1. When did the use of iron begin in the subcontinent?
Answer:Use of iron in the subcontinent began about 3000 years ago.
2. What does vellalar mean?
Answer:In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as vellalar.
3. Why were Varanasi and Madurai famous?
Answer:Both were famous centres for manufacturing of cloth.
4. Where were some of the largest collections of iron tools found?
Answer:These were found in the megalithic burials.
5. How wealth is measured during early times?
Answer:Wealth is measured in terms of coins.
6. What were Shrenis?
Answer:Many crafts persons and merchants formed associations known as shrenis.
7. How did Dasa Karmakara earn a living?
Answer: Dasa Karmakara had to earn a living working on the fields owned by others.
8. Who was called Grama Bhojaka?
Answer:In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.
9. Who was Dasa Karmakara?
Answer:There were men and women who did not own land were known as the dasa karmakara.
10. What is Sangam literature?
Answer:Some of the earliest works in Tamil, known as Sangam literature, were composed around 2300 years ago.
11. What was Arikamedu during ancient India?
Answer:Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, Arikamedu was a coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from distant lands.
12. What were aqueducts?
Answer:Huge aqueducts were the channels to supply water which were built to bring water to the city for the baths, fountains and toilets.
13. What do you understand by Jatakas?
Answer:These were stories that were probably composed by ordinary people, and then written down and preserved by Buddhist monks.
14. What are ring wells?
Answer:In many cities, archaeologists have found rows of pots, or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other. These are known as ring wells.
15. Make a list of the occupations of people who lived in Mathura.
Answer:The main occupations of the people were goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, perfumers.
16. What were ring wells used for?
Answer:These seem to have been used as toilets in some cases, and as drains and garbage dumps. These ring wells are usually found in individual houses.
17. Why the earliest coins which were in use for about 500 years were called punch marked coins?
Answer: They have been given this name because the designs were punched on to the metal — silver or copper.
18. Why some of the earliest works in Tamil, known as Sangam literature?
Answer: These texts were called Sangam because they were supposed to have been composed and compiled in assemblies (known as sangams) of poets that were held in the city of Madurai.
19. List all the women who could be employed by the superintendent.
Answer: Widows, young women who are differently abled, nuns, mothers of courtesans, retired women servants of the king, women who have retired from service in temples, may be employed by the superintendent.
20. What kinds of inscription have been found in Mathura?
Answer: Generally, these are short inscriptions, recording gifts made by men (and sometimes women) to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants, and crafts persons who lived in the city.
21. Who lived in the village?
Answer: There were at least three different kinds of people living in most villages in the southern and northern parts of the subcontinent. In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as vellalar, ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar, and landless labourers, including slaves, were known as kadaisiyar and adimai.
22. What are the ways of finding out about early cities?
Answer: Ways of finding out about early cities are:
Sculptors carved scenes depicting peoples’ lives in towns and villages, as well as in the forest.
Archaeologists’ findings such as found rows of pots, or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other.
Accounts of sailors and travellers who visited them.
23. What has been found in the archaeological excavations at Arikamedu?
Answer: Findings in the archaeological excavations at Arikamedu were:
A massive brick structure, which may have been a warehouse, was found at the site.
Other finds include pottery from the Mediterranean region, such as amphorae and stamped red-glazed pottery, known as Arretine Ware, which was named after a city in Italy.
Roman lamps, glassware and gems have also been found at the site.
24. What were the functions performed by Shrenis?
Answer: Functions performed by Shrenis were:
These shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.
Then shrenis of merchants organised the trade.
Shrenis also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money. This was invested, and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.
25. Mathura has been an important settlement for more than 2500 years. Give reasons.
Answer:
It was important because it was located at the cross roads of two major routes of travel and trade – from the northwest to the east and from north to south.
There were fortifications around the city, and several shrines.
Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food for people in the city.
Mathura was also a centre where some extremely fine sculpture was produced.
26. Write a short note on Grama Bhojaka.
Answer:
In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.
Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary.
The grama bhojaka was often the largest landowner.
Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.
Besides, as he was powerful, the king often used him to collect taxes from the village.
He also functioned as a judge, and sometimes as a policeman.
1. How did Ashoka convey his message to the people?
Answer: He conveyed his message to the people through inscriptions.
2. Who built Great Wall of China?
Answer: Emperors in China built the Great Wall.
3. Who wrote Arthashashtra?
Answer: Chanakya wrote Arthashashtra.
4. What is the ancient name of coastal Orissa?
Answer: Kalinga is the ancient name of coastal Orissa.
5. Name some cities of Mauryan Empire.
Answer: Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain.
6. Name the book in which the ideas of Kautilya were written down.
Answer: Chanakya’s ideas were written down in a book called the Arthashastra.
7. What is dhamma?
Answer: ‘Dhamma’ is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’.
8. Name the provincial capital of Mauryan Empire.
Answer: Taxila or Ujjain
9. Who was Seleucus Nicator?
Answer: He was a Greek ruler of West Asia.
10. Which the region that was popular for the production of blanket during Maurya period?
Answer: north-west
11. Who was Chanakya?
Answer: Chandragupta was supported by a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya.
12. Why was the Great Wall of China made?
Answer: It was built to protect the northern frontier of the empire from pastoral people.
13. Which script was used in the Ashoka’s inscriptions?
Answer: Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script.
14. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
Answer: Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya more than 2300 years ago.
15. Name the capital of Mauryan Empire. In which current state of India is it located?
Answer: Pataliputra (modern Patna) in Bihar
16. Name some countries where Ashoka propagated ‘Dhamma’.
Answer: Ashoka sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
17. Where did the lions on the currency come from?
Answer: The lions that we see on our notes and coins have a long history. They were carved in stone, and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at Sarnath.
18. Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan Empire?
Answer: Merchants, officials, farmers, herders and crafts persons probably lived within the Mauryan Empire.
19. Who was sent to the court of Chandragupta as an ambassador by the Greek ruler of West Asia, Seeucus Nicator?
Answer: Megasthenes was sent to the court of Chandragupta as an ambassador by the Greek ruler of West Asia, Seeucus Nicator.
20. Explain the term tribute.
Answer: Unlike taxes, which were collected on a regular basis, tribute was collected as and when it was possible from people who gave a variety of things, more or less willingly.
21. Explain the term the Brahmi Script.
Answer: Brahmi is the modern name given to one of the oldest writing systems used in Ancient India. Most modern Indian scripts have developed from the Brahmi script over hundreds of years.
