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NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 1 What, Where, How and When?

1. Match the following:

2. List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.
Answer:

3. Return to Rasheeda’s question. Can you think of some answers to it?
Answer: One can know what had happened so many years ago through these ways:

4. Make a list of as. the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?
Answer: The answer can be summarized through this flow diagram:

The ones that could be made of stone are

• Surface used for writing inscriptions
• Remains of buildings
• Objects like tools, weapons, etc.

5. Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?
Answer:
We think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did due to the following reasons:

1. They did not know the art of writing in the beginning.
2. Even some of them were not literate even after the knowledge of the script.
3. They were not having an interest in such works.
4. They did not know the importance of keeping records of the events. The lack of historical sense was mainly responsible for it.

6. Describe at least two ways in which you think the lives of kings would have been different from those of farmers.
Answer:

1. The kings used to live in palaces or big houses. The farmers used to live in huts or in very small houses.
2. The kings were dependent for their food on farmers. Farmers used to produce food for themselves and other people also.
3. The kings wore showy and costly clothes and ornaments. Farmers wore simple and very cheap clothes. (Any two)

7. Find the word ‘crafts persons’ on-page of the textbook. In the list at least five different crafts that you know about today. Are the craftspersons—(a) men (b) women (c) both men and women
Answer: The various crafts that dominate the present life are listed here:

These craftspersons are both men and women.

8. What were the subjects on which books were written in the past? Which of these would you like to read?
Answers:
Before paper was discovered scholars wrote on:

1. dried leaves,
2. on the bark of birch trees and
3. sometimes on copper (or metal) plates and stones.

We would like to read Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Panchtantra.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:
(i) People who gathered their food are called……………….
(a) hunters
(b) skilled gatherers
(c) farmers
(d) merchants.

(ii) The places where rice was first grown are located in ………………
(a) north of the Vindhyas
(b) Sulaiman hills
(c) on the banks of the Ganga
(d) the Gaxo hills.

(iii) …… was not used in the old books.
(a) Prakrit
(b) Hindi
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Tamil

(iv) The kingdom of Magadha was located ……………
(a) on the banks of the Indus
(b) in the south of the Vindhyas
(c) in the area along Ganga’s tributaries in the south of Ganga.
(d) in the Garo hills region.

Answers:
(i)—(b), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(b), (iv)—(c).

II. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. Men and women moved in search of……………… and to escape from …………..
2. The name India was given by the Iranians and the ………………
3. The bark of the birch tree was used to prepare………………
4. Inscriptions were written on hard surfaces like………………
5. Travelling from one place to another led to ……………..

Answers:

1. livelihood, natural disasters
2. Greeks
3. manuscripts
4. (stone/metal
5. sharing of ideas.

III. True/False

State whether these sentences are true (Tj or false (F).

1. The first crops were grown almost 8000 years ago.
2. The Garo hills are located in the south of India.
3. The Magadha Kingdom was set up near the Ganga river.
4. The Rigveda is the earliest composition in the Sanskrit language.
5. The Iranians and the Greeks called India Bharat.
6. Inscriptions were written on the palm leaf.
7. The years are counted with reference to the birth of Christ.
8. Ordinary people used Prakrit to talk to each other.

Answers:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. True

IV. Matching Skill
Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

NCERT Solutions For Class 6 History Chapter 1 Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you know about the location of the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills?
Or
Where are the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills located?
Answer: The Sulaiman and Kirthar hills are located In the modem day Pakistan.

2. Name any two animals which the people of the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills reared.
Answer: Sheep and goat.

3. Where are the Garo hills located?
Answer: The Garo hills are in the north-east of India.

4. What are tributaries? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Tributaries are smaller rivers that flow into a bigger river.

5. Name the tributary of the river Ganga.
Answer: Son.

6. Where was Magadha located?
Answer: Magadha was located in the south of the Ganga.

7. Why was Magadha famous? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Magadha was famous because its mlers were very powerful who established a big kingdom.

8. What was the job of religious teachers?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: Religious teachers moved from one place to another to offer instruction and advice to the people who met on the way.

9. From where does the word India come?
Answer: The word India comes from the Indus, known as Sindhu in Sanskrit.

10. What is meant by the manuscript?
Answer: Manuscript is a hand-written matter.

11. What was used in ancient times to write manuscripts?
Answer: Palm leaf or the bark of the birch tree was used in ancient times to write manuscripts.

12. What are inscriptions?
Answer: Inscriptions are writings on relatively hard surfaces like stone or metal.

13. Why do archaeologists look for bones of animals, birds, and fish?
Answer: They do so in order to find out what people ate in the past.

14. What are the occupations of the people of the Andaman Islands?
Answer: The people of the Andaman Islands are engaged in fishing, hunting, and collecting forest produce.

What Where How and When Class 6 History Chapter 1 Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you know about the earliest people who lived along the banks of river Narmada for several hundred thousand years?
Answer: Those people were skilled gatherers. They gathered their food. They also collected roots, fruits and other forest produce for their food. They also hunted animals for this purpose.

2. People in the earliest times used to travel from one place to another. But their journeys were full of dangers. What type of dangers did they face?
Answer: It is true that people in the earliest times used to travel from this place to that. But their journeys were dangerous. The hills, and high mountains including the Himalayas, deserts, rivers and seas created dangers for them. But they never got afraid of them. Instead they overcame them and continued to travel.

