Towns, Traders, and Craftspersons Class 7 Worksheet History

Q.1. Why has Surat called the gate to mecca?

Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.

Q.2. Who lived in the “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras?

Merchants and artisans (such as weavers) lived in the “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras.

Q.3. What is an emporium?

An emporium is a place where goods from diverse production centers are bought and sold.

Q.4. How did temple authorities use their wealth?

Temple authorities used their wealth to finance trade and banking.

Q.5. What was the system of advances? How did it affect the life of Weavers?

Craftspersons began to work on a system of advances which meant that they had to weave cloth that was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their own cloth or weaving their own patterns. They had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the Company agents.

Q.6. Write a brief note about Murshidabad.

Murshidabad (West Bengal) on the banks of the Bhagirathi, which rose to prominence as a center for silks and became the capital of Bengal in 1704, declined in the course of the century as the weavers faced competition from cheap mill-made cloth from England.

Q.7. Who tried to play off Dutch and English against each other and why?

As the Mughals began to extend their power to Golconda their representative, the governor Mir Jumla who was also a merchant, began to play off the Dutch and the English against each other.

Q.8. What is hundi?

Hundi is a note recording a deposit made by a person. The amount deposited can be claimed in another place by presenting the record of the deposit.

Q.9. Why did the rulers endow temples with grants of land and money?

They endowed temples with grants of land and money to carry out elaborate rituals, feed pilgrims and priests, and celebrate festivals.

Q.10. What was the significance of Surat hundis?

Surat hundis were honoured in the far-off markets of Cairo in Egypt, Basra in Iraq, and Antwerp in Belgium.

Q.11. Pilgrimage centers also slowly developed into townships. Explain

Pilgrimage centers also slowly developed into townships. Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) and Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu) are examples of two such towns. Ajmer (Rajasthan) was the capital of the Chauhan kings in the twelfth century and later became the sub headquarters under the Mughals. It provides an excellent example of religious coexistence. Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, the celebrated Sufi saint who settled there in the twelfth century, attracted devotees from all creeds. Near Ajmer is a lake, Pushkar, which has attracted pilgrims from ancient times.

Q.12. Why do you think towns grew around temples? 

Rulers built 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. Pilgrims who flocked to the temples also made donations. Temple authorities used their wealth to finance trade and banking. Gradually a large number of priests, workers, artisans, traders, etc. settled near the temple to cater to its needs and those of the pilgrims. Thus grew temple towns.

Q.13. How did the system of advances snatch the freedom of the weavers?

Indian textile designs became increasingly refined. However, this period also saw the decline of the independence of craftspersons. They now began to work on a system of advances which meant that they had to weave cloth that was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their own cloth or weaving their own patterns. They had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the Company agents.

Q.14. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?

Craft persons of Calcutta began to work on a system of advances which meant that they had to weave cloth that was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their own cloth or weaving their own patterns. They had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the Company agents. Craft persons of Thanjavur were independent. They had the liberty of selling their own cloth or crafts. The Saliya weavers of Thanjavur and the nearby town of Uraiyur produce cloth for flags to be used in the temple festival, fine cotton for the king and nobility, and coarse cotton for the masses. The sthapatis or sculptors make exquisite bronze idols and tall, ornamental bell metal lamps.

Q.15. Explain why Surat was the gateway for trade with the West.

Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz. The city was cosmopolitan and people of all castes and creeds lived there. In the seventeenth century the Portuguese, Dutch, and English had their factories and warehouses at Surat. According to the English chronicler Ovington who wrote an account of the port in 1689, on average a hundred ships of different countries could be found anchored at the port at any given time. There were also several retail and wholesale shops selling cotton textiles. The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders (zari) and had a market in West Asia, Africa, and Europe. The state built numerous rest-houses to take care of the needs of people from all over the world who came to the city.