Class 6 History Chapter 5 Important Question Answers - Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the significance of the Ashvamedha sacrifice in choosing rajas?
Ans: The Ashvamedha sacrifice was a ritual that determined the strength and power of a raja. Other rajas either accepted the raja's supremacy or had to fight if the Ashvamedha horse wandered into their kingdom.

Q2: What are the four Varnas, and how were they determined?
Ans: The four Varnas were Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. They were determined based on a person's birth.

Q3: What was the role of Kshatriyas in society according to the Varna system?
Ans: Kshatriyas were expected to be rulers and protectors of the people. They were responsible for fighting battles.

Q4: What is the meaning of the term "janapada"?
Ans: Janapada refers to the land where a group of people settled down.

Q5: Name three excavated settlements that were janapadas.
Ans: Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapura near Meerut, and Atranjikhera near Etah.

Q6: What were the major changes in agriculture during the time of mahajanapadas?
Ans: The major changes in agriculture included the use of iron ploughshares for better soil cultivation and the practice of transplanting paddy.

Q7: What was the significance of fortified cities during the mahajanapada period?
Ans: Fortified cities were built for protection from attacks by other kings and to showcase the ruler's wealth and power.

Q8: Why did the rulers of mahajanapadas start collecting taxes?
Ans: Rulers collected taxes to support the construction of forts, maintain armies, and meet their resource requirements.

Q9: What was the tax known as that was collected on crops?
Ans: The tax collected on crops was known as "bhaga" or a share, usually fixed at 1/6th of the produce.

Q10: What do we call the special pottery found at some janapada sites?
Ans: The special pottery found at these sites is known as "Painted Grey Ware."

Short Answer Type Questions

Q11: Explain the role of the Ashvamedha sacrifice in choosing rajas.
Ans: The Ashvamedha sacrifice determined the strength and power of a raja. If the horse wandered into another raja's kingdom and they allowed it to pass, they accepted the supremacy of the raja performing the sacrifice.

Q12: Describe the four Varnas and their functions according to the Varna system.
Ans: The four Varnas were Brahmin (priests and scholars), Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya (farmers, herders, and traders), and Shudra (servants and laborers). Their functions were determined by birth.

Q13: What were the two major changes in agriculture during the time of mahajanapadas?
Ans: The two major changes were the use of iron ploughshares for better soil cultivation and the practice of transplanting paddy instead of scattering seeds.

Q14: Why did the rulers of mahajanapadas build fortified cities?
Ans: Rulers built fortified cities to defend against attacks from other kings, to showcase their wealth and power, and to have better control over the land and people within the fortified area.

Q15: How did the rulers of mahajanapadas finance their forts and armies?
Ans: Rulers collected taxes on crops, crafts, herds, trade, and forest produce to finance their forts and armies.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q16: Compare and contrast the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas with present-day election processes.
Ans: In janapadas, rulers were chosen based on their strength and power, often determined by rituals like the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Present-day elections are democratic, where citizens vote for their leaders. It's a more inclusive process, and candidates are chosen based on popular votes rather than strength or rituals.

Q17: Explain the importance of taxes during the mahajanapada period and how they were collected.
Ans: Taxes were crucial for financing the construction of forts and maintaining large armies during the mahajanapada period. Taxes were collected on crops, crafts, herds, trade, and forest produce. The tax on crops was typically fixed at 1/6th of the produce.

Q18: Describe the significance of fortified cities during the mahajanapada period and the reasons behind their construction.
Ans: Fortified cities were significant as they provided protection against attacks from other kings, showcased the ruler's power and wealth, and allowed for easier governance of the enclosed area. Forts were often built with walls of wood, brick, or stone.

Q19: Discuss the role and significance of the Vajji mahajanapada, including its unique form of government.
Ans: Vajji, with its capital at Vaishali, had a unique form of government known as Gana or Sangha. In this system, there were many rulers, each called a raja. They performed rituals together and met in assemblies. However, women, dasas, and kammakaras couldn't participate in these assemblies. The Buddha and Mahavira belonged to similar ganas or sanghas.

Q20: Explain the factors that contributed to Magadha becoming the most important mahajanapada.
Ans: Magadha's importance grew due to its favorable geographical location with rivers like the Ganga and Son, which facilitated transport and agriculture. It also had powerful rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatasattu. The capital shifted from Rajagriha to Pataliputra, which further enhanced its significance.