Vital villages and thriving towns –ch-8

Q1. What is ‘Jatakas’?

Ans: Jatakas are stories, probably composed by ordinary people and then written down and
preserved by Buddhist monks.

Q2. Why were the coins called punch-marked?

Ans: Because the designs were punched on the metals.

Q3. Where is Arikamedu site situated?

Ans :Arikamedu site is situated in Puducherry. It was a coastal settlement.

Q4. What do you understand about ‘amphorae pottery’ found from the Arikamedu site?
Ans: These are tall double-handled jars that contained liquids such as wine or oil.

Q5. What were landowners, ordinary ploughmen and landless laborers called in Tamil Nadu?
Ans: In the Tamil region, large landowners were called vellalar, ordinary ploughmen were called
uzhavar and landless labourers including slaves were called kadaisiyar and adimai.

Q6. What were the largest landowner, independent farmers and landless people called in
Northern India?
Ans: In the northern part of the country, the largest landowner were called grama bhojaka,
independent farmers were called grihapatis and landless people were called dasa karmakara.

Q7. Why was Tamil literature called Sangam?

Ans: The Tamil literature was called Sangam because it was composed and compiled in
assemblies of poets that were held in the city of Madurai. The assemblies were earlier called
Sangam. So, literature was called Sangam.

Q8. Name the objects found from Arikamedu site.

Ans:The Objects found from Arikamedu site are:

1. A massive brick structure which may have been a warehouse,

2. Pottery such as amphorae and Arretine Ware.
3. An another type of pottery which was made locally through Roman designs were used.
Roman lamps, glassware and gems have also been found at the Arikamedu site.

Q9. Why was Mathura an important city about 2500 years ago?
Ans:It was an important city because it was located at the crossroads of two major routes of
travel and trade. Northwest to East and from North to South. There were fortifications around
the city and several shrines. Mathura was also a center where some extremely fine sculpture
was produced.

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
importan centre for the worship of Krishna.
Q10. What was recorded in inscriptions about the gifts and occupations in the early city
Mathura?
Ans: It has been recorded in the inscriptions that gifts were made by the people to
monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants and craft
persons who lived in the city. Mathura was one of the centre of goldsmiths, blacksmiths,
weavers, basket makers, garland makers, perfumers etc.

Q11. What do you understand about ‘shrenis’? How do these shrenis help to the craft persons
and merchants?
Ans: Many craft persons and merchants now formed associations known as ‘shrenis’. These
shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material and distributed the finished
product. The merchants of shrenis organized the trade.

These shrenis also served as banks where rich people deposited money and a part of the
interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.

Q12. Describe rules for spinning and weaving as mentioned in Arthashastra.

Ans: Rules for spinning and weaving have been mentioned in Arthashastra. As per
Arthashastra:

1. Spinning and weaving could be done in workshops under the supervision of a special
official.
2. Widows, young women who are differently-abled, nuns, mothers of courtesans, retired
women, servants of the king, or retired people from temple service may be used for
processing wool, bark, cotton, hemp and flax.
3. Women who are not permitted to leave their homes can send maidservants to bring the
raw material from the superintendent and take the finished work back to him.
4. Women who can visit the workshop should go at dawn to give their work and receive
their wages.
5. The activities other than work, was punishable at the workplace.
6. If a woman does not complete her work, she will have to pay a fine, and her thumbs
can be cut off, etc.

Q13. Discuss the Northern Black Polished Ware or NBP Ware of the early centuries of the
ancient India.
Ans:

 We have archaeological evidences for crafts of ancient India. These include extremely fine
pottery, known as the Northern Black Polished Ware (or NBP Ware in short form).
 The Northern Black Polished Ware gets its name from the fact that it is generally found in
the northern part of the subcontinent. It is usually black in colour and has a fine sheen
(illustration).
 We can see and can give as an example of the Rampurwa Bull in this regard. This was part
of a Mauryan pillar and has now been placed in Rashtrapati Bhawan (New Delhi). It is a
good example of the skill of the sculptures of the time.