Consider the following statements regarding the copying of manuscripts in the medieval period: 1. Scribes copied manuscripts with absolute precision, ensuring no variations over centuries. 2. The Shikaste style of handwriting was denser and more difficult to read than the Nastaliq style. 3. Historians often have to read multiple versions of the same text to comprehend the original author's intent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (c). Explanation In the medieval period, before the advent of the printing press, manuscripts were replicated by hand. This process was undertaken by scribes. The nature of handwritten copying, combined with the evolution of distinct Persian and Arabic calligraphic styles, significantly influenced the preservation of historical texts and the challenges faced by modern historians. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Incorrect. Scribes did not copy manuscripts with absolute precision. As they copied, they often introduced small changes-a word here, a sentence there-either inadvertently or deliberately to "improve" the text. Over centuries of copying and recopying, these minor differences accumulated, causing later manuscripts to differ substantially from the original versions. - Statement 2 is Correct. Different styles of handwriting played a crucial role in the legibility of manuscripts. The Nastaliq style is cursive, fluid, and generally easier to read. In contrast, the Shikaste style is denser, more compact, and significantly more difficult to decipher. - Statement 3 is Correct. Due to the accumulation of scribal errors described in Statement 1, the original manuscript of an author is rarely available today. Historians are dependent on copies made by later scribes. Consequently, they must read and cross-reference multiple manuscript versions of the same text to reconstruct what the author originally wrote. Key Takeaway Manuscript Transmission: The absence of printing technology led to scribal errors and textual variations over time. Persian scripts varied in legibility, with Nastaliq being clearer and Shikaste being denser and harder to read.

NCERT Class 7 History — Chapter 1: Introduction: Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years

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Consider the following statements regarding the copying of manuscripts in the medieval period:

Scribes copied manuscripts with absolute precision, ensuring no variations over centuries.
The Shikaste style of handwriting was denser and more difficult to read than the Nastaliq style.
Historians often have to read multiple versions of the same text to comprehend the original author's intent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (c).

Explanation

In the medieval period, before the advent of the printing press, manuscripts were replicated by hand. This process was undertaken by scribes. The nature of handwritten copying, combined with the evolution of distinct Persian and Arabic calligraphic styles, significantly influenced the preservation of historical texts and the challenges faced by modern historians.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect. Scribes did not copy manuscripts with absolute precision. As they copied, they often introduced small changes-a word here, a sentence there-either inadvertently or deliberately to "improve" the text. Over centuries of copying and recopying, these minor differences accumulated, causing later manuscripts to differ substantially from the original versions.
Statement 2 is Correct. Different styles of handwriting played a crucial role in the legibility of manuscripts. The Nastaliq style is cursive, fluid, and generally easier to read. In contrast, the Shikaste style is denser, more compact, and significantly more difficult to decipher.
Statement 3 is Correct. Due to the accumulation of scribal errors described in Statement 1, the original manuscript of an author is rarely available today. Historians are dependent on copies made by later scribes. Consequently, they must read and cross-reference multiple manuscript versions of the same text to reconstruct what the author originally wrote.

Key Takeaway

Manuscript Transmission: The absence of printing technology led to scribal errors and textual variations over time. Persian scripts varied in legibility, with Nastaliq being clearer and Shikaste being denser and harder to read.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: Introduction: Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years

With reference to the cartographic developments in the medieval period, consider the following statements regarding the maps produced by Al-Idrisi and French cartographers: 1. Al-Idrisi’s map, produced in the twelfth century, places South India at the top and Sri Lanka as an island at the top. 2. The French cartographer’s map, made in the eighteenth century, shows inland areas with greater detail than coastal areas. 3. Al-Idrisi used the Devanagari script to mark place names, including well-known places like Kanauj. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding the changing meaning of the term "Hindustan" over the centuries: 1. In the thirteenth century, Minhaj-i-Siraj used the term to denote the land under the dominion of the Delhi Sultanate, excluding South India. 2. In the sixteenth century, Babur used the term in a purely political sense to describe his conquests. 3. Amir Khusrau used the word "Hind" in the fourteenth century to describe a geographical and cultural entity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the periodisation of Indian history, consider the following statements: 1. British historians in the nineteenth century divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British. 2. This division was based on the significant developments in society, economy, and culture rather than just the religion of rulers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Which of the following crops were introduced into the Indian subcontinent during the period 700–1750 CE? 1. Potatoes 2. Corn 3. Chillies 4. Tea and Coffee Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Consider the following statements regarding the Kayasthas in the medieval period: 1. They were a caste of warriors and chieftains. 2. They rose to political importance between the eighth and fourteenth centuries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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The correct option is (c).

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect. Scribes did not copy manuscripts with absolute precision. As they copied, they often introduced small changes-a word here, a sentence there-either inadvertently or deliberately to "improve" the text. Over centuries of copying and recopying, these minor differences accumulated, causing later manuscripts to differ substantially from the original versions.
Statement 2 is Correct. Different styles of handwriting played a crucial role in the legibility of manuscripts. The Nastaliq style is cursive, fluid, and generally easier to read. In contrast, the Shikaste style is denser, more compact, and significantly more difficult to decipher.
Statement 3 is Correct. Due to the accumulation of scribal errors described in Statement 1, the original manuscript of an author is rarely available today. Historians are dependent on copies made by later scribes. Consequently, they must read and cross-reference multiple manuscript versions of the same text to reconstruct what the author originally wrote.