NCERT Solutions For Class 6 History Chapter 8 Villages Towns And Trade

Villages Towns And Trade Exercises

Question 1. Fill in the blanks:

1. ________ was a word used for large landowners in Tamil.
Answer: Vellalar

2. The gramabhojaka often got his land cultivated by the ________
Answer: slaves and hired workers

3. Ploughmen were known as ________ in Tamil.
Answer: Uzhavar

4. Most chapatis were ________ landowners.
Answer: Smaller

Question 2. Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful?
Answer:

1. The Functions Of The Gramabhojaka. In the northern part of India, the village headman was known as the gramabhojaka.
   1. Gramabhojaka owned a very large piece of land. He got it cultivated by his slaves and hired workers.
   2. Gramabhojaka used to collect taxes from the village, by the order of the king.
   3. Gramabhojaka also functioned as a judge, and sometimes as a policeman.
2. Gramabhojaka As A Powerful Man As His post was hereditary. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations.

Question 3. List the craftspersons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
Answer:

Read and Learn More NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Social Science

The List Of The Crafts Persons Who Would Have Been Present In Both Villages And Cities Are:

Question 4. Choose the correct answer:

1. Punch-marked coins were made of:

1. Silver
2. Gold
3. Tin
4. Ivory

Answer: 1. Silver

2. Mathura was an important:

1. Village
2. Port
3. Religious centre
4. Forested area

Answer: 3. Religious centre

3. Shrenis were associations of:

1. Rulers
2. Crafts persons
3. Farmers
4. Herders

Answer: 2. Craft persons

Question 5. What kinds of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes?
Answer:

The Historians Use The Following Evidence To Find Out About Trade And Trade Routes:

1. Archaeologists collected the Northern Black Polished Ware, bowls, and plates, found from several sites throughout the subcontinent. They guess that traders might have carried from the place where they were made, to other places.
2. Historians find evidence of trade in Sangam poems. Here is one example which describes the goods brought into Puhar port on the east coast:
3. Swift-prancing horses by the sea in ships
4. Bales of black pepper in carts.
5. Historians tell us that South India was famous for gold, spices, especially pepper, and precious stones. Pepper was valued in the Roman empire, as black gold. Indian traders carried many of these goods in ships, across the sea, and in caravans, to Rome.

Many Roman gold coins have been found in south India. These coins are considered proofs of trade relations between ancient India and the Roman Empire.

Question 6. Which of the iron tools would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?
Answer:

Iron tools are sickle, tongs, and axe. Out of these sickle and axes would have been used for agriculture. The other tool i.e., tong, would have been used to hold things without touching them.

Question 7. Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?
Answer:

In our locality, the drainage system includes pipes and drains. In the lesson, it mentioned that irrigation projects/things, that were built during the time, included ring wells and drains.

Comparison:

1. Similarities. Our locality has a good drainage system. Every individual house or building has a good drainage system. Archaeologists have also found some drains and garbage dumps in each of the cities/towns or sites mentioned in the chapter and in individual houses.
2. Differences or Dissimilarities. Nowadays, everything (project or work) is well-maintained and made up of good raw materials.

But in early cities, mud bricks and thatch had been used. These didn’t last long.

We use separators and filters with modern technology.

Question 8. If you have seen craftspersons at work, describe in a short paragraph what they do.
Answer:

Crafts Persons At Work:

1. Different craftspeople work in villages and cities. For example, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, potters, weavers, etc.
2. Craftsmen get raw materials from villages and nearby cities from traders.
3. Crafts persons use different types of equipment, as required for their crafts.
   1. For example, a potter uses a potter’s wheel, a spade, a stick, a spin thread, etc.
4. A blacksmith uses iron and other metals, a funeral, a hammer, a big-iron rod, etc.
5. A weaver uses a spinning wheel, cotton, needle, scissors, dye-colours, dying-vessels, etc.
6. A carpenter uses wood, iron, a hand axe, an iron blade, nails, hammers, pliers, etc.
7. How they work
   • Most of the craftsmen work at their own cottages or homes. Other family members used to help him.
   • Many crafts persons formed associations known as Shrenis. Shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw materials and distributed the finished product.
8. What happened to the finished product
   • The crafts persons after keeping a small part of the finished products for their family use, took the remaining part of production to local markets to sell them. These merchants then took the products to those parts of the country or to other countries where they were demanded.

