Why did kings want to control the Silk Route?
Some kings tried to take control over the large portions of the route. This was because they could take benefits from taxes, tributes and gifts that were brought by the traders travelling along the route. In return, they often protected the traders who passed through their kingdoms from attack that is done by robbers.
Why do you think ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti?
What were the main features of Bhakti?
Discuss the reasons why the Chinese pilgrims came to India.
What kinds of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes?
Match the following:
Muvendar Mahayana Buddhism
Lords of the dakshinapatha Buddhacharita
Ashvaghosha Satavahana rulers
Bodhisattvas Chinese pilgrim
Xuan Zang Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
Match the following
Stupa Place where the image of the deity is installed
Shikhara Mound
Mandapa Circular path around the stupa
Garbhagriha Place in temples where people could assemble
Pradakshina patha Tower
1. Complete the sentences:
(a) Hunter-gatherers chose to live in caves and rock shelters because ————————.
(b) Grasslands developed around ———————— years ago.
Match the following:
Narmada Valley The first big kingdom
Magadha Hunting and gathering
Garo hills Cities about 2500 years ago
Indus and its tributaries Early agriculture
Ganga Valley The first cities
How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation?
Match the columns
Sukta Stone boulder
Chariots Sacrifice
Yajna Well-said
Dasa Used in battles
Megalith Slave
Describe the ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people.
Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
Fill in the blanks:
(a) ———————— was a word used for large landowners in Tamil.
(b) The gramabhojaka often got his land cultivated by the ————————
(c) Ploughmen were known as ———————— in Tamil.
(d) Most grihapatis were ———————— landowners.
1. State whether true or false:
(a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.
(b) The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta.
(c) There were twelve rulers in Dakshinapatha.
(d) Taxila and Madurai were important centres under the control of the Gupta rulers.
(e) Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas.
(f) Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India.
Fill in the blanks:
(a) ———————— was a great astronomer.
(b) Stories about gods and goddesses are found in the ————————
(c) ———————— is recognised as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana.
(d) ———————— and ———————— are two Tamil epics.
List three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire (see page 15). Would you use fire for any of these purposes today?
Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.
Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
Describe at least two ways in which you think the lives of kings would have been different from those of farmers.
In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas?
Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?
What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?
Match the following
Stupa Place where the image of the deity is installed
Shikhara Mound
Mandapa Circular path around the stupa
Garbhagriha Place in temples where people could assemble
Pradakshina patha Tower
List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.
State whether true or false:
(a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west.
(c) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra.
(d) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal.
(e) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script.