NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

In NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4, titled "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments", students explore the diverse philosophies and cultural practices that shaped early Indian society. The chapter delves into the teachings of key thinkers like Buddha and Mahavira, the architectural marvels of stupas, and the transmission of cultural and religious ideas through art and inscriptions.

This article provides a comprehensive resource for exam preparation. It includes sample MCQs and subjective questions for CBSE and CUET, alongside downloadable PDFs of Class 12 History Chapter 4 MCQs and previous year questions for detailed practice of NCERT Class 12 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments.

NCERT Class 12 History Chapters

NCERT Class 12 History Chapters
Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones - The Harappan Civilisation	Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns - Early States and Economies
Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class - Early Societies	Chapter 5: Through The Eyes of Travellers - Perceptions of Society
Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions - Changes in Religious Beliefs & Devotional Texts	Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara
Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and The State - Agrarian Society	Chapter 9: Colonialism and The Countryside - Exploring Official Archives
Chapter 10: Rebels and The Raj - The Revolt of 1857 and Its Representations	Chapter 11: Mahatma Gandhi and The Nationalist Movement
Chapter 12: Framing The Constitution - The Beginning of a New Era

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Class 12 History Chapter 4 MCQs

This question bank includes previous years' CUET and CBSE MCQs, along with questions curated by subject experts. Below are 5 sample multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for Class 12 History Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments. For the full set of 50 questions, download the PDF using the link provided below.

1- Who among the following rulers worked on the preservation of Sanchi Stupa?

(a) Ruksar Begum (b) Jahanara Begum (c) Roshnara Begum (d) Shahjahan Begum

2. Who amongst the following provided money for the preservation of Sanchi Stupa in the late nineteenth century?

A. Sultan Jehan Begum B. H. D. Barstow C. John Marshall D. Shahjehan Begum

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(a) A, B only (b) B, C only (c) C, D only (d) A, D only

3. The Sanchi Stupa complex has survived due to :

(A) The decisions of Shahjahan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum

(B) The good luck in escaping the eyes of railway contractors and builders

(D) The steps taken by the British government to conserve the Stupa

(E) The steps taken to demarcate it as a residential building.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(a) (A), (B), (D) and (E) only (b) (B), (C), (D) and (E) only

4. The Sanchi Stupa complex has survived due to :

(A) The decisions of Shahjahan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum

(B) The good luck in escaping the eyes of railway contractors and builders

(D) The steps taken by the British government to conserve the Stupa

(E) The steps taken to demarcate it as a residential building.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(a) (A), (B), (D) and (E) only (b) (B), (C), (D) and (E) only

5. Which of the following is correctly matched?

	(First Millennium Thinker)	(Country they Belonged)
(a)	Zarathustra	Iran
(b)	Kungzi	Japan
(c)	Socrates	Rome
(d)	Mahavira	Sri Lanka

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Class 12 History Chapter 4 Subjective Questions Without Solutions

This question bank includes previous years' CBSE subjective questions (2 marks and above) without solutions, along with expert-curated questions. Below are 5 sample subjective questions for Class 12 History Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments. To access all questions, download the PDF from the link provided below.

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Buddhism in practice

This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala:

In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees ... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by granting leave at times ... In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.

There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and wife.

(1) How did Buddha give importance to conduct and values?

(2) How can individual effort transform social relations?

(3) Analyse the advice given by Buddha to Sigala for Samanas.

(CBSE 2019, 7M)

Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:

A prayer to Agni

Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni, the god of fire:

Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the gods, O wise one, as a liberal giver. Bestow on us, O priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by sacrificing, mighty wealth for us. Procure, O Agni, for ever to him who prays to you (the gift of) nourishment, the wonderful cow, May a son be ours, offspring that continues out line... Verses such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit, known as Vedic Sanskrit. They were taught orally to men belonging to priestly families.

(1) Why was Vedic Sanskrit significant?

(2) Explain any two Vedic traditions of religious beliefs and practices.

(3) Why were sacrifices performed during Vedic Period?

(CBSE 2019, 7M)

4. Why is the mid-first millennium BCE often regarded as a turning point in world history? Explain with examples.

(CBSE 2023, 8M)

5. "The principle of ahimsa and renunciation emphasized by Jainism has left its mark." Support the statement with Lord Mahavira's messages.

(CBSE 2013, 5M)

Humanities Subjects Table

Sub Areas of Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments

Chapter Name	Sub Topics
Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Teachings of Buddha and Mahavira
	4.3 Evolution of Buddhist and Jain Philosophies
	4.4 Development of Stupas and Temples
	4.5 Art and Inscriptions as Cultural Mediums
	4.6 Ethical and Social Messages in Scriptures
	4.7 Cultural Integration Through Religion

Review of NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4

In NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 4, "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings - Cultural Developments," students explore the philosophies and cultural legacies of ancient India. The chapter emphasizes the teachings of Buddha and Mahavira, and the role of art and architecture in transmitting religious and ethical values.

Mastering this chapter is essential for understanding the evolution of Indian philosophies and their impact on society. By practicing MCQs and subjective questions, students can deepen their understanding of ancient Indian culture and beliefs.

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