Question 9. List the functions performed by men and women who live in your city or village. In what ways are these similar to those performed by the people who lived in Mathura? In what ways are they different?
Answer:

In our city (or in our village) different types of functions such as domestic, officials, related to government posts or departments are performed by men and women as their daily routine.

Mathura: It was (and even today) an important religious city about 2500 years ago. It was important because this city was located at the two main trade routes. The city is known for several temples and shrines. Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food items etc. to the people of the city.

Similar: In our city or village people work as traders merchants or farmers, like the men of the old city of Mathura. The women did a lot of work at home; as the domestic wives or ladies do in modern cities and villages.

Differences: People in Mathura did work for the kings and their family- members. But now in cities or villages, people do work to meet their daily needs.

Question 10. List five things that you buy from the market. Which of these are made in the city/village in which you live, and which are brought by traders from other areas?
Answer:

List Of Things That We Buy From Market:

• Food items: rice, pulses, etc.
• Clothes
• Stationery like books, pens, etc. Electronic items
• Shoes

Among the above things—rice, pulses, and cheap clothes are locally made; certain types of handcrafted clothes are brought from other areas.

Question 11. Prepare a list of at least five objects made of iron or steel that you use almost every day.
Answer:

Scraper, hammer, nails, spoons, nut-bolts.

Question 12. Look at the chart and fill in the rest by using the given phrases.

1. Kings need money for armies, palaces, and forts.
2. They demand taxes from farmers.
4. This is possible with irrigation.
7. Production increases.
9. So does revenue.

Answer:

1. Kings need money for armies, palaces, and forts.
2. They demand taxes from farmers.
3. Farmers have to increase production to pay taxes.
4. This is possible with irrigation.
5. Kings provide money and plan irrigation work.
6. Labor is provided by the people.
7. Production increases.
8. So does revenue.
9. Farmers also benefit because crop production is more certain.

Question 13. Make a list of the occupations of people who lived in Mathura. List one occupation that was not practiced in Harappan cities.
Answer:

Occupations Practiced In Mathura:

• Goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, perfumers, traders, craft persons, officers, etc.
• We have not found remains of palaces. So king’s officers as a profession would not have existed in Harappan cities.

Question 14. List the evidence that indicates that there was contact with Rome.
Answer:

We found evidence that indicates contact with Rome.

• Argentine ware—stamped red glazed pottery has been found.
• Roman designs on local pottery were used.
• Roman lamps, glassware, and gems have been discovered.

Villages Towns And Trade Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is being done by Prabhakar?
Answer:

Prabhakar sat watching the smiths at the local shop.

Question 2. Which things and steps helped in. increasing production?
Answer:

New tools and transplantation of crops increased production. Irrigation was also used. Irrigation works, that were built during this time (2500 years ago), included canals, wells, tanks, and artificial lakes.

Question 3. What are Jatakas?
Answer:

The Jatakas were stories that were probably composed of ordinary people. These were written down and preserved by Buddhist monks.

Question 4. Explain the meaning of the term: Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.
Answer:

Several pieces of pottery have inscriptions in the early Brahmi script. These are called Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.

Question 5. For which articles of trade was South India famous during the ancient period?
Answer:

South India was famous for gold, spices especially pepper, and precious stones.

Villages Towns And Trade Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Discuss in a short paragraph ‘Iron Tools and Agriculture’.
Answer:

1. We generally take the use of iron for granted today. In fact different types of things made of iron are a part of our daily lives.
2. The use of iron began in India around 3000 years ago.
3. Some of the largest collections of iron tools and weapons were found in the megalithic burials.
4. There is evidence for the growing use of iron tools. Axes were used for clearing the land. The plowshare was used for increasing agricultural production.

