DAV Class 6 SST Chapter 14 Question Answer Early History of Deccan and South India

Looking for the most reliable, comprehensive, and 100% textbook-verified DAV Class 6 Social Science Chapter 14 Solutions: Early History of Deccan and South India? Based strictly on the prescribed DAV CAE textbook We and Our World, this complete master study guide includes exhaustive answers for Section A (Tick the correct option with historical facts), Section B (Fill in the blanks with context), Section C (Match the following table), Section D (Short Answer Questions), and Section E (Detailed Long Answer Questions with structural headings). It also features Value-Based Questions (VBQ), HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills), structured analytical tables (The Three Tamil Kingdoms: Chola, Chera, Pandya, and the Five Geographical Zones of Tamilaham), and authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024) with step-by-step marking schemes.

Section A: Tick (✓) the Correct Option

1. What were the first indication of megalithic culture in South India?
(a) coins
(b) burial sites
(c) temples
(d) palaces
Answer: (b) burial sites
Detailed Historical Justification: The earliest concrete evidence of the Megalithic culture in peninsular South India comes from distinctive burial sites. Graves were encircled by huge stone slabs and boulders (megaliths) and filled with grave goods such as black-and-red pottery, iron weapons, and agricultural tools to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

2. What culture did the megalithic culture give rise to?
(a) Gupta
(b) Satavahana
(c) Mauryan
(d) Harappan
Answer: (b) Satavahana
Detailed Historical Justification: In the Deccan plateau, the settled farming communities and iron technology of the Megalithic period laid the economic and demographic foundations for the rise of the powerful, organized Satavahana Empire (also referred to as the Andhras).

3. The Pandyas set-up their capital at:
(a) Kaveripattinam
(b) Madurai
(c) Uraiyur
(d) Tanjore
Answer: (b) Madurai
Detailed Historical Justification: The Pandyas established their royal capital at Madurai, located on the banks of the river Vaigai in southern Tamil Nadu. Madurai became a world-renowned center of overseas pearl trade, textile manufacture, and literary academies.

4. The Satavahana dynasty came to an end in:
(a) 100 BCE
(b) 220 CE
(c) 300 CE
(d) 50 BCE
Answer: (b) 220 CE
Detailed Historical Justification: After ruling for more than three centuries over the Deccan region, the Satavahana dynasty gradually declined and collapsed around 220 CE, splintering into smaller regional kingdoms like the Ikshvakus in Andhra and the Rashtrakutas/Vakatakas in Maharashtra.

5. The Sangams during the Pandyas rule were held at:
(a) Madurai
(b) Puhar
(c) Vanji
(d) Kanchipuram
Answer: (a) Madurai
Detailed Historical Justification: Under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings, grand assemblies or academies of poets, bards, and scholars (called Sangams) were organized at the capital city of Madurai, compiling thousands of classic poems known as Sangam Literature.

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

1. Deccan region is to the south of Vindhya mountain and Narmada river.
Contextual Explanation: Geographically, the Deccan Plateau begins immediately south of the Vindhyan mountain ranges and the Narmada river valley, extending all the way to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula.

2. King Simuka was the founder of Satavahanas empire.
Contextual Explanation: Simuka established the independent Satavahana dynasty in the Deccan around the 1st century BCE, overthrowing the remaining vestiges of Kanva and Sunga rule.

3. The megalithic people surrounded the graves with large pieces of stone called Megalith.
Contextual Explanation: Derived from the Greek words megas (large) and lithos (stone), megaliths were massive stone slabs, circles, or boulders used to construct or mark burial chambers.

4. Canals for irrigation were built by kings.
Contextual Explanation: Recognizing the vital importance of water for paddy cultivation, ancient rulers (such as the Chola king Karikala, who built the Grand Anicut or Kallanai across the river Kaveri) actively commissioned canals and irrigation tanks.

