Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The period between 700 and 1750 CE in the Indian subcontinent was marked by significant technological transfers and innovations. These advancements, often influenced by interactions with the Islamic world and Central Asia, transformed agriculture, textile production, and warfare.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Persian wheel (often referred to as Rahat or Saqiya) is a mechanical water-lifting device that uses animal power to draw water from deep wells. It became widely prevalent in the subcontinent during the medieval period (specifically under the Sultanate and Mughals), facilitating the expansion of artificial irrigation and agriculture.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The spinning wheel (Charkha) was not introduced by the British. It appeared in the subcontinent much earlier, around the 14th century (during the Delhi Sultanate era). Its introduction revolutionized the textile industry by significantly increasing the speed of spinning yarn compared to hand spindles.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Firearms were not unknown until the nineteenth century. Gunpowder technology and firearms were introduced to the subcontinent significantly earlier. Babur is credited with the effective use of field artillery and gunpowder in the First Battle of Panipat (1526), establishing the use of firearms in Indian warfare by the 16th century.
Key Takeaway: The medieval period (700–1750 CE) witnessed the introduction of critical technologies such as the Persian wheel for irrigation, the spinning wheel for textiles, and firearms (gunpowder) for warfare, long before the advent of British rule.