Class 7 new ncert Chapter 6 SST Solution - The Age of Reorganisation

Q & A —  6th   7th   8th   9th   10th

Questions and Activities (NCERT Based)

Question 1. Why was the post-Maurya era also known as the era of reorganisation?

Answer: After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, many new and small as well as large kingdoms emerged across the Indian subcontinent. These kingdoms fought with one another to expand their territories and become powerful. As a result, political boundaries and the nature of political power kept changing continuously. Therefore, this period is called the ‘Age of Reorganisation’.

Question 2. Write a note on the Sangam literature in 150 words.

Answer: Sangam literature is an important part of ancient Tamil literature of South India. It developed during the period of the Chola, Chera and Pandya kingdoms. The word ‘Sangam’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Sangha’, which means an assembly, organisation or coming together of people. In this context, it was associated with assemblies of poets. Sangam literature includes the works and collections of poems composed by many poets. It is an important source for historians to understand the society and culture of South India. These poems beautifully describe love, personal emotions, bravery, generosity and social values. This literature provides information about the lives, feelings, society and culture of the people of that time. Sangam literature was so important that the period in which it developed came to be known as the ‘Sangam Age’.

Question 3. Which rulers mentioned in this chapter included their mother's name in their title, and why did they do so?

Answer: The chapter mentions the Satavahana ruler Gautamiputra Satakarni. His name included the name of his mother, Gautami Balashri. In the Satavahana tradition, there was a practice of adding the mother’s name to the names of kings and princes.

Gautami Balashri was an influential queen. She donated land to Buddhist monks and also commissioned an important inscription at Nashik. This shows that women of the royal family had significant respect and influence. Therefore, including the mother’s name reflected her importance and prestige.

Question 4. Write a note of 250 words about one kingdom from this chapter that you find interesting. Explain why you chose it. After presenting your note in class, find out what kingdoms have been the most selected by your classmates.

Answer:

The Satavahana Kingdom –

I find the Satavahana Kingdom the most interesting. The Satavahanas were a powerful dynasty that ruled over a large part of the Deccan. Their kingdom mainly extended over areas of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Their important capitals included Amaravati and Pratishthana.

The most interesting feature of the Satavahana period was its developed trade. Pictures of ships are found on their coins. This shows that maritime trade was very important and that people had good knowledge of shipbuilding and sea travel. Their trade extended up to the Roman Empire. Spices, textiles, sandalwood, ivory and other goods were exported. Agriculture was also developed, and the Krishna-Godavari river system provided a strong foundation for agriculture.

The Satavahana period also provides important information about the position of women. The name of Gautamiputra Satakarni included the name of his mother, Gautami Balashri. Satavahana rulers respected different religious traditions and supported Vedic scholars, Jain monks and Buddhist monks.

I find the Satavahana Kingdom interesting because trade, agriculture, religion, art and culture developed together during this period.

Question 5. Imagine you have the chance to create your own kingdom. What royal emblem would you choose, and why? What title would you take as the ruler? Write a note about your kingdom, including its values, rules and regulations, and some unique features.

Answer: If I get an opportunity to establish an independent kingdom, I would name it the “Sukh-Samriddhi Kingdom”.

Royal Emblem: I would choose the sun and open hands as the royal emblem of my kingdom. The sun would symbolise knowledge, energy and progress, while the open hands would symbolise cooperation and service.

Title of the Ruler: I would give myself the title “Lok-Kalyan Samrat”, because the main objective of the ruler in my kingdom would be the welfare of the people.

Main Values of the Kingdom:

• Justice and equality
• Education and knowledge
• Respect for all religions
• Protection of nature and the environment
• Honesty and cooperation
• Safety and welfare of the people

Rules: Everyone in the kingdom would have the opportunity to receive education. No one would be discriminated against on the basis of caste, language, region or religion. Natural resources would be conserved. Farmers, workers, traders and artisans would be given proper respect. Justice would be equal for everyone.

Special Features: Libraries, schools, hospitals, clean drinking water and playgrounds would be available in every area of my kingdom. Art, literature, music and science would be encouraged. The greatest feature of the kingdom would be that the happiness and well-being of the people would be considered the main measure of the kingdom’s success.

Question 6. You have read about the architectural developments of the post-Maurya era. Take an outline of the Indian subcontinent and mark the approximate locations of some of the ancient structures mentioned in this chapter.

