Passage Based Questions: Writing and City Life | History Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

The way stone tools were made also changed. While earner of making tools continued. some tools and equipment were now smoothened and polished by an elaborate process of grinding. New equipment Included mortars and pestles for processing and grinding grain. as well as stone axes and hoes. which were used to clear land for cultivation. as well as for digging the earth to sow seeds. In some areas. people learnt to tap the ores of metals such as copper and tin. Sometimes. copper ores were collected and used for their distinctive bluish-green colour. This prepared the way for the more extensive use of metal for jewellery and for tools subsequently.

Q1: How did the process of making stone tools change with the advent of new technologies, and what types of tools were created using these methods?
Ans:

• While knapping (flintknapping) remained a method for making tools, new tools and equipment were smoothened and polished through grinding.
• New equipment included mortars and pestles for grain processing, as well as stone axes and hoes for land clearing and farming.

Q2: What materials were tapped for the production of metal, and how did this influence early societies?
Ans:

• In some areas, people learned to extract ores of metals like copper and tin.
• Copper ores were occasionally collected not only for their utility but also for their distinctive bluish-green color.
• The utilization of metal ores marked the early stages of metalworking, paving the way for the expanded use of metals in jewelry and tools.

Q3: How did the introduction of metalworking impact the development of early societies?
Ans:

• Metalworking enabled the creation of a wider range of tools and jewelry.
• It represented a technological advancement that allowed for more efficient and versatile tools, which in turn could enhance productivity in agriculture and other aspects of daily life.
• The use of metal marked a significant shift in the development of human technology and material culture.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Further, there must be a social organisation in place. Fuel. metal. various stones. wood. etc.. come from many different places for city manufacturers. Thus, organised trade and storage is needed. There are deliveries of grain and other items from the village to the city. and food supplies need to be stored and distributed. Besides. many different activities have to be coordinated: there must be not only stones but also bronze tools and pots available for seal cutters. Obviously, In such a system some people give commands that others obey. and urban economies often require the keeping of written records.

Q1: Why is social organization essential in early urban centers, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• Social organization is needed because various resources, including fuel, metals, stones, and wood, are sourced from different locations for urban manufacturing.
• Organized trade and storage are required to manage the procurement of resources and finished goods.
• Coordination of various activities, such as manufacturing, food storage, and distribution, necessitates a structured social system.

Q2: What are some of the key logistical challenges that early urban centers face, particularly in terms of resource management and distribution?
Ans:

• Cities require organized trade and storage to handle resources like fuel, metal, and wood coming from diverse locations.
• Managing the delivery of grain and other items from villages to the city and storing and distributing food supplies are logistical challenges.
• Coordinating various activities, including providing tools and equipment like bronze tools and pots for specialized tasks, is crucial.

Q3: How does social hierarchy manifest in early urban settings, and what role do written records play in such societies?
Ans:

• Early urban economies often involve a social hierarchy where some individuals issue commands that others must follow.
• Written records are essential for keeping track of resource allocation, trade, and various urban activities.
• These records help facilitate communication and coordination within the city and ensure the effective functioning of urban centers.

Passage - 3

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

The first Mesopotamian tablets. written around 3200 BCE. contained picture-like signs and numbers. These were about 5000  lists of oxen. fish. bread loaves. etc. — lists of goods that were brought into or distributed from the temples of Uruk. a city In the south. Clearly. writing began when society needed to keep records of transactions — because city life transactions æcun-ed at different times. and involved many Iktople and a variety of goods.

Q1: What were the contents of the first Mesopotamian tablets dating back to around 3200 BCE?
Ans:

• The first Mesopotamian tablets contained picture-like signs and numbers.
• These tablets included about 5000 lists documenting transactions involving items such as oxen, fish, bread loaves, and other goods.

Q2: Why did the need for writing arise in ancient Mesopotamia, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• Writing in Mesopotamia began when society needed to keep records of transactions.
• City life transactions occurred at different times and involved numerous people and a variety of goods, making written records essential for efficient management.

Q3: In what context were these early records of goods, like the lists of oxen and bread loaves, primarily used?
Ans:

• The lists of goods were related to transactions that took place within the temples of Uruk, a city in southern Mesopotamia.
• These records were likely used for tracking the inflow and distribution of goods in the city's temples, reflecting the early use of writing for administrative and economic purposes.

