NCERT Solution for History Class 6 Chapter 5 "Kingdoms, Kings and An Early Republic" will provide you the answers to the exercise provided at the end of the chapter. These solutions are useful for the Social Science exam preparation as questions are asked from the NCERT Textbook. Referring to these answers will give you more clarity on how to express and represent answers during the exam.
Intext Question, Page - 47
Q. Make a list of all those who could be present at the sacrifice. Which are the categories that are described in terms of their occupation.
Answer:
The people who would be present at the sacrifice are :
- The king, his wives and sons and other relatives.
- The ministers of the king.
- The charioteer, who chanted the tales of the rajas glory.
- The priest who performed the rituals.
- The other rajas who had accepted his supermacy.
- The ordinary people, the 'vish' or 'vaishyas'.
The category of people who are described in terms of their occupation are :
- The king, who protected the people and looked after their welfare.
- Charioteer, who accompanied the king, in his exploits.
- Priest who performed the religious ceremony.
Intext Questions, Page - 48
Q. Why did the people oppose the system of varnas ?
Answer :
The priests divided the people into four groups called varnas. According to it each varna had a different set of functions.
- The first varna was that of Brahmins, who were expected to study and teach the vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts.
- The second varna was that of Kshatriyas. They were expected to fight battles and protect people.
- Third varna was vish or vaishyas, they were farmers, herders, and traders. But kshatriyas and vaishyas could perform sacrifices.
- The last varna were the shudras, who had to serve the other three groups and could not perform any ritual.
The priests said that these varnas were decided on the basis of birth. Later they called some people as untouchables.
Some people did not accept the varna system. The kings thought that they were superior to the priests. Others felt birth could not be a basis for deciding the varna of the people.
Q. Is there a crop in this list that was not mentioned in chapter 3 ?
Answer:
The Harappan grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, seasame, linseed and mustard.
In the other chapter people grew rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugarcane, seasame and mustard.
Sugarcane was not grown by the people in harappa.
Inetxt Questions, Page - 51
Q. List two ways in which rajas of the mahajanapadas were different from those mentioned in the Rigveda.
Answer:
Rajas of mahajanapadas
- They became rajas by performing very big sacrifices where people accepted their supremacy.
- They had capital city, which were fortified. They had large armies.
Raja in Rigvedic times
- The rulers were chosen by the jana i.e., the people.
- They did not have a capital city, palaces or armies, nor did they collect taxes.
Q. What do you think would have been provided by hunters and gathers.
Answer:
- The hunters may have brought fresh meat everyday for the king.
- Gathers brought forest produce like honey and nuts for the king.
Intext Question, Page - 52
Q. Can you think why kings would encourage these changes ?
Answer:
The king of this time encouraged following changes i.e., (1) Use Iron ploughshare (2) transplanting of paddy.
It was because these two activities would led to the increased agricultural production.
As a result of this, kings would be able to abstract more tax from their men. In this way they shall be able to maintain large army that will be utilised in acquiring land, which could be used for agriculture.
Intext Question, Page - 53
Q. In what ways were these armies different from those described in Rigveda.
Answer:
In the Rigvedic times there was no regular army. Most men took part in the wars there were assemblies where people met and discussed matter of war and peace.
In the later period the king had vast armies of foot soldiers, chariots and elephants. The king took the decision about war and peace.
Intext Question, Page - 54
Q. In what ways the Vajji Sangha different from other mahajanapadas. Try and list at least three differences.
Answer:
Vajji Sangha
- Vajji Sangha was under a different form of government known as gana or Sangha.
- In the Sangha there were many rulers, each was called a Raja.
- They met in assemblies and decided what to do through discussion and debates.
Other mahajanapadas
- They were governed by strong rulers.
- There was a single powerful ruler.
- The king took all the decisions. Sometimes he took the help of ministers, but it was not binding on him.
Intext Questions, Page - 55
Q. Do you think this was a true democracy ?
Answer:
In Athens, it was not true democracy because
- Women were not considered as citizens.
- Several thousand slaves who worked in the mines, fields, household and workshops were not treated as citizens.
- Everyone, i.e., the citizens were expected to serve in the army and the navy.
Q. Imagine You are peeping through a crack in the walls of the assembly of Vaishali, where the meeting is in progress to discuss way to deal with an attack by the king of Magadha. Describe what you might hear.
Answer:
The jana or assembly in Vaishali is holding a meeting to discuss how to deal with an attack by the king of Magadha.
- Who is going to lead army ? who is in the control of the army ?
- Who will lead the elephants, horses and chariots, the different wings of the army ?
- What strategy will be adopted in the direct combat ?
- Then will they meet during the battle to discuss the situation.
Let's Recall, Page - 55
1. State whether true or false :
(a) Rajas who let the ashvamedha, horse pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice.
(b) The charioteer sprinkled sacred water on the king.
(c) Archaeologists have found palaces in the settlements of the janapadas.
(d) Pots to store grain were made out of painted Grey Ware.
(e) Many cities in the mahajanapadas were fortified.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) False
(e) True
(e) True
2. Fill in the chart given below with the terms : hunters gathers, farmers, traders, crafts persons, herders.
Answer:
3. Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas ?
Answer:
Women, slaves and kammakaras could not participate in the assemblies of ganas.
Let's Discuss, Page - 56
4. Why did the rajas of the Mahajanapadas build forts ?
Answer:
Forts were built by the rajas of the Mahajanapadas because they were afraid of attacks from other kings and needed protection. It is also likely that some rulers wanted to show how rich and powerful they were by building large, tall and impressive walls around their cities.
5. In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas.
Answer:
In the present day elections in India, we have adopted the idea of universal adult franchise, where every person above the age of 18 years has a right to vote. Voting is based on the principle of 'one man one vote'.
The rulers who performed the ashvamedha sacrifice were recognised as being the rulers of janapadas.
Let's Do, Page - 56
6. Were there any janapadas in your state ? If yes, name them. If not, name the janapadas that would have been closest to your state, and mention whether they were to the east, west, north or south.
Answer:
Janapada closest to our state - Kuru. It lies to the worth of our state.
7. Find out whether any of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today.
Answer:
The groups mentioned are hunters and gathers, farmers, traders, crafts persons, herders.
The farmers, traders and crafts persons pay taxes today.
8. Find out whether the groups mentioned in answer 3 having voting rights at present.
Answer:
The people who could not attend the assemblies were women, slaves and karmmakaras.
In the present times slavery has been abolished. Every democracy is based on the principle of universal adult franchise. Every one has the right to vote in the election after a specific age.