Category: Class 7 Social

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 9 The Making Of Regional Cultures

1.  Match the following :
Anantavarnam         – Kerala 
Jagannatha               – Bengal
Mahodayapurma     – Orissa
Lilatilakam              – Kangra
Mangalakavya        – Puri
Miniature                 –  Kerala
Answer:
Anantavarnam         –       Orissa
Jagannatha              –        Kangra
Mahodayapurma   –        Kerala
Lilatilakam             –        Kerala
Mangalakavya       –        Bengal
Miniature              –         Kangra

2. What is Manipravalam? Name abook written in that language.
Answer: Manipravalam is a language. The book written in that language is Lilatilakam.

3. Who were the major patrons of Kathak?
Answer: The Mughals were the major patrons of Kathak.

4. What are the Important architectural features of the temples of Bengal?
Answer:
Architectural features of the temples of Bengal:

1. Double roofed or dochala, four roofed (chauchala).
2. Comparative more complex-four roofed structures-four triangular roofs placed on four walls moved up to coverage on curved line or a point.
3. Built on a square platform.
4. Interior plain.
5. Outer walls decorated with paintings, ornamental tiles or terracotta tablets.

5. Why did minstrels proclaim the achievements of heroes?
Answer: Minstrels used to recite poems and songs which depicted the stories of the ” Rajputs’ heroic deeds. By reciting such poems and songs these minstrels inspired others to follow the examples of Rajputs. Ordinary people were also attracted by these stories.

6. Why do we know much more about the cultural practices of rulers than about those of ordinary people?
Answer: We know much more about the cultural practices of rulers than about those of ordinary people because the ordinary people followed the cultural practices adopted by their kings/emperors. Moreover people had faith in their rulers. They could not adopt other cultural practices which their rulers did not practise.

7. Why did conquerors try to control the temple of Jagannatha at Puri?
Answer: The temple of Jagannatha at Puri gained importance as a centre of pilgrimage. Its authority in social and political matters also increased. Hence, conquerors tried to establish control over the temple. They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people.

8. Why were temples built in Bengal?
Answer:
Temples were built in Bengal because of the following reasons:

1. Increase in religious faith.
2. Mosques had already been built.
3. Powerful people wanted to demonstrate their power and proclaim their piety.
4. ‘Low’ people also participated in the temple building.
5. New economic opportunities to people also helped in temple setting up.
6. Support of Brahmanas to get idols placed in temples from huts.

9. Describe the most important features of the culture of your region, focussing on buildings, performing arts, and painting.
Answer: I live in Delhi. Right from the beginning, it has been a land of mixed cultures. In old days, it was invaded by a number of foreign rulers. Some of them stayed here for some time and some settle down permanently. They all affected its culture, language, religion, society, architecture, art and painting. Still we have buildings and monuments built by Mughal emperors, slave emperors, Rajput rulers and many more. We have temples, mosques and many other such places constructed by different rulers. Differences of cultures can still be seen in the areas of old Delhi and new Delhi.

10. Do you use different languages for (a) speaking, (b) reading, (c) writing? Find out about one major composition in language that you use and discuss why you find it interesting.
Answer:
(a) For speaking I use Hindi and Punjabi.
(b) For reading I use Hindi and English.
(c) For writing I use Hindi and English.
Thus, I use different languages for speaking, reading and writing.

11. Choose one state each from north, west, south, east and central India. For each of these, prepare a list of foods that are commonly consumed, highlighting any differences and similarities that you notice.

12. Choose another set of five states from each these regions and prepare a list of clothes that are generally worn by women and men in each. Discuss your findings.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who was Anantavarman?
Answer: Anantavarman was one of the most important rulers of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.

2. Who did King Anangabhima III dedicate his kingdom to? What did he proclaim himself?
Answer: King Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to Purushottama Jagannath and proclaimed himself as the deputy of the god.

3. What was called Rajputana by the British?          [V. Imp.]
Answer: In the 19th century, the region that constitutes most of the present-day Rajasthan was called Rajputana by the British.

4. How were the Rajput rulers most distinctive?
Ans. The Rajput rulers were the apostles of bravery. They fought valiantly and often chose death on the battlefield rather than face defeat.

5. Define the term Kathak.
Answer: The term Kathak is derived from Katha, a word used in Sanskrit and other languages for the story.

6. Who were the Kathaks?
Answer: The kathaks were originally a caste of storytellers in temples of north India who beautified their performances with gestures and songs.

7. Where did Kathak develop?
Answer: Kathak developed in the courts of Rajasthan (Jaipur) and Lucknow.

8. Under whose patronage did kathak grow into a major art form?
Answer: Kathak grew into a major art form under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh.

9. What are miniatures?           [Imp.]
Answer: Miniatures are small-sized paintings, generally done in water colour on cloth or paper.

10. What distinguished Kangra painting from the paintings?
Answer: Soft colours including cool blues and greens, and lyrical treatment of themes distinguished Kangra painting from other paintings.

11. On what objects do we fiend paintings of ordinary people?
Answer: We find paintings of ordinary people on pots, walls, floors, and cloth.

12. Who were the Naths?
Answer: The Naths were the ascetics who engaged in a variety of yogic practices.

13. Why was the second category of the early Bengali literature not written down?
Answer: The second category of the early Bengali literature was circulated orally and therefore it was not written down.

14. What are the chief food items of the Bengalis?
Answer: Rice and fish are the chief food items of the Bengalis.

15. What do terracotta plaques on the walls of temples and viharas depict?[V. Imp.]
Answer: They depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets.

16. Why was the Bengal Brahmanas allowed to eat fish?
Answer: The Bengal Brahmanas were allowed to eat fish because fish was the main item in the local diet.

17. What is the Brihaddharma Parana?
Answer: It is a thirteenth-century Sanskrit text from Bengal.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.  Mention the role of the Chercis in the development of Malayalam.            [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established in the ninth century in the south-western part of the peninsula, part of present-day Kerala. It is likely that Malayalam was spoken in this area. The rulers introduced the Malayalam language and script in their inscriptions.

2.  How did the Cheras draw upon Sanskritic traditions?
Answer: The temple theatre of Kerala borrowed stories from the Sanskrit epics. The first literary works in Malayalam, dated to about the 12t.h century, are directly indebted to Sanskrit. The Lilatilakam, a fourteenth-century text, dealt with grammar and poetics and was composed in Manipravalam – literally, ‘diamonds and corals’ referring to the two languages namely Sanskrit and the regional language.

3.  How did regional cultures evolve?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Regional cultures today are often the product of complex processes of intermixing of local traditions with ideas from other parts of the sub-continent. Some traditions appear specific to some regions, others seem to be similar across regions and yet others derive from older practices in a particular area, but take a new form in other regions.

