CLASS: VI SOCIAL SCIENCE

HISTORY- CHAPTER:5 EARLY EMPIRES

I. CONCEPT MAP.

Draw a concept map on Janapadas and Mahajanapadas

JANAPADAS AND MAHAJANAPADAS

Rise of Monarchies Improvements Increase in Religious

and Republics in Agriculture Trade changes

Magadha Use of iron and use *Formation of *Varna system

emerged as the of techniques like merchant guilds *Rise of Jainism

most important paddy *Emergence of and Buddhism

mahajanapada. transplantation sea ports on the

west coast

II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN BRIEF.

1. How did some kings begin to be recognised as kings of janapadas? How did rituals help

these kings in finding larger territorial states?

Ans:

➢ The kings who performed big sacrifices, gradually came to be recognized as kings of

janapadas, rather than janas.

➢ Janapadas were literally the ‘foothold of the janas’, i.e., the territory where the janas or

tribes settled down and resided.

 ➢ As janas or tribes became identified with particular territories, rajans of the janas became

kings with kingdoms or janapadas.

2. What factors led to the growth of trade in this period? How was it carried out?

Ans:

➢ While a large part of the agricultural produce was collected as taxes, some of it was also

traded in the form of commodities.

➢ Thus, there was an increase in trading activities, which continued till about the 6th century.

➢ The goods produced by craftspeople were carried over long distances by merchants.

➢ They travelled either by carts or sailed down rivers, as some cities were located on riverbanks.

➢ They may have used the punch-markedcoins as the medium of exchange.

3. Discuss the varna system practised in janapadas and mahajanapadas.

Ans:

➢ The varna system that classified people into brahmanas, kshatriyas, Vaishyas and shudras

continued and came to be firmly established in society.

➢ However, it was no longer skill- based; it became hereditary.

➢ Thus, the son of a merchant could only become a merchant.

➢ Not everyone accepted the varna system as developed by the brahmana priests.

➢ Some warrior kings felt that they were superior to the priests.

➢ Others objected to birth in a certain community being the decisive factor for the

allotment of varna.

4. Why was the period between 600 BCE and 300 BCE a period of religious turmoil?

Ans:

➢ The period between 600 BCE and 300 BCE was one of religious turmoil and change.

➢ In this age, the brahmanas had begun to dominate the religious practices.

➢ They encouraged complex rituals, elaborate sacrifices, expensive ceremonies, and the varna
 system, and emphasised the sanctity of the Vedas.

➢ People gradually became dissatisfied and sought different religious options. Two new

religions, Jainism and Buddhism, which did not conform to brahmanical principles,

became popular.

5. What factors helped Magadha to emerge as the strongest mahajanapada and eventually

into an empire?

Ans:

➢ Since Magadha was located at the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Son, water was

available for drinking, cultivation, and transport.

➢ Magadha also had large deposits of iron ore, used for making agricultural implements and

weapons of war.

➢ Forests provided wood as well as elephants that proved to be invaluable during Magadha’s

expansion.

➢ Magadha also had profitable trading networks with other regions.

➢ These factors helped Magadha to emerge as the strongest mahajanapada and eventually

into an empire.

III. HOTS:

1.Why do you think the availability of surplus food was important for the development of

the early states?

Ans:

➢ Agriculture is believed to be a pre-requisite for cities, which help preserve surplus production.

➢ It is believed that cities first formed due to the spread of agriculture after the Neolithic

Revolution.

➢ Farming encouraged hunter-gatherers to abandon nomadic lifestyles and settle near others who

lived by agricultural production.

 ➢ Agriculture produced more food, leading to denser human populations, thereby supporting

development of cities.

➢ Thus, farming led to dense, settled populations, and food surpluses that required storage

and could facilitate trade

IV. MAP ACTIVITY.

On the map of India, locate the following:

• The kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala

• The Republic of Vajji