Textbook Solutions: Towns, Trapers and Craftsmen | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

A. Choose the correct answer.

1.
Ans: (c)
This town in Bengal was renowned for the production of muslin is Sonargaon

2.
Ans: (b)
This is a temple town is Madurai

3.
Ans: (d)
This is not a port town is Agra

4.
Ans: (b)
This is a community of merchants from Rajasthan is Marwaris

5.
Ans: (a)
India did not export Horses

B. Fill in the blanks

1.
Ans: Port towns played an important role in the growth of India's maritime trade.

2.
Ans: Krishnadevaraya was the most Important ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.

3. 
Ans: Masulipatnam was the main port of the kingdom of Golconda.

4.
Ans: The English, the Dutch and the French set up trading bases in Masulipatnam.

5.
Ans: Surat was the main commercial centre under the Mughal Empire.

C. Answer in one or two sentences.

1.
Ans: Port towns are towns located along the coastline and play a crucial role in maritime (sea) trade. Two port towns of medieval India are Surat and Masulipatnam.

2.
Ans: Fatehpur Sikri became a religious centre as it was built around the dargah of Salim Chishti and was thus visited by both Hindu and Muslim pilgrims.

3.
Ans: Two European travellers who visited the Vijayanagara Empire were Domingo Paes and Niccolo del Conti.

4.
Ans: Hampi fell into ruin following the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire at the hands of the combined forces of the Bahmani kingdoms in 1565 CE.

5.
Ans: Kalamkari is a type of cloth known for its intricate hand-painted or block-printed designs, traditionally produced in Golconda.

D. Answer in a paragraph.

1.
Ans: The administrative centres of medieval India were usually the capitals of empires, kingdoms, and provinces. Cities like Delhi, Kannauj, Golconda, Bidar, and Vijayanagara were important urban centres that served as administrative centres. They were usually well-connected and well-fortified, attracting people from all over the country due to the facilities they provided. These centres were not only administrative hubs but also often served multiple functions, like Madurai, which was also a religious centre.

2.
Ans: Founded towns in medieval India were cities that were deliberately established or built anew by rulers, such as Firuzabad and Agra. They were heavily fortified and populated by nobles, courtiers, and commoners who moved with the emperor. In contrast, trading towns grew from pre-existing settlements along trade routes as trade and local markets expanded. They were rarely fortified and specialized in specific economic activities, like Sonargaon, known for its fine muslin, and Cambay, known for its textiles and works of gold and silver.

3.
Ans: Temples played a significant role in the growth of towns and cities in medieval India. Many towns grew around places of religious importance, attracting thousands of pilgrims. Temples received large endowments in the form of money and land from rulers and devotees, making them centres of great wealth. This wealth led to the development of trade and banking around the temples, thus facilitating the growth of towns and cities. Examples of such temple towns include Dwaraka, Somnath, Benares, and Madurai.

4.
Ans: The medieval cities of Hampi, Masulipatnam, and Surat, though different in many respects, were all significant urban centres. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, known for its fortifications and bustling markets. Masulipatnam was a leading port city, known for its kalamkari cloth and paintings. Surat emerged as an important trading centre, known for its textiles and gold lace borders. All three cities were important trading hubs, attracting both local and foreign traders. However, while Hampi fell into ruin following military defeat, both Masulipatnam and Surat continued to prosper due to trade and commerce.

5.
Ans: Trade and commerce flourished in medieval India due to political stability, favourable economic policies, standardised systems of currency, and secure trade routes over land, sea, and river. Traders played a crucial role in this economic prosperity. They formed guilds to protect their collective interests and specialised in both local and long-distance trade. The traders included diverse communities like the Gujarati merchants, the Multanis and Punjabis, the Marwaris from Rajasthan, and the Chettiars from the Coromandel Coast.

6.
Ans: Craftspeople played a vital role in medieval India, contributing to the economic prosperity of the period. Various forms of craft, including pottery, weaving, wood-carving, gem cutting, and metalwork, thrived under the patronage of rulers and nobles. The rulers established workshops or karkhanas for artisans to work. The products of these artisans were in high demand both locally and in foreign countries, leading to a steady increase in the population of artisans. Different regions in India were known for their unique crafts, like Malabar for calico, Golconda for kalamkari, and Bengal for muslin.