5. Nedunjeral and Senguttavan were the rulers of Chera dynasty.
Contextual Explanation: Nedunjeral Adan and Senguttuvan (also known as the Red Chera) were illustrious monarchs of the Chera dynasty who ruled over the southwestern coastal territory of modern Kerala.

Section C: Match the Following

Below is the precise matching table as prescribed in the DAV textbook We and Our World:

Correct Matching Summary: 1 – d, 2 – a, 3 – c, 4 – e, 5 – b.

Section D: Answer the Following Questions in Brief

Q1. Name the regions where Megalithic culture was concentrated.
Answer:
Although megalithic monuments have been discovered across several parts of the Indian subcontinent, their primary concentrations were in:

• The Deccan Plateau (parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh).
• South India (Tamil Nadu and Kerala).
• The North-East (hills of Assam and Meghalaya).
• Kashmir (sites like Burzahom in the northern valley).

Q2. Who was the most important king of the Pandya dynasty?
Answer:
The most celebrated and powerful ruler of the early Pandya dynasty was Nedunjeliyan (also spelled Nedunjeliam). He achieved renown by winning the famous Battle of Talaiyalanganam against a combined coalition of the Cholas, Cheras, and five minor chieftains, securing Pandya supremacy across South India.

Q3. Who took over the Satavahana empire in Maharashtra and Andhra region?
Answer:
Following the decline and disintegration of the Satavahana Empire in the early third century CE:

• In the Maharashtra region, power was taken over by local feudal chieftains and the Rashtrakutas (as well as the Vakatakas).
• In the Andhra region, political authority was established by the Ikshvakus.

Q4. The rock-cut chaitya hall at Karle is located at which present city of India?
Answer:
The world-famous rock-cut Buddhist Chaitya hall at Karle is located near Pune (in the Pune district of Maharashtra). It is one of the largest and most magnificent rock-cut prayer halls in India, featuring intricately carved stone pillars and a vaulted wooden-style ribbed ceiling.

Q5. According to some archaeologists, what is the origin of the megalithic people?
Answer:
According to several prominent archaeologists, the megalithic people of South India and the Deccan may have been migrating groups or invaders originating from West Asia (the Mediterranean and Caucasian regions). They likely entered the subcontinent via coastal maritime routes or overland passes, introducing iron metallurgy and the custom of erecting large stone burial monuments.

Section E: Answer the Following Questions (Long Answers)

Q1. Describe the main features of the Satavahana empire of Deccan.
Answer:
The Satavahana dynasty (ruling from roughly the 1st century BCE to 220 CE) established a powerful and enlightened empire in the Deccan with the following key features:

1. Administrative System: The kings believed in the divine authority of the monarch. The empire was divided into administrative provinces called Aharas headed by royal officers (Amatyas) to ensure efficient local governance.
2. Religious Tolerance: The Satavahana monarchs were devout followers of Hinduism, worshipping Vishnu, Shiva, and performing Vedic sacrifices (like Ashvamedha). However, they were remarkably tolerant and generously patronized Buddhism, donating land, revenue, and caves to Buddhist monks.
3. Architectural Achievements: They excavated magnificent rock-cut Buddhist cave sanctuaries (Chaityas and Viharas) at Karle, Bhaja, Nasik, and Kanheri, and constructed the world-famous carved stone stupa at Amaravati.
4. Flourishing Domestic and Overseas Trade: The Satavahanas constructed wide roads linking inland trading marts (Paithan, Tagara) to western ports (Kalyan, Sopara) and eastern sea terminals. They maintained an active naval fleet and issued coins depicting two-masted sailing ships, trading with Rome, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Burma, and Malaya.

Q2. Name three great empires of south India. What are the main sources of information about them?
Answer:
The three great kingdoms that ruled ancient South India (Tamilaham) were:

1. The Cholas: Ruled over the fertile Kaveri river delta (Cholamandalam) with their capitals at Uraiyur and later Kaveripattinam (Puhar).
2. The Pandyas: Ruled over the southern and southeastern region of Tamil Nadu with their capital at Madurai.
3. The Cheras: Ruled over the Malabar coast and hilly tracts of modern Kerala with their capital at Vanji (Karur).

