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Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.
Fill in the blanks.
(a) Vellalar
(b) Slaves and workers
(c) Uzhavar
(d) Smaller
Describe the functions of the grambhojka. Why do you think he was powerful?
Solution: Gramabhojaka was the village headman and, at times, happened to be the largest landowner, too. They were powerful people of the village who collected taxes from the villagers in the name of the king, functioned as a judge and enforced the law of the king in the village.
List the crafts persons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
Solution: Craftsmen such as blacksmiths, weavers, carpenters and potters were present in both villages and cities. They played a crucial role in providing goods and services that ensured the smooth functioning of any settlement.
Choose the correct answer.
1. Bathing
2. Washing clothes
3. Irrigation
4. drainage
1. Silver
2. Gold
3. Tin
4. Ivory
1. Rulers
2. Craftspersons
3. Religious centre
4. Forested area
1. Rulers
2. Craftspersons
3. Farmers
4. Herders
Archaeologists found rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other, known as ring wells. They were used as latrines in some cases and also as drains and garbage dumps.
‘The punch-marked coins’ get their name from the designs on the coins that were punched on them. They are coins made out of materials like copper and silver.
Mathura has been an important settlement for more than 2500 years, with several shrines within the fortified city. There were Buddhist monasteries and Jain shrines, and it was an important centre of worship for Lord Krishna.
Shrenis was an association of craftsmen and merchants. These shrenis of craftspersons provided training, procured raw materials and distributed the finished product.
Which of the iron tools shown on page 79 (of the NCERT textbook) would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?
Solution: The iron tools on page 79 are tongs, axes and sickles, as shown in the picture below, respectively. Of these, the sickle would have been used for agriculture, the axe would have been important for chopping trees and gathering firewood, and tongs would have been used by a blacksmith for making tools from hot iron.
Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?
Solution: The drainage system in our locality is the technologically advanced version of the drainage system used by past civilisations. In ancient times, mud bricks, ceramic and thatch were used to make them. The drawback was that the materials were not durable and would fall down with constant use. Today’s modern drainage systems are made of durable materials like concrete and metal. However, just like in the past, drainage is made by many rings which are stacked one over another. The rings are also made into a tube-like structure. These are the similarities we can notice today.
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 and what happens to the finished product.)
Solution: I have seen craftspersons like cobblers and carpenters in the cities and villages. Cobblers are a common sight, and one could be found sitting at almost every corner of the city. They mend shoes by stitching the torn leather or pasting the flapping sole. In villages, they produce handmade shoes and slippers from leather to sell them locally or in urban markets for a good price.
List the functions performed by men and women who live in your city or village. In what ways are these similar to those performed by people who lived in Mathura? In what ways are they different?
Solution: This project should be done under the supervision of your subject teacher.