NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science - Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities

Let’s Recall 

Q2: Fill in the blanks: 
(a) The new castes emerging within varnas were called ____. 
(b) _____ were historical works written by the Ahoms.
(c) The ____ mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
(d) As tribal states became bigger and stronger, they gave land grants to _____ and ____. 
Ans:
(a) The new castes emerging within varnas were called jatis.
(b) Buranjis were historical works written by the Ahoms.
(c) The Akbar Nama mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
(d) As tribal states became bigger and stronger, they gave land grants to poets and scholars.

Q3: State whether true or false:
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.
Ans: True

(b) There were no tribal communities in the northwestern part of the subcontinent.
Ans: False

(c) The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities. 
Ans: False

(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent. 
Ans: False

Q4: What kinds of exchanges took place between nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?
Ans: Nomadic pastoralists moved over long distances with their animals. They lived on milk and other pastoral products. They also exchanged wool, ghee, etc., with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products. 

Let’s Understand 

1. They were the main nomadic traders.
2. They transported grain to sell in city markets.
3. They purchased grain where it was less expensive and took it to areas where it was more costly.
4. Big merchants would sometimes hire them to trade on their behalf.
5. They used bullocks to carry grain from different places, selling it in towns, and even transporting food for the Mughal army during military missions.

Q9: In what ways was the history of the Gonds different from that of the Ahoms? Were there any similarities?
Ans:

Differences

Similarities

The Gonds lived in the vast forested region of Gondwana, while the Ahoms migrated to the Brahmaputra valley from present-day Myanmar. Gonds practiced shifting cultivation, unlike the Ahoms who did not engage in this agricultural practice. The Mughal Empire completely annexed the Gonds, whereas the Ahoms, though initially defeated by the Mughals, did not remain under direct Mughal control for an extended period.

Both the Gonds and the Ahoms had a centralized form of administration. Both tribes, initially smaller in size, expanded their influence by annexing neighboring small societies and gaining power. Both societies were internally organized into clans or jatis.

Let’s Do

Q10: Plot the location of the tribes mentioned in this chapter on a map. For any two, discuss whether their livelihood was suited to the geography and the environment of the area where they lived.
Ans: Several tribes live in different parts of India. See the map given below

These tribal communities established temporary settlements in locations that aligned with their specific requirements and means of sustenance. In instances where they encountered unfavorable environmental conditions or found their existing way of life unsuitable, they undertook migrations to alternative areas that better catered to their needs. This nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle is often rooted in a dynamic relationship with the environment, allowing them to adapt and seek more favorable conditions for their livelihoods.

Q11: Find out about present-day government policies towards tribal populations and organize a discussion about these.
Ans: Policies about Tribal population

• Overall upliftment.
• Land rights.
• Education.
• Cultural and social upliftment.
• Roads, water, industries.
• Mainstreaming.
• Enforcement of reservation in government jobs.

Q12: Find out more about present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the subcontinent. What animals do they keep? Which are the areas frequented by these groups?
Ans: