General Studies 2023 GS Paper I 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Explain
Q12
What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society? (Answer in 250 words) 15
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
सल्तनत काल के दौरान किये गये बड़े तकनीकी बदलाव क्या थे? उन तकनीकी बदलावों ने भारतीय समाज को कैसे प्रभावित किया था? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)
Directive word: Explain
This question asks you to explain. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.
See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.
How this answer will be evaluated
Approach
The directive 'explain' requires a clear exposition of technological changes followed by their causal impact on society. Structure should comprise: a brief introduction contextualizing the Sultanate period (1206-1526), a bifurcated body addressing technologies first and societal transformations second, and a conclusion assessing long-term implications for medieval Indian economy and culture.
Key points expected
- Military technologies: Persian wheel (saqiya), siege engines, crossbows, gunpowder artillery (manjaniq, arrada)
- Agricultural innovations: widespread use of Persian wheel for irrigation, new crops (spinach, watermelon, muskmelon, apricot)
- Architectural and construction techniques: true arch, dome construction, lime mortar, vaulting (Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza as exemplars)
- Paper-making and textile technologies: introduction of paper manufacture, sericulture expansion, cotton ginning
- Societal impacts: monetization of economy, growth of urban craft guilds (kasbas), changes in land revenue system (iqta), cultural synthesis in Indo-Islamic architecture
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demand-directive understanding | 15% | 2.25 | Clearly distinguishes between technological changes (first part) and their societal influence (second part), maintaining analytical balance without conflating the two components | Addresses both parts but treats them sequentially without establishing clear causal linkages between technology and social change | Focuses predominantly on one part (usually listing technologies) while neglecting societal impact, or conflates both into undifferentiated narrative |
| Content depth & accuracy | 25% | 3.75 | Demonstrates precise chronological awareness (1206-1526), correctly attributes technologies to Central Asian/Turkish/Persian origins, and accurately identifies their Indian adaptations | Covers major technologies but with some anachronisms (e.g., attributing all to Delhi Sultans without acknowledging pre-existing Indian technologies) or vague generalizations | Contains factual errors (e.g., confusing Sultanate with Mughal technologies, misidentifying origins), or relies on outdated historiography ignoring recent scholarship on technology transfer |
| Structure & flow | 20% | 3 | Employs clear thematic or sectoral organization (military-agricultural-architectural-industrial) with explicit transition markers showing technology→society causation within each section | Presents information in discernible paragraphs but lacks internal coherence; societal impacts mentioned separately without integration | Disorganized listing without paragraph discipline; abrupt shifts between unrelated technologies; conclusion merely restates points without synthesis |
| Examples / case-law / data | 25% | 3.75 | Cites specific monuments (Qutub Minar, Tughlaqabad Fort), references Ibn Battuta's observations on Persian wheels, mentions Firuz Shah Tughlaq's canal systems, or uses numismatic evidence for economic monetization | Provides generic references to 'Sultanate architecture' or 'new crops' without specific instances; mentions rulers but not their specific technological patronage | No concrete examples; or uses examples from wrong period (Mughal/Mauryan); confuses Alauddin Khalji's market reforms with technological changes |
| Conclusion & analytical edge | 15% | 2.25 | Synthesizes by evaluating whether these changes were revolutionary or evolutionary, notes regional variations (Delhi vs provincial Sultanates), or connects to broader historiographical debates (Habib's thesis on technology and surplus extraction) | Summarizes main points adequately but offers no analytical evaluation; makes generic statement about 'lasting impact on Indian civilization' | Absent or consists of single sentence; introduces new unrelated information; or makes unsupported claims about 'destruction of Indian technology' |
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