A. Tick the correct option.
1. What does the word Janapada literally mean?
Answer: the land
2. In which category the Sakyas of Kapilvastu can be placed?
Answer: Gansanghas
3. Ajatshatru shifted his capital from Rajgriha to-
Answer: Pataliputra
4. The supreme head of the state chosen by the people was-
Answer: Raja
5. Which one of the following emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada?
Answer: Magadha
B. Fill in the blanks.
1. ___________ were the kingdoms where the kings were not hereditary.
2. King ___________ never tolerated any inefficient official.
3. The capital of the Sakyas was ___________.
4. The people of Magadha raised ___________ crops in a year.
5. The head of artisans’ association was known as ___________.
Answer: (1) Ganasanghas (2) Bimbisara (3) Kapilvastu (4) three (5) shrenee.
C. Write True or False for the following statements.
1. The Varna System was based on birth.
2. Vaishyas were called Sangrahitris.
3. Gramini helped the king in his central administration.
4. Magadha had a flourishing long-distance trade.
5. There was no assembly in the Republics.
Answer: (1) True (2) False (3) False (4) True (5) False.
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. What were Mahajanapadas? Name any four of them.
Answer: Expansion of the Janapadas through conquest came to be known as Mahajanapadas. Example: Magadha, Kasi, Kosala and Anga.
2. What was the status of Magadha under the Nandas?
Answer: Under the Nandas the status of Magadha was very prestigious.
3. What made the people drift away from Brahamanism?
Answer: Rigidity of caste system and strict rituals made the people drift away from Brahmanism.
4. Mention any two achievements of Ajatshatru.
Answer: Two achievements of Ajatshatru are:
- Establishment of capital at Patliputra.
- Expansion of empire by annexing Kashi, Kosala and Vaishali.
5. What was a guild? What was its main purpose?
Answer: Guild was an organization of vocation. Its purpose was to regulate the trade activities.
E. Answer the following questions.
1. How did Magadha emerge as the most powerful Mahajanapada? Explain.
Answer: Magadha emerge as the most powerful Mahajanapada as it conquered the territories of other Mahajanapadas. Matrimonial alliance with daughter of other rulers was also a step towards expanding power.
2. Highlight any four features of the Ganasanghas or Republics that existed in 600-100 BCE.
Answer: The four features of the Ganasanghas that existed in 600-100 BCE are:
- The official ruler was not hereditary.
- There was an assembly in each republic.
- Republic or Ganasanghas made it laws.
- The King was its head.
3. Explain the administrative system of Magadha rulers.
Answer: The king was the supreme head of the state. He was also the head of the army and led the wars. There were many officials to assist him in discharging his duties, they were called Mahamatras. The other important officials where Sena Nayak (chief of the army), Sangrahitris (treasurer), Purohit (priest), Gramini (head of the village). This is all about the administrative system of Magadha rulers.
4. What was the socio-economic condition of the people under the Magadha rulers?
Answer: The society was based on Varna system. The Varnas were based on birth and not on work. The Gangotri valley provided rich lands for surplus food production and the surplus created social differences in the society. The stability of the empires created good economic conditions but social system was very rigid.
5. Describe the Varna system. How did it start? What is its present position in India today?
Answer: The society was divided into four Varnas (caste) namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmins looked after the religious matters. The Kshatriyas protected the people from internal and external harm. The Vaishyas were the cultivators and craftsmen. The Shudras were the laborers, who served the above three classes.
In the early Vedic period, the Varnas were based on work not on birth, but in the later Vedic period the Varnas were based on birth not work. It became hereditary and very rigid.
But, now a days the people of different Varnas have the freedom to intermingle, marry or change their occupations. Now every Indian has the Right to Freedom of Religion. India is a Socialist and Secular State.