3. Who are archaeologist? What do they do? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Archaeologists are persons who study the objects of the past. They study the remains of the buildings made of stone and brick, paintings and sculpture. They also explore and dig the earth in order to find out tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments and coins.

4. How are city people different from the people living in the Andaman Islands?
Answer: People living in the Andaman Islands manage their own food by fishing, hunting and collecting forest produce. On the other hand city, people depend on others for supplies of food.

5. How can you say that historians and archaeologists are like detectives? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Historians often use the word source to refer to the information found from manuscripts, inscriptions and archaeology. Once sources are found, learning about the past becomes an adventure, as we reconstruct it bit by bit. So, historians and archaeologists are like detectives who use all these sources like clues to discover the past.

NCERT History Class 6 Chapter 1 Long Answer Type Questions

1. How was traveling an important part of the life of the people in the past? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
People in the past were very fond of travelling from one place to another. Although the hills and high mountains like the Himalayas, deserts, rivers, and seas posed great problems, people kept on travelling. They moved in search of livelihood. They had also in their mind to escape from natural disasters such as floods and droughts. Sometimes, men marched in armies and conquered others’ lands.

Merchants travelled with caravans or ships. They carried valuable goods from place to place. There were religious teachers who used to walk from village to village, town to town. They offered instruction and advice to the people who met them on the way. There were also people who travelled because they were adventurous by nature. They enjoyed discovering new and exciting places.

2. What are the different ways to find out about the past? Describe briefly. [Imp.]
Answer:
The different ways to find out about the past are the following:
(i) Manuscripts. These were the hand-written matters. They were usually written on palm leaf or the bark of the birch tree. While many of these manuscripts got destroyed, many have survived in temples and monasteries. These books dealt with all kinds of subjects such as religious beliefs and practices, the lives of kings, medicines, and science. These manuscripts also included epics, poems, plays.

(ii) Inscriptions are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Sometimes, kings got their orders inscribed in order to make common people aware of them. Some inscriptions kept records of victories in battle.

(iii) Archaeological excavations or evidence. Archaeology means the study of cultures of the past and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the earth. Archaeologists explore and dig earth to find tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments, and coins. These things provide us valuable information about the past.

NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 5 What Books and Burials Tell Us

 1. Match the columns: 

Ans.

2. Megalith Complete the sentences:

1. Slaves were used for…………….
2. Megaliths are found in……………
3. Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to………………..
4. Port-holes were used for……………
5. People at Inamgaon ate…………….

Answer:

1. Work
2. South India, north-east and Kashmir
3. indicate the exact place of burial
4. burying the other member of the same family at the same place
5. wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, sesame, etc.

3. In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?
Ans: The books we read today are written and printed. The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read. For many years from generation to generation, the process continued. It was written down several centuries after it was first composed and printed less than 200 years ago.

4. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?
Ans:
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.

All these burials have some common features. Generally, the dead were buried with distinctive pots, which are called Black and Red Ware. Also found are tools and weapons of iron and sometimes, skeleton of horses, horse equipment and ornaments of stone and gold.

Several kinds of evidences from burials do archaeologists use to find out that there were social differences amongst those who were buried underneath the megaliths. They think that objects found with a skeleton probably belonged to the dead person. Sometimes more objects were found in one grave than in another. For instance in Brahmagiri, one skeleton was buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles and one conch shell. Other skeletons had only a few pots. Perhaps there were differences in status amongst the people who were buried. Perhaps some were rich, others poor, some chiefs, others followers.

5. In what ways do you think that the life of a ‘raja’ was different from that of a ‘dasa’ or ‘dasi’?
Ans: In the society, ‘raja’ was one of the highest civil positions. ‘Rajas’ were the kings of the community, whereas the ‘dasas’/’dasis’ were the lowest position in society. The ‘dasas’/’dasis’ were slaves who were used for work. They were treated as the property of their owners. They were captured in war.

6. Find out whether your school library has a collection of books on religion, and list the names of five books from this collection.
Ans: Do yourself with the help of your subject-teacher and school librarian. A sample set of five such books:

• The Mahabharata
• The Ramayana
• The Bible
• The Bhagwad Gita
• The Quran

7. Write down a short poem or song that you have memorised. Did you hear or read the poem or song? How did you learn it by heart?
Ans:  Do yourself.

8.  In the Rigveda, people were described in terms of the work they did and the languages they spoke. In the table below, JiR in the names of six people you know, choosing three men and three women. For each of them, mention the work they do and the language they speak. Would you like to add anything else to the description?

Ans. Do yourself.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The Ghoda is a tributary of the …………….
(a) Ganga
(b) Narmada
(c) Krishna
(d) Bhima

(ii) Brahmagiri is a site in modem ……………..
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar.

(iii) Which of these was not a category of people in the society?
(a) Shudra
(b) Brahmin
(c) Raja
(d) Dasa.

(iv) Inamgaon is situated on the river
(a) Ghod
(b) Bhima
(c) Son
(d) Narmada.

(v) The Ghoda is a tributary of the …………………
(a) Ganga
(b) Narmada
(c) Krishna
(d) Bhima.

(vi) Brahmagiri is a site in modem ……………..
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar.

Answer:
(i) – (b), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (a), (iv) – (b), (v) – (d), (vi) – (a).