Passage - 4

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

By 2600 BCE or so. the letters became cuneiform. and the language was Sumerian. Wrttlng was now used not only for keeping records. but also for making dictionaries. giving legal validity to land transfers. narrating the deeds of kings. and announcing the changes a king had made In the customary laws of the land. Sumerian. the earliest known language of Mesopotamia. was gradually replaced after 2400 BCE by the Akkadian language. Cuneiform writing In the Akkadian language continued In use until the first century C.E. that is for more than 2000 years.

Q1: What are the key developments in Mesopotamian writing mentioned in the passage, and when did these changes occur?
Ans:

• Initially, writing was in the form of picture-like signs and numbers around 3200 BCE.
• By 2600 BCE, writing had evolved into cuneiform, and the language used was Sumerian.
• Cuneiform writing was not only used for record-keeping but also for creating dictionaries, legal documentation, royal inscriptions, and announcing changes to customary laws.

Q2: How did the function of writing expand beyond record-keeping in ancient Mesopotamia?
Ans:

• Writing was used for creating dictionaries, giving legal validity to land transfers, narrating royal deeds, and announcing changes to customary laws made by kings.
• It served as a versatile tool for documenting and transmitting various aspects of society, from legal transactions to historical narratives.

Q3: When did Sumerian, the earliest known language of Mesopotamia, begin to be replaced, and by what language?
Ans:

• Sumerian began to be replaced after 2400 BCE by the Akkadian language.
• The transition marked a linguistic shift in Mesopotamia, as Akkadian became more prevalent in written documents and communication, persisting for over 2,000 years in the form of cuneiform writing.

Passage - 5

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

War captives and local people were put to work for the temple, or directly for the ruler. This. rather than agricultural tax. was compulsory. 'Those who were put to work were paid rations. Hundreds of ration lists have been found. which give. against lx: people's names. the quantities of grain. cloth or Otl allotted to them. It has been estimated that one of the temples took 1,500 men working 10 hours a day. five years to build. With rulers commanding people to fetch stones or metal ores. to come and make bricks or lay the bricks for a temple. or else to go to a distant country to fetch suitable materials. there were also technical advances at Uruk around 3000 WE. Bronm tools came into use for various crafts. Architects learnt to construct brick columns. there being no suitable wood to bear the weight of the roof of large halls.

Q1: How were war captives and local individuals utilized in ancient Mesopotamia, and what distinguished this practice from agricultural taxation?
Ans:

• War captives and local people were conscripted to work for the temple or the ruler, which was compulsory.
• Unlike agricultural taxation, those put to work were compensated with rations.

Q2: What information do ration lists provide, and how were they used in ancient Mesopotamia?
Ans:

• Ration lists documented the quantities of grain, cloth, or other items allocated to individuals working for the temple or the ruler.
• They served as valuable historical records, offering insights into the compensation and sustenance provided to workers in various capacities.

Q3: What technical advancements and architectural developments occurred in Uruk around 3000 BCE, and why were they significant?
Ans:

• Technical advances included the introduction of bronze tools for various crafts and the construction of brick columns.
• These developments were important as they enabled the building of more complex and substantial structures, such as large temple halls, despite the scarcity of suitable wood for supporting the roof.

Passage - 6

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Herders need to exchange young animals. cheese, leather and meat in return for grain, metal tools. etc., and the manure of a penned flock is also of great use to a farmer. Yet. at the same time. there may be conflict. A shepherd may take his flock to water across a sown field, to the ruin of the crop. Herdsmen being mobile can raid agricultural villages and seize their stored goods. For their part, settled groups may deny pastoralists access to river and canal water along a certain set of paths.

Q1: What are some of the goods exchanged between herders and agricultural communities, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• Herders exchange young animals, cheese, leather, and meat in return for grain, metal tools, and other agricultural products.
• The manure from penned flocks is also valuable to farmers as a source of fertilizer.