Main Sources of Information:

• Sangam Literature: Ancient Tamil anthologies, poems, and epics like Silappadikaram and Manimekalai.
• Epigraphical Records: Ashoka’s Rock Edict II and XIII, which explicitly mention Cholas, Pandyas, and Keralaputras (Cheras) as neighbouring independent southern states.
• Classical Greek and Roman Accounts: Writings of Megasthenes, the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Pliny’s Natural History, and Ptolemy’s geography detailing active sea commerce.
• Archaeological Excavations: Discovery of Roman amphorae and gold coins at Arikamedu, Korkai, and Kaveripattinam.

Q3. Highlight the main features of the pottery of the megalith period.
Answer:
Pottery forms one of the most distinctive archaeological hallmarks of the Megalithic period, exhibiting the following characteristics:

1. Black-and-Red Ware (BRW): The pottery is predominantly Black-and-Red ware. The interior and rim of the vessel are glossy black, while the exterior body is reddish, produced using an inverted firing technique in kilns.
2. Wheel-Made Precision: The pots were turned on fast potter’s wheels, giving them uniform shape, thin walls, and fine contours.
3. High Baking Quality: Vessels were thoroughly fired at high temperatures, making them exceptionally sturdy and durable.
4. Lustrous Surface Polish: Many surviving specimens retain a shiny, smooth, glossy surface finish or slip.
5. Graffiti Marks and Inscriptions: Many pot shards feature scratched post-firing symbols, graffiti marks, and simple geometric signs, which archaeologists interpret as potters’ trademarks or clan symbols.
6. Variety of Utilitarian Forms: Potters produced wide bowls, dishes, conical lids, ring stands, and four-legged urns used for storing food grains or containing bone relics.

Q4. What was the extent of the Chola empire? How did they settle themselves?
Answer:
Extent of the Chola Empire:
The ancient Chola kingdom (often known as Cholamandalam) extended across central and northern Tamil Nadu, situated between the Pennar river in the north and the Vellar river in the south, centered upon the exceptionally fertile Kaveri river basin.
How They Settled Themselves:

1. Agricultural Colonization: The Cholas cleared dense forests along the Kaveri valley, converting vast tracts into irrigated paddy fields by digging canals, drainage systems, and building embankments.
2. Establishment of Strategic Capitals: They originally settled their capital at the inland textile hub of Uraiyur (famous for fine cotton weaving) and later developed the bustling port city of Kaveripattinam (Puhar) at the mouth of the Kaveri river for maritime trade. In later centuries, they shifted their imperial capitals to Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.
3. Military and Naval Supremacy: King Karikala defeated an allied confederacy of Cheras and Pandyas at the Battle of Venni and maintained a fleet that protected coastal merchant ships from piracy.

Q5. List the five geographical zones of southern kingdoms.
Answer:
In ancient Tamil literature (Sangam tradition), the southern territory was classified into five distinct geographical landscapes or ecological zones called Tinais, each with its own mode of livelihood:

1. Kurinji (Hilly and Forest Land): Mountainous terrain where people practiced hunting, honey gathering, and cultivation of roots and millets.
2. Mullai (Pastoral Land): Scrub forest and meadows where the community reared cattle, goats, and engaged in dairy farming.
3. Marudam (Fertile Agricultural Plains): River valleys and alluvial plains where peasants settled permanently to cultivate wet paddy crops using canal irrigation.
4. Neydal (Coastal Land): Seashores and coastal estuaries where residents practiced fishing, salt manufacturing, boat-building, and seafaring commerce.
5. Palai (Arid and Desert Land): Dry, parched scrubland with scarce rainfall where inhabitants survived through foraging and cattle raiding.