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. The oldest of the Vedas is ………..
2. The Rigveda was composed about …….. years ago.
3. The hymns in the Vedas have been referred to as ………….. which means …………….
4. The major gods praised in the hymns of the Rigveda were: ……………………….and …………
5. Sanskrit is part of the …………..  family of languages.
6. In a hymn in the Rigveda, Vishvamitra used the word ‘sisters’ for the two rivers ……and…….
7. ‘Brahmins’ and ‘Rajas’ were two groups of people in terms of…………………..
8. Slaves were captured during………………..
9. Stone boulders used for marking burial sites are called …………………
10. Black and Red Ware are words used for…………….. that were buried with the dead.

Answer:

1. the Rigveda
2. 3500
3. ‘Sukta’, well-said
4. Indra, Agni, Soma
5. Indo-European
6. Beas, Sutlej
7. Work
8. war
9. megalithsMpots.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The Rigveda was written for the first time by hand about 3500 years ago.
2. Soma was the warrior god.
3. The Rigveda contains prayers for cattle, children, and horses.
4. Battles were fought for land, water, and to capture people.
5. Sons automatically succeeded fathers as ‘rajas’.
6. Megaliths were used to mark burial sites.
7. Members of families were usually buried together.
8. In a hymn in the Rigveda, Vishvamitra has a dialogue with Beas and Sutlej, which were two women.
9. Sanskrit and Tamil belong to the same family of languages.

Answer:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. T
8. F
9. F

IV. MATCHING SKILL
Match the items given in column A correctly with those given in column B

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Name the four Vedas.
Ans: The four Vedas are:

1. Rigveda
2. Samaveda
3. Yajurveda
4. Atharvaveda                                                         ‘

2. In what language has the Rigveda been composed?
Ans: The Rigveda is in Vedic Sanskrit.

3. What were the various purposes of fighting battles as depicted by the Rigveda?
Ans: Battles were fought for cattle, land, water, and for capturing people.

4. What were the groups of people in terms of their work?
Ans: There were two groups of people in terms of their work—the ‘brahmins’ and the ‘rajas’.

5. Who were the ‘Aryas’ and the ‘Dasas’?    [V. Imp.]
Ans: People who composed the hymns called themselves Aryans and they called their opponents ‘Dasas’.

6. What were megaliths?  [Imp.]
Ans: Stone boulders used to mark burial sites are known as megaliths.

7. Name some areas where megaliths were prevalent.
Ans: Megaliths were prevalent in the Deccan, South India, in the North-east, and Kashmir.

8. How is it known that burial spots were meant for families?
Ans: Sometimes megaliths contain more than one skeleton. This indicates that families were buried together.

9. Where is Inamgaon situated?
Ans: Inamgaon is a site on the river Ghod, a tributary of the river Bhima.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note on the Rigveda. [V. Imp.]
Ans: The Rigveda is the oldest of the Vedas. It indicates over a thousand hymns in Vedic (old) Sanskrit. These hymns (called ‘Sukta’ — well said) are in praise of various gods and goddesses, mainly: Agni, Indra and Soma. These hymns were composed by sages, who learned them and made their children learn. Finally, they were printed about 200 years ago.

2. Describe in brief about how the Rigveda depicts cattle, horses, chariots, and battles.
Ans: Rigveda has prayers for cattle and horses. Horses were used in battles. Battles were fought for cattle, land, people and water. Most men took part in wars. There was not any regular army. There were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace. They chose brave warriors as their leaders.

3. Write a short note on megaliths.
Ans: Megaliths are stone boulders used to mark burial sites. They were prevalent around 3000 years ago in the Deccan, South India, in the northeast and in Kashmir. Some megaliths are seen on the surface and some are underground. Sometimes a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone is found standing on the ground, to indicate the position of burials.

4. How do megaliths show that there were social differences? [V. Imp.]
Ans: Sometimes, more objects are in found in one grave than in another. This indicates that people were buried according to their social status. In Brahmagiri, a skeleton was found with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles, and a conch shell. Whereas other skeletons have only few pots.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How have people in society been depicted in the Rigveda?    [V. Imp.]
Ans: According to the Rigveda, there are two groups of people in terms of their work: (i) The priests, called Brahmins, and (ii) The ‘rajas’.

The priests performed various vituals while the ‘rajas’ ruled. These rajas’ did not, however, have capital cities, palaces or armies, nor did they collect taxes. Two words were used to refer to the people of the community as a whole — those wo^ds were ‘jana’ and Vish’.

The people who composed the hymns referred to themselves using the word ‘Aryas’ and called their opponents ‘Dasas’ or ‘Dasyus’, The ‘dasas’ were later slaves and were treated as the property of their owners.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science Civics Chapter 1 Understanding Diversity

1. Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
Ans: Festivals shared by different regional and religious communities are:

• Independence Day
• Republic Day
• Gandhi Jayanti

These are our national festivals, so every Indian celebrates them irrespective of region and religion.

2.What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?
Ans: Yes, living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to our life in the following ways:

• We know different people, their culture, customs, traditions, backgrounds. These diverse things add to our life.
• Geographical diversities decide our way of life, our food, our occupations and many other things.
• We relish our customs and traditions.