22. Why did Ashoka decided to give up wars?
Answer: Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga. However, he was so horrified when he saw the violence and bloodshed that he decided not to fight any more wars.
23. What is Rampurwa bull and where it has been placed now?
Answer: The Rampurwa bull is finely polished stone sculpture. This was part of a Mauryan pillar found in Rampurwa, Bihar, and has now been placed in Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is an example of the skill of the sculptors of the time.
24. What were the things given as tribute by the people living in the forested areas?
Answer: People living in the forested areas were more or less independent, but may have been expected to provide elephants, timber, honey and wax to Mauryan officials.
25. What was Ashoka’s dhamma?
Answer: Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve worship of a god, or performance of a sacrifice. He felt that just as a father tries to teach his children, he had a duty to instruct his subjects. He was also inspired by the teachings of the Buddha.
26. How are empires different from kingdoms?
Answer: Empires are different from kingdoms in the following ways:
Emperors need more resources than kings because empires are larger than kingdoms, and need to be protected by big armies.
So they also need a larger number of officials who collect taxes.
27. What does Dynasty mean?
Answer: When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s son, Ashoka.
28. When did Ashoka’s inclination towards Buddhism developed?
Answer: After the Battle of Kalinga, he was so horrified when he saw the violence and bloodshed that he decided not to fight any more wars. He slowly became the follower of the Buddhist religion and adopted the path of non-violence.
29. Why Ashoka known as a unique ruler?
Answer: Ashoka was known as a unique ruler because
The most famous Mauryan ruler was Ashoka.
He was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions.
Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script.
30. What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?
Answer: There were many problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma.
People in the empire followed different religions, and this sometimes led to conflict.
Animals were sacrificed.
Slaves and servants were ill-treated.
Besides, there were quarrels in families and amongst neighbours.
31. Describe the Mauryan people?
Answer: Merchants, officials and crafts persons probably lived in these cities.
In other areas there were villages of farmers and herders. In some areas such as central India, there were forests where people gathered forest produce and hunted animals for food. People in different parts of the empire spoke different languages. They probably ate different kinds of food, and wore different kinds of clothes as well.
32. What were the effects of Kalinga war on Ashoka?
Answer: Effects of Kalinga war on Ashoka
Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga.
However, he was so horrified when he saw the violence and bloodshed that he decided not to fight any more wars.
He is the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquest after winning a war.
He decided to observe dhamma and to teach others about it as well.
33. What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?
Answer: Means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma were:
He appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma.
Besides, Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves.
Ashoka also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
34. What Megasthenes wrote about Mauryan Emperor?
Answer: Megasthenes wrote an account about what he saw. Mauryan Empire according to him was as follows:
Emperor is carried in a golden palanquin.
His guards ride elephants decorated with gold and silver.
Some of the guards carry trees on which live birds, including a flock of trained parrots, circle about the head of the emperor.
The king is normally surrounded by armed women.
He has special servants to taste the food before he eats.
He never sleeps in the same bedroom for two nights.
35. Describe the governance in Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor.
This meant that officials were appointed to collect taxes from farmers, herders, crafts persons and traders, who lived in villages and towns in the area.
There were other areas or provinces. Each of these was ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain.
Mauryas tried to control roads and rivers, which were important for transport, and to collect whatever resources were available as tax and tribute.
37. What Megasthenes wrote about Pataliputra (modern Patna)?
Answer:
It is a large and beautiful city.
It is surrounded by a massive wall.
It has 570 towers and 64 gates.
The houses, of two and three storeys, are built of wood and mud brick.
The king’s palace is also of wood, and decorated with stone carvings.
It is surrounded with gardens and enclosures for keeping birds.
Answer:Teachings of Zoroaster are contained in a book called the Avesta.
3. What was Lord Buddha’s birth name?
Answer:His birth name was Siddhartha Gautama.
4. Who were Jainas?
Answer:Followers of Mahavira were known as Jainas.
5. Who prepared grammar for Sanskrit?
Answer:Panini prepared grammar for Sanskrit.
6. Where is Karle cave?
Answer:This is a cave in Karle, present-day Maharashtra.
7. Where does the word Jaina come from?
Answer:The word Jaina comes from the term Jina, Meaning conqueror.
8. Who was the founder of Buddhism?
Answer:Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.
9. Why Buddha left the comforts of his home?
Answer:He left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge.
10. Who accepted Satyakama as a student?
Answer:He was accepted as a student by a brahmin teacher named Gautama.
11. Where Buddha died?
Answer:Gautama Buddha died in the city of Kusinara (present day Kushinagar).
12. Where did Siddhartha attain enlightenment?
Answer:Siddhartha attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
13. How did Mahavira attain enlightenment?
Answer:For twelve years Mahavira led a hard and lonely life, at the end of which he attained enlightenment.
14. Name the famous thinker who developed the ideas of the Upanishads.
Answer:Many of the ideas of the Upanishads were later developed by the famous thinker Shankaracharya.
16. Who could join the Sangha?
Answer:Brahmins, kshatriyas, merchants, labourers, barbers, courtesans and slaves could join the sangha.
16. The teaching of Buddhism and Jainism were propagated in which language?
Answer:The teaching of Buddhism and Jainism were propagated in Prakrit language.
17. What are the four ashramas?
Answer:Four ashramas were recognised: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and samnyasa.
18. Explain ‘Sangha’.
Answer:The word “Sangha” literally means a community that joins and lives together.
19. When were the teachings of Mahavira written for the first time?
Answer: The teachings of Mahavira were written about 1500 years ago for the first time.
20. How tanha or constant craving could be removed?
Answer: Constant craving could be removed by following moderation in everything.
21. Who was Gargi?
Answer: Gargi was the woman Upanishadic thinker who was famous for her learning, and participated in debates held in royal courts.
22. Explain the word ‘Karma’ as described by Buddha.
Answer: According to Buddha, the results of our actions (called karma), whether good or bad, affect us both in this life and the next.
23. Explain the term ‘Upanishad’.
Answer: Upanishad literally means ‘approaching and sitting near’ and the texts contain conversations between teachers and students.
24. How did Panini prepare grammar for Sanskrit?
Answer: He arranged the vowels and the consonants in a special order, and then used these to create formulae like those found in Algebra.
25. What were the questions that Upanishadic thinkers wanted to answer?
Answer: Some of the thinkers wanted to know about life after death, others wanted to know why sacrifices should be performed.
