This chapter talks about traders, kingdoms along the coast, the spread of Buddhism, the reasons behind the visit of pilgrims to the monasteries, the rise of Bhakti and reasons behind its popularity. After going through these topics, students will find the questions related to these in the exercise. In NCERT Solutions Class 6 History Chapter 9 "Traders, Kings and Pilgrims", we have provided the answer to these questions. These Solution will help students to prepare better for their annual exam.
Intext Question, Page - 91
Q. Can you think of how and why these reached India ?
Answer:
India had a brisk trade with Roman Empire. The traders took spices, precious stones and carried them in ships across the sea or by land in caravans.
Intext Question, Page - 92
Q. Make a list of all the things that are mentioned. What would they be used for ?
Answer:
Black pepper, gems and gold, sandalwood, pearls and corals, crops, food stuffs. Since they were brough to Puhar, an important port on east coast, they were meant to be exported.
Intext Question, Page - 93
Q. Why do you think he wanted to control the coasts ?
Answer:
Gautamiputra Satkarni wanted to control the coasts because India has a brisk trade with foreign countries. Chiefs and kings who controlled the river valleys and the coasts became rich and powerful. He sent his army to the eastern, western and southern coasts.
Intext Questions, Page - 95
Q. Why do you think it would have been difficult to use carts along the silk route ?
Answer:
It would have been difficult to use carts along the silk route because it was long dangerous route, through roads, mountains and deserts. People living along the route often demanded payments for allowing traders to pass through. The traders could be attacked by the robbers.
Intext Question, Page - 97
Q. Read page 100 once more. Can you think of how buddhism spread to these lands ?
Answer:
Buddhism spread towards to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and other part of South-East Asia including Indonesia because Buddhist monks travelled to these parts, with traders and merchants.
Intext Question, Page - 98
Q. List the reasons why Xuan Zang wanted to study in Nalanda.
Answer:
Xuan Zang had studied at Nalanda. This is how he describe it :
- The teachers were highly talented.
- Rules of the monastery were strict and everyone had to follow them.
- Discussions were held-through out the day and doubts were settled,
- The gatekeeper asked difficult questions from the new entrants. They were allowed to enter only after they have been able to answer them. Seven or eight out of every ten were not able to answer.
Xuan Zang wanted to study at Nalanda because of its high standards.
Intext Question, Page - 100
Q. What does the poet regard as more valuable, social status or devotion ?
Answer:
This is a poem composed by Appar in Tamil, who was a devotee of Shiva. He was a vellala (a large landowner). He consider devotion to god more important than social status.
Intext Questions, Page - 101
Q. Look at Map 6 (pages 76-77) and trace out the route that they may have used.
Answer:
The christian preachers come from west Asia to the west coast of the subcontinent, partly travelling thrrough land and part by sea. They landed near Kerela because Syrian Christians are amongst the oldest Christians communities in the world.
Q. Imagine you have a manuscript which a chinese pilgrim would like to carry back with him. Describe your conversation.
Answer:
Pilgrim : Sir, I would like to take the manuscript with me, which is your possession.
I : It is a rare manuscript and I cannot give it.
Pilgrim : The manuscript contains the life history of Buddha and his teachings. Since I am a follower of Buddha, it will be more useful for me.
I : I can understand your logic. I will not send you back as a disappointed men. If you give me a months time, I will hire scribes who will make one more copy of the manuscript and I will give it to you.
Let's Recall, Page - 101
1. Match the following :
- Muvendar - Mahayana Buddhism
- Lords of the dakshinapatha - Buddhacharita
- Ashvaghosha - Satvahana rulers
- Boddhisattvas - Chinese Pilgrim
- Xuan Zang - Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
- Muvendar - Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas
- Lords of the dakshinapatha - Satvahana rulers
- Ashvaghosha - Buddhacharita
- Boddhisattvas - Mahayana Buddhism
- Xuan Zang - Chinese Pilgrim
2. Why did the kings want to control the silk route ?
Answer:
The kings wanted to control the silk route because they could benefit from the taxes, tributes and gifts that were brought by traders travelling along the route.
3. What kind of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes ?
Answer:
The remains of the merchandise like pottery, especially bowls and plates have been found at various places. They were taken by the traders. South India was famous for gold, spices and previous stones. Traders carried these goods to Rome in ships across the sea and by land in caravans. Gold coins have been found at the trading posts.
4. What were the main features of Bhakti ?
Answer:
The main features of Bhakti are :
- Bhakti emphasised devotion and individual worship of a god or goddess rather than performance of elaborate sacrifices.
- According to this system of belief, if a devotee worships the chosen deity with a pure heart, the deity will appear in the form in which he or she may desire.
Let's Discuss, Page - 102
5. Discuss the reasons why the Chinese pilgrims came to India.
Answer:
Pilgrims are men and women who undertake journeys to holy places in order to offer wordhip. The Chinese pilgrims like Xuan-Zang came to visit places associated with the life of Buddha as well as the famous monasteries. They also spent time studying in the monasteries. Xuan-Zang and other pilgrims spent time studying in Nalanda (Bihar).
6. Why do you think ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti ?
Answer:
Ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti because it was a devotion to a particular deity, e.g., Shiva, Vishnu, etc. The people did not need to perform elaborate temple or religious ceremonies.
Let's Do, Page - 102
7. List five things that you buy from the market. Which of these are made in the city/village in which you live, and which are brought by traders from other areas.
Answer:
I buy following things from the market:
- Food grains - grown in the villages
- Vegetable - in the nearby areas and also from villages
- Readymade garments - made in the cities
- Exercise note books and stationery goods - made in the cities
- Electronic toys and mobile phones - made in the city
8. There are several major pilgrimages performed by prople in India today. Find out about any one of them, and write a short description. (Hint: Who can go on the pilgrimage - men, women or children ? How long does it take ? How do people travel ? What do they take with them ? What do they do when they reach the holy place ? Do they bring anything back with them ?)
Answer:
Amarnath Ki Yatra is one of the most ardous journey undertaken by the pilgrimages. It is a sacred place for the Hindus. Amarnath in Himalayas has a natural shivlinga made of ice. The journey is undertaken by people of all ages. It takes about 15 days from delhi. The journey starts in the month of August. Part of the journey is covered by train, other part on foot and riding on animals. The security forces have to protect the pilgrims from terrorist attacks. The pilgrims carry offerings and after bathing they offer their prayers, they start on the return journey. Very often the pilgrims bring 'prasad' which is distributed among the people back home.