Worksheet: Kinship, Caste and Class | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks 

Q1: The critical edition of the Mahabharata project began in ______ under the leadership of ______.

Q2: The central story of the Mahabharata revolves around the feud between two groups of cousins, the ______ and the ______.

Q3: ______ means tracing descent from father to son, while ______ is when descent is traced through the mother.

Q4: ______ laid down codes of social behavior in great detail, compiled between ______ and ______ CE.

Q5: The Mahabharata contains ______ verses in its present form, composed over a period of about ______ years.

Q6: The Brahamanas recognized as many as ______ forms of marriage, with the first four considered as "______."

Q7: According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons after the death of the parents, with a special share for the ______.

Q8: ______ are populations whose social practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas, often described as odd or uncivilized.

Q9: The original version of the Mahabharata was composed in ______.

Q10: The institution of kingship was based on human choice, with ______ as a form of payment for services rendered by the king.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: Patriliny was a unique concept adopted only by ruling families.
Reason: Patriliny allowed sons to claim the resources of their fathers upon their death.
(a) True, and the reason supports the assertion.
(b) True, but the reason does not support the assertion.
(c) False, and the reason supports the assertion.
(d) False, and the reason contradicts the assertion.

Q2: Assertion: The Manusmriti recognized only two forms of marriage as "good."
Reason: The Manusmriti was a comprehensive compilation of social norms and behaviors.
(a) True, and the reason supports the assertion.
(b) True, but the reason does not support the assertion.
(c) False, and the reason supports the assertion.
(d) False, and the reason contradicts the assertion.

Q3: Assertion: Buddhism rejected social status based on birth.
Reason: Buddhism believed in recognizing natural differences in society.
(a) True, and the reason supports the assertion.
(b) True, but the reason does not support the assertion.
(c) False, and the reason supports the assertion.
(d) False, and the reason contradicts the assertion.

Q4: Assertion: The Sutta Pitaka myth suggests that human beings initially lived in an idyllic state of peace.
Reason: The institution of kingship was based on divine ordination according to the Sutta Pitaka.
(a) True, and the reason supports the assertion.
(b) True, but the reason does not support the assertion.
(c) False, and the reason supports the assertion.
(d) False, and the reason contradicts the assertion.

Q5: Assertion: The Mahabharata's growth stopped with the Sanskrit version.
Reason: Versions of the epic were written in different languages through ongoing dialogues between communities.
(a) True, and the reason supports the assertion.
(b) True, but the reason does not support the assertion.
(c) False, and the reason supports the assertion.
(d) False, and the reason contradicts the assertion.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What was the central story of the Mahabharata about?

Q2: Define patriliny.

Q3: What are gotras?

Q4: Name the important Sanskrit texts compiling social norms.

Q5: What is exogamy in the context of marriage?

Q6: What is the significance of kanyadana in marriage?

Q7: Who were the Satavahanas?

Q8: What were the duties of the chandalas according to Manusmriti?

Q9: What did Buddhism reject regarding social status?

Q10: What were shrenis in the context of social classification?

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explain the process of preparing the critical edition of the Mahabharata.

Q2: Describe the rules of patriliny and its significance in the Mahabharata.

Q3: Explain the rules of marriage as outlined in the Manusmriti.

Q4: Discuss the concept of gotras and its rules for women.

Q5: Explain the varna-based ideal occupations according to the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras.

Q6: Discuss the social mobility within the varna system and the concept of jatis.

Q7: Explain the role of Buddhism in challenging social status based on birth.

Q8: Describe the alternative understanding of social inequalities as per the Buddhists.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Examine the concept of patriliny in ancient India and its influence on social structures, using examples from the Mahabharata.

Q2: Discuss the role of gotras and jatis in shaping social identities in ancient India. Provide examples from different historical contexts.

Q3: Explain the social mobility and challenges to the varna system in ancient India. Discuss the roles of rulers like the Mauryas and social movements like Buddhism.

Q4: Discuss how different versions and retellings reflect diverse social contexts.