Short Questions: What Books and Burials Tell Us | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: Who were slaves in vedic society? Write a very short note about them.
Ans: During later Vedic Age, the term dasa (and the feminine dasi) came to mean slave. Slaves were men and women who were generally captured in war. They were treated as the property of their owners (or masters) who could make them do whatever work they desired.

Q2: Write some features of the kings of the ancient China.
Ans: The ancient kings of China lived in palaces in cities.

• The kings amassed vast quantities of wealth, including large, elaborately decorated bronze vessels.
• The ancient Chinese kings did not know the use of iron.

Q3: Discuss “Food at Inamgaon” as archaeologists have found different proofs from different sites.
Ans: Food at Inamgaon:

• Archaeologists have found seeds of wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, pea and sesame at Inamgaon.
• Bones of a number of animals, bearing cut mark’s that show they may have been used as food, have also been found. These include buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, horse, ass, pig, sambhar, spotted deer, blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose, birds, crocodile, turtle, crab and fish.
• There is evidence that fruits such as her, amla, jamun, dates and a variety of berries were collected.

Q4: Were some burial spots meant for certain families? If yes, give some facts about your answer.
Answer: Yes, some burial spots were definitely meant for certain families. We can give the following facts to prove our answer:

• Sometimes, megaliths, contained more than one skeleton. These indicated that people, perhaps belonging to the same family, were buried in the same place though not at the same time. The bodies of those who died later were brought into the grave through the port-holes.
• Stone circles or boulders on the surface probably served as sign posts to find the burial site so that people could return to the same place whenever they wanted to.

Q5: Write any three main common features of war of the Rigvedic age.
Ans: Most men took part in wars during the Rigvedic age. As there was no regular army, but there were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace. The Assemblies also chose leaders, brave and skilful warriors.

Q6: For which three things were battles fought by the Rigvedic age people?
Ans: Battles were fought to capture cattle. Battles were also fought for land, which was important for pasture, and for growing hardy crops that ripened quickly, such as barley. Some battles were fought for water, and to capture people.

Q7: Describe the word Aryas and Dasas (or Dasyus) used for the people.
Ans: Aryas. Sometimes, the people who composed the hymns described themselves as Aryas. Dasas or Dasyus. Aryas called their Opponents, Dasas or Dasyus. These were people who did not perform yajana (sacrifices) and probably spoke different languages (other than Sanskrit).

Q8: How were the oracle bones used by the Kings in China?
Ans: Kings of China got scribes to write questions on the bones of animals (called oracle bones).

For example:

• Would they (the kings) win battles?
• Would the harvest be good?
• Would they have sons? The bones were then put into the fire, and they – cracked because of the heat.

Fortune-tellers studied the cracks of oracle bones. They tried to predict the future. They sometimes made mistakes also.

Q9: Who was Charaka? What is the name of his work? Describe one of his contributions in regard of the human body.
Ans: Charaka was a famous ancient Indian Physician. He was related with about 2000 years ago time. Charaka wrote a book on medical science known as the Charaka Samhita. Charaka has stated in his book that the human body has 360 bones. This is a much larger number than the 200 bones that are recognized in modem anatomy. Charaka arrived at this figure by counting the teeth, joints and cartilage.

Q10: Write main social differences as have been found out by the Archaeologists in megaliths.
Ans: Finding out about Social Differences

• Archaeologists think that objects found with a skeleton probably belonged to the dead person. Sometimes more objects were found in one grave than in another. For example, in Brahmagiri one skeleton was buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles, and one conch shell.
• Other skeletons found out from the graves had only a few pots. Perhaps there was some difference in status amongst the people who were buried. Perhaps some were rich while others poor, some chiefs while others followers.

Q11: What was the fate of booty or looted wealth during the battle or war days?
Ans: Some of the looted wealth (or booty) obtained was kept by the leaders. Some portion of looted wealth was given to priests (brahmins). The rest of the looted wealth was distributed amongst the people. Some wealth (looted in the war or battles) was used for the performance of yajanas or sacrifices in which offerings were made into the fire. These were meant for gods and goddesses. Offerings could include ghee, grain and in some cases animals.

Q12: Name one of the oldest books in the world. Write a few sentences about this book.
Ans: The Rigveda is one of the oldest books in the world. It was composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or well said songs of praise. These are in praise of various gods and goddesses. These hymns were composed by sages (rishis). Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. Only a few were composed by women. The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit, which is different from the Sanskrit that students learn in school these days.