26. Name the book in which the rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written?
Answer: The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka.
27. Do you think it would have been easy for slaves to join the sangha? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: No, it would have not been easy for slaves to join the sangha because they had to take the permission of their masters.
28. Who believed that the results of our actions (called karma), whether good or bad, affect us both in this life and the next.
Answer: Buddha believed that the results of our actions (called karma), whether good or bad, affect us both in this life and the next.
29. What does tanha mean?
Answer: Sometimes, even if we get what we want, we are not satisfied, and want even more (or want other things). The Buddha described this as thirst or tanha.
30. Who are the ancestors of the present Parsis?
Answer: Some Zoroastrians migrated from Iran and settled down in the coastal towns of Gujarat and Maharashtra. They were the ancestors of today’s Parsis.
31. What does vihara mean?
Answer: Many supporters of the monks and nuns, and they themselves, felt the need for more permanent shelters and so monasteries were built. These were known as viharas.
32. What is atman?
Answer: Many thinkers felt that there was something permanent in the universe that would last even after death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahman or the universal soul.
33. Why do you think Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of the Buddha?
Answer: Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of the Buddha because she was going on a school trip to Varanasi (in Uttar Pradesh) and Sarnath near Varanasi is the place where Buddha taught for the first time.
34. What did Buddha do after he attained enlightenment?
Answer: After enlightenment, he was known as the Buddha or the Wise One. He then went to Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he taught for the first time. He spent the rest of his life travelling on foot, going from place to place, teaching people, till he passed away at Kusinara.
35. Write a note on spread of Jainism.
Answer: Jainism was supported mainly by traders. Farmers, who had to kill insects to protect their crops, found it more difficult to follow the rules. Over hundreds of years, Jainism spread to different parts of north India, and to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
36. What were the basic rules of Jainism?
Answer: Followers of Mahavira, who were known as Jainas, had to lead very simple lives, begging for food. They had to be absolutely honest, and were especially asked not to steal. Also, they had to observe celibacy. And men had to give up everything, including their clothes.
37. What were the main teachings of Mahavira?
Answer: Main teachings of Mahavira were:
He taught a simple doctrine: men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes.
They must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa, which means not hurting or killing living beings.
38. What are the similarities between the teachings of Buddha and Mahavira?
Answer:
Both Buddha and Mahavira taught in the language of the ordinary people, Prakrit, so that everybody could understand their message.
Buddhism and Jainism were against to the vedic religion to large extent.
39. Describe the ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people.
Answer: Ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people:
The Buddha taught in the language of the ordinary people, Prakrit, so that everybody could understand his message.
He also encouraged people to think for themselves rather than to simply accept what he said.
40. What were the reasons for the less popularity of Jainism?
Answer: Reasons for the less popularity of Jainism were:
Men had to give up everything, including their clothes.
It was very difficult for most men and women to follow these strict rules.
Jainism was supported mainly by traders. Farmers, who had to kill insects to protect their crops, found it more difficult to follow the rules.
41. What type of people became Upanishadic thinkers?
Answer: Most Upanishadic thinkers were men, especially brahmins and rajas. There were some exceptions, such as Gargi, who was famous for her learning, and participated in debates held in royal courts. One famous exception was Satyakama Jabala, who was named after his mother, the slave woman Jabali. He was accepted as a student by a brahmin teacher named Gautama.
42. Write about Sangha as described in Vinaya Pitaka.
Answer: The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. All men could join the sangha. However, children had to take the permission of their parents and slaves that of their masters. Those who worked for the king had to take his permission and debtors that of creditors. Women had to take their husbands’ permission. Men and women who joined the sangha led simple lives.
43. Write in brief about the life of Vardhamana Mahavira.
Answer:
The most famous thinker of the Jainas was the Vardhamana Mahavira.
He was a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji sangha.
At the age of thirty, he left home and went to live in a forest.
For twelve years he led a hard and lonely life, at the end of which he attained enlightenment.
44. Write a short note on Gautama Buddha.
Answer:
Siddhartha, also known as Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born about 2500 years ago.
The Buddha belonged to a small gana known as the Sakya gana, and was a kshatriya.
When he was a young man, he left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge.
He meditated for days on end under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment.
45. Differentiate between a monastery and an ashrama.
Answer: Difference between a monastery and an ashrama
a monastery
an ashrama
1. It is a permanent shelter for monks and nuns. These were also known as viharas. 2. The earliest viharas were made of wood, and then of brick. Some were even in caves that were dug out in hills, especially in western India.
1. The word ashrama does not mean a place where people live and meditate. 2. It is used instead for a stage of life. Four ashramas were recognised: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa.
46. Write about the monasteries of Jainas and Buddhists.
Answer:
Supporters of the monks and nuns built temporary shelters for them in gardens, or they lived in natural caves in hilly areas.
As time went on, many supporters of the monks and nuns, and they themselves, felt the need for more permanent shelters and so monasteries were built. These were known as viharas.
Very often, the land on which the vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or a landowner, or the king.
47. Write a short note on the ‘System of Ashramas’.
Answer: Around the time when Jainism and Buddhism were becoming popular, brahmins developed the system of ashramas. Here, the word ashrama does not mean a place where people live and meditate.It is used instead for a stage of life. Four ashramas were recognised: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and samnyasa.
Brahmacharya – During this stage of life, Brahmin, kshatriya and vaishya men were expected to lead simple lives and study the Vedas during the early years of their life.
Grihastha – During this stage, they had to marry and live as householders.
Vanaprastha – During this stage, they had to live in the forest and meditate.
Samnyasa – Finally, they had to give up everything and become samnyasins.
The system of ashramas allowed men to spend some part of their lives in meditation. Generally, women were not allowed to study the Vedas, and they had to follow the ashramas chosen by their husbands.
2. What was the source of income of Raja of Mahajanapadas?
Answer: Taxes was the source of income of Raja of Mahajanapadas.
3. Name the four groups into which later vedic society was divided.
Answer: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras
4. Name some rivers that flowed through Magadha.
Answer: Many rivers such as the Ganga and Son flowed through Magadha.
5. Who conquered the last of the ganas or sanghas?
Answer: Gupta rulers conquered the last of the ganas or sanghas.
6. What was the most important source of revenue to the state?
Answer: Agriculture
7. What was the capital of Vajji?
Answer: Vaishali (Bihar)
8. What does ashvamedha means?
Answer: Ashvamedha means horse sacrifice.