3. Do you think the term “unity in diversity” is an appropriate term to describe India? What do you think Nehru is trying to say about Indian unity in the sentence quoted above from his book “The Discovery of India”?
Ans:
Yes, we think that the term ‘unity in diversity’ is an appropriate term to describe India.
Diversities:

1. Geographical diversities like different physical features, climates, vegetations, rivers and lakes.
2. Cultural diversities like different languages, religions, communities, customs, traditions, festivals, rituals, etc.
   Despite all these diversities there is unity among the people.
   • They are one.
   • They stood against the British and threw the mighty empire by adopting Ahimsa and peaceful means.
   • All the people belonging to various regions are one when the country’s interests are involved.
   • In natural disasters they whole-heartedly contribute for mitigating the sufferings of the people.

4. Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwalla massacre, which according to you, reflects India’s essential unity.
Ans: Don’t forget the days of blood, O friend
In the midst of your happiness remember to shed a tear for us
The hunter has tom away every single flower
Do plant a flower in the desert garden dear friend
Having fallen to bullets we slept in Jallianwalla Bagh
Do light a lamp on this lonely grave O friend
The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today
Do soak your robe in this river of blood dear friend
Some rot in jails while others lie in their graves
Do shed a few tears for them O friend.
The underlined line reflects India’s unity.
When it came to struggling for freedom of the country, the Hindus and Muslims came together to fight and ‘their blood flows together’.

5. Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influences the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?
Ans: Do yourself.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) Samir Do thought Samir Ek did not know……………
(a) English
(b) Hindi
(c) Punjabi
(d) Urdu

(ii) Samir Do’s family lived in…………
(a) Delhi
(b) Meerut
(c) Bihar
(d)  Jaipur.

(iii) Which of these not an example of inequality?
(a) casting the vote for electing a government
(b) belonging to a different religion
(c) speaking one language and not another
(d) earning money.

(iv) Which of these is not a reason for diversify?
(a) history of a region
(b) habitat of a person

(v) Ladakh is a desert in the state of…………….
(a) Kerala
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Jammu and Kashmir
(d) Rajasthan.

Answer:
(i) – (b), (ii) – (b), (iii) – (a), (iv) – (d), (v) – (c).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. A caste system is a form of……………
2. Inequality comes when a person does not have access to…………. and…………..
3. A country’s customs, religions, arts, and history constitute its ……………..
4. People travelled in search of…………..
5. When people travel to other places, ……….. of cultures takes place.
6. Habitat is associated with the ………. one lives in.
7. Both Kerala and Ladakh were influenced by……… and………..
8. A British general opened fire on a public meeting in………… on April 13, 1919.
9. The Discovery of India’ is a book by………..

Answer:

1. inequality
2. resources, opportunities
3. culture
4. new lands and people
5. intermixing
6. geographical area
7. Chinese, Arab
8. Jallianwalla Bagh
9. Jawahar Lai Nehru.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether each of these sentences is true (T) or false (F).

1. All Indians share the national anthem.
2. All Indians have the same national language.
3. All Indians speak the same language.
4. Pt. Nehru was the first President of India.
5. The caste system is an example of diversity.
6. Kerala and Ladakh are in different parts of India.
7. The geography of Ladakh allows the cultivation of spices.

Answer:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. False

IV.MATCHING SKILL

Ans. (i)(d)     (ii)(e)   (iii)(c)   (iv)(b)     (v)(a)

I.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.Give an example of diversity in India.
Ans: The people of India, living in different parts, speak different languages.

2. Give an example of unity in diversity among Indians.
Ans: All Indians share the same national pride of having India as their motherland.

3. Why did Samir Do, the paper boy, think the author did not know Hindi?
Ans: Samir Do, the paper boy, thought the author looked like a foreigner, so he could not know Hindi.

4. Why was Samir Do tense?
Ans: Samir Do was tense because riots had broken out in Meerut, where his family lived.

 5. Give one example to show why diversity is important in our lives.
Ans: If all had similar lives in aspects of region, religion, opportunities, etc., then writers would lack innovation.

 6. Give one way in which Kerala and Ladakh are different.
Ans: Kerala is famous for the cultivation of spices. Ladakh is famous for growing wool.

 7. What is Ladakh known as?
Ans: Ladakh is known as Little Tibet.

 8. Mention the different religions that are practised in Kerala.
Ans: The people of Kerala practice many different religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

9. How can you say that the history of Kerala and Ladakh has been similar cultural influences?
Ans: Both regions were influenced by Chinese and Arab traders.

10. How was the Indian flag used during the freedom struggle?
Ans: During the freedom struggle the Indian flag was used as a symbol of protest against the British by people everywhere.

II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. ‘India is a country of many diversities’. Explain giving examples. [V. Imp.]
Ans: Ope of the special features of India is that it is a country of many diversities. For example.

• We speak different languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, etc.
• We eat different kinds of food, such as chawal, dal, Razma, idli, dosa, Roti, etc.
• We celebrate different festivals, such as Holi, Diwali, Id, Guru Parv, Christmas, Baishakhi, etc.
• We practise different religions, such as Hinduism, Islam, Shikhism, Christianity, etc.
• We wear different types of clothes, such as saree-blouse, Kurta-pyjama, shirt- pant, etc.

