NCERT Solutions for Class 6 History - Kingdoms, Kings and An Early Republic

Let’s Recall

Q1. State whether true or false:
(a) Rajas who let the ashvamedha horse pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice.
Ans: True

(b) The charioteer sprinkled sacred water on the king.
Ans: False

(c) Archaeologists have found palaces in the settlements of the janapadas.
Ans: False

(d) Pots to store grain were made out of Painted Grey Ware.
Ans: False

(e) Many cities in mahajanapadas were fortified.
Ans: True

Q2. Fill in the chart given below with the terms: hunter-gatherers, farmers, traders, crafts persons, herders.

Ans: 

• Farmers: Gave one-sixth of the produce to the state
• Crafts persons: Contributed to labour
• Herder: Contributed in the form of animal produce
• Traders: Stimulated commercial activity by buying and selling goods
• Hunter-gatherers: Would provide forest produce such as elephants, furs and other items as a tribute

Q3. Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas?
Ans: Women, dasas, kammakaras are the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas.

Let’s Discuss

Q4. Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas build forts?

Ans: The rajas of mahajanapadas built forts to defend their capital city from attacks by other rajas. It is also said that they wanted to show how rich and powerful they were by building large and powerful walls. The more practical reason could be that it was easier to govern fortified cities.

Let’s Do

Q5. Were there any janapadas in your state? If yes, name them. If not, name the janapadas that would have been closest to your state, and mention whether they were to the east, west, north or south.

Ans: The answer is subjective to the region and area you live in. Take the assistance of your subject teacher and the map given on page 57 in the textbook to prepare your answer.

Q6. Find out whether the groups mentioned in answer 3 have voting rights.

Ans: Today, voting rights are not decided by gender or profession. Women, ‘kammakaras’ and ‘dasas’ were not entitled to attend assemblies in the older days.

KeyWords

1. Raja: A ruler or king in some South Asian cultures.
2. Ashvamedha: An ancient Vedic ritual involving the sacrifice of a horse, symbolizing royal power and authority.
3. Varna: A social class or caste in Hindu society, often associated with a person's occupation.
4. Janapada: An ancient Indian term referring to a territorial unit, often translated as "country" or "region."
5. Mahajanapada: A more significant and powerful Janapada, representing a larger and influential territory in ancient India.
6. Fortification: The process of strengthening a place with defensive structures, like walls or military installations.
7. Army: A large organized group of armed forces led by a commander, trained for warfare.
8. Tax: Money paid by individuals or businesses to the government to support public services and infrastructure.
9. Transplantation: The process of moving an organ, tissue, or living cells from one place to another, often in medical procedures.
10. Gana or Sangha: An assembly or group, typically used in the context of ancient Indian republics or political organizations.