4.  How are women depicted in the stories about Rajput heroes?
Answer: Sometimes these stories depict women as the cause for conflict, as men fought with one another to either win or protect them (women). Women are also depicted as following their heroic husbands in both life and death. We are familiar with the stories about the practice of sati or the immolation of widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands. So. those who followed the heroic ideal often had to pay for it with their lives.

5. Mention all the six dance forms that are recognised as classical.
Answer: Six classical dances are :

• Kathak (North India)
• Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu)
• Kathakali (Kerala)
• Odissi (Orissa)
• Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
• Manipuri (Manipur).

6. How did miniature painting develop under the Mughal patronage? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Miniatures are small-sized paintings, generally done in water colour on cloth or paper. The earliest miniatures were on palm leaves or wood. The Mughal emperors especially Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan patronised highly skilled painters. These painters primarily illustrated manuscripts containing historical accounts and poetry. These were generally painted in brilliant colours and portrayed court scenes, scenes of battle or hunting and other aspects of social life. They were often exchanged as gifts and were viewed only by the emperor and his close associates.

7. Write a brief note on early Bengali literature.
Answer: There are two categories of early Bengali literature:

• The first includes translations of the Sanskrit epics, the Mangalakavyas, auspicious poems, dealing with local deities, and Bhakti literature such as the biographies of Chaitanyadeva, the leader of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement.
• The second includes Nath literature such as the songs of Maynamati and Gopichandra, stories concerning the worship of Dharma Thakur, and fairy tales, Folk tales and ballads. The texts belonging to the first category are written while those belonging to the second category circulated orally.

8. Who were the pirs? What was their position in society?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Pirs were spiritual leaders having supernatural powers. They also functioned as teachers and adjudicators. When early settlers in Bengal sought some order and assurance in the unstable conditions of the new settlements pirs favoured them and gave them full moral support. People viewed them as respectful figures. The cult of pirs became very popular and their shrines can be found everywhere in Bengal.

9. What is the significance of fish in Bengal? [Imp.]
Answer: Bengal is a riverine plain which produces abundant rice and fish. These two items are important foods of the Bengalis. Fishing has always been an important occupation and Bengali literature contains several references to fish. What is more, terracotta plaques on the walls of temples and viharas depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets?

Due to the popularity of fish in the local diet, the Bengal Brahmanas also started eating fish. The Brihaddharma Purana, a thirteenth-century Sanskrit text from Bengal, permitted them to eat certain varieties of fish.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What do you know about the Rajput tradition of heroism? Write in brief [V. Imp.]
Answer: Rajputs are closely associated with the culture of Rajasthan. It is they who made this culture distinctive. The cultural traditions of Rajasthan were linked with the ideals and aspirations of rulers. From about the eighth century, most of the present-day Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput families. The name of Prithviraj is worth mentioning because he was one of the ablest Rajput rulers. These Rajput rulers ares known for their bravery and sense of sacrifice. They cherished the ideal of the hero who fought valiantly, often choosing death on the battlefield rather than face defeat.

Stories about Rajput heroes were recorded in poems and songs, which were recited by specially trained minstrels. These preserved the memories of heroes and were expected to inspire others to follow their examples. Ordinary people also liked these stories which often depicted dramatic situations and a range of strong emotions in the forms of loyalty, friendship, love, valour, anger etc.

2.  Give a detailed description of kathak, a popular classical dance form of north India. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The term Kathak is derived from Katha, a word used in Sanskrit and other languages for the story. The Kathaks was originally a caste of storytellers in temples of north India, who beautified their performances with gestures and songs. Kathak began evolving into a distinct mode of dance in the 15th and 16th centuries with the spread of the Bhakti movement.

The legends of Radha-Krishna were enacted in folk plays known as rasa Lila, which combined folk dance with the basic gestures of the Kathak story-tellers. Kathak was performed in the Mughal court. Here, it acquired its present features and developed into a form of dance with a distinctive style. Afterward, it developed in two traditions known as gharanas—one in the courts of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and the other in Lucknow. Kathak grew into a major art form only under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh.

By the third quarter of the 19th century, it was firmly established as a dance form not only in these two regions but also in the adjoining areas of present-day Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Emphasis was laid on intricate and rapid footwork, elaborate costumes as well as on the enactment of stories. Although most British administrators never favoured Kathak, it survived and continued to be performed by courtesans. It was recognised as a classical dance form after the country got independence.

3. How did Bengali develop as a regional language? [Imp.]
Ans: Bengali is said to have been derived from Sanskrit but early Sanskrit texts derived it. Now the question arises how did this language develop. From the fourth-third centuries BCE, commercial ties developed between Bengal and Magadha which may have led to the growing influence of Sanskrit. During the fourth century, the Gupta rulers established political control over north Bengal and began to settle Brahmanas in this area. Thus, the linguistic and cultural influence from the mid-Ganga valley became stronger.

In the seventh century, the Chinese traveller Xuan Zang observed that languages related to Sanskrit were in use all over Bengal. From the eighth century, Bengal became the centre of a regional kingdom under the Palas. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Bengal was ruled by Sultans. In 1586, when Akbar conquered Bengal, it formed the nucleus of the Bengal Suba, While Persian was the language of administration, Bengali developed as a regional language.

By the 15th century, the Bengali group of dialects came to be united by a common literary language based on the spoken language of the western part of the region, now known as West Bengal. Thus, although Bengali is derived from Sanskrit, it passed through several stages of evolution. A wide range of non-Sanskrit words, derived from tribal languages, Persian and European language, have become part of modem Bengali.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 8 Devotional Paths To The Divine

1. Match the following:
The Buddha                      –   namghar
Shankaradeva                  –   worship of Vishnu
Nizamuddin Auliya        –   questioned social differences  
Nayanars                          –  Sufi saint
Alvars                               –  worship of Shiva
Answer:  The Buddha           –  questioned social differences
Shankaradeva                –  namghar
Nizamuddin Auliya      –  Sufi saint
Nayanars                        –  worship of Shiva
Alvars                             –   worship of Vishnu

2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Shankara was an advocate of…………..
(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the ………….
(c)  ……………., ………..  and ………. were advocates of Virashaivism.
(d) ….. was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
Answer:
(a) Advaita
(b) Alvars
(c) Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akkamahadevi
(d) Pandharpur

3. Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis.
Answer:
Beliefs and Practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis

1. Criticism of ritual and other aspects of conventional religion.
2. Renunciation of the world.
3. Path of salvation in meditation on the formless.
4. Ultimate reality and realisation of oneness.
5. Intense training of mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises, and meditation.

4. What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?
Answer:
Major ideas expressed by Kabir and his way of expressing them:

1. Rejection of orthodox religion and religious traditions.
2. Religion was is accessible to all.
3. Criticism of all external worship of Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam
4. No caste system.
5. Belief in formless God.
6. Bhakti and devotion is the only path of salvation.
7. He expressed his ideas through couplets.