9. Name the animal that played a pivotal role during Ashvamedha.
Answer: Horse
10. What is the modern name of Rajagriha?
Answer: Rajagriha (present-day Rajgir) is in Bihar.
11. Name the Later Vedic books.
Answer: The Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda are the Later Vedic books.
12. Who was the minister of Ajatasattu?
Answer: Vassakara was the minister of Ajatasattu.
13. What does the word ‘Janapada’ mean?
Answer: The word janapada literally means the land where the jana set its foot, and settled down.
14. What is Digha Nikaya?
Answer: Digha Nikaya is a famous Buddhist book, which contains some of the speeches of the Buddha. These were written down about 2300 years ago.
15. Why the rivers that flowed through Magadha were considered important.
Answer: This was important for (a) transport, (b) water supplies (c) making the land fertile.
16. Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas?
Answer: Women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies.
17. What does Varna mean?
Answer: The priests divided people into four groups, called varnas. According to them, each varna had a different set of functions.
18. Why Shudras were excluded from every ritual?
Answer: Shudras were excluded from every ritual because according to priests contact with these groups was polluting.
19. Name the system of government in Vajji.
Answer: Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali (Bihar), was under a different form of government, known as gana or sangha.
20. Name some Janapadas.
Answer: Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapur near Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), and Atranjikhera, near Etah (Uttar Pradesh)
21. How were cities of mahajanapadas fortified?
Answer: The cities of mahajanapadas were fortified by building huge walls of wood, brick or stone around them.
22. What was the content of Later Vedic books?
Answer: Later Vedic books were composed by priests, and described how rituals were to be performed. They also contained rules about society.
23. What is ‘Bhaga’?
Answer: Taxes on crops were the most important. Usually, the tax was fixed at 1/6th of what was produced. This was known as bhaga or a share.
24. How some men came to be recognized as rajas?
Answer: Some men by performing big sacrifices, like, the Ashvamedha Yajna or horse sacrifice, came to be recognised as rajas.
25. Which two powerful rulers of Magadha used all possible means to conquer other janapadas?
Answer: Magadha had two very powerful rulers, Bimbisara and Ajatasattu, who used all possible means to conquer other janapadas.
26. Which category of people was excluded from many rituals in the Later Vedic Period?
Answer: Some people such as those who were regarded as shudras by the priests were excluded from many rituals.
27. When was the first democratic government formed?
Answer: Around 2500 years ago, the people of Athens set up a form of government, which was called a democracy, which lasted for about 200 years.
28. How were forests useful for the people of Magadha?
Answer: Parts of Magadha were forested. Elephants, which lived in the forest, could be captured and trained for the army. Forests also provided wood for building houses, carts and chariots.
29. What were the two major changes that took place in agriculture during the Later Vedic Period?
Answer: There were two major changes in agriculture around this time. One was the growing use of iron ploughshares. Second, people began transplanting paddy.
30. When Alexander wanted to march further eastwards, his soldiers refused. Why?
Answer: Alexander wanted to march further eastwards but his soldiers refused because they were scared, as they had heard that the rulers of India had vast armies of foot soldiers, chariots and elephants.
31. Why was an iron plough considered better than that of wood?
Answer: Iron plough considered better than that of wood because iron is hard and strong than wood and thus heavy, clayey soil could be turned over better than with a wooden ploughshare.
32. Name the four varnas that are described in the Vedas.
Answer: Four varnas are:
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
33. Why books such as Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda, as well as other books are often called later Vedic?
Answer: These books are often called later Vedic, because they were composed after the Rigveda. These were composed by priests, and described how rituals were to be performed. They also contained rules about society.
34. In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas?
Answer: Some men became recognized as rajas by performing very big sacrifices. The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was one such ritual. In present day elections leaders or rulers are chosen by voting.
35. What led to the increase in the production?
Answer: People began transplanting paddy. This meant that instead of scattering seed on the ground, from which plants would sprout, saplings were grown and then planted in the fields. This led to increased production, as many more plants survived.
36. Why were taxes collected by the rulers of the mahajanapadas?
Answer: As the rulers of the mahajanapadas were building huge forts and maintaining big armies, they needed more resources. So, instead of depending on occasional gifts brought by people, as in the case of the raja of the janapadas, they started collecting regular taxes.
37. Who was Alexander? Name some places that were conquered by him.
Answer: More than 2300 years ago, a ruler named Alexander, who lived in Macedonia in Europe, wanted to become a world conqueror. He conquered parts of Egypt and West Asia, and came to the Indian subcontinent, reaching up to the banks of the Beas.
38. What archaeologists have found about the ‘janapadas’ and their people?
Answer: Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in these janapadas. They found that people lived in huts, and kept cattle as well as other animals. They also grew a variety of crops – rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugarcane, sesame and mustard.
39. Write a short note on painted grey ware.
Answer: Plates and bowls are the most common vessels made out of Painted Grey Ware. These are extremely fine to touch, with a nice, smooth surface. Perhaps these were used on special occasions, for important people, and to serve special food.
40. Write a short note on gana or sangha.
Answer: In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion and debate.
41. Why did the rajas of Mahajanapadas build forts?
Answer: Forts were probably built because:-
People were afraid of attacks from other kings and needed protection.
It is also likely that some rulers wanted to show how rich and powerful they were by building really large, tall and impressive walls around their cities.
Also in this way, the land and the people living inside the fortified area could be controlled more easily by the king.
42. How were the Mahajanapadas different from Janapadas?
Answer:
Mahajanapadas
Janapadas
1. About 2500 years ago, some janapadas became more important than others, and were known as mahajanapadas.
1. The word janapada literally means the land where the jana set its foot, and settled down.
2. Example: Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Panchala, Avanti, Gandhara, Kuru etc.
2. Example: Chedi, Aja, Bharata, Puru, Mahavrisha etc.
43. Why did people oppose the system of varnas?
Answer: Many people did not accept the system of varna laid down by the Brahmins:
Some kings thought they were superior to the priests.
Others felt that birth could not be a basis for deciding which varna people belonged to.
Besides, some people felt that there should be no differences amongst people based on occupation.
Others felt that everybody should be able to perform rituals.
And others condemned the practice of untouchability.
44. Write a short note on the governance system in ‘Ganas’ and ‘Sanghas’.
Answer: Note on the governance system in ‘Ganas’ and ‘Sanghas’
In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja.
These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion and debate.