Question 2. What do you mean by the term Sangam literature? Why these are called Sangam?
Answer:

1. Meaning: Some of the earliest works in Tamil are known as Sangam literature. These texts were composed around 2300 years ago.
2. Cause Of Being Called Sangam: These texts are called Sangam because they were composed and compiled in assemblies of poets. These assemblies were held in the city of Madurai.

Question 3. What do you understand by the term ‘Punch-marked coins’? Explain in brief.
Answer:

• Early coins. Archaeologists have found several thousands of coins belonging to ancient India. The earliest coins were in use for about 500 years. These were punched. They have been given this name, as the designs were punched onto the metal.
• Coins were used as a medium of exchange. But coins were not the only means of exchange. Other articles such as paddy, salt, and some animals were also used as means of exchange.

Question 4. Discuss the Northern Black Polished Ware or NBP Ware of the early centuries of ancient India.
Answer:

1. Crafts of ancient India include extremely fine pottery, known as the Northern Black Polished Ware.
2. The Northern Black Polished Ware gets its name from the fact that it is generally found in the northern part of the subcontinent. It is usually black in colour. It has a fine sheen (illustration).

Question 5. Explain in brief the role or functions of the Shrenis (guilds) in the Mauryan Age.
Answer:

1. Many crafts persons and merchants formed associations known as Shrenis.
2. Shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procuring raw materials, and distributed the finished product.
3. Shrenis of merchants organized trade.
4. 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.

Question 6. What type of information do we get from inscriptions found in Mathura?
Answer:

• Several inscriptions on stones, slabs, or statues have been found. Most of these gifts were made by men, and women to shrines or monasteries.
• They also mention professions like goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, and basket and garland makers. Short inscriptions were made by kings, queens craft persons, merchants, etc.

Question 7. Discuss the story of the silk making.
Answer:

• The rich glossy colors and texture of silk made it a highly valued fabric. Raw silk had to be extracted from the cocoons of silkworms. Techniques were first invented in China around 7000 years ago. These remained secret for Centuries.
• Due to trade to distant lands, the route was known as the ‘Silk Route’.
• Silk was given as gifts to the rulers of Iran and West Asia by the Chinese rulers.

Villages Towns And Trade Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Who lived in the villages in the northern region of the subcontinent before and during the age of the Buddha?
Answer:

Inhabitants in the Villages

1. There were at least three different kinds of people living in most villages in the northern parts of the subcontinent.
2. In the northern part of India, the village headman was known as the Gramabhojaka.
   • Usually, men from the same family held the positions for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary.
   • Apart from the gramabhojaka, there were other independent farmers, known as Grihapatis, who were smaller landowners.
   • And then there were men and women such as the dasa who did not own land. They had to earn a living working in the field of others.
3. In most villages, there were also some crafts persons such as blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, and weavers.

Question 2. Who lived in the villages in the southern parts of the sub-continent?
Answer:

Inhabitants In The Villages

1. In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as Vellalar.
   • Ordinary ploughmen were known as
   • Landless labourers including slaves, were known as Adimai.
2. In most villages, there were also some crafts persons such as blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, and weavers.

Question 3. How do we find out about early cities of the subcontinent?
Answer:

We Find Out About Early Cities Of The Following:

1. Stories or collections of ancient stories,
2. Description of travelers and sailors,
3. Sculpture, and
4. Archaeological remains

Question 4. Describe the early city of Mathura.
Answer:

Generally, some cities were considered important for a variety of reasons. Let us look at the example of Mathura.

Mathura:

1. It has been an important city for more than 2500 years.
2. Farmers and herders from nearby villages provide food for people in the city,
3. The city was located at the crossroads of two major routes of communication; from the northwest to east and from north to south.
4. There were fortifications around the city.
5. Mathura was also a center for fine sculpture.
6. Around 2000 years ago Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas (their first capital was Purshpur or modern Peshawar in Pakistan).
7. Mathura was also a religious center—there were Buddhist monasteries and Jain shrines. It was an important center for the worship of Lord Krishna.
8. Several inscriptions on surfaces such as stone, slabs, and statues, have been found in Mathura. These inscriptions mention goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, and perfumers.