5. What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Answer: 

• Sufis were Muslim mystics. They rejected outward religiosity and gave emphasis on love and devotion to God. They inspired people to be compassionate towards all fellow human beings.
• They rejected idol worship and considerably simplified rituals of worship into collective prayers.
• They believed that the heart can be trained to look at the world in a different way.
• They developed elaborate methods of training using zikr, meaning chanting of a name or sacred formula, contemplation, sama Le. singing, raqs, Le. dancing, discussion of parables, breath control etc. under the guidance of a master called pir.

6. Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer:
Yes, many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because they had numerous shortcomings and they promoted division in society.

7. What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer:
Msyor Teachings of Baba Guru Nanak

1. Worship of one God.
2. Irrelevance of caste, creed, and gender for attaining liberation.
3. The pursuit of active life with a strong sense of social commitment.
4. Nam, the dam, is the major essence of his teachings.
5. Nam-japna, kirt-kama, and vand Chakhna basis of right belief, and worship, honest living and helping others.
6. The idea of equality.

8. For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer: Attitude of the Virashaivas towards caste :
They believed in the equality of all human beings. They were against Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women. They wished for a society where people of all backgrounds could live in harmony without any feelings of high and low, rich and poor.

9. Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer:  Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the royal family of Mewar. But she had no interest in the worldly affair. She was an ardent devotee of Krishna and wanted to devote her time to the worship of her lord. She had no belief in princely status and other norms of high-class society. Her devotion to her deity was supreme. Hence, she left the royal palace and began to lend. Simple life with ordinary people.

10. Find out whether in your neighbourhood there are any dargahs, gurudwaras or temples associated with saints of the Bhakti tradition in your neighbourhood. Visit any one of these and describe what you see and hear.
Answer: Students are suggested to do this exercise themselves.

11. For any of the saint-poets whose compositions have been included in this chapter, find out more about their works, noting down other poems. Find out whether these are sung, how they are sung, and what the poets wrote about
Answer:  Mainly Guru Nanak. Read the chapter and write down.

12. There are severed saint-poets whose names have been mentioned but their works have not been included in the chapter. Find out more about the language in which they composed, whether their compositions were sung and what their compositions were about.
Answer:  For self attempt.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What did the Puranic stories consist of? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The Puranic stories consisted of local myths and legends

2. Who were the Pulaiyar and the Panars?
Answer:  They were considered untouchables

3. How many Alvars were there?
Answer:  There were 12 Alvars.

4. Name the two sets of compilations of Nayanar’s songs.
Answer:  Tevaram and Tiruvacakam.

5 Name the set of compilation of Alvars’ songs.
Answer:  Divya Prabandham.

6. What did Ramanuja propound?
Answer:  He propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even when united with the Supreme God remained distinct.

7. What is abhang? 
Answer:  It is a Marathi devotional hymn.

8. Name any two saints of Maharashtra.
Answer:  Namdev and Tukaram

9. Who were Sufis?
Answer:  Sufis were Muslim mystics.

10. Name any two great Sufis of Central Asia.
Answer:  Ghazzali and Rumi.

11. What are namghars?          [Imp.]             
Answer: They are houses of recitation and prayer, a practice that continues even today.

12. What was known as dharmsal?
Answer:  Baba Guru Nanak created a sacred place which was known as dharmsal. It is now known as Gurudwara.

13. To whom did Baba Guru Nanak appoint as his successor?
Answer:  Guru Nanak appointed Guru Angad, one of his followers, as his successor.

14. What is Guru Granth Sahib?
Answer:  Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture of the Sikhs.

15. Why did the Mughal emperor Jahangir order the execution of Guru Aijan in 1606?
Answer:  The Mughal emperor Jahangir looked upon the Sikh community as a potential threat and therefore he ordered the execution of Guru Aijan.

16. What did the terms ‘nam’, ‘dan’ and ‘isnan’ mean?    [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The terms nam, dan and isnan meant right worship, welfare of others and purity of conduct.

17. Who compiled the compositions of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer:  Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Baba Guru Nanak.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who were the Nayanars and Alvars? Write about them in brief. [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The Nayanars and Alvars led religious movements in south India during the seventh to ninth centuries. The Nayanars were devotees of Shiva while the Alvars were the devotees of Vishnu. They came from all castes including those considered ‘untouchable’ like the Pulaiyar and the Panars. They preaohe^gjgdent love of Shiva or Vishnu as the path to salvation. They went from place to place composing beautiful poems in praise of the deities enshrined in the villages they visited and set them to music. There were 63 Nayanars who belonged to different caste backgrounds. There were 12 Alvars who came from equally divergent backgrounds.

2.  Who was Ramanuja? What are the main points of his preachings?
Answer: Ramanuja was a Bhakti saint. He was born in Tamil Nadu in the 11th century. He was deeply influenced by the Alvars.

The main points of his preachings are :

• Ramanuja taught people that the best means of attaining salvation was through intense devotion to Vishnu. Vishnu in His grace helps the devotee to attain the bliss of union with Him.
• He propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even when united with the Supreme God remained distinct.

3.  What do you mean by Khanqahs? What purpose did it serve?                     [V. Imp.]
Answer: Khanqahs were houses of rest for travellers especially one kept by a religious order. Sufi masters usually held their assemblies here. Devotees of all descriptions including members of the royalty and nobility, and ordinary people flocked to these Khanqahs. Here, they discussed spiritual matters, sought the blessings of the saints in solving their worldly problems or simply attended the music and dance sessions.

4.  “The songs are as much a creation of the saints as of generations of people who sang them.’ Explain.                [V. Imp.]
Answer: The works of the saints were composed in regional languages and could be sung. They became very popular and were handed down orally from one generation to another. Usually, the most deprived communities and women transmitted these songs. They even added their own experiences to them. Thus, the songs as we have them today are as much a creation of the saints as of generations of people who sang them. They have become a part of our living culture.

5.  Who was Kabir? How do we know about him?
Answer: Kabir probably lived in the fifteenth-sixteenth centuries. He was one of the most influential saints. He was brought up in a family of Muslim jalahas or weavers settled in or near the city of Benaras, now Varanasi. We have little reliable information about the life of Kabir. We come to know of his ideas from a vast collection of verses called sakhis and pads, which are said to have been composed by him and sung by wandering bhajan singers.

6 Who were the followers of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer: Baba Guru Nanak had a large number of followers. They belonged to a number of castes but traders, agriculturists, artisans and craftsmen predominated. Thus, the followers of Guru Nanak were all householders and adopted productive and useful occupations. They were expected to contribute to the general funds of the community of followers.