For example, if they were attacked by an enemy, they met to discuss what should be done to meet the threat.
However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies.
45. What are the different roles of different people during Ashvamedha Yagya?
Answer: The raja was a central figure in these rituals. He often had a special seat, a throne or a tiger skin. His charioteer, who was his companion in the battle field and witnessed his exploits, chanted tales of his glory. His relatives, especially his wives and sons, had to perform a variety of minor rituals. The other rajas were simply spectators who had to sit and watch the performance of the sacrifice. Priests performed the rituals including the sprinkling of sacred water on the king. The ordinary people, the vish or vaishya, also brought gifts. However, some people, such as those who were regarded as shudras by the priests, were excluded from many rituals.
46. How were taxes collected by the rulers of Mahajanapadas?
Answer: Taxes were collected in the following ways:
Taxes on crops were the most important. This was because most people were farmers. Usually, the tax was fixed at 1/6th of what was produced. This was known as bhaga or a share.
There were taxes on crafts persons as well. These could have been in the form of labour.
Herders were also expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal produce.
There were also taxes on goods that were bought and sold, through trade.
And hunters and gatherers also had to provide forest produce to the raja.
47. Write a short note on ‘ashvamedha’.
Answer:
Some men now became recognized as rajas by performing very big sacrifices.
The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was one such ritual.
A horse was let loose to wander freely and it was guarded by the raja’s men. If the horse wandered into the kingdoms of other rajas and they stopped it, they had to fight.
If they allowed the horse to pass, it meant that they accepted that the raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice was stronger than them.
These rajas were then invited to the sacrifice, which was performed by specially trained priests, who were rewarded with gifts.
The raja who organised the sacrifice was recognised as being very powerful, and all those who came brought gifts for him.
48. Explain the four Varnas of the Later Vedic Period.
Answer: The priests divided people into four groups, called varnas. According to them, each varna had a different set of functions.
The first varna was that of the brahmin. Brahmins were expected to study (and teach) the Vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts.
In the second place were the rulers, also known as kshatriyas. They were expected to fight battles and protect people.
Third were the vish or the vaishyas. They were expected to be farmers, herders, and traders. Both the kshatriyas and the vaishyas could perform sacrifices.
Last were the shudras, who had to serve the other three groups and could not perform any rituals. Often, women were also grouped with the shudras. Both women and shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas.
49. What helped Magadha to become a powerful kingdom in North India?
Answer: Magadha became a powerful kingdom in North India because:-
Many rivers such as the Ganga and Son flowed through Magadha. This was important for (a) transport, (b) water supplies (c) making the land fertile.
Parts of Magadha were forested. Elephants, which lived in the forest, could be captured and trained for the army. Forests also provided wood for building houses, carts and chariots.
Besides, there were iron ore mines in the region that could be tapped to make strong tools and weapons.
Magadha had two very powerful rulers, Bimbisara and Ajatasattu, who used all possible means to conquer other janapadas. Mahapadma Nanda was another important ruler. He extended his control up to the north-west part of the subcontinent.
Answer:Battles were fought for cattle, land, water and for capturing people.
4. What are Megaliths?
Answer:Stone boulders used to mark burial sites are known as megaliths.
5. Where was the page from a manuscript of the Rigveda found?
Answer:This manuscript of the Rigveda, on birch bark, was found in Kashmir.
6. Why yajnas or sacrifices were performed?
Answer:Yajnas or sacrifices were performed to please gods and goddesses.
7. Which language belongs to the Dravidian family?
Answer:Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam belong to the Dravidian family.
8. Which language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family?
Answer:Language used in the north-east belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family.
9. Name the site where skeleton was found with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles, and one conch shell.
Answer:Brahmagiri
10. What is Sukta?
Answer:The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”.
11. Name 4 Vedas.
Answer:There are four of them – the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.
12. What do people at Inamgaon ate?
Answer:People at Inamgaon ate wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas and sesame.
13. How were yajnas performed?
Answer:Yajnas were performed by offering ghee and grains into the fire in order to please god and goddesses.
14. How slaves were treated?
Answer:They were treated as the property of their owners, who could make them do whatever work they wanted.
15. Which language belongs to the Austro- Asiatic family?
Answer:The languages spoken in Jharkhand and parts of central India belong to the Austro-Asiatic family.
16. Where the practice of erecting megaliths was prevalent?
Answer:The practice of erecting megaliths was prevalent throughout the Deccan, south India, in the north-east and Kashmir.
17. Who was Charaka?
Answer:About 2000 years ago, there was a famous physician named Charaka who wrote a book on medicine known as the Charaka Samhita.
18. Why were portholes used for?
Answer: Portholes were used as an entrance. Through these portholes the bodies of family members who died later were brought into the grave.
19. Which two words were used to describe the people or the community as a whole?
Answer: One was the word jana, which we still use in Hindi and other languages. The other was vish. The word vaishya comes from vish.
20. Name the two groups described in terms of their work.
Answer: There are two groups who are described in terms of their work — the priests, sometimes called brahmins, who performed various rituals and the rajas.
21. Were some burial spots meant for certain families?
Answer: Sometimes, megaliths contain more than one skeleton. These indicate that people, perhaps belonging to the same family, were buried in the same place though not at the same time.
22. What were oracle bones?
Answer: Around 3500 years ago, we find some of the first evidence of writing in China. These writings were on animal bones. These are called oracle bones, because they were used to predict the future.
23. What do circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground indicates?
Answer: Sometimes, archaeologists find a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground. These are the only indications that there are burials beneath.
24. In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?
Answer: The books we use are written and printed. The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read. It was written down several centuries after it was first composed, and printed less than 200 years ago.
25. Differentiate between ‘Aryas’ and ‘Dasas’.
Answer:
Aryas
Dasas
The people who composed the hymns described themselves as Aryas.
Aryas called their opponents Dasas or Dasyus. These were people who did not perform sacrifices, and probably spoke different languages.
26. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?
Answer: Objects were found in the grave of the dead person. Sometimes, more objects are found in one grave than in another. These finds suggest that there was some difference in status amongst the people who were buried. Some were rich, others poor, some chiefs, others followers.
27. In what ways do you think that the life of a raja was different from that of a dasa or dasi?
Answer:
Raja
Dasa or Dasi
Raja was a powerful leader who used to rule.
They were often captured in war.
Raja was a free person.
They were treated as the property of their owners, who could make them do whatever work they wanted.
The rajas led a luxurious life.