Answer: The following major architectural sites can be marked approximately at their respective locations on the map:

Architecture/Site	Present Location	Region on the Map
Bharhut Stupa	Madhya Pradesh	Central India
Udayagiri–Khandagiri Caves	Near Bhubaneswar, Odisha	Eastern India
Naneghat Caves	Maharashtra	Western India
Karla Caves	Near Lonavala, Maharashtra	Western India
Pitalkhora Caves	Maharashtra	Western India
Kallanai/Grand Anicut	Tamil Nadu, Kaveri River	Southern India

Marking these places on the map helps us understand that architecture and construction developed across northern, central, western and southern India during the post-Mauryan period.

Think About It, Let’s Explore and Don’t Miss Out

Question 1. What changes took place in the political situation of India after the Mauryan Empire?

Answer: After the breakup of the Mauryan Empire, many new states and dynasties emerged in India. The regions that were earlier under Mauryan control now saw the rise of several independent states. These states fought with one another to expand their territories and become powerful.

Question 2. How long was the period from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE?

Answer: The period from the beginning of the 2nd century BCE to the end of the 3rd century CE was approximately 500 years. During this period, many important dynasties, rulers and events emerged.

Question 3. For what purpose were marriage alliances used in ancient kingdoms?

Answer: Marriages between royal families were used to establish friendship and political alliances between two kingdoms. They strengthened relations between states and sometimes helped avoid wars.

Question 4. What information about the people of that time can we get from the sculptures of the Bharhut Stupa?

Answer: The railings and sculptures of the Bharhut Stupa provide information about the clothing, ornaments, occupations, daily life and art of the people of that time. The sculptures depict different kinds of people and activities.

Question 5. What does the presence of ships on Satavahana coins tell us?

Answer: The presence of ships on Satavahana coins shows that maritime trade was very important during that period. It also indicates that people had good knowledge of shipbuilding and travel through sea routes.

Question 6. Why were the Naneghat caves important for trade?

Answer: The Naneghat caves were located near an important trade route. Taxes and tolls were collected from traders there, and arrangements were also made for the rest of travellers and traders.

Question 7. What information can we get from the ships depicted on ancient coins?

Answer: Images of ships provide information about maritime trade, shipbuilding and the development of navigation techniques during that period. Satavahana coins are an important example of this.

Question 8. What does the clothing, weapons and footwear shown in the statue of Kanishka tell us?

Answer: The statue shows Kanishka wearing different types of clothing and footwear and carrying weapons. This indicates that the culture of the Kushana rulers was also influenced by Central Asian traditions.

Question 9. What does the depiction of Buddha and Shiva on the coins of Kanishka tell us?

Answer: It indicates respect and coexistence among different religious traditions during that period. A powerful ruler gave space to symbols associated with different religious traditions on his coins.

Question 10. What was the importance of the Silk Route?

Answer: The Silk Route was an important ancient trade route. It connected China with Central Asia, Persia and the Mediterranean regions. Along with goods, ideas and cultures were also exchanged through this route.

Question 11. How can Indian and Greek influences be identified in Gandhara art sculptures?

Answer: Gandhara art contains Indian subjects, especially figures of Buddha, while the body structure, style of clothing and some artistic features show Greek-Roman influence. Therefore, it is an example of the combination of Indian and Greek artistic traditions.

Question 12. Why can Mathura art be called Indian art?

Answer: Mathura art gave importance to Indian deities, Yakshas and Yakshinis. Red sandstone was commonly used, and Greek-Roman influence was comparatively limited. Therefore, Indian characteristics are clearly visible in Mathura art.

Question 13. Why were the names of mothers included in the names of Satavahana kings?

Answer: The Satavahana tradition gave an important place to mothers. For example, the name of Gautamiputra Satakarni was associated with the name of his mother, Gautami Balashri. This suggests that mothers had an important position and influence in the royal family.

Question 14. What do the Naneghat inscriptions tell us about the position of women?

Answer: The Naneghat inscriptions mention Vedic rituals and donations performed by a Satavahana queen. This shows that some women of royal families played important roles in religious, social and economic activities.

Question 15. What do the donations of the Satavahana period tell us about different sections of society?

Answer: The inscriptions mention donations of land, cows, horses, elephants and silver coins. These donations were made to priests, guests, workers, scholars and monks. This provides information about different social and religious groups of that period.

Question 16. Why were the Pandyas famous for pearls and why would pearls have been an important trade item?

Answer: The Pandya kingdom was connected with the sea and was involved in the pearl trade. Pearls were beautiful, rare and valuable. Therefore, they were used in ornaments and were likely to have been an important item of long-distance trade. The chapter gives special mention to the pearl trade of the Pandyas.

Question 17. How do historians obtain information about trade relations between distant kingdoms in ancient times?

