NCERT Solutions Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 8: Vital villages, thriving towns

1. Fill in the blanks.

a. Vellalar was a word used for large landowners in Tamil.

b. The gramabhojaka often got his land cultivated by the slaves and hired workers.

c. Ploughmen were known as uzhavar in Tamil.

d. Most grihapatis were small landowners.

2. Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful?

Answer: There were various functions of the gramabhojaka, which are as follows:

• He has slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.
• The king uses the gramabhojaka to collect taxes from the village.
• He functioned as a judge.
• He also functioned sometimes as a policeman.

3. List the crafts persons who would have been present in both villages and cities.

Answer: The crafts persons present in both the villages and cities are as follows:

• Blacksmith
• Potter
• Carpenter
• Weaver

4. Choose the correct answer:

a. Ring wells were used for:

1. Bathing
2. Washing clothes
3. Irrigation
4. Drainage

Answer: Drainage

Explanation: Ring wells were used for toilets, drains, and garbage dumps.

b. Punch marked coins were made of:

1. Silver
2. Gold
3. Tin
4. Ivory

Answer: Silver

Explanation: Punch marked coins were the rectangular, square, or circular shaped coins made out of a metal. These coins were stamped using dies or punches.

c. Mathura was an important:

1. Village
2. Port
3. Religious centre
4. Forested area

Answer: Religious centre

Explanation: Mathura was an important settlement with various fortifications and shrines. It also became the second capital of the Kushanas. There were Buddhists, monasteries, and it was considered as an important centre for the worship of Krishna.

d. Shrenis were associations of:

1. Rulers
2. Craft persons
3. Farmers
4. Herders

Answer: Craft persons

Explanation: Shrenis were associations formed by the craft persons and merchants that provide the training, procured raw material, and the finished product.

5. Which of the iron tools sown on page 79 would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?

Answer: The important iron tools used for the agriculture are:

• Sickle
  Sickle is used for harvesting or reaping crops.
• Tongs
  Tongs are used by the blacksmith to make a tool from the hot iron.
• Axe
  Axe is used for gathering firewood and chopping trees.
• Iron Ploughshare
  The iron ploughshare is used to increase the agriculture production.

6. Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?

Answer: The drainage system using the past was made from the raw materials, such as wood, thatch, mud, etc., which was not durable. The drainage system made today is well designed with durable materials, such as metal. The system created today also extends up to large distances and underground. The drainage system in the past was made of the rings arranged one over the other. The drainage system today is also similar to it.