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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History - Towns, Traders and Crafts Persons

Let’s recall

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) The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in 1010 A.D.
(b) Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti.
(c) Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
(d) The Dutch established a settlement at Masulipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

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 centre for trade in elephants.
(d) Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal.
Ans: (a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) False

Q.3: How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?
Ans: Water was supplied to the city of Thanjavur from tanks and wells.

Q.4: Who lived in the “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras?
Ans: During the eighteenth century, the cities such as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras were formed. During this period, the crafts and commerce underwent major changes as merchants and artisans (such as weavers) were moved into the ‘Black Towns’ established by the European companies within these new cities. The ‘blacks’ or native traders and craftspersons were confined here while the ‘white’ rulers occupied the superior residencies like St. George Fort in Madras or St. William Fort in Calcutta.

Let’s understand

Q.5: Why do you think towns grew around temples?
Ans: Towns grew around temples because the temple towns represented a very important pattern of urbanisation. Temples were considered central to the economy and society. The rulers constructed these temples to demonstrate their devotion to various deities. They also endowed temples with grants of land and money to carry out elaborate rituals, feed pilgrims and priests and celebrate festivals. Therefore, a large number of priests, workers, artisans, traders, etc. settled near the temple to cater to its needs and those of the pilgrims and led to the formation of the temple towns. Some examples of temple towns include Kanchipuram and Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

Q.6: How important were craftspersons for the building and maintenance of temples?
Ans: The Panchalas or Vishwakarma community consisting of goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons and carpenters. The community played an essential role in the building of temples. They had an important role in the construction of big buildings, palaces, tanks and reservoirs. The craftspersons of Bidar were famous for their copper and silver works and eventually, their work came to be called as ‘Bidri’. Similarly, weavers such as the Saliyar or Kaikkolars emerged as prosperous communities, making donations to temples.

Q.7: Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
Ans: Surat was a cosmopolitan city and people of all castes and creeds lived there.
People from distant lands visited Surat for the following reasons:

  • Surat has been called the gate to Mecca and was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz.
  • The Portuguese, Dutch and English had their factories and warehouses at Surat during the seventeenth century.
  • The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders (zari) and had a market in West Asia, Africa and Europe.
  • The state also had numerous rest-houses to take care of the needs of people from all over the world who came to the city. There were magnificent buildings and innumerable pleasure parks. 
  • The Kathiawad seths or mahajans (moneychangers) had huge banking houses at Surat. Also, the Surat hundis were honoured in the far-off markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq and Antwerp in Belgium.

Q.8: In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?
Ans: The craft production in cities like Calcutta was organized by European companies where the craftspersons were not free to sell their own crafts and textiles. The crafts and commerce underwent major changes in Calcutta as merchants and artisans (such as weavers) were moved into the ‘Black Towns’ established by the European companies. The ‘blacks’ or native traders and craftspersons were confined here while the ‘white’ rulers occupied the superior residencies like St. William Fort in Calcutta.
Whereas in Thanjavur, the craftspersons were independent and were free to sell their own products. They also lived nearby the temples. The Saliya weavers of Thanjavur also produced cloth for flags to be used in the temple festivals, fine cotton for the king and nobility and coarse cotton for the masses.

Let’s discuss

Q.9: Compare any one of the cities described in this chapter with a town or a village with which you are familiar. Do you notice any similarities or differences?
Ans:
Comparison between Surat and Delhi
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History - Towns, Traders and Crafts Persons

Q.10: What were the problems encountered by merchants? Do you think some of these problems persist today?
Ans: 
Some of the problems faced by the merchants were as under: 

  • They had to travel through forests and there was always the fear of robbers. Therefore, merchants travelled in caravans. 
  • Merchants such as Mulla Abdul Ghafur and Indian Virji Vora, who owned a large number of ships were subdued by the East India Company ships. Then, they have to work as agents of the company instead of running their own business. 
  • Yes, such problems do exist today.

Let’s do

Q.11: Find out more about the architecture of either Thanjavur or Hampi, and prepare a scrap book illustrating temples and other buildings from these cities.
Ans: Thanjavur:
Thanjavur is regarded as a great town. It was the capital of the Chola dynasty. This city has lots of temples, mandapas and tall bronze idols. The mandapas present rock cut architecture. The temples exhibit structural architecture.
A mandapas is an open pavilion, a hall with cells in the exterior presents a façade formed by a row of pillars. It is decorated with fine reliefs. They are remarkable for their design and execution.

Q.12: Find out about any present-day pilgrimage centre. Why do you think people go there? What do they do there? Are there any shops in the area? If so, what is bought and sold there?
Ans: Present day pilgrimage Centre: Haridwar
(1) People go to Haridwar to take bath in the holy Ganga
(2) They take bath in the Ganga river and worship it
(3) Yes, several shops are there
(4) Offerings are sold at these shops
(5) Prasad is the main article that people buy there

The document NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History - Towns, Traders and Crafts Persons is a part of the Class 7 Course NCERT Textbooks & Solutions for Class 7.
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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History - Towns, Traders and Crafts Persons

1. What were the primary occupations of people in ancient towns?
Ans. The primary occupations of people in ancient towns were trade, craft production, and agriculture.
2. What were the different types of crafts practiced by people in ancient times?
Ans. People in ancient times practiced a wide range of crafts such as weaving, pottery, metalworking, shipbuilding, and carpentry.
3. How did the growth of towns impact the economy of ancient civilizations?
Ans. The growth of towns led to an increase in trade and commerce, which in turn stimulated the growth of the economy. The development of crafts and industries also contributed to the prosperity of ancient civilizations.
4. What were the factors that led to the growth of trade in ancient times?
Ans. The growth of trade in ancient times was influenced by factors such as increased agricultural production, the development of transportation systems such as roads and waterways, and the rise of powerful empires.
5. How did the emergence of towns and trade impact social and cultural life in ancient civilizations?
Ans. The emergence of towns and trade led to the growth of a diverse and cosmopolitan society, where people from different cultures and backgrounds came together. This led to the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and practices, which enriched the social and cultural life of ancient civilizations.
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