Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?
The modern drainage system is usually made up of pipes which are made up of plastic, metal or ceramic material. While the drainage system in this chapter was made up of rings and those rings were stacked together to make a tube type structure.
Similarity: use of ceramic and tubes.
Difference: use of rings in those cities.
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.
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 an important:
1. village
2. port
3. religious centre
4. forested area
(d) Shrenis were associations of:
1. rulers
2. crafts persons
3. farmers
4. herders
Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful?
List the crafts persons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
Which of the iron tools shown on page 79 would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?
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.
Match the following:
Muvendar Mahayana Buddhism
Lords of the dakshinapatha Buddhacharita
Ashvaghosha Satavahana rulers
Bodhisattvas Chinese pilgrim
Xuan Zang Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
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.
Find out more and tell a story from one of the epics.
How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation?
Do you think it would have been easy for slaves to join the sangha? Give reasons for your answer.
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.
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.
Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?
Make a list of the chapters in which you find mention of metal working. What are the metals objects mentioned or shown in those chapters?
Match the following:
Muvendar Mahayana Buddhism
Lords of the dakshinapatha Buddhacharita
Ashvaghosha Satavahana rulers
Bodhisattvas Chinese pilgrim
Xuan Zang Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
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.
In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?