2. India’s diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength Explain.
Ans: It is a fact that India’s diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength. It became clear when the country was struggling against British rule. People from different cultural, religious, and regional backgrounds came forward together to oppose the British government in India. They worked together to decide joint actions, they went to jail together and they found different ways to oppose the British.

The British thought that they could divide Indians because they were so different and then continue to rule them. But it was their illusion. Although Indians were so different, they were united from within at the question of the British government in India. They were ‘one’ in their battle against the British. They cherished the same goal to banish the British from India as soon as possible.

3. How are history and geography tied in the cultural life of a region? Explain giving examples of Kerala and Ladakh. [V. Imp.]
Ans: Kerala and Ladakh are quite different in terms of their geographical features. It was the geography of Kerala which made the possibility of spice cultivation there. So far Ladakh in concerned, its special geographical location flourished the business of wool collection among the Ladakhi people. The people of Ladakh carefully collect the wool of the sheep and sell it to the traders from Kashmir. The history of both regions has been affected by similar cultural influences. Both regions were influenced by Chinese and Arab traders. Thus, we can say the history and geography are often tied in the cultural life of a region.

4. What does diversity add to our lives? [Imp.]
Ans: Diversity is dissimilarity in the way of our life. It is observed in religious functions, in festivals, in language, etc. One thing that is unique about diversity is that it teaches us to live and adjust ourselves in broad society. Our Constitution believes in respect to all human beings in a similar way. Diversity makes us tolerant and just. We know how to behave with other people belonging to different caste, creed, or culture.

III.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How do we explain diversity?                       [V. Imp.]
Ans:  Diversity is the term that applies to dissimilarities. It may be in language, food, culture, living, religion, etc. India is a unique country where one can observe it extensively. There are a number of festivals, languages, dresses, religions, etc. in India. Still, the people of India are Indians and they salute the one flag and sing one national anthem. It is unity in diversity. Diversity occurs when we travel to different parts of the world.

Since time immemorial people have been visiting different lands in order to learn something and for trade. They adopted different styles, languages, and cultures from all those places. Diversity also occurs due to geographical variations and natural calamities. For example, Kashmir is a cold place and the temperature goes even below 0°C. Naturally, Kashmiri people wear woolen clothes, eat and drink hot food. On the other hand, people in desert areas use different clothes because it is veiy hot there.

 2. List three ways in which the different geographical location of Kerala and Ladakh
would influence the following:

• The food people eat
• The clothes they wear
• The work they do.

Ans:

The food people eat. Ladakh is a desert in the mountains in the eastern part of the Jammu & Kashmir. Veiy little agriculture is possible here. It is therefore people here keep sheep, goats, cows and dzos for their living. They eat meat and milk products like cheese and butter. Kerala is a coastal region. The fertile land and climate are suited to growing rice and a majority of people here eat rice, fish and vegetables.

The clothes they wear. Ladakhi people wear woollen clothes including pashmina shawls because it is very cold there. The people of Kerala wear cotton clothes.

The work they do. The people of Ladakh rear sheep for its wool. They carefully collect the wool of the sheep and sell this to traders from Kashmir. The main occupations of the people of Kerala are fishing and farming. People grow rice in huge quantities. They also grow a number of spices like pepper, cloves and cardamoms. It is spices that made this region an attractive place for traders.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 9 Vital Villages, Thriving Towns

Question-1
Fill in the blanks:

1. ……. was a word used for large landowners in TamiL
2. The ‘gramabhojaka’ often got his land cultivated by the…………………..
3. Ploughmen were known as ………….. in Tamil                                                    .
4. Most ‘grihapatis’ were………….

Answer:

1. ‘Vellalar’
2. slaves and workers
3. ‘uzhavar’
4. smaller.

Question-2 
Describe the Junctions of the ‘gramabhojaka’. Why do you think he was powerful?
Answer:
I. The Functions of the Gramabhojaka.

1. In the northern part of India, the village headman was known as the gramabhojaka.
2. He owned a very large piece of land and got it cultivated by his slaves and hired workers.
3. He used to collect taxes from the village, by the order of the king.
4. He also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman.

II. Gramabhojaka as a powerful man:

1. His post was hereditary. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations.
2. The gramabhojaka was generally the largest landowner.
3. Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.
4. Besides, as he was powerful, the king often used him to collect taxes from the village.
5. The gramabhojaka also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman.

Question-3
List the crafts persons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
Answer:
The list of craftspersons who would have been present in both villages and cities is:

1. Goldsmiths
2. Blacksmiths
3. Weavers
4. Carpenters
5. Perfumers
6. Garland makers
7. Basketmakers
8. Statue makers.

Question-4
Choose the correct answer:
(a) Ring wells were used for:
1. bathing
2. washing clothes
3. irrigation
4. drainage.

(b) Punch marked coins were made of:
1. Silver
2. gold
3. tin
4. ivory.

(c) Mathura was important:
1. village
2. port
3. religious centre
4. forested area.

(d) ‘Shrines’ were associations of:
1. rulers
2. crafts persons
3. farmers
4. herders.

Answer:
(a) drainage
(b) silver
(c) religious centre
(d) crafts persons.

Question-5
Which of the iron tools shown on page 87 (of the NCERT textbook) would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?
Answer:
The iron tools shown on page 87 are sickle, tongs, and axe. The ones that would have been used for agriculture were—sickle and axe.

Tongs would have been used to hold things without actually touching them.

