Question

From the eighth century onwards, the Mandapika were places where villagers __________.
a. Held their marriages
b. Brought their produce to sell
c. Performed religious rituals
d. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Many small towns started to emerge all over the Indian subcontinent, after the eighth century. Samantas which were zamindar started to build forts around large villages and collected taxes from traders and artisans.

Complete step by step answer: Due to the heavy inflow of people from different regions, there were towns that started to emerge out of large cities. These emerging towns had markets called 'Mandapikas'. These were set up to sell agricultural produce, horses, salt along with many other diverse commodities like camphor, saffron, betel nut and spice. Streets were also encouraged and built to help small businesses and artisans like potters and smiths.
Looking at the options given:
Option a- Mandapika were not used for marriage rituals or ceremonies and hence it is not the correct answer. Marriages were seen as a sacred activity.
Option b- Mandapikas were places where people brought their produce and sold them. Therefore this is the correct answer.
Option c- There are no hardcore shreds of evidence that tell her if there were rituals in Mandapika or not. However, rituals were a very important aspect of the lives of people.
Option d- None of the above stands incorrect here.
Option “b” is the correct answer.

Note: Eighteenth-century is often seen as a very complex phase in Indian history. It was this time that the Mughal empire was on its way to decline and the British tried to exert their power in the Indian subcontinent. India saw the beginning of colonisation and the domination of European authority.