They led a miserable life.
28. How horses, cattle, chariot and battles are depicted in Rigveda?
Answer: There are many prayers in the Rigveda for cattle, horses, chariot and battles. Horses were yoked to chariots that were used in battles, which were fought to capture cattle. Battles were also fought for land, which was important for pasture, and for growing hardy crops that ripened quickly, such as barley. Some battles were fought for water, and to capture people.
32. Write a note on Rigveda.
Answer: The oldest Veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”. These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses. Three gods are especially important: Agni, the god of fire; Indra, a warrior god; and Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared. These hymns were composed by sages (rishis). Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. A few were composed by women. The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit.
33. Write a short note on the Wars fought in the Rigvedic period?
Answer: Battles were fought for cattle, land, water, and to capture people. Some of the wealth that was obtained was kept by the leaders, some was given to the priests and the rest was distributed amongst the people. Some wealth was used for the performance of yajnas or sacrifices in which offerings were made into the fire. These were meant for gods and goddesses. Most men took part in these wars. There was no regular army, but there were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace. They also chose leaders, who were often brave and skilful warriors.
Practice Test
1. What are Vedas? How many Vedas are there?
2. Was iron used in the Harappan cities?
3. Can we make out whether a skeleton was that of a man or a woman?
4. Port-holes were used for ———————
5. Megaliths are found in ————————
6. In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?
7. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?
8. In what ways do you think that the life of a raja was different from that of a dasa or dasi?
9. Slaves were women and men who were often captured in war. True or False?
10. Which is the oldest Veda amongst the four Vedas? In which language is it written?
11. Mention the language that belongs to the Dravidian family.
12. How did archaeologists find out the social differences that existed amongst those who were buried?
13. How and Why were the Yajnas performed?
14. What is Sukta?
15. Mention where was the practice of erecting megaliths prevalent.
16. Which are the two rivers that were worshipped as goddesses by the Rig Vedic people?
17. The people in Inamgaon made artefacts of Iron. True/False?
18. Mention the place from where writings on oracle bones were recovered.
19. Mention the name of the privileged class during the Vedic Period.
20. Which is the Animal that held an important place in the life of the Aryans?
In the Earliest Cities Extra important Questions Chapter 4 Class 6 History
Chapter 4 In the Earliest Cities Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. Where is Dholavira located?
Answer
Rann of Kutch.
2. What was the purpose of seals?
Answer
Seals may have been used to stamp bags or packets containing goods that were sent from one place to another.
3. What was the purpose of Fire altars in Harappa?
Answer
To perform sacrifices.
4. The huge tank of water in located Lothal was used as _______.
Answer
Dockyard.
5. What is faience?
Answer
Faience is a material that is artificially produced, it was used to make beads, tiny vessels etc.
6. Name the Harappan cities where sacrifices may have been performed.
Answer
Kalibangan and Lothal.
7. What was the name of the special tank of Mohenjodaro?
Answer
The Great Bath.
8. Most of the beads that were found in Harappa were made of ________.
Answer
Carnelian.
9. What was the purpose of ‘great bath’ in the Harappan civilisation?
Answer
Bathing on special occasions.
10. What do we call the pattern in which bricks were laid to make the walls stronger?
Answer
Interlocking
11. People in Egypt carefully preserved the dead bodies known as _______.
Answer
Bitumen.
12. Name the states where the two sites of the Harappan civilization were vacated due to flood.
Answer
Sindh and West Punjab.
13. What was the common feature of Harappan buildings?
Answer
Baked bricks
14. What were the important functions of the ruling class people?
Answer
Construction of special buildings and sending envoys.
15. The Pharaohs built huge tombs in Egypt, which are known as _______.
Answer
Pyramids
16. Mention a unique finding of Dholavira.
Answer
Large letters of Harappan script.
17. What is Mummy?
Answer
A Mummy is a corpse, whose skin and organs have been preserved.
18. What is the second name of Interlocking pattern?
Answer
Interlocking pattern is also known as running lane pattern.
19. The city of Lothal was located on the banks of the river __________.
Answer
Bhogava.
20. How the Great Bath was made water tight?
Answer
By Natural tar.
Chapter 4 In the Earliest Cities Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. When was cotton cultivated at Mehrgarh?
Answer
Cotton was probably grown at Mehragarh about 7000 years ago. Mehragarh was also the first site in India where agricultural activities took place.
2. What do you mean by Harappan seals?
Answer
Harappan seals had pictures of animals that relate to a wet and marshy environment. Rhinoceroses, elephants, and tigers were placed in the midst of marshy plants.
3. What were the main Harappan towns in Gujrat?
Answer
The main Harappan towns in Gujrat were Dholavira, located on Khadir Beyt in the Rann of Kutch and Lothal that stood beside a tributary of the Sabarmati, close to the gulf of Khambat.
4. Write down the names of the main earliest cities?
Answer
The names are: Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Kalibangan, Rakhi Garhi, Chanhudaro, Dholavira, Surkotada, Lothal and Sotkakoh.
5. What was special about the roads in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer
The roads were wide and cut each other at right angles. Houses were built on both sides and covered drains ran along the streets.
6. What was the main food of people in the cities?
Answer
The main food of the Harrappans were wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard together with meat, milk and milk products.
7. What are the features of The Great Bath?
Answer
The Great Bath was lined with bricks, coated with plaster and made water tight with a layer of natural tar. There were steps leading down from two sides into the tank.
8. What objects were buried with the king in the Pyramids?
Answer
Food and drink, clothes, ornaments, utensils, musical instruments, weapons and animals etc., were buried with king in the Pyramids.
Chapter 4 In the Earliest Cities Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. Describe the life of the people in Harappan cities?
Answer
• The Harappan city was a very busy place where people planned the construction of special buildings in the city.
• They may have kept the most valuable objects, such as ornaments of gold and silver, or beautiful beads, for themselves.
• There were scribes, people who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals, and perhaps wrote on other materials that have not survived till date.
• Men and women, craftsmen, made all kinds of things either in their own homes, or in special workshops.
• People were travelling to distant lands at that time by carts to inland places or by ship to foreign lands.
2. List some of the important architectural features of Dholavira.
Answer
The city of Dholavira was located on Khadir Beyt in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Here fresh water was available and the soil was very fertile. Unlike some of the other Harappan cities, which were divided into two parts, Dholavira was divided into three parts. Each part was surrounded with massive stone walls, with entrances through gateways. There was also a large open area in the settlement, where public ceremonies could be held.