7 Why was the Mughal emperor Jahangir hostile to the Sikh community? How did the Sikh movement gain momentum?    [V. Imp.]
Answer: By the beginning of the 17th century the town of Ramdaspur, Amritsar had developed around the central Gurudwara known as Harmandar Sahib, the Golden Temple. It was a virtually self-governing body and the modem historians refer to the early 17th-century Sikh community as ‘a state within a state’. This made the Mughal emperor Jahangir hostile to the Sikh community. He looked upon them as a potential threat and he ordered the execution of Guru Aijan in 1606.
It is from this time the Sikh movement began to gain momentum. It was a development that culminated, in the institution of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.                         ’                ~

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Write in brief about the ideas of Shankara and Ramanuja.
Answer:  Shankara. He was one of the most Influential philosophers of India. He was bom in Kerala in the eighth century. He was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God, the Ultimate Reality. He taught that Brahman, the only or Ultimate Reality, was formless and without any attributes. He considered the world around us to be an illusion or maya, and preached renunciation of the world and adoption of the path of knowledge to understand the true nature of Brahman and attain salvation. Ramanuja.

He was bom in Tamil Nadu in the eleventh century and was deeply influenced by the Alvars. He preached that the best means of attaining salvation was through intense devotion to Vishnu. Vishnu in His grace helps the devotee to attain the bliss of union with Him. He propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita of qualified oneness in that the soul even when united with the Supreme God remained distinct

2. Write a brief note on new religious developments in north India. [V. Imp.]
Answer:  During the thirteenth century a new wave of the Bhakti movement began in north India. This was an age when Islam, Brahmanical Hinduism, Sufism, various strands of Bhakti, and the Nathpanths, Siddhas and Yogis influenced one another. Ordinary people such as craftspersons, peasants, traders, etc. showed their interest in listening to these new saints. Kabir and Baba Gum Nanak did not approve orthodox religious.

Tulsidas and Surdas accepted existing beliefs and practices but wanted to make these accessible to all. Tulsidas conceived of God in the form of Rama. His Ramacharitmanas is a unique creation, Surdas was an ardent devotee of Krishna. His compositions compiled in the Sursagara, Sursaravali and Sahitga Lahari, express his devotion. Shankaradeva of Assam emphasised devotion to Vishnu and composed poems and plays in Assamese. He began the practice of setting up namghars or houses of recitation and prayer. Saints like Dadu Dayal, Ravidas and Mirabai are worth-mentioning here.

Mirabai was a Rajput princess and was married into the royal family of Mewar in the 16th century. She became a disciple of Ravidas, an untouchable saint. She devoted her life to Lord Krishna. She composed a number of bhqjans expressing her intense devotion. A unique feature of most of the saints is that their works were composed in regional languages and could be sung. Therefore, they became very popular among the common mass.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 7 Tribes, Nomads And Settled Communities

1. Match the following:
garh             –     khel
tanda           –    chaurasi
labourer      –   caravan
clan             –   Garha Katanga
Sib Singh    –  Ahom State
Durgawati   – paik
Answer:
garh – chaurasi
tanda – caravan
labourer – paik
clan – khel
Sib Singh – Ahom state
Durgawati – Garha Katanga

2. Fill in the blanks: 

1. The new castes emerging within vamas were called……………………
   
2. ……… were historical works written by the Ahoms.
   
3. The…….. mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
   
4. As tribal stales became bigger and stronger they gave land grants to………….. ..
   

Answer:

1. jatis
   
2. Buraryis
   
3. Akbar Nama
   
4. temples, Brahmanas.

3. State whether true or false:
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.
(b) There were no tribal communities in the north-western part of the subcontinent.
(c) The Chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities.
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the sub-continent.
Answer:    (a)—T, (b)—F, (c)—F, (d)—F.

4. What kinds of exchanges took place between nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?
Answer:

1. Nomadic pastoralists gave wool, ghee etc.
2. Settled agriculturalists gave the nomadic pastoralists grains, cloth, utensils and other products.

5. How was the administration of the Ahom state-organized?
Answer:
Administration of Ahoms

1. The Ahom state depended upon forced labour.
   • The forced workers were called paiks.
2. A census of the population was taken.
   • Each village had to send a number of paiks by rotation.
   • People from heavily populated areas were shifted to less populated places. — Ahom clans were thus broken up.
3. By the first half of the seventeenth century, the administration became quite centralised.

6. What changes took place in vama-based society?
Answer: The following changes took place in uama-based society:

• Smaller castes or jatis emerged within vamas.
• On the other hand, many tribes and social groups were taken into caste-based society and given the status of jatis.
• Specialised artisans such as smiths, carpenters and masons were also recognised as separate jatis by the Brahmanas.
• Jatis rather than vama became the basis for organising society.
• Among the Kshatriyas, new Rajput clans became powerful.
• Many tribes became part of the caste system. But only the leading tribal families could join the ruling class. A large majority joined the lower jatis of caste society.
• Many dominant tribes of Punjab, Sind and the North-West Frontier had adopted Islam. They continued to reject the caste-system.

7. How did tribal societies change after being organised into a state?
Answer:
Changes in the Society

1. The emergence of large states changed the nature of tribal society.
2. Equal society gradually got divided into unequal social classes.
   • Brahmanas received land grants from the Gond rajas.
   • They became more influential.
3. The Gond chiefs now wished to be recognised as Rajputs.
   • Aman Das, the Gond raja of Garha Katanga, assumed the title of Sangram Shah.
   • His son, Dalpat, married princess Durgawati.
4. She was the daughter of Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput raja of Mahoba.

8. Were the Banjaras important for the economy?
Answer: The Banjaras were very important for the economy. They were trader-nomads and controlled trade and commerce. They played an important role in transporting grain to the city markets. They usually bought grain where it was cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer. From there, they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably sold in other places.

9. In what ways was the history of the Gonds different from that of the Ahoms? Were there any similarities?
Answer:

The history of the Gonds was different from that of the Ahoms in the following ways:

1. Gonds lived in Gondwana while Ahoms lived in Brahmaputra valley.
2. Gonds practiced shifting cultivation while Ahoms did not practice shifting cultivation.
3. Gond kingdoms were large, Ahom kingdom was small.
4. Gond kingdoms were divided into garhs, Ahoms built a large state.
5. Gonds did not use fire-arms, Ahoms used fire-arms for the first time in the history of the subcontinent.

The similarity is that both were tribes:

1. The Mughals tried to control the lands of both at different point of time.
2. There were changes in society of both due to the diversification of occupations.

10. Plot the location of the tribes mentioned in this chapter on a map. For any two, discuss whether their mode of livelihood was suited to the geography and the environment of the area where they lived.
Answer: Several tribes live in different parts of India. See the map given below

These tribes settled temporarily at the places which suited them as per their need and livelihood. Whenever they found the environment or their mode of living unfavourable, they migrated to other suitable places.

11. Find out about present-day government policies towards tribal populations and organise a discussion about these.
Answer:
Policies about Tribal population

• Overall upliftment.
• Land rights.
• Education.
• Cultural and social upliftment.
• Roads, water, industries.
• Mainstreaming.
• Enforcement of reservation in government jobs.