Question-6
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 is mentioned that irrigation projects/things that were built during the time (which we have studied in the chapter) include ring wells and drains.
Comparison:

1. Similarities. I live in a city. Our locality has a good drainage system. Every individual house or building also has a good drainage system. Archaeologists have also found some drains and garbage dumps in each of the city/town or site mentioned in the chapter and in an individual house.
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 which might not have been survived long. We use separator and filters with modem technology which was not there earlier.

Question-7
If you have seen craftspersons at work, describe in a short paragraph what they do.
[Hint. How do they get the raw materials, what kind of equipment do they use, how do they work, what happens to the finished product.]
Answer:
Craftspersons at Work:
(a) Different crafts persons work in villages and cities. For example, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, potters, weavers, etc.

(b) Craftsmen get the raw material from villages, nearby cities, and even import from far regions of India as well as from other countries.

(c) Crafts persons use different types of equipment, as required for their crafts. For example, a potter uses potter’s wheel, spade, a stick, a spin-thread, a bright-fire burning or furnace, heating, and beating metal rods.
A blacksmith uses iron and other metals, a furnace, a hammer, a big-iron rod, etc. A weaver uses a spinning wheel, cotton, needle, scissors, dye-colors, dying-vessels, etc.
A carpenter uses wood, iron, a hand-ax, borer, iron-blade, nails.

(d) How do/did they work?
Most of the craftsmen worked at their own cottage or home. Other family members used to help him. Many craftspersons formed associations known as Shrenis. Shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.

(e) What happened to the finished products?
After keeping a small part by the craftspersons for their own or their family’s use, they took the remaining part of production (or surplus production) to local markets or neighbour-merchants. These merchants or traders used to take the products to those parts of the country or to other countries where they were demanded by the people or foreign traders or nationals.

Question-8
List (he Junctions performed by men and women who live in your city and village. In what ways are these similar to those performed by 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 with 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 also important because this city was located at the two main trade and travel routes. The city is known for several temples and shrines. Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food items etc. to the citizens who lived in the city.

Similar. In our city or village, people work as traders or merchants or farmers, as the men of the old city of Mathura performed. The women did a lot of work at home as the domestic wives or ladies perform in modem 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 or expenses.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The use of iron in the Indian Subcontinent began about.
(a) 2000 years ago
(b) a million years ago
(c) 3000 years ago
(d) 500 years ago.

(ii) VeUalar was the term used for
(a) Large landowners
(b) Small farmers
(c) Common people
(d) Slaves.

(iii) Grambhojaka was a powerful man. He also worked as a
(a) Judge
(b) Policemen
(c) Councillor
(d) Both (a) and  (b)

(iv) Mathura is an important centre for worship of
(a) Lord Rama
(b) Lord Krishna
(c) Lord Vishnu
(d) Both (a) and (b).

(v) Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, Arikamedu was a
(a) Coastal settlement
(b) Monastery
(c) Religious place
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(i)—(c), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(d), (iv)—(b), (v)—(a).

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. The post of grambhojaka was …………….
2. There were independent farmers also who were known as ……………………
3. …… literature was popular in Tamil Nadu.
4. The Jatakas were stories preserved by …………………
5. The associations of craftspersons and merchants were known as ……………………….
6. Stamped red-glazed pottery was known as ……………….  ware.

Answer:

1. hereditary
2. grihpatis
3. Sangam
4. Buddhist    monks
5. shrines
6. Arretine.

III. TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The plough share was used to increase agricultural production.
2. Most of the grihpatis were large landowners.
3. Extremely fine pottery was found in the southern part of the sub-continent,
4. Shrines also served as banks where rich men and women deposited money,
5. Arretine Ware was named after a city in Germany.

Answer:

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False.

IV. MATCHING SKILL

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
Where were some of the largest collections of iron tools found?
Answer:
These were found in the megalithic burials,

Question-2
What was the use of iron tools?
Answer:
Iron tools were used for clearing forests.

Question-3
What did irrigation works include?
Answer:
Irrigation works included canals, wells, tanks and artificial lakes,

Question-4
Mention any one function that was performed by the grama bhojaka
Answer:
The grama bhojaka collected taxes from the village for the king.

Question-5
How did the dasa karmakara earn a living?
Answer:
They used to work on the fields owned by others.

Question-6
What do you know about Jatakas?
Answer:
Jatakas were stories composed by ordinary people and preserved by Buddhist monks.

Question-7
What were ring wells?
Answer:
Rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other came to be known as ring wells.

Question-8
How did people use ring wells?
Answer:
People used ring wells as toilets. They also used them as drains and garbage dumps.

Question-9
How does wealth measured during early times?
Answer:
Wealth was measured in terms of coins during early times.

Question-10
What do you know about punch-marked coins?
Answer:
The earliest coins were punch-marked coins, they came to be known like this because the designs were punched on to the metal like silver or copper.

Question-11
How can you say that Mathura was a religious place?
Answer:
One could find Buddhist monasteries and Jaina shrines in Mathura. Mathura was also a place where Lord Krishna was worshipped by the people.

Question-12
Mention the occupations of people who lived in Mathura
Answer:
Goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, and perfumers.

Question-13
Why were Varanasi and Madurai famous?
Answer:
Varanasi and Madurai were famous for the manufacture of cloth.