3. List three factors which show that Lothal was an important production centre of the Harappan civilisation.
Answer
Factors show that Lothal was an important production centre of the Harappan civilisation were:
• It was situated near areas where raw materials such as semi-precious stones were easily available.
• This was an important centre for making objects out of stone, shell and metal.
• Pieces of stone, half made beads, tools for bead making and finished beads have all been found in a building. This building was probably a workshop for making beads.
4. Write about the drains in the Harappan cities.
Answer
People of Harappa paid special attention to the drainage system. Many of the cities had covered drains. All the drains were laid out in straight lines having a gentle slope so that water could flow through it. Drains in the houses were connected to the street drains. Inspection holes were provided at regular intervals to ensure proper cleaning of the drains.
5. What were the main features of the cities built during the Harappa Civilisation?
Answer
Harappan cities were divided into two or more parts. The western part was higher and was also called the citadel. The eastern part or the lower town was made up of baked bricks. These bricks were laid in interlocking pattern that made the wall strong. Some of the cities also had a huge water tank or ‘The Great Bath’. Fire altars for worshipping were also found in these tanks. Most of the houses were either one or two stories high. They were built around a courtyard. The cities also had covered drainage systems. The drainage system also had manhole at regular intervals for cleaning up
From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food important Questions Chapter 3 Class 6 History
Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. The evidence of pit-house have been found from __________.
Answer
Burzahom
2. Name the place where several burial sites had been found.
Answer
Mehrgarh
3. Name the place where site of Burzahom is situated.
Answer
Kashmir
4. What did the Findings at Mehrgarh included?
Answer
4 or more compartmented houses in the shape of a square.
5. What were the cooking platforms found in Burzahom?
Answer
Hearths.
6. What was the purpose of making large clay pots?
Answer
To store food.
7. Name the place where Millet was grown in Neolithic Age.
Answer
Paiyampalli and Hallur.
8. The site of Koldihwa is located in_______.
Answer
Uttar Pradesh
9. Grains also served one special purpose of the hunter gatherers, what was that?
Answer
Gifts
10. Name the site from where polished stone tools had been found?
Answer
Chirand and Gufkral
11. Name all the places where examples of early farming and herding can be found.
Answer
North-west ,East and South India and Kashmir.
12. Why we call Stone tools found in some regions as Neolithic?
Answer
As they are not similar to the normal tools as those of Paleolithic.
13. Mehrgarh is considered to be the place where men and women learnt to grow _______ and wheat.
Answer
Grow barley and wheat
14. Name the site from where bones of pig were discovered.
Answer
Paiyampalli
15. What was the major difference between the tribal and normal society people?
Answer
Common wealth is divided amongst the members.
16. The discovery of crops grown by early man is linked to the _______.
Answer
Finding of burnt grain
17. Name the site that provides the evidence of tools made from ‘ fossil wood’.
Answer
Daojali Hading
18. Name the first animal to be tamed by the early people.
Answer
Wild ancestor of dog.
Chapter 3 From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. Why Koldihwa is famous?
Answer
Koldihwa is known as Sarai Nahar Rai. This site provides the earliest evidence of rice production and consumption in India.
2. Write a short note on Bolan pass.
Answer
Bolan pass is situated in the Sulaiman Range of Himalayas. It connects the Indian subcontinent with Iran. This pass was used by traders and the invaders to reach India.
3. Why do farmers grow some crops in some areas and not in other areas?
Answer
Different plants grow in different conditions. For example, rice requires more water than wheat and barley. So it is grown in areas where plenty of water is available.
4. What was the purpose of construction of pit house?
Answer
These were provided with the steps. This may have been constructed to get protection from the cold temperatures.
5. Explain the historical importance of Daojali Hading.
Answer
Daojali Hading is located in Tripura where unique discovery of tools made from fossil wood have been made by the archaeologists. Fossil wood is the metamorphosed form of wood. The physical properties of the wood undergo change due to the high temperature and high pressure.
6. What do you think would have been cooked in the jars by early man?
Answer
People started using pots for cooking food. Grains like rice, wheat and lentils were cooked by them. Also, these pots were sometimes decorated.
7. How was fire discovered?
Answer
Human learnt to produce fire by rubbing two pieces of stone. This discovery was an accidental invention. They started to use fire for cooking food, for light and heat, and to scare the wild animals.
8. Where did the stone age man live?
Answer
The Stone Age man lived in hilly areas by the side of rivers or a lake. In the beginning he took shelter in the caves, rock shelters and later in mud – huts. He lived by the side of lake or river to quench his thirst and for food i.e. animal and fish.
9. What is a burial?
Answer
A burial is an arrangement made by people for their relatives and friends. When people die generally respect is paid to them. Dead people are looked after perhaps in the belief that there is some form of life after death.
10. What were the climatic conditions in Neolithic period?
Answer
In Neolithic period climatic conditions became favourable and habitable. The areas became warmer so there could be seen dense forests. Now due to warmth in the climate, ice covered dry areas became open grassland.
11. How do we know about the past? Describe various sources that are used to study the past?
Answer
We know about the past through certain clues known as sources. The sources that are used to study the past are coins, inscriptions, manuscripts, pottery, toys, jewellery etc.
12. What do you mean by the term Tribe?
Answer
Group of farmers and herders lived together in small settlements or villages formed a tribe. Most of the families in the tribe were related to one another. Members of the tribe followed occupations such as hunting, gathering, farming, herding and fishing.
Chapter 3 From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. How did the early villages come into being?
Answer
The early villages came into being through following process:
• With the knowledge of agriculture – small groups of families made their dwellings near their fields and started living together,gradually these settlements developed into villages.
• The villages were generally found near the rivers and lakes and were built on high ground to keep them safe from floods.
• For security from wild beasts a mud wall or thick hedge was built all around.
• The community living made life easier, safer and happier.
2. How did the humans domesticate plants and animals?
Answer
• The climatic change in the environment after the Ice Age brought about a change in plants and animals. Dietary patterns of human beings also began to change with time.
• Humans observed the behaviour of plants, the way seeds broke off the stalk, fell on the ground and new plants sprouted from them. They also started to protect the edible plants from plants and animals.
• Humans began to tame animals by leaving food for them near their shelter. Dogs were the first animals to be tamed.
• Humans also protected them from being attacked by other wild animals. Thus, a symbiotic relationship was shared between plants, animals and humans.
