The Early States

 

1. Which period shows a rapid change in society?

Ans: The period after 600 BCE.

2. What are mahajanapadas ?

Ans: The janapadas grew in stature as a strong political entity by acquiring more territory and came to be known as mahajanapadas . By 200 BCE there were a total of 16 mahajanapadas.

3. How were the mahajanapadas governed?

Ans: The mahajanapadas were governed in two different ways :

a)  By monarchs : In monarchical mahajanapada, the king was the most powerful and used to have a hereditary system where after the death of the father the son took over the throne and was made the king. Kosala, Vatsa, Magadha and Avanti became the most powerful monarchical mahajanapadas. 

b) The republican mahajanapadas  : The republican mahajanapadas were ruled by a group of people who were elected by the people. Shakyas and Lichchhavis were the prominent and powerful republican mahajanapadas of that time. In the republican form of governance the elected group of people formulated the policies by majority decision system.

4. Name  some monarchical mahajanapadas.

Ans: Kosala, Vatsa , Magadha and Avanti .

5. Name two monarchical mahajanapadas.

Ans: Shakyas and Lichchhavis were the prominent and powerful republican mahajanapadas .

6. Why were the mahajanapadas well fortified?

Ans: The mahajanapadas were well fortified ; because -

a) To how the power and prosperity of the mahajanapadas .

b) To provide a safe and secure environment to people , where they could live without the threat of raids and invasions from outside.

7. Give reasons as to why kings wanted to expand the area under their control .

Ans: The kings wanted to expand the area under their control . Because - 

a) To capture more territory to cater to the increasing demand for land to cultivate more food for the growing population and

b) To show their might and power of authority among the contemporary kings and kingdoms or mahajanapadas .

8. Name a grand ritual performed by kings to capture more territories .

Ans: Ashwamedha Yagna.

9. Write about the taxation system of early states.

Ans: In The early states,  tax collection system was gradually formalised.

a) The farmers were required to pay 1/6th of their agricultural produce as tax.

b)The others like craft persons gave the part of their services free of charge to the king. This means the person used to work for the king free of charge for a fixed number of days in a month.

c) Similarly the herders and hunters used to provide a portion of their produce as tax. This contributed as food for the armies.

d) The traders also paid a portion of their income from trade as tax.

10. How much of tax was paid by the farmers?

Ans: The farmers were required to pay 1/6th of their agricultural produce as tax.

11. Name some areas which developed as the centre of trade?

Ans: Vaishali , Ayodhya , Mathura.

12. What were the developments that helped in increase in agricultural produce?

Ans: There were two major developments that took place during this period in the farming processes.

a)  The use of iron implements began. Ploughs with iron edges were introduced as farming implement. This helped to plough the land with dense clay soil better than the wooden ploughs.

b) The second change in the farming system was the technique of growing paddy saplings at one place and then transplanting it into fields. This helped to increase survivability of saplings and increase in the yield. 

Both these introductions led to increase of agricultural produce.

13)Write about the agricultural development of early periods. 

Ans:There were two major developments that took place during this period in the farming processes.

a) The use of iron implements began. Ploughs with iron edges were introduced as farming implement. This helped to plough the land with dense clay soil better than the wooden ploughs.

b) The second change in the farming system was the technique of growing paddy saplings at one place and then transplanting it into fields. This helped to increase survivability of saplings and increase  in the yield. 

Both these introductions led to increase of agricultural produce.

But even though the food production increased, this process of transplantation and working in the fields was a difficult occupation. The land owners started to hire the services of landless people or the dasas and the dasis to work for them.

14) Write about the division of Indian society by caste system.

Ans:  

a) The social divide became so severe that the Brahmins took it as if it was their birthright to gain and impart education and considered themselves to be superior than the others.

b) They discriminated against the others especially the Shudras and prevented them from gaining education and competing with the other classes.

c) Marriages between the different varnas was unacceptable in the society.

d) Religious ceremonies remained incomplete without the presence of a Brahmin.

e) The commoners were not allowed to gain the knowledge of the Vedas and other religious scriptures.

15) How were the Shudras affected by the stringent caste system?

Ans: The Shudras were affected by the stringent caste system . They prevented  from gaining education and competing with the other classes.

16) Write about the scientific development of early humans.

Ans : The discovery of iron as a common metal and the introduction of the art to smelt it was the most important development of this period. Iron was then used in different forms in tools and equipment.

The making of weapons like swords, daggers, spears, and tipping of arrows with metal grew in leaps and bounds. The extraction of chemicals. out of herbs by taking advantage of the teachings of the Atharvaveda helped medicinal science of Ayurveda to progress.

17) Write about Magadha.

