Towns, Trades and Crafts Persons | Class VII, NCERT (CBSE) Social Science | Chapter 6, Our Past II

 

Class VII, Our Past II, Chapter 6

 Textbook Exercise Questions Solved (Important only)

Q.1: Fill in the blanks:
a)   The Rajarajeshvara Temple was built in _______.
b)   Ajmer is associated with the Sufi Saint ________.
c)   Hampi was the capital of the _____ Empire.
d)   The Dutch established a settlement at ______ in Andhra Pradesh.

Ans: (a) Thanjavur (TN) (b) Moinuddin Chishti (c) Vijayanagara (d) Masulipatnam.

Q.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 center for trade in elephants.
d)   Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal

Ans: (a)-T (b)-F (c)-F (d)-F

Q.3: How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?

Ans: Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

Q.4: Who lived in the ‘Black Towns’ in cities such as Madras?

Ans: ‘Black Towns’ were established by the European rulers. The ‘Blacks’ of the native traders, artisans and crafts persons like weavers were confined in ‘Black Towns’ in the cities like Madras by the white rulers.  

Q.5: Why do you think towns grew around temples? 

Ans: Towns grew around temples because of the following reasons:
  • Priests, workers, artisans, crafts persons settled around temples.
  • Several shops came up around temple to cater to the needs of pilgrims and the priests etc.
Q.6: How important were crafts persons for the building and maintenance of temples?

Ans: Crafts persons were very important for the building and maintenance of temples because of the following reasons:
  • They carried in play work in copper and silver. Crafts persons from Bidar were well known for Bidri work.
  • Goldsmiths, Bronze smiths, Blacksmiths, Masons, Carpenters built temples.
  • They also maintained them.
  • Weavers also played an important role in cotton textiles.
  • Thus they made delighted crafts in buildings and temples which looked beautiful and also attracted visitors.
Q.7: Why did people from distant lands visit Surat? 

Ans: People from distant parts used to visit Surat during those days because –
  • It was the gate-way to west Asia.
  • They came here to purchase cotton textiles, textiles with their gold less border.
Q.8: In what ways craft productions in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?

Ans: Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

  • Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.
  • In Kolkata it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles and silk textiles.
Q.9: What were the problems encountered by merchants? Do you think some of these problems persist today?

Ans: During earlier times and medieval period merchants had to face lot of problems, most of which however, don’t persist today. Merchants had to pass through many kingdoms and forests. They had to travel in caravans, which are not required now-a-days. They had to carry goods on the back of camels, donkeys and horses as then there were no transport facilities like today. Their goods were looted frequently since there was no proper security as it is now. They had to face competition with European traders and work in a limited environment. Harsh climate and routes killed several merchants on the way or in the middle of their journey during those days since weather forecasting was not advanced as it is now.   

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