12. Find out more about present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the sub-continent.
Answer: What animals do they keep? Which are the areas frequented by these groups? Ans. Present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the sub-continent are – Gaddi shepherds living in the western Himalayas, Gujjar Bakarwals, living in Jammu & Kashmir, Banjaras living in Rajasthan. These nomadic people keep sheep, goats, and camels. They frequently visit the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How did the castes of entertainers earn their livelihood?
Answer: They earned their livelihood by performing in different towns and villages.

2. Which tribe was very influential in Punjab during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries?              [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Khokhar tribe was very influential in Punjab during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries

3. Name the tribe which was powerful in the north-west.
Answer: Balochis

4. Name any two tribes which lived in the extreme South
Answer: Vetars and Matravers

5. Who were specialised artisans?
Answer: Smiths, carpenters, and masons were specialised artisans

6. Who controlled Garh?
Answer: A Gond clan usually controlled the Garh

7. What made the Brahmanas more influential in the Gond Society? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Gond raja began to grant land to the Brahmanas. This made them influential.

8. Who was Aman Das?
Answer: He was the Gond raja of Garha Katanga.

9. Who was Durgaivaii?
Answer: She was the daughter of Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput raja of Mahoba. She got married to Dalpat, the son of the Gond raja Aman Das.

10. When did the Mughal forces attack Garha Katanga?
Answer:  The Mughal forces attacked Garha Katangst in 1565.

11. What made Garha Katanga a rich state?    [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Garha Katanga earned huge wealth by trapping and exporting wild elephants to other kingdoms. This made it a rich state.

12. Name the items which the Mughals captured by defeating the Goods.
Answer:  Precious coins and elephants.

13. Who introduced new methods of rice cultivation?                                          ‘
Answer:  The Ahoms introduced new methods of rice cultivation.

14. When did the Mughals attack the Ahom kingdom?
Answer:  The Mughals attacked the Ahom kingdom in 1662.

15. What do present-day historians use to write tribal histories?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: They use oral traditions and rich customs of the tribal people to write their (tribals’) histories.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Mention some special features of tribal societies.        [Imp.]
Answer:  Some special features of tribal societies are :

• They did not follow the social rules and rituals which the Brahmanas prescribed.
• They were not divided into many unequal classes.
• Members of the society were united by kinship bonds.

2. How did the tribal people earn their livelihood? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The main occupation of the tribal people was agriculture. But there were also hunter-gatherers or herders. Most often they combined these activities to make full use of the natural resources of the area in which they lived. Some tribes were nomadic moving from one place to another.
A tribal group controlled land and pastures jointly and divided these amongst household as per its own rules

3. Write a short note on Bcuyaras’.
Answer:  The Banjaras were important trader nomads. They usually moved in caravan known as tanda. A tanda contained as many as 6 or 7 hundred persons. They carried their wives and children along with them. They owned their oxen. They bought grain where it was cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer. From there, they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably sold in other places. The Banjaras did not travel more than 6 or 7 miles a day. They preferred cool weather. After unloading their oxen, they freed them to graze

4. How did Sultan Alauddin Khalji and the Mughals use the Bcuyaras?
Answer:  Sultan Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Under the Mughals the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns. They transported food grain for the Mughal army during military campaigns

5. Write a brief note on the administrative system of the Gond kingdom. [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The Gond Kingdom was divided into garhs. Each garh was controlled by a particular Gond clan. This was further divided into units of 84 villages called chaurasi. The chaurasi was subdivided into barhots which were made up of 12 villages each.

6. Write in brief about Rani DurgawatL
Answer:  Rani Durgawati was married to Dalpat, the son of the Gond raja of Garha Katanga, Aman Das. Dalpat, however, died early. After his death, Rani Durgawati, being very capable, began to rule on behalf of her five-year-old son, Bir Narain. She extended her kingdom veiy soon. In 1565, when the Mughal forces under Asaf Khan attacked Garha Katanga, she put up a strong resistance. Finally, she was defeated. But she did not surrender, Instead she preferred to die.

7. Who were the Ahoms? How did they build a large state?      [Imp.]
Answer:  The Ahoms were the tribal people who migrated to the Brahmputra valley from present-day Myanmar in the 13th century. They created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans i.e. landlords. During the 16th century, they annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas in 1523 and of Koch- Hajo in 1581. They also subjugated many other tribes. In this way, the Ahoms built a large state and for this they used firearms as early as 1530s.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Give a brief account of the tribal people found in different parts of the subcontinent [V. Imp.]
Answer: Tribal people were found in almost every region of the sub-continent. In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was influential during the 13th and 14th centuries. Later, the Gakkhars became more important. In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions. The Balochis were another large and powerful tribe in the north-west. In the western Himalayas, the Gaddi Shepherds lived. The Nagas, Ahoms and many others lived in the distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent. In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero Chiefdoms had emerged by the 12th century.

However, they were subdued by the Mughals. The Mundas and Santals were other important tribes that lived in these states and also in Orissa and Bengal. The Kolis, Berads and numerous others lived in the Maharashtra highlands, Karnataka and Gujarat. Further there were large tribal populations of Koragas, Vetars, Maravars and many others in South. The Bhils were spread across western and central India. By the late 16th century many of them had become settled agriculturists and some even zamindars. Many Bhil clans, nevertheless, remained hunter-gatherers. The Gonds were found in large numbers across the present-day states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

2. What do you know about the Ahom Society?              [Imp.]
Answer:  Ahom society was divided into clans or Khels. There were very few castes of artisans, so artisans in the Ahom areas came from the nearby kingdoms. Kheloften controlled several villages. The peasant was given land by his village community. Even the king could not take it away without the community’s consent. The Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods. But during the first half of the 17 century Brahmanas achieved great influence which gave rise to Hinduism.

In the reign of Sib Singh Hinduism became a predominant religion. However, the Ahom kings remained stick to their traditional beliefs to some extent even after adopting Hinduism. Ahom society was very sophisticated. Poets and scholars were given land grants. Theatre was encouraged

3. How did the nomadic pastoralists earn their living? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Nomadic pastoralists kept on moving from place to place with their animals. They lived on milk and other pastoral products. They also exchanged items like wool, ghee, etc. with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products. They bought and sold these goods as they moved from one place to another, transporting them on their animals. The Banjaras were trader-nomads who bought grain where it was cheaply available and carried it to places where it was dearer.

From there, they again reloaded their oxen with anything that could be profitably sold in other places. Thus, they played an important role in connecting India to the outside world. Many pastoral tribes reared and sold animals, such as cattle and horses, to the wealthy people. Different castes of petty pedlars travelled from village to village. They made and sold wares like ropes, reeds, etc. Sometimes mendicants acted as wandering merchants. There were also castes of entertainers who earned their living by performing in different towns and villages.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 6 Towns, Traders, And Craftspersons

1. Fill in the blanks:

1. The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in ………………..
2. Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint…………………
3. Hampi was the capital of the ………….
4. The Dutch established a settlement at…………….. in Andhra Pradesh.

