I. Tick (✔) the correct option.
1.
Ans: (a)
The Ashvamedha sacrifice as one of the common rituals performed by powerful kings, where the king's chief queen played an important role.
2.
Ans: (b)
There were 16 mahajanapadas in ancient India.
3.
Ans: (a)
The Republic of Vajji was an example of a ganasangha.
4.
Ans: (c)
In Monarchical mahajanapadas, the king's eldest son inherited the kingdom, and the king had absolute power.
5.
Ans: (b)
In ganasanghas, the kshatriya families that owned most of the land exercised political power.
6.
Ans: (c)
The king's share was fixed at one-sixth of the total produce, known as shatbhaga.
7.
Ans: (c)
The guilds of merchants were called shrenis.
8.
Ans: (a)
Jainism and Buddhism became popular during the period of Second Urbanization.
9.
Ans: (c)
Bimbisara was the first great ruler of Magadha.
10.
Ans: (c)
The Lichchhavis were followers of the Buddha.
II. State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the statements to correct them.
1.
Ans: True
The statement is correct. The people learned the technique of paddy transplantation around 600 BCE.
2.
Ans: False
The statement is false. Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty, and the Nanda dynasty was established later.
3.
Ans: False
The Vajji confederacy consisted of eight confederated clans.
4.
Ans: False
The earliest capital of Magadha was Girivraja or Rajagriha, not Anga.
5.
Ans: False
Amatyas were officials or ministers who assisted the king but were not soldiers.
III. Answer the following questions in brief.
1.
Ans: Kings began to be recognized as kings of janapadas by displaying their military prowess, promising to protect their subjects, and performing rituals, such as the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Rituals helped these kings in finding larger territorial states by enhancing their prestige and influence, attracting more people to their rule, and consolidating their power.
2.
Ans: The growth of trade in this period was influenced by increased agricultural production, the use of iron tools, and the development of paddy transplantation. Trade was carried out by merchants who traveled long distances by carts or river transport, exchanging goods produced by craftspeople. Merchants organized themselves into guilds or shrenis.
3.
Ans: The varna system, which classified people into brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras, continued in Janapadas and mahajanapadas. It became hereditary, and birth in a particular community determined one's varna. However, not everyone accepted this system, and some objections were raised against it.
4.
Ans: The period between 600 BCE and 300 BCE was a period of religious turmoil because the brahmanas began to dominate religious practices, emphasizing complex rituals, elaborate sacrifices, and the vama system. This led to dissatisfaction among people who sought alternative religious options, resulting in the popularity of new religions like Jainism and Buddhism.
5.
Ans: Magadha emerged as the strongest mahajanapada due to its advantageous geographical location, fertile land, abundant resources, and strong rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. They married princesses from other kingdoms, encouraged trade, improved transportation, and used iron tools. The availability of iron, elephants from the forests, and a massive army contributed to Magadha's rise. This power eventually led to the establishment of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya.
IV. Answer the following questions in detail.
1.
Ans: Janapadas were territories where people settled and resided, and their rulers were initially chosen by the janas (people). By 600 BCE, changes occurred in how the rulers (rajas) were chosen. Some became rajans by displaying military prowess, promising protection, and performing rituals like the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Janapadas evolved into larger political entities known as mahajanapadas, which were the earliest states in India. There were 16 mahajanapadas, including Magadha, Vatsa, Avanti, and Kosala. These states had different forms of government, including monarchies and republics (ganasanghas).
2.
Ans: Agriculture underwent significant advancements during the period of the Janapadas and mahajanapadas. The introduction of iron tools, including ploughshares, made it easier to cultivate the heavy clayey soil of the Gangetic Plains. This led to increased agricultural production. Additionally, the technique of paddy transplantation was adopted, where saplings were grown and then planted in prepared fields, resulting in higher yields. These developments in agriculture contributed to the prosperity of the states and formed the foundation of their economies.
3.
Ans: The socio-economic setup during this period was characterized by the continuation of the varna system, which classified people into brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras. This system became hereditary, with birth determining one's varna. Agriculture was the main occupation, providing the economic foundation for both monarchical and republican states. Taxes on crops were collected, and the king's share was fixed at one-sixth of the produce. Trade and urbanization also played crucial roles in the socio-economic setup, with merchants forming guilds (shrenis) and villages developing into towns based on their economic activities.
4.
Ans: The Magadha kingdom, located in present-day Bihar, emerged as the most important mahajanapada. It enjoyed natural advantages, including fertile land, availability of water, iron ore deposits, and thick forests. Rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru of the Haryanka Dynasty contributed to its expansion. The Nanda family later controlled the entire Gangetic Plain but were unpopular due to their tyranny.
The Vajji kingdom, also known as the Republic of Vajji, was a confederacy without a monarch. It consisted of eight confederated clans, with the Lichchhavis, Videhas, Jnatrikas, and Vajjis being the most important. The Lichchhavis were followers of the Buddha. They ruled over an area north of the river Ganga, with Vaishali as their capital. The Vajji kingdom was governed by an assembly (gana) and council of ministers, with political power held by kshatriya families. Ajatashatru of Magadha waged a 16-year war against the Lichchhavis to subdue them.