Q2: What are the potential sources of conflict between herders and settled agricultural communities?
Ans:

• Conflict may arise when herders allow their flocks to graze on sown fields, damaging the crops.
• Herdsmen, due to their mobility, may raid agricultural villages and seize stored goods.
• Settled communities might deny pastoralists access to water sources like rivers and canals, leading to disputes over water rights and pathways.

Q3: Why is access to water a point of contention between pastoralists and settled groups, and how might this conflict manifest?
Ans:

• Access to river and canal water can be contentious as both herders and settled communities rely on it for various purposes.
• Conflict may manifest as settled groups denying pastoralists access to water along specific paths, leading to disputes over water resources and pathways for both drinking water and watering livestock.

Passage - 7

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

Located on the Euphrates in a prime position for trade – in wood, copper, tin, oil, wine, and various other goods that were carried in boats along the Euphrates – between the south and the mineral-rich uplands of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, Mari is a good example of an urban centre prospering on trade. Boats carrying grinding stones, wood, and wine and oil jars, would stop at Mari on their way to the southern cities. Officers of this town would go aboard, inspect the cargo (a single river boat could hold 300 wine jars), and levy a charge of about one-tenth the value of the goods before allowing the boat to continue downstream. Barley came in special grain boats. Most important, tablets refer to copper from ‘Alashiya’, the island of Cyprus, known for its copper, and tin was also an item of trade. As bronze was the main industrial material for tools and weapons, this trade was of great importance. Thus, although the kingdom of Mari was not militarily strong, it was exceptionally prosperous.

Q1: Why was the city of Mari strategically located for trade, and what were some of the goods exchanged through this trade?
Ans:

• Mari was strategically positioned on the Euphrates River, facilitating trade in wood, copper, tin, oil, wine, and various other commodities.
• Boats carrying grinding stones, wood, wine and oil jars, and barley transited through Mari en route to southern cities.
• Trade included valuable copper from Cyprus and tin, both essential for bronze production, which was a crucial material for tools and weapons.

Q2: How did the city of Mari benefit from its position on the trade route along the Euphrates?
Ans:

• Mari prospered by charging fees to boats stopping at the city, typically about one-tenth of the value of their cargo.
• This revenue was collected by city officials who inspected the cargo and ensured safe passage downstream.
• The trade in valuable commodities, including copper and tin, contributed significantly to Mari's prosperity despite its relatively modest military strength.

Q3: Why was the trade in copper and tin particularly important for the city of Mari and its economic success?
Ans:

• Copper and tin were essential components for the production of bronze, which was the primary material for tools and weapons in that era.
• The trade in copper from Cyprus and tin represented the cornerstone of Mari's economy, as it provided the necessary materials for manufacturing essential goods, reinforcing the city's prosperity.

Passage - 8

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.

The division of the year into 12 months according to the revolution of the moon around the earth, the division of the month into four weeks, the day into 24 hours, and the hour into 60 minutes – all that we take for granted in our daily lives – has come to us from the Mesopotamians. These time divisions were adopted by the successors of Alexander and from there transmitted to the Roman world, then to the world of Islam, and then to medieval Europe (see Theme 5 for how this happened). Whenever solar and lunar eclipses were observed, their occurrence was noted according to year, month and day. So too there were records about the observed positions of stars and constellations in the night sky.

Q1: What fundamental time divisions and measurements that we use today originated from the Mesopotamians, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The Mesopotamians introduced the division of the year into 12 months based on the moon's revolution around the Earth.
• They also divided the month into four weeks, the day into 24 hours, and the hour into 60 minutes, which are now integral to our daily timekeeping.

Q2: How did these time divisions from the Mesopotamians spread to different parts of the world, according to the passage?
Ans:

• These time divisions were adopted by the successors of Alexander the Great.
• They were then transmitted to the Roman world, followed by their introduction into the world of Islam.
• Finally, they made their way to medieval Europe, where they continue to be the basis of our timekeeping system.

Q3: Besides time divisions, what celestial observations were recorded by the Mesopotamians, and why were they significant?
Ans: 

• The Mesopotamians noted the occurrences of solar and lunar eclipses, documenting them by year, month, and day.
• They also recorded the positions of stars and constellations in the night sky.
• These observations were vital for early astronomy and the development of calendars, enabling better predictions of celestial events and facilitating timekeeping.