Question 5. Explain in short the main features of the Arikamedu settlement.
Answer:

Arikamedu

1. This is located in Puducherry. Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, this site was a coastal settlement.
2. A massive brick structure, which may have been a warehouse, was found at the site.
3. Other finds:
   • Pottery from the Mediterranean region; such as amphorae (tall double-handled jars that contained liquids such as wine or oil)
   • Stamped red-glazed pottery, known as arretine ware, is named after a city in Italy. This was made by pressing wet clay.
   • Another kind of pottery was made locally with Roman designs.
   • Roman lamps, glassware, and gems.
   • Small tanks which were probably dyeing vats, were used to dye cloth.
   • Beads of semi-precious stones and glass.

Question 6. Discuss the silk route in your own words.
Answer:

Chinese traders went to distant lands on foot, horseback, etc. They carried silk with them. These paths came to be known as the Silk Route.

1. Sometimes, Chinese rulers sent gifts of silk to rulers in Iran and West Asia. From there, knowledge of silk spread further west.
2. It was very costly, as it had to be brought all the way from China. People living along the route often demanded payments to allow traders to pass through.
3. Some rulers tried to control large portions of the route. They demanded taxes, tributes, and gifts from the traders. In return, they generally protected the traders from attacks by robbers.

Villages Towns And Trade Multiple Choice Questions

Choose The Correct Answer:

Question 1. When did the use of iron begin in

1. Around 3,000 years ago
2. Around 6,000 years ago
3. Around 9,000 years ago
4. Around 12,000 years ago

Answer: 1. Around 3,000 years ago

Question 2. What was the method of irrigation in ancient

1. Canals
2. Wells
3. Tanks
4. All of these

Answer: 4. All of these

Question 3. In which region landowners were known as Vellalars?

1. Maharastra region
2. Punjab region
3. Tamil region
4. None of these

Answer: 3. Tamil region

Question 4. Who were gramahhojaka?

1. Village head men
2. Ordinary people of the village
3. Educated persons
4. Illiterate persons

Answer: 1. Village head men

Question 5. People who had no land of their own and worked for others were

1. Independent farmers
2. Dasa Karamakara
3. Herders
4. Grihapatis

Answer: 2. Dasa Karamakara

Question 6. What was the only resource of a poor man in the story clever poor

1. Dead rats
2. Dead dogs
3. Dead goats
4. None of these

Answer: 1. Dead rats

Question 7. Where was the ring well found?

1. Kolkata
2. Mumbai
3. Delhi
4. Chandigarh

Answer: 3. Delhi

Question 8. Why were the sculptures used by the ancient cities?

1. To decorate railings, pillars, etc.
2. To decorate cities
3. None of these
4. Both (1) and (2)

Answer: 4. Both (1) and (2)

Question 9. What was Mathura famous for?

1. Religious centre
2. Forested area
3. Port
4. All of these

Answer: 1. Religious centre

Question 10. For what was South India famous for?

1. Gold
2. Spices
3. Stones
4. All of these

Answer: 4. All of these

Question 11. To whom did the Chinese rulers send gifts of silk?

1. Rulers of Iran
2. Rulers of Iraq
3. Rulers of Pakistan
4. Rulers of Kajakisthan

Answer: 1. Rulers of Iran

Villages Towns And Trade Objective Type Questions

Question 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words

1. ________ was used to increase agricultural productivity.
Answer: Ploughshare

2. Mathura was famous for worship of _________
Answer: Lord Krishna

3. Small landowners in north India were known as ________
Answer: Grihapatis

4. _______ served as banks for rich people.
Answer: Shrenis

5. Tall double-handled jars called Amphorae contained __________
Answer: Liquids

Question 2. State whether the given statement is true or false.

1. Most of the gramahhoj akas were small landowners.
Answer: False

2. Vellalar was a term used for large landowners.
Answer: True

3. Arrentine ware was so named after a city in Argentina.
Answer: False

4. Sangam literature was popular in the South.
Answer: True