NCERT Solutions Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 9: Traders, Kings and Pilgrims

1. Match the following:

Explanation:

• Muvendar is a Tamil word that means three chiefs, named as Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas. The three chiefs refer to the head of these three ruling families, who became powerful in the south India around 2300 years ago.
• Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni (the most important ruler of the Satvahanas) and the other Satvahana rulers were known as the lord of dakshinapatha.
• Ashvaghosha was the author of Buddha's biography named Buddhacharita.
• Bodhisattvas are the feature described in the new form of Buddhism, known as Mahayana Buddhism.
• Xuan Zang was one of the Buddhist Chinese pilgrims.

2. Why kings want to control the Silk Route?

Answer: Silk was a very expensive cloth material. Silk route is the route used to transports silk from China to other areas. The kings want to control the Silk route because they could benefit from the taxes, tributes, and gifts that were brought by traders travelling along the route.

3. What kinds of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes?

Answer: The various evidences that historians use to find about the trade and trade routes are as follows:

• The fine pottery, bowls, and plated found from several archaeological sites were brought by the traders from one place to the other.
• Traders carried the black gold (Pepper) to Rome in ships, across the sea, and by land in caravans.
• Traders carried Roman gold coins to different parts of the south India.
• They explored several sea routes where sailors took advantages of the monsoon winds to cross the seas more quickly.
• Traders found that the chiefs and kings who controlled the river valleys and coasts were more rich and powerful because such river valleys were the most fertile.
• The other findings were the silk from China, gold coins from Rome, etc. that traders carried from one place to the other.

4. What were the main features of Bhakti?

Answer: The main features of Bhakti are as follows:

• Bhakti is understood as a person's devotion to his or her chosen deity, which includes Shiva, Vishnu, and goddesses such as Durga.
• Anybody either rich or poor can follow the path of Bhakti.
• Bhakti was considered as the way to attain enlightenment or salvation.
• A devotee who worships the chosen deity with a pure heart is able to saw the deity in the form he or she may desire.
• Bhakti makes a devotee free from every evil.
• Bhakti gives a peace of mind.
• Bhakti makes a devotee free from greed.
• Bhakti makes a devotee understand the real meaning of life and the concept of karma and dharma.

5. Discuss the reason why the Chinese pilgrims came to India?

Answer: Chinese pilgrims came to India to visit the places associated with the life of the Buddha and the famous monasteries.

6. Why do you thin ordinary people were attracted to the Bhakti?

Answe: The ordinary people were attracted to the Bhakti in the following ways:

• Bhakti is understood as a person's devotion to his or her chosen deity, which includes Shiva, Vishnu, and goddesses such as Durga.
• Anybody either rich or poor irrespective of the caste can follow the path of Bhakti.
• Bhakti was considered as the way to attain enlightenment or salvation.
• A devotee who worships the chosen deity with a pure heart is able to saw the deity in the form he or she may desire.
• Bhakti makes a devotee free from every evil.