Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities | History VII | Questions and Answers

Our Past II | JANDKNCERT

Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities | History VII | Questions and Answers

 

Chapter 5: Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities

Let’s Recall

Question 1. Match the following:

Answer:

Column A	Column B
garh	chaurasi
tanda	caravan
labourer	paik
clan	garh
Sib Singh	Ahom state
Durgawati	Garha Katanga

 

Question 2. Fill in the blanks:

Answer:

(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.

Question 3. State whether True or False:

Answer:

(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions. — True
(b) There were no tribal communities in the northwestern part of the subcontinent. — False
(c) The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities. — False
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent. — False

Question 4. What kinds of exchanges took place between nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?
Answer: Nomadic pastoralists exchanged wool, ghee, and animals with settled agriculturists in return for grain, cloth, metal tools, and other products. These exchanges helped both communities meet their needs.

Let’s Understand

Question 5. How was the administration of the Ahom state organised?
Answer:
The Ahom state had a well-organized administration. It was divided into clans (khels). The adult males of each family served in the army and worked for the state as paiks. Land was given to paiks in return for service. The Ahoms also built infrastructure and maintained records of their history through Buranjis.

Question 6. What changes took place in varna-based society?
Answer:
New jatis (sub-castes) emerged within varnas based on occupations and regions. These jatis developed their own rules and customs. Brahmanas used texts to classify them, and they were gradually absorbed into the varna system.

Question 7. How did tribal societies change after being organised into a state?
Answer:
Tribal societies became more hierarchical. Leaders gained more power and land. Tribes adopted administrative systems, maintained records, and sometimes accepted caste-based practices. They started giving land grants and building forts and temples.

Let’s Discuss

Question 8. Were the Banjaras important for the economy?
Answer:
Yes, the Banjaras were crucial to the economy. They were nomadic traders who transported goods like grain and salt over long distances. They supplied armies and markets, facilitating trade and exchange in the medieval period.

Question 9. In what ways was the history of the Gonds different from that of the Ahoms? Were there any similarities?
Answer:
Differences:

·        The Gonds ruled central India; the Ahoms ruled in Assam.

·        The Gonds gradually built a large kingdom; the Ahoms created a powerful state through military expansion.

Similarities:

·        Both developed complex administration.

·        Both gave land grants and built infrastructure.

·        Both assimilated aspects of Hindu culture while retaining their traditions.

Let me know if you want this compiled into a downloadable or web-friendly format for your app or website!