Answer: Historians obtain information from coins, inscriptions, archaeological objects, trade routes and ancient literature. For example, coins and foreign objects found in different regions provide evidence of ancient trade relations. The chapter mentions the Cheras’ trade with the Roman world and West Asia.

Question 18. How might stone caves have been made so accurately?

Answer: Ancient craftsmen probably used simple tools such as chisels and hammers to carefully cut and shape the stones. Their patience, skill and experience made such accurate carving in stone possible.

Question 19. What does the fact that a person worked in different kinds of crafts tell us?

Answer: An inscription on a sculpture at Pitalkhora mentions that it was made by a goldsmith named Kanhadas. This shows that a person could be skilled in more than one type of work and that craftsmen could perform different kinds of activities.

Question 20. How were the Chola, Chera and Pandya kingdoms identified as distinct kingdoms?

Answer: These kingdoms had their own political identities, territories, dynastic traditions and royal symbols or emblems. Their coins and other sources help us identify their distinct identities.

Question 21. What do the clothing and posture of the statue of King Karikala tell us?

Answer: The posture, clothing and expression of the statue show the king’s royal position, power and prestige. It indicates that statues of rulers were designed to specially display their high status and authority.

Question 22. What do the inscriptions of the Pandya rulers tell us about their rule?

Answer: The inscriptions of the Pandya rulers indicate that they expressed concern for the welfare of their people and encouraged different religious ideas and traditions.

Question 23. Why was the horse released freely during the Ashvamedha Yajna?

Answer: The horse was released freely to determine which territories accepted the supremacy of the king performing the yajna. A region through which the horse passed without being stopped was considered to accept the king’s authority. If another ruler stopped the horse, a war could take place.

Question 24. How did the Ashvamedha Yajna demonstrate the power of a king?

Answer: Through the Ashvamedha Yajna, a king declared his superiority over other rulers. The free movement of the horse and the possibility of fighting rulers who stopped it demonstrated his political power.

Question 25. What is the Shaka Era and what is its significance in modern India?

Answer: The Shaka Era is an ancient Indian system of counting years. It is associated with the period of the Shaka rulers. In 1957, it was adopted as the national calendar of India.

Question 26. What is the difference between the Shaka Era and the Gregorian calendar?

Answer: The Shaka Era is generally 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Between January and March, the difference becomes 79 years.

Question 27. Why are ancient coins important for the study of history?

Answer: Coins provide information about rulers, their kingdoms, trade, economic activities and religious beliefs. For example, ships depicted on Satavahana coins and different deities shown on Kushana coins are important historical evidence.

Question 28. Why are inscriptions important sources for knowing history?

Answer: Inscriptions provide information about the activities of kings, wars, donations, religious ideas and administration. For example, the Hathigumpha inscription provides information about the achievements and rule of Kharavela.

Question 29. The “Age of Reorganisation” was not merely a period of political change. Explain.

Answer: During this period, along with political changes, there were major developments in trade, art, architecture, literature and culture. Contacts between different regions and foreign rulers led to the development of new artistic styles. Gandhara art is an example of this cultural interaction. Sanskrit literature and the Sangam literature of South India also developed during this period.

Other Important Questions

Question: 1. What were the major dynasties that emerged after the decline of the Mauryan Empire?

Answer: Several dynasties emerged after the Mauryan Empire. The major ones were—

• Shunga
• Satavahana
• Chedi
• Chola
• Chera
• Pandya
• Indo-Greek
• Shaka
• Kushan

Some of these dynasties emerged within the Indian subcontinent, while the Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushans came from outside India.

Question: 2. How did the new kingdoms expand their territories?

Answer: The new kingdoms mainly used two methods—

1. By forming matrimonial alliances.
2. By using warfare and military force.

Controlling the frontier regions was very important for security, so conflicts frequently took place in these areas.

Question: 3. Who founded the Shunga dynasty?

Answer: Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty. He ruled over parts of northern and central India. He also performed the Ashvamedha Yajna to demonstrate his power and supremacy.

Question: 4. What was the Ashvamedha Yajna?

Answer: Ashvamedha was a Vedic ritual through which a king declared his supreme authority. A horse was released freely with soldiers. The areas through which the horse passed without being stopped were considered to accept the king's authority. If another ruler stopped the horse, a war could take place.

Question: 5. What was the development of art and literature during the Shunga period?

Answer: The Shungas patronised literature, art and architecture. During this period, Sanskrit became an important language of philosophical and literary works. The compilation of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali is associated with this period. The beautiful railings and sculptures of the Bharhut Stupa are examples of Shunga art.

