NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION CLASS – 12 | HISTORY | CHAPTER- 3 | KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS EARLY SOCIETIES | EDUGROWN |

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 2 KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS EARLY SOCIETIES NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS for Class 12 HISTORY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These MCQS  can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS EARLY SOCIETIES

Question 1.
Identify any two occupations to be performed by Kshatrivas as per varna order.
Answer:
Two occupations to be performed by Kshatriyas as per varna order were as follow:

1. Kshatriyas were to engage in warfare and protect people i.e. they were soldiers.
2. According to Shastras, only Kshatriyas could be kings.

Question 2.
Identify any two strategies evolved by Brahmanas to enforce the norms of varna order from C 600 BCE to 600 CE.
Answer:
The Brahmanas evolved tvvo or three strategies for enforcing the norms of varna order, which are as follows:

• The varna order was of divine origin.
• They advised kings to ensure that these norms were followed within their kingdoms.

Question 3.
State whether gender differences were really important in the early societies from C 600 BCE to 600 CE.
Answer:
Yes, it is seen in early societies that gender differences were important. Societies were generally patriliny. But matriliny family was also present. Sons were considered important for the continuity of the family and had share in paternal estate. But women could not claim a share of these resources.

Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the marriage ceremony. Women were also warned not to hoard family property without husband’s permission. In other words gender differences between men and women were sharpened due to unethical and biased rules.

Question 4.
Mention the rules about classification of people in terms of ‘gotra’ under Brahmanical practice around 1000 BCE onwards.
Answer:
The rules about the gotra are as follows:

• Women were expected to give up their father’s gotra and adopt their husband’s gotra on marriage.
• Members of the same gotra could not marry.

Question 5.
How did Brahmanas develop a sharper social divide? Give two examples.
Answer:
Brahmanas developed a sharper social divide by suggesting the ideal occupations of the four varnas in society. For e.g.

• They classified certain social categories as ‘untouchables’.
• Those who considered themselves as pure avoided taking food from those designated as ‘untouchables’.

Question 6.
Mention one of the most challenging episodes in the Mahabharata.
Answer:
One of the most challenging episodes in the Mahabharata is Draupadi’s marriage with the five Pandavas. It is an instance of polyandry (the practice of a woman having several husbands) which is a central theme of the epic. Different authors attempted to explain it in a variety of ways.

Question 7.
Mention two ideal occupations of Brahmanas according to Dharmashastras.
Answer:
According to the Dharmashastras, the two ideal occupations of Brahmanas were as follows:

• To study and teach Vedas.
• To perform sacrifices and receive gifts.

Question 8.
Explain the language and content of Mahabharata.
Answer:
The language and content of Mahabharata are discussed below:

• Language: Mahabharata was written in Sanskrit language (although there are versions in other languages as well). However, the Sanskrit used in the Mahabharata is far simpler than that of the vedas.
• Content: Historians usually classify the contents of the Mahabharata under two broad heads:
  Narrative This section contains stories.
• Didactic: This section contains prescriptions about social norms, designated as didactic.

But this divisison is by no means watertight as the didactic sections include stories and the narrative often contains a social message.

However, generally historians agree that the Mahabharata was meant to be a dramatic, moving story, and that the didactic portions were probably added later.

Interestingly, the text is described as an itihasa within early Sanskrit tradition. The literal meaning of the term is “thus it was”, which is why it is generally translated as “history”. Historians are in a doubt that the war really took place or not, which is described in the epic.

Some historians think that the memory of an actual conflict amongst kinfolk was preserved in the narrative while other point out that there is no other corroborative (authentic) evidence of the battle.

Question 9.
Explain how you will prove that the text of Mahabharata was a dynamic one.
Answer:
The following points prove that the text of Mahabharata was a dynamic one:

• The growth of the Mahabharata did not stop with the Sanskrit version.
• Over the centuries, version of the epic were written in a variety of languages through an ongoing process of dialogue between peoples, communities, and those who wrote the texts.
• Several stories that originated in specific regions or circulated amongst certain people found their way into the epic.
• The central story of the epic was often retold in different ways, and episodes were depicted in sculpture and painting.
• They also provided themes for a wide range of performing arts i.e. plays, dance and other kinds of narrations.

Question 10.
What do you know about the authors and the period when Mahabharata was compiled? Explain.
Answer:
The Mahabharata was composed over a period of about 1000 years between 500 BCE and 400 CE. The original story of the Mahabharata was composed by charioteer bards popularly called as Sutas.
The various stages were:

• Brahmanas began to unite its story from the 500 BCE.
• During this period, the chiefdoms of the Kurus and Panchalas were becoming kingdoms step by step.
• Between 200 BCE and 200 CE, the worship of Vishnu was becoming important.
• Krishna was one of the important figures of the Mahabharata and was coming to be identified with Vishnu between 200 C and 400 CE.

Between 200 and 400 CE, several didactic sections resembling the Manusmriti were added. This epic had about one lakh verses and this enormous composition is attributed to a sage named Vyasa.