Answer:

1. (a) early 11th century
2. (b) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
3. (c) Vijayanagara
4. (d) Masulipatnam

2. State whether true or false:
(a) We know the name of the architect of the Rajarajeshvara temple from an inscription.
(b) Merchants preferred to travel individually rather than in caravans.
(c) Kabul was a major centre for trade in elephants.
(d) Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal.
Answer:   (a)—T, (b)—F, (c)—F, (d)—F.

3. How was water supplied, to the city of Thanjavur?
Answer:
Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

4. Who lived in the ‘Black Towns’ in cities such as Madras?
Answer:  Merchants, artisans (such as weavers), native traders and craftspersons lived in the ‘Black Towns’.

5. Why do you think towns grew around temples?
Answer:
Towns grew around temples because of the following reasons:

1. Priests, workers, artisans, craftspersons settled around temples.
2. Several shops came up around temples to cater to the needs of pilgrims and priests etc.

6. How important were craftspersons for the building and maintenance of temples?
Answer:
Craftspersons were very important because of the following reasons:

1. They carried out inlay work in copper and silver. Craftspersons from Bidar were well-known for Bidri work.
2. Goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons, carpenters built temples.
3. They also maintained them.
4. Weavers also played an important role in cotton textiles.

7. Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
Answer:
People from distant lands visited Surat because of the following reasons:

1. Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz.
2. Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.
3. There was a big market for cotton textiles. One could find several retail and wholesale shops selling cotton textiles.
4. The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders, Le. zari and had a market in West Asia, Africa and Europe.
5. There were ample rest-houses for the visitors. Magnificent buildings and innumerable pleasure parks attracted people of far-off places.

8. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities Wee Thanjavur?
Answer:
Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

1. Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.
2. In Kolkata, it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles, and silk textiles.
3. Thanjavur was a temple town and all lived in town.
4. Calcutta was a trading town and craftsmen lived in “Blacktown” areas.

9. Compare any one of the cities described in this chapter with a town or a village with which you are familiar. Do you notice any similarities or differences?
Answer:
Comparison between Surat and Delhi

Surat	Delhi
Emporium during the Mughal period due to the production of various goods. Gateway to West Asia due to the trade centre. Cosmopolitan city. Factories and warehouses. Known for cotton textiles.	It was also an emporium during the Mughal period. Basically administrative town. Cosmopolitan city. Factories and warehouses. Known for business, trade, and commercial pursuits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do temple towns represent? [Imp.]
Answer:  Temple towns represent a very important pattern of urbanization.

2. Why did the rulers endow temples with grants of land and money?
Answer:  They did so in order to carry out elaborate rituals, feed pilgrims and priests, and celebrate festivals.

3. How did pilgrims contribute to the temples?
Answer:  They made donations.

4. What is bronze?
Answer:  Bronze is an alloy that contains copper and tin.

5. What is bell metal?
Answer:  Bell metal contains a greater proportion of tin than other kinds of bronze. This produces a bell-like sound,

6. How did temple authorities use their wealth?
Answer:  They used their wealth to finance trade and banking,

7. What did the Indian traders bring from Africa?
Answer:  They brought gold and ivory from Africa.

8. Name a few Indian spices which became an important part of European cooking. Ans. Pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, g. 9. What were craftspersons of Bidar famous for?
Answer:  They were famous for their inlay work in copper and silver,

10. What do the ruins of Hampi reveal?
Answer:  The ruins at the Hampi reveal a well-fortified city.

11. Why has Surat been called the gate to Mecca?[V. Imp.]
Answer:  Surat has been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.

12. What were the textiles of Surat famous for?
Answer:  The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders Le. zarL

13. What was special with the Surat hundis?                  [V. Imp.]
Answer:  The Surat hundis were honoured in the far-off markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq, and Antwerp in Belgium.

14. Why did the Dutch and English East India Companies attempt to control Masulipatnam?
Answer: Because Masulipatnam became the most important port on the Andhra coast,

15. How did the European Companies gain control of the sea trade?
Answer:  They gained control of the sea trade by using their naval power,

16. What was the system of advances?
Answer:  Under the system of advances the weavers had to weave cloth which was already promised to European agents.

17. Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Madras.
Answer:  Fort St. George.

18 Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Calcutta
Answer:  Fort St. William.

19. Mention some articles of trade on which temple authorities collected taxes.
Answer:  Sugar and jaggery, dyes, thread, and cotton, coconut, salt, areca nuts, butter, sesame oil and cloth.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the ‘lost wax’ technique? [V. Imp.]
Answer: ‘Lost wax’ technique was used to make Chola bronze statues. This technique involved several stages :

• First of all, an image was made of wax. This was covered with clay and left in sun to dry.
• It was then heated and a small hole was made in the clay cover. The molten wax was drained out through this hole.
• Then molten wax was poured into the clay mould through the hole. Once the metal cooled and solidified, the clay cover was carefully removed and the image was cleaned and polished.

2. What purpose did small towns serve? [V. Imp.]
Or
Describe various Junctions of small towns.
Answer:  Several small towns came to be seen in the sub-continent from the 8th century onward. These towns usually had a mandapika or mandi where nearby villagers came to sell their produce. These towns also had market streets called halta or hoot lined with shops.

There were also streets for different kinds of artisans such as potters, oil pressers, sugar market, toddy makers etc.
Many traders came from far and near to these towns to buy local articles and sell products of distant places such as salt, camphor, horse, etc.

3. Find out about the present-day taxes on markets. Who collects these taxes? How are they collected and are they used for?
Answer:

• The present-day taxes on markets are collected as license fees of shops.
• MCD must collect these taxes.
• MCD does this work with the help of its various departments.
• The taxes collected by MCD are used in the welfare of the public, roads, sewage, electricity, water, etc.

4. Give an account of the architecture of Hampt
Answer: The architecture of Hampi was distinctive in several ways :

• Hampi was a well-fortified city. No mortar or cementing agent was used in the construction of these walls. The technique followed was to wedge them together by inter-locking.
• The buildings in the royal complex had splendid arches, domes and pillared halls with niches for holding sculptures.
• They also had well-planned orchards and pleasure gardens with sculptural motifs such as the lotus and corbels.

5. How was Hampi in its heyday in the 15-16th centuries? When did it fall into ruin?
Answer:  In its heyday in the 15-16th centuries Hampi was an important centre of commercial and cultural activities. Moors, which was a name used collectively for Muslim merchants, Chettis and agents of European traders such as the Portuguese, visited the markets of Hampi.

Temples were the hub of cultural activities. Temple dancers known as devadasis performed before the deities, royalty and masses in the many-pillared halls inthe Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, temple. The Mahanavami festival was one of the most important festivals celebrated at Hampi.

Hampi fell into ruin following the defeat of Vijayanagara in 1565 by the Deccani Sultans.