Question-14
What do you know about Arikamedu?
Answer:
Between 2200 and 1900 years ago Aricamedu was a coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from distant lands.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
What steps were taken to increase agricultural production?   [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Iron tools such as axes and iron ploughshare began to be used. Axes were used for clearing forests and the ploughshare was useful for increasing agricultural production. Apart from these new tools, irrigation was also used for this purpose. Irrigation works that were built during this time included canals, wells, tanks, and artificial lakes.

Question-2
Who was the grama bhojaka? Write about him in brief.
Answer:
The grama bhojaka was the village headman in the northern part of the country. His post was hereditary. He was the largest landowner in the village who kept slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. He collected taxes from the village for the king. He also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman

Question-3
What do you know about Sangam literature? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Some of the earliest works in Tamil came to be known as Sangam literature. These earliest works were composed around 2300 years ago. These texts were called Sangam because they were supposed to have been composed and compiled in assemblies of poets. These assemblies were known as Sangams. They were held in the city of Madurai.

Question-4
What kind of information do we get from several inscriptions found in Mathura?
Answer:
The inscriptions found in Mathura record gifts made by men and women to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants and craftspeople who lived the city. The inscriptions from Mathura make us aware that people were engaged in several occupations such as— weaving, basket making, garland making etc. There were also goldsmiths and blacksmiths.

Question-5
What were shrenis? What functions did shrenis of crafts persons perform?[Imp.]
Answer:
Shrenis were associations of craftspersons and merchants. The shrenis of crafts persons performed various functions. They provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product. Then came shrenis of merchants who organised the trade. Shrenis also performed the role of banks where rich men and women deposited money.

Question-6
Write a short note on Arikamedu.
Answer:
Arikamedu, located in Pondicherry, was a coastal settlement between 2200 and 1900 years ago. It was a place where ships unloaded goods from distant lands. A massive brick structure which is supposed to be a warehouse was found at the site. Other discoveries include pottery from the Mediterranean region. For example, amphorae which were tall double-handled jars that contained liquids and stamped red-glued pottery, known as Arretine Ware. It was named after a city in Italy.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
Describe several ways of finding out about early cities. [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Several ways of finding out about early cities include Jatakas, sculpture, archaeology and travellers. Jatakas were stories composed by ordinary people and preserved by Buddhist monks. Sculptures carved scenes depicting peoples’ lives in towns and villages as well as in the forest. Many of these sculptures were used to decorate railings, pillars and gateways of buildings that were visited by people.

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, which were used as toilets and as drains and garbage dumps. These ring wells are usually found in individual houses. The accounts of sailors and travellers also help us to know about early cities. One of the most detailed accounts that has been found was by an unknown Greek Sailor. He described all the ports he visited.

Question-2
Mathura was a city with many Junctions. Explain. [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Mathura has been an important city for more than 2500 years. It was important for various reasons.
It was located at the crossroads 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 the city people.
• Mathura was also a centre where some extremely find sculpture was produced.
• Around 2000 years ago, Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas.
• Mathura was a religious centre also. There were Buddhist monasteries and Jaina shrines. It was also an important centre for the worship of Lord Krishna.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science Civics Chapter 7 Urban Administration

1. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala’s house?
Ans: The children broke the street-light while playing cricket. As its replacement was beyond their reach, they were very much upset. They didn’t know whom did the street light belong to. They went to Rehana’s mother who gave them the knowledge that it is the Municipal Corporation of the city that takes care of replacing lights. She also told them that Yasmin Khala would be the best person because she has just retired from the Municipal Corporation. She advised the children to go to Yasmin Khala to get their problem solved.

2. List four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller.
Ans: List of four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city dweller:

• Cleaning and lighting of streets and thoroughfares.
• Supply of safe drinking water.
• Supply of electricity.
• Traffic control.
• Garbage collection and disposal.
• School, hospital and sanitation facilities.

 3. Who is a Municipal Councillor?
Ans: A Municipal Councillor is an elected representative of a ward. He is also known as Ward Councillor.

 4. What did Gangabai do and why?
Ans: Gangabai collected a large number of women and went to the Municipal Commissioner along with ward councilors to protest against garbage dumps all over the street.

5. How does the Municipal Corporation earn the money to do its work?
Ans: The Municipal Corporation is one of the most important organs of the three-tier government system. It is responsible for the all-round development of its designated area. It undertakes all the public facilities and welfare works like sanitation, water, road, education, health, etc. As these works require funds, so it collects revenue from the residents living in its corporation area. It levies taxes on property, water, and other services. Taxes are fixed on the measurement and consumption of the services. Taxes are levied on education and other amenities like owning a hotel, entertainment, etc.

6. Discuss
In the two photographs, you see different ways of collecting and disposing of garbage.
(i) Which way do you think provides safety to the person disposing of garbage?
(ii)What are the dangers of collecting garbage in the manner shown in the first photograph?
(iii)Why do you think that proper ways of disposing of garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities?


Ans: (i) The way is shown in photo 2 provides safety to the person disposing of garbage,

(ii) Collecting garbage in the manner shown in photo 1 is full of dangers. Children are so close to open garbage that they may fall sick or they may develop symptoms of some deadly disease in the long run. There may be pieces of broken glasses. While collecting garbage in,this manner, their fingers may get injured. We see two stray cows around the garbage searching some eatables. These cows may attack these boys which may take their lives. Thus, there is no safety at all in this way.

