in command.
• Training and Discipline: From childhood, Mongols learned riding, hunting, and archery; this made the army exceptionally resilient.
• Adaptability of Tactics: They combined steppe warfare with siege technologies borrowed from China and Persia.
• Psychological Warfare: Feigned retreats, spreading fear, and fast assaults crushed enemy morale before actual battle.
• Communication Network: The yam relay system allowed orders to move across thousands of kilometres rapidly.
• Intelligence Gathering: Scouts and spies ensured that every enemy’s strength, terrain, and weakness were known beforehand.
• Integration of Skilled People: Engineers, artisans, and siege specialists from conquered regions were recruited into the army.
  Conclusion:
  These military innovations enabled the Mongols to defeat far larger armies, conquer diverse regions, and sustain the largest continuous land empire in history.