6. What were the reasons for the decline of Swat? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Surat, which was an important trade centre during the Mughal period, began to decline towards the end of the seventeenth century. This was because of the following factors:

• Because of the decline of the Mughal Empire, Surat faced a huge loss of markets and productivity
• The control of the sea routes went into the hands of the Portuguese
• Surat could not complete with Bombay were the English East India Company shifted its headquarters in 1668.

7. What made the city of Masulipatnam populous and prosperous?
Answer:  The city of Masulipatnam was a centre of intense activity during the 17th century. Both the Dutch and English East India Companies attempted to control this city as it became the most important part of the Andhra coast. Qutb Shah rulers of Golconda imposed royal monopolies on the sale of textiles, spices, and other items to prevent the trade from passing completely into the hands of the various East India Companies. This led to fierce competition among various trading groups such as the Golconda nobles, Persian merchants, Telugu Komati Chettis, and European traders. As a result, the city became populous and prosperous.

8. How did the system of advances snatch the freedom of the weavers?
OR
How did the Indian Crafts persons lose their independence?
Answer:  The Indian textiles were in great demand in the European markets. As a result, the English began to make attempts to control the Indian craftspersons by appointing Indian traders as their agents. They introduced the system of advances under which the weavers had to weave cloth which was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their cloth or weaving their patterns. Instead, they had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the company agents. This system snatched the freedom of the Indian weavers. They began to be guided by someone else.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Describe the trade activities of the big and small traders belonging to the medieval time.

Answer: There were many kinds of traders. These included the Banjaras and several traders especially horse traders.
The traders usually travelled in caravans and formed guilds to protect their interests. There were several such guilds in South India from the eighth century onwards—the most famous being the Manigramam and Nanadesi. These guilds traded extensively both within the peninsula and with Southeast Asia and China. There were also communities like the Chettiyars and the Marwari Oswal who went on to become the major trading groups of the country.

Gujarati traders, including the communities of Hindu Baniyas and Muslim Bohras, traded extensively with the ports of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and China. They sold textiles and spices in these ports and exchange, brought gold and ivory from Africa; and spices, tin, Chinese blue pottery, and silver from Southeast Asia and China.

The towns on the west coast were home to Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish, and Syrian Christian traders. Indian spices and cloth sold in the Red seaports were bought by Italian traders and eventually reached European markets, fetching high profits. This ultimately drew European traders to India.

2. Describe Swat as a gateway to the West           [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Surat in Gujarat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period along with Cambay (now Khambat) and somewhat later, Ahmedabad. Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz. Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.

Surat was a cosmopolitan city inhabited by people of all castes and creeds. In the 17th century the Portuguese, Dutch and English had their factories and warehouses at Surat. Several retail and wholesale shops could be found in Surat. These shops sold cotton textiles. Here, it is worth mentioning that the textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders, le. zari and had a market in West Asia, African and Europe.

The state provided all the facilities to the people who came to the city from all over the world. The Kathiawad seths or mahqjaxvs had huge banking houses at Surat. The Surat hundis were honoured in far-off markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq and Antwerp in Belgium.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 5 Rulers And Buildings

1. How is the ‘trabeate’ principle of architecture different from the arcuate?
Answer:
Trabeate principle of architecture is different from the arcuate principle in the following way:

1. In the trabeate principle, a horizontal beam is placed across two vertical columns and roofs, doors and windows are made.
2. In the arcuate principle, the bricks are joined in an arch shape on a wooden plank, put on two vertical columns, doors, windows, and roofs, and are made arch-shaped. The weight of the doors and windows is carried by arches. The keystone of the arch transfers the weight on the bases of the arch.

2. What is a shikhara?
Answer: A shikhara is the topmost pointed portion of a temple.

3. What is pietra dura?
Answer: Pietra-dura is the inlays (a series of pictures) that depicted the legendary Greek god Orpheus playing the flute.

4. What are the elements of a Mughal Chahar bagh garden?
Answer: Mughal Chahar bagh consists of four gardens. These gardens are placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels.

5. How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?
Answer:
The temples communicated the importance of a king in the following manner:

1. Name of the temples and the king were almost similar
   • Examples: King: Rajarajadeva.
   • Temple: Rajarajeshvara.
   • God: Rajarajeshvaram
2. The main Gods were identical in name with the kings.
3. Lesser deities were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler.
4. Temple was the miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies.

6. An inscription in Shah Johan’s diwan-i khas in Delhi stated, “If there is Paradise on Earth it is here, it is here, it is here”. How was this image created?
Answer: Shah Jahan’s diwan-i khas was designed in such a way that it fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis. It was carefully planned. It was placed within a large courtyard. Behind the emperor’s throne there were a series of pietra-dura inlays. It depicted the legendiy god Orpheus playing the lute. The diwan-e khas was aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals, creating a world where all could live together in harmony. The diwon-i khas reflected the image of a paradise in itself.

7. How did the Mughal court suggest that everyone—the rich and the poor, the powerjul and the weak—received justice equally from the emperor?
Answer: The Diwan-i am of the Mughal court suggested that justice was made for all in an equal way. The construction of Shah Jahan’s audience hall was designed to communicate that the king’s justice was equal for the high and the low. Its aim was to create a world where all could live together in harmony. There was no difference between the rich and poor in the emperor’s court.

8. What role did the Yamuna play in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad?
Answer:
The Yamuna played the following role in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad.

1. The palace was commanded by the riverfront.
2. Only the specially favoured nobles like Dara Shukoh were given access to the river.
3. All others had to construct their houses far away from the river Yamuna.

9. The rich and powerful construct large houses today. In what ways were the constructions of kings and their courtiers different in the past?
Answer:
The constructions of kings and their courtiers were different in the past in the following ways:

1. Safety and security was a major consideration.
2. Diwan-i am was constructed for the general public.
3. The constructions were carried out on uplands and surrounded by water bodies.

10. Look at Figure 4. How could that building be constructed faster today?
Answer: Such buildings were usually constructed as a matter of pride in old days. It was very difficult to construct them but they were made possible with the help of skilled masons and labourers. Such buildings took a very long time and a number of labourers to be constructed. But now as technologies have advanced, we have many facilities, equipment, tools which can construct huge buildings very easily and in less time.

11. Find out whether there is a statue of or a memorial to a great person in your village or town. Why was it placed there? What purpose does it serve?
Answer: There is a very busy chowk in my village. We find there a statue of Subhash Chandra Bose and hence this chowk is known as Subhash Chowk. Subhash Chandra Bose was such a great person that he dared to challenge the British empire by forming his own army. He is now no more but his statue is there to inspire us. Its purpose is to encourage the youth to do something different and challenging.

12. Visit and describe any park or garden in your neighbourhood. In what ways is it similar to or different from the gardens of the Mughals?
Answer: The gardens of Mughals gardens were spread over a very large area. There was a large variety of flowers. They were well-decorated and protected. But the garden in my neighbourhood is not so large. Everyone has easy access to this garden. So the flowers are not safe. Thus, we don’t find any similarities.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why was limestone cement used in the construction of large structures? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Limestone cement was very high-quality cement, which, when mixed with stone chips hardened into concrete. This made the construction of large structures easier and faster.

