Vital Villages Thriving Towns - Worksheets

 CBSE Worksheet 01

Ch - 8 Vital Villages Thriving Towns

  1. Several inscriptions on surfaces such as stone slabs and statues have been found in Mathura.
    Generally, these are short inscriptions, recording gifts made by men (and sometimes women) to ________.
    1. Officers
    2. Monasteries and shrines
    3. King and queens
    4. Farmers
  2. Name the Famous centres for manufacturing of cloth.
    1. Mathura
    2. Varanasi
    3. Both Mathura and Varanasi
    4. None of these
  3. What was the second capital of the Kushanas?
    1. Delhi
    2. Arikemedu
    3. Sanchi
    4. Mathura
  4. What was the function of Grama Bhojaka?
    (I) The Grama Bhojaka was often the largest landowner
    (II) Works as a slave for the king
    (III) Distribute food as a charity to farmers
    (IV) sometimes act as a policeman
    Options are as follows
    1. I, III
    2. I, II
    3. I, IV
    4. II, III
  5. Village Headmen was called ________.
    1. Grama bhojaka
    2. Grihapatis
    3. Griha Bhojaka
    4. Dasa karmakara
  6. Match the following:
    Column AColumn B
    (i) Large landowners(a) Grama bhojaka
    (ii) Ordinary ploughmen(b) Uzhavar
    (iii) Landless labourers(c) Vellalar
    (iv) Village headman(d) Kadaisiyar and adimai
  7. Fill in the blanks:
    1. _______ literature was popular in Tamil Nadu.
    2. Ploughmen were known as ________ landowners.
    3. ________ was a word used for large land-owners in Tamil.
    4. The earliest coins which were in use for about ________ years were punch-marked coins.
  8. State true or false:
    1. Punch marked coins were made of silver.
    2. Many craftspersons and merchants now formed associations known as Dasa Karmakara.
    3. Arikamedu was a coastal settlement.
    4. Larger land-owners were known as Vellalar.
  9. Who was Grama Bhojaka?
  10. List the craftspersons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
  11. What do you understand by the term punch-marked coins? Explain in brief.
  12. Discuss the scene of a smith’s shop.
  13. What were shrenis? What functions did shrenis of crafts persons perform?
  14. Explain how Mathura was a city with many functions? Also give information about inscriptions found in Mathura.

CBSE Worksheet 01
Ch - 8 Vital Villages Thriving Towns

Solution

  1. (b) Monasteries and shrines
    Explanation: Generally, these are short inscriptions, recording gifts made by men (and sometimes women) to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants, and crafts persons who lived in the city.
  2. (b) Varanasi
    Explanation: The manufacture of cloth was important. There were famous centres such as Varanasi in the north, and Madurai in the south. Both men and women worked in these centres.
  3. (d) Mathura
    Explanation: Around 2000 yr. ago Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas.
  4. (c) I, IV
    Explanation: The grama bhojaka was often the largest landowner. Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. Besides, as he was powerful, the king often used him to collect taxes from the village. He also functioned as a judge, and sometimes as a policeman.
  5. (a) Grama bhojaka
    Explanation: In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.
  6. (i) - (c), (ii) - (b), (iii) - (d), (iv) - (a).
    1. Sangam
    2. Small
    3. Vellalar
    4. 500
    1. True
    2. False (Many crafts persons and merchants now formed associations known as shrenis)
    3. True
    4. True
  9. In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary. The grama bhojaka was often the largest landowner.
  10. Craftsmen such as blacksmith, weavers, carpenters and potters were present in both villages and cities. They played a crucial role in providing goods and services that ensured the smooth functioning of any settlement.
  11. The earliest coins which were in use for about 500 years were punch marked coins. They have been given this name because the designs were punched on to the metal, silver or copper. Coins were used as a medium of exchange.
  12. In a smith's shop, there was a small bench on which iron tools like axes and sickles were laid out, ready for sale. A bright fire was burning, and two men were heating and beating metal rods into shape. It was very hot and noisy, and yet it was fascinating to watch what was happening.
  13. Many craftspersons and merchants formed associations. These associations are known as Shrenis. These shrenis provided training, procured raw material and distributed the finished product. Then shrenis of merchants organised the trade. Shrenis also served as banks where rich men and women deposited money. This was invested and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions.
  14. Mathura has been an important settlement for more than 2500 years. It was important for various reasons:
    1. It was important because it was located at the cross roads of two major routes of travel and trade — from the northwest to the east and from north to south. There were fortifications around the city, and several shrines.
    2. Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food for people in the city. Mathura was also a centre where some extremely fine sculpture was produced.
    3. Around 2000 years ago Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas. Mathura was also a religious centre — there were Buddhist monasteries, Jaina shrines, and it was an important centre for the worship of Krishna.
    4. Several inscriptions on surfaces such as stone slabs and statues have been found in Mathura. Generally, these are short inscriptions, recording gifts made by men (and sometimes women) to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants, and crafts persons who lived in the city. For instance, inscriptions from Mathura mention goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, perfumers