Ans: Magadha was one of the 16 mahajanapadas or kingdoms in ancient India. The central parts of this kingdom were located in modern day Bihar, which lies south of the Ganges. Magadha's first capital was Rajagriha (now Rajgir), it was later shifted to Pataliputra (now Patna). 

The Magadha Empire gained much power and importance during the rule of King Bimbisara and his son and successor Ajatashatru. The king held the famous Ashwamedha yagna and captured many parts of the neighbouring mahajanapadas.

The Magadha Empire had advanced forms of weaponry because of which its opponents did not stand a chance against it. Ajatashatru even built a huge fort at his capital Pataliputra.

Magadha became the most powerful mahajanapada as its land was very fertile and it lead to prosperity.

There were large deposits of iron ore which was used for making weapons, tools, etc. 

The many rivers flowing in this region provided water for irrigation, means of transportation also helped to defend the territory from invaders.

The forests in this region provided timber which was used to make chariots and provided animals like elephants which were effective war resources.

With an unmatched military force, the Magadha Empire naturally had an advantage over the other kingdoms in conquering neighbourhood kingdoms and spreading its territory. The powerful rulers used the benefits of land and resources to their advantage and maintained efficient administration. This led to Magadha being accepted as the most powerful of the 16 mahajanapadas.

However, after the death of King Udayan, the Magadha Empire started to decline very rapidly. Internal disturbances and corruption within the kingdom led to its decline. The Magadha Empire was finally taken over by the powerful Nanda Dynasty who then ruled it for a good amount of time before being taken over by the Mauryas.

18) Name two famous kings of Magadha.

Ans: Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

19) Write down the importance of rivers for Magadha.

Ans: The  importance of rivers for Magadha are - 

a) for irrigation

b) for transportation.

20) How were forests useful for the Magadha Empire?

Ans:The forests of Magadha provided timber which was used to make chariots and provided animals like elephants which were effective war resources.

21) Name the capital of Vajji mahajanapada.

Ans: Vaishali.

22) Write about Vajji .

Ans: Vajji was a mahajanapada. Vajji mahajanapada was located in Bihar, north of the Ganges River. Its capital was Vaishali. This mahajanapada consisted of eight clans or janas to form a confederation. Out of these Lichchhavi was the most powerful. It consisted of several sanghas. In a sangha there were many rulers, they all came together to perform various rituals and used to take major policy decisions together.

They maintained a republic form of governance and unlike Magadha which followed a monarchical form. The lack of coordination between large number of kings made them weak over a period of time.

23) Choose the correct option.

1. By 200 BCE total number of mahajanapadas were  

i) 12         ii ) 14          iii) 16         iv)18

Ans: 16.

2. Which of the following is an example of republican mahajanapada?

i) Vajji       ii)Magadha 

iii) Vatsa     iv) Shakyas 

Ans: Shakyas.

3. How much of their produce were farmers required to give as tax to the king?

i) 1/4 th           ii) 1/5 th 

iii) 1/6 th         iv) 1/10 th 

Ans: 1/ 6 th. 

4. Which science did Atharvaveda help to progress?

i) Rigveda           ii) Arthashastra 

iii) Ayurveda     iv) none of these

Ans: Ayurveda.

5. Two powerful rulers of Magadha were 

i) Kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru

ii) Kings Samudragupta and Chandragupta

iii) Kings Ashoka and Harsha 

iv) Kings Kanishka and Pulakeshan.

Ans: Kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

6. The capital of Magadha shifted from Rajagriha to 

i) Pataliputra      ii) Mathura 

iii) Avanti.           iv) Agra.

Ans: Pataliputra.

7. The Magadha Empire was taken over by the powerful

i) Nanda Dynasty

ii) Maurya Dynasty

iii) Gupta Dynasty

iv) none of these

Ans: Nanda Dynasty

8. Vajji consisted of

i) eight clans to form a confederation

ii) nine clans to form a confederation

iii) ten clans to form a confederation

iv) 12 clans to form a confederation

Ans: eight clans to form a confederation.

24) Fill in the blanks.

Ans: 

1. Many   vish       collectively formed a janapada.

2. The mahajanapadas had capital cities as the seat of power and authority.

3. Magadha and Avanti became the most powerful monarchical mahajanapadas.

4.   Ploughs  with iron edges were introduced as farming implement. 

5.   Ajatashatru built a huge fort at his capital Pataliputra.

6. The capital of Vajji was Vaishali.

25) State whether true or false.

1. Shakyas and Lichchhavis were the prominent republics.

Ans:  True.

2. Officials were appointed to collect the tax.

Ans: True.

 3. Barter system continued with the increase in trade.

Ans: False.

 4. Marriages between the different classes of the society was permitted. 

Ans: False.

5. Pataliputra is the present day Patna.

Ans: True.

6. Vajji mahajanapada was located in Bengal.

Ans: False.