3. Describe in short the three stages of Stone Age?
Answer
• Paleolithic Age- In this period man used crude stone tools and weapons and led a nomadic life. It was also known as Old Stone Age
• Mesolithic Age- In this age man used microlithic stone tools which were used by iding or joining them on handle or stick of wood/bamboo. In this age man started domesticating animals. It was also known as Middle stone Age.
• Neolithic age- Man used polished stone tools, domesticated animals, used tools for agriculture and led a settled life. It was also known as new Stone Age.
4. What are the activities of the members of a tribe?
Answer
• The members of a tribe follow occupations such as hunting, gathering, farming, herding and fishing.
• Women do most of the agricultural work like preparing the ground, sowing seeds, looking after the growing plants and harvesting grain.
• Children often look after plants, driving away animals and birds that might eat them.
• The cleaning of animals and milking, is done by both men and women. Both women and men make pots, baskets, tools and huts. They also take part in singing, dancing and decorating their huts.
NCERT Solutions for Class 6th: Ch 11 Buildings, paintings and Books
Page No: 132
Let’s Recall
1. Match the following:
Stupa
Place where the image of the deity is installed
Shikhara
Mound
Mandapa
Circular path around the stupa
Garbhagriha
Place in temple where people could assemble
Pradakshina Patha
Tower
Answer
Stupa
Mound
Shikhara
Tower
Mandapa
Place in temple where people could assemble
Garbhagriha
Place where the image of the deity is installed
Pradakshina Patha
Circular path around the stupa
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) _______________ was a great astronomer. ► Aryabhatta
(b) Stories about gods and goddesses are found in the _____________. ► epics
(c) ____________is recognised as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana. ► Valmiki
(d) ____________and _____________are two Tamil epics.
► Silappadikaram and Manimekalai
Let’s Discuss
3. Make a list of the chapters in which you find mention of metal working. What are the metals objects mentioned or shown in those chapters?
Answer
The list of the chapters is: • In the earliest cities: Copper used to make tools, gold and silver to make ornaments. • What Books and Burials Tell us: Iron tools and weapons, ornaments of gold. • Kingdoms, Kings and Early Republic: Iron or mines. • Vital villages and Thriving Towns: Iron tools.
• Traders, Kings and Pilgrims: Gold as a gift. • Buildings, Paintings and Books: Iron pillar, gold jewellery.
4. Read the story on page 130 (NCERT book). In what ways is the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 6 and 11?
Answer
Similarities
• The monkey king as well as the kings felt the pulse of the public.
• The monkey king as well as others kings worked for the welfare of the people.
Dissimilarities
• The monkey king and his followers survived on the mango, while the other kings’ followers required proper food.
• The monkey king did not try to capture the other kings’ property, while the other kings did capture try to kill the monkey and their king for just a fruit.
NCERT Solutions for Class 6th: Ch 10 New empires and kingdoms
Page No: 120
Let’s Recall
1. State whether true or false:
(a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.
► False
(b) The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta.
► False
(c) There were twelve rulers in Dakshinapatha.
► True
(d) Taxila and Madurai were important centres under the control of the Gupta rulers.
► False
(e) Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas.
► False
(f) Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India.
► True
Page No: 121
2. Mention three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana.
Answer
Three authors who wrote about Harshavardhanan were Banabhatta, Xuan Zang and Ravikirti.
3. What changes do you find in the army at this time?
Answer
The changes which we find in the army at this time are the introduction of military leaders called samantas who provided the king with troops whenever he needed them. They were not paid regular salaries. Instead, some of them received grants of land. They collected revenue from the land and used this to maintain soldiers and horses, and provide equipment for warfare.
4. What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?
Answer
The new administrative arrangements during this period were: • Some important administrative posts were now hereditary means that sons succeeded fathers
to these posts.
• Sometimes, one person held many offices. For instance, besides being a maha-danda-nayaka, Harishena was a kumar-amatya, meaning an important minister, and a sandhi-vigrahika, meaning a minister of war and peace.
• Important men had a say in the local administration. These included the nagara-shreshthi or chief banker/merchant of the city, the sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans, the parathama-kulika or the chief craftsman and the head of the Kayasthas or scribes.
6. Do you think ordinary people would have read and understood the prashastis? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
No. The ordinary people would not have understood the Prashastis because these were written in Sanskrit language, the language of the learned.
NCERT Solutions for Class 6th: Ch 9 Traders, kings and pilgrims
Page No: 109
Let’s Recall
1. Match the following:
Muvendar
Mahayana Buddhism
Lords of the dakshinapatha
Buddhacharita
Ashvaghosha
Satavahana rulers
Bodhisattvas
Chinese pilgrim
Chinese pilgrim
Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
Answer
Muvendar
Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
Lords of the dakshinapatha
Satavahana rulers
Ashvaghosha
Buddhacharita
Bodhisattvas
Mahayana Buddhism
Chinese pilgrim
Chinese pilgrim
Page No: 110
2. Why did kings want to control the Silk Route?
Answer
The kings wanted to control the silk route because they believed that they would benefit from taxes, tributes and gifts that were brought by the traders travelling along the route.
3. What kinds of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes?
Answer
To find about trade and trade routes, historians use evidence present in the literature of the period like sangam poems and Sangam literature. Also, historians use objects like pottery, bowls and plates, found from several archaeological sites as evidence. South India was famous for gold, spices,
especially pepper, and precious stones which were carried by ships, across the sea, and by land in caravans to Rome. Many Roman gold coins have been found in south India which proved the trade relations between ancient India and Rome.
4. What were the main features of Bhakti?
Answer
The main features of Bhakti were:
• It emphasised devotion and individual worship of a god or goddess, rather than the performance of
elaborate sacrifices.
• According to system of belief, if a devotee worships the chosen deity with a pure heart, the deity will appear in the form in which he or she may desire.
• The deities were special, these images of the deity were often placed within special homes, places that we describe as temples.
Let’s Discuss
5. Discuss the reasons why the Chinese pilgrims came to India.
Answer
The Chinese pilgrims such as Fa Xian, Xuan Zang, I-Qing came to India to visit places associated with the life and teachings of the Buddha as well as famous monasteries.
Some like Xuan Zang spent time studying in Nalanda the most famous Buddhist monastery of the period.
6. Why do you think ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti?
Answer
Ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti because anybody, whether rich or poor, belonging to the so-called ‘high’ or ‘low’ castes, man or woman, could follow the path of Bhakti.