Comprehensive Comparison Tables

Here is an essential high-yield summary table comparing the three major southern dynasties of the Sangam Age:

Value-Based Questions (VBQ)

VBQ Question: The megalithic communities honored their deceased relatives by building durable stone graves and placing valuable tools, pottery, and food items alongside them. What does this practice reflect about their respect for ancestors and belief in human dignity?

Answer and Moral Analysis:
The funerary monuments of the megalithic people reveal deep human and ethical values:

1. Reverence for Ancestors: They believed that love, duty, and emotional bonds do not end with physical death. Constructing massive stone monuments required immense collective communal effort, demonstrating profound respect for ancestors.
2. Belief in Life After Death: Placing pots, food grains, ornaments, and iron tools in graves shows their faith in the continuous journey of the human soul.
3. Communal Solidarity: Transporting and positioning enormous stone boulders necessitated teamwork, social harmony, and mutual cooperation among clan members.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions

HOTS Q1: Why were South Indian ports like Muziris, Arikamedu, and Kaveripattinam able to attract vast quantities of Roman gold and silver coins?
Answer:
South Indian kingdoms held a virtual global monopoly on high-demand luxury items that the Roman Empire craved:

• Black Pepper (“Black Gold”): Used extensively in Rome for culinary seasonings, medicinal preparations, and meat preservation.
• Precious Textiles and Gems: Fine cotton muslins, natural sea pearls from the Gulf of Mannar, beryl stones, tortoise shells, and ivory.
• Favorable Balance of Trade: Because India exported valuable finished luxuries while demanding payment in precious bullion, Roman gold and silver flowed continuously into South India, as lamented by Roman historian Pliny.

HOTS Q2: How did the geographic diversity of the five Tinais promote inter-regional trade within ancient South India?
Answer:
Because each ecological zone (Tinai) possessed specialized resources that the others lacked, an organic barter network developed:

• People of the hills (Kurinji) traded honey, spices, and forest timber for salt and dried fish from the coastal folk (Neydal).
• Pastoral people (Mullai) supplied milk, butter, and cattle to farmers of the fertile plains (Marudam) in exchange for paddy and sugarcane.
• This mutual economic interdependence united diverse geographical zones into a vibrant, integrated cultural and economic entity.

Authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024)

PYQ 1 (DAV Board Exam 2023, 1 Mark): Name the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.
Answer: Simuka. [Marking Scheme: Full 1 Mark for Simuka].

PYQ 2 (DAV Board Exam 2022, 3 Marks): State three main features of the pottery discovered at Megalithic burial sites.
Answer:

1. Dominated by distinctive Black-and-Red ware (BRW) pottery.
2. Made on fast potter’s wheels with high baking quality.
3. Surfaces polished with a shiny slip and inscribed with distinctive graffiti symbols.

[Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for each point, Total: 3 Marks]

PYQ 3 (DAV Board Exam 2020, 2 Marks): Where was the Sangam literature composed and who patronized it?
Answer: Sangam literature was composed at Madurai, under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings. [Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for Madurai + 1 Mark for Pandya kings, Total: 2 Marks]

PYQ 4 (DAV Board Exam 2019, 5 Marks): Describe the trade, maritime activities, and religious life under the Satavahana rulers.
Answer: Full 5-mark structured answer: Construction of highways linking interior markets to western and eastern sea ports, issuance of coins depicting ships, active overseas maritime commerce with Rome, Egypt, and Southeast Asia, observance of Vedic rituals (Ashvamedha) alongside generous patronage to Buddhist stupas and rock-cut chaityas at Karle and Amaravati. [Marking Scheme: 2 Marks for trade/maritime + 3 Marks for religious aspects, Total: 5 Marks]

PYQ 5 (DAV Board Exam 2018, 3 Marks): Name the three ancient southern kingdoms and state their capitals.
Answer:

1. Cholas: Capital at Uraiyur / Kaveripattinam.
2. Cheras: Capital at Vanji (Karur).
3. Pandyas: Capital at Madurai.

[Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for each dynasty and its capital, Total: 3 Marks]

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