2. How did the Persian court chronicles describe the Sultan?
Answer: Persian court chronicles described the Sultan as the ‘Shadow of God’.

3. Name the ruler who won universal respect for constructing a large reservoir just – outside Delhi-i kuhna?
Answer: Sultan Iltutmish.

4. What are the special features of Humayun’s tomb?
Answer: (a) It has a central towering dome.
(b)It has a tall gateway (pishtaq).

5. What was maha mandapa?
Answer: It was the main hall in the temple where dances were performed.

6. Name the temple built by king Rajarajadeva.
Answer: Rajarajeshvara temple.

7. When was the tomb of Hanuman built?
Answer: It was built between 1562 and 1571.

8. Who constructed the Kandariya Mahadeva temple?
Answer: King Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty constructed the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.

9. Where was Shah Jahan’s capital in the early years of his reign?
Answer: It was at Agra

1o. What is the special feature of Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital?
Answer: Many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

11. Name the king who invaded Sri Lanka? Whom did he defeat?
Answer: King Shrimara Shrivallabha. He defeated the king, Sena I.

12. What was havellis?
Answer: They were large mansions of the merchants.

13. How did kings win the praise of their subjects? [V. Imp.]
Answer: They won the praise of their subjects by buildings structures meant for a public activity such as temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais, and bazaars.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What type of structures were built by kings and their officers between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries? 
Answer: During this period kings and their officers built two kinds of structure
(A)Forts, palaces, garden residences and tombs
(B)Structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais and bazaars.

2. Write a short note on the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.
Answer: The Kandariya Mahadeva temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed in 999 by the king Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty. The temple had an ornamented gateway that led to an entrance. It had the main hall known as maha mandapa where dances were performed. The image of the chief deity was kept in the main Shrine known as garbhagriha. This was the place for ritual worship where only the king and his kith and kin gathered.

3. Throw light on how the construction of the Rqjarqjeshvara temple was a very difficult task.                           [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Raj raj Ishvara temple was built in the early 11th century. It had the tallest shikhara amongst temples of its time. Its construction was a very difficult task. There were no cranes in those days. The 90 tonne stone for the top of the shikhara was too heavy to lift manually. Hence, the architects built an inclined path to the top of the temple, placed the boulder on rollers and rolled it all the way to the top. The path started more than 4 km away so that it would not be too steep. This was dismantled after the temple was built.

4. In what ways do you think the policies of Rajendra I and Mahmud of Ghazni were a product of their time? How were the actions of the two rulers different? [Imp.]
Answer: King Rajendra I looted the temples of the defeated rulers and seized prized statues from them. He these statues in the decoration of the Shiva temple, that he built in his capital in the early 11th century.
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of Rajendra I. He destroyed and looted the temples of defeated kings in order to win credit as a great hero of Islam. Thus, King Rajendra, I constructed a temple while Mahmud of Ghazni destroyed it. In this way, their actions were very much different.

5. Write a brief note on the Chahar bagh built by the Mughal rulers.
Answer: The Mughal emperors were very much interested in literature, art, and architecture. Babur, in his autobiography, described his interest in planning and laying out formal gardens, placed within rectangular walled enclosures, and divided into four quarters by artificial channels. These gardens were called Chahar bagh, four gardens, because of their symmetrical division into quarters. Beginning with Akbar, some of the most beautiful Chahar baghs were constructed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan in Kashmir, Agra and Delhi.

6. When was Humayun’s tomb built? What are its special features?
Answer:  Humayun’s tomb was, built between 1562 and 1571. Its main features are:

• The central towering dome and the tall gateway known as pishtaqbecame important aspects of Mughal architecture. This tomb architecture was first visible in Humayun’s tomb.
• The tomb was placed in the centre of a huge formal Chahar baghand built in the tradition known as ‘eight paradises’ or hasht bihisht—a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.
• The building was constructed with red sandstone, edge with white marble.

7. Give an account of Shah Johan’s audience halls.       [Imp.]

Answer: Shah Jahan’s audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque.
The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla, the direction faced by Muslims at prayer, since everybody faced that direction when court was in session. The idea of the king as a representative of God on earth was suggested by these architectural features.

The construction of Shah Jahan’s audience hall aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals creating a world where all could live together in harmony.

8. Who were involved in the building of the Qutb Minor?
Answer: The Qutb Minar is five storeys high. The first floor was constructed by Qutbuddin Aybak and the rest by Iltutmish around 1229. Over the years it was damaged by lightning and earthquakes and repaired by Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughluq, Firuz Shah Tughluq, and Ibrahim Lodi.

9. How can you say that Mughal rulers adapted regional architectural styles in the construction of their buildings? Explain with examples.
Answer: Mughal rulers were skilled in adapting regional architectural styles in the construction of their buildings.
For example:
In Bengal, the local rulers had developed a roof that was designed to resemble a thatched hut. The Mughals liked this ‘Bangla dome’ and used it their architecture.

In Akbar’s capital at Fatehpur Sikri, many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

10. Describe how Shah Jahan adapted the riverfront garden in the layout of the Teg Mahal.

Answer: The Taj Mahal is the grandest architectural accomplishment of Shah Jahan’s reign. He adapted the river-front garden in its layout. Here, the white marble mansoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south. Shah Jahan developed this architectural form as a means to control the access that nobles had to the river.

11.  What is the main feature of Shah Jahan’s new city of Shahjahanabad? [Imp.]
Answer: Shah Jahan constructed a new city namely Shahjahanabad in Delhi. In this city, the imperial palace commanded the river-front. Only especially favoured nobles like his oldest son Dara Shukoh were given access to the river. All others had to construct their homes in the city away from the River Yamuna.

                                                           LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1 Compare the reasons why temples were built and destroyed?                             [V. Imp.]
Answer: Kings built temples to show their devotion to God and their power and wealth. King Rajarajeshvara built the Rajarajeshvara temple for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram. Here, the names of the king and the god appear to be similar. The king took the god’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to appear like a god. The largest temples were usually built by kings while the other, lesser deities in the temples were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler.

The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies. As they worshipped the deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth. Kings built temples but when they attacked one another’s kingdoms they often targeted these buildings. In the early 9th century when the Pandyan King Shrimara Shrivallabha invaded Sri Lanka and defeated King Sena. he seized all the valuables such as the statue of the Buddha made entirely of gold and other golden images from various monasteries. King Sena II took revenge on this.

He invaded Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas in order to restore the gold statue of the Buddha. In the same way when in the early 11th century the Chola King Rajendra I built a Shiva temple in his capital. He filled it with prized statues seized from defeated rulers. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni not only seized the valuables from the temples but . also destroyed them. He did it in order to win credit as a great hero of Islam Thus, rulers displayed their political might and military success by attacking and looting the places of worship of defeated rulers.

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