(iii) The proper ways of disposing of garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities because firstly, the government has not done proper arrangements for this as yet. It has provided trucks no doubt but their number is not sufficient. Secondly, the workers working in the municipalities are generally less aware of health and hygiene. They do not bother whether garbage is being disposed of properly or not. Thirdly, the economic condition of the municipalities is not good.

7. Several poor people in the city work as domestic servants as well as work for the Corporation, keeping the city clean. Yet the slums in which they live are quite filthy. This is because these slums seldom have any water and sanitation facilities. The reason often given by the Municipal Corporation is that the land in which the poor have set up their homes does not belong to them and that slum-dwellers do not pay taxes. However, people living in middle-class neighbourhoods pay very little in taxes compared to the amount of money the corporation spends on them in setting up parks, street lighting facilities, regular garbage collection etc. Also as you read in this chapter, the property taxes collected by the Municipality makes up only 25-30 percent of its money. Why do you not think it is important that the Corporation should spend more money on slum localities? Why is it important that the Municipal Corporation provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get?
Ans. I think it is important that the corporation should spend more money on slum localities because slum-dwellers are also a part of our society. They need education, sanitation, rehabilitation, and other facilities as the common people avail. They are also human beings. They lack even basic amenities of life which cause the spread of many diseases among them. They are the citizens of our country. So in order to achieve our constitutional ideals, the Municipal Corporation should provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get.

I.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statement given below.

(iv) Which one is not the job of the Municipal Corporation?
(a) It keeps the streets and markets clean.
(b) It makes gardens and maintains them.
(c) It builds hotels for the tourists
(d) It runs schools, hospitals, and dispensaries.

(v) The Municipal Council is found in
(a) Big cities
(b) Small towns
(c) villages
(d) Metropolitan cities.

Answer:
(i) – (d), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (c), (iv) – (c), (v) – (b).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. Property taxes form only ……………. percent of the money that a Municipal Corporation earns.
2. Collecting garbage is quite a………… job.
3. The kabaddi wallah plays a major role in ……………….  household plastic and paper.
4. The Ward Councillor is elected by the people of his ………………
5. Gangabai rushed to the house of………………

Answer:

1. 25-30
2. dangerous
3. recycling
4. Ward/area
5. Ward Councillor.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. Gangabai was a timid lady.
2. Yasmin Khala was a retired judge.
3. Pune, being a big city, has a Municipal Corporation.
4. Larger houses have to pay fewer taxes.
5. The Commissioner and the administrative staff implement the decisions taken by the Councillor’s Committees and the councillors.

Answer:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T

IV.MATCHING SKILL

Ans: (i)-c  (ii)-e   (iii)-a   (iv)-b     (v)-d

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1: Who was Yasmin Khala?
Ans: Yasmin Khala was a Municipal Corporation employee.

2. What had children done to the street light?
Ans: They had broken the streetlight while playing.

3. What did children want to know?
Ans: They wanted to know who did the lights on the streets belong to.

4. Whose duty is it to replace the streetlights?

Ans: It is the duty of the Municipal Corporation of the city to replace the streetlights.

5. Who takes decisions like where a park or a new hospital should go?
Ans: The Ward Councillors usually takes such decisions.

6. What is the difference between the ward Commissioner and the ward Councillors?[V. Imp.]
Ans: The Commissioner is the body elected by the councillors while the Councillors are elected by the general voters of the world.

7. What is a tax?                                                              [V. Imp.]
Ans: A tax is a sum of money that people pay to the government for the services the government provides.

8. What types of taxes people have to pay?
Ans: People have to pay property tax on their homes as well as taxes for water and other services.

9. Name two departments of the Municipal Corporation. [Imp.]
Ans: Water department and garbage collection department,

10. What did the Commissioner advise Gangabai?
Ans: The Commissioner advised Gangabai to get a petition signed by all the adults in the locality saying that garbage was not being collected.

11. How can common people keep their streets clean?
Ans: They can do this by keeping dustbin/dustbins at home.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How are complicated decisions taken? Explain with examples. [V. Imp.]
Ans: (Complicated decisions usually affect the entire city and therefore these decisions are taken by groups of Councillors who form committees to decide and debate issues. For example, if bus stands need to be improved or a crowded market place needs to have its garbage cleared more regularly, etc.

2. Write a short note on the topic ‘Sub-contracting’.                                   [Imp.]
Ans: In recent times, in order to save money the Commissioners of several municipalities across the country had hired private contractors to collect and process garbage. This is known as Sub-Contracting. This means that the work that was earlier being done by government workers is now being done by a private company or agency. These contract workers get low salary and their jobs are temporary.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Explain the Junctions of the Ward Councillor and the Administrative staff.
Ans: The Ward Councillors are elected members. They are responsible for the welfare of the people of their wards. They listen their problems and get them solved. Sometimes, they have to take complicated decisions that affect the entire city. At such moments, groups of councillors who form committees gather together to decide and debate issues. While the Councillor’s Committees and the councillors decide on issues, the Commissioner and the administrative staff implement these decisions.

All of the Ward Councillors meet and they make a budget and the money is spent according to this. The Ward Councillors try and ensure that the particular demands of their wards are placed before the entire council. These decisions are then implemented by the administrative staff.

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