Question: 6. Who were the Satavahanas?

Answer: The Satavahanas were a powerful dynasty that ruled large parts of the Deccan from the second century BCE. Their kingdom mainly covered parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Their important capitals included Amaravati and Pratishthana (Paithan).

Question: 7. Why was trade important during the Satavahana period?

Answer: Trade and commerce were highly developed during the Satavahana period. Their coins contain images of ships, showing the importance of maritime trade. Their trade extended to the Roman Empire. They exported spices, textiles, sandalwood, ivory and other goods and imported glassware and perfumes. Trade provided revenue to the state through taxes and customs duties.

Question: 8. Which rivers played an important role in the development of agriculture during the Satavahana period?

Answer: The Krishna and Godavari river systems played an important role in the development of agriculture. These rivers provided stability to agriculture and strengthened the economy of the kingdom.

Question: 9. What does the use of matronymics in the names of Satavahana rulers indicate?

Answer: In the Satavahana tradition, the name of the mother was also included in the names of princes. For example, Gautamiputra Satakarni was named after his mother, Gautami Balashri. This indicates that mothers, especially women of the royal family, held an important position and influence in Satavahana society.

Question: 10. Which religious traditions did the Satavahana rulers patronise?

Answer: The Satavahana rulers were devotees of Vasudeva, or Krishna, but they also respected other religious traditions. They donated tax-free agricultural land to Vedic scholars, Jain monks and Buddhist monks.

Question: 11. Why did the Satavahana Empire decline?

Answer: In the third century CE, the Satavahana Empire broke into several small independent kingdoms. The major reasons were—

• Weakening of central authority.
• Gradual decline in the economic condition.

After this, different regional powers established their authority.

Question: 12. Who was an important ruler of the Chedi dynasty?

Answer: Kharavela was one of the important rulers of the Chedi dynasty. He followed the teachings of Jainism but respected other traditions as well. His achievements and rule are described in the Hathigumpha Inscription.

Question: 13. What is the importance of the Hathigumpha Inscription?

Answer: The Hathigumpha Inscription is written in the Brahmi script. It provides information about Kharavela's rule, military campaigns and welfare activities. It also mentions his respect for different religious sects.

Question: 14. Which were the three major kingdoms of South India during this period?

Answer: The three major kingdoms of South India during this period were—

• Chola
• Chera
• Pandya

These three kingdoms competed for political power and territorial control. They also contributed to the development of trade and culture in South India.

Question: 15. What is Sangam literature?

Answer: Sangam literature is an important part of ancient Tamil literature of South India. It developed as a collection of works by poets. It mainly describes themes such as love, personal emotions, bravery and generosity. Therefore, this period is known as the Sangam Age.

Question: 16. What was the major achievement of the Chola ruler Karikala?

Answer: Karikala was a powerful Chola ruler. He defeated the combined army of the Chera and Pandya rulers and established his supremacy. He also carried out several works for the benefit of the people. The most famous among them was the Kallanai or Grand Anicut, which helped use the waters of the Kaveri River for irrigation.

Question: 17. What was the importance of Kallanai or Grand Anicut?

Answer: Kallanai is an important water-distribution system built across the Kaveri River. It helped carry Kaveri water to the central and southern parts of the delta. This made cultivation possible over a larger area, and the region came to be known as the 'rice bowl' of South India.

Question: 18. What were the major features of the Cheras?

Answer: The Cheras were also known as Keralaputras, meaning 'sons of Kerala'. Their capital was Vanji. They patronised Tamil literature and Sangam poets. They had trade relations with the Roman Empire and West Asia. They exported spices, timber, ivory and pearls.

Question: 19. What were the major features of the Pandya kingdom?

Answer: The capital of the Pandyas was Madurai. Their kingdom covered parts of present-day Tamil Nadu. They were very active in trade and traded with the Greeks and Romans. They were famous for pearls and were also an important naval power.

Question: 20. What is Silappadikaram and what message does it convey?

Answer: Silappadikaram is a famous Tamil epic. It tells the story of Kannagi and her husband Kovalan. Kovalan was falsely accused of theft and was punished. Later, his innocence was revealed. The story highlights the importance of justice and the king's duty towards his people.

Question: 21. Who were the Indo-Greeks?

Answer: After Alexander's campaign in India, some of his regional rulers remained in the north-western regions. Over time, these rulers established independent kingdoms. They came to be known as Indo-Greeks. They adopted many aspects of Indian culture, resulting in a mixture of Greek and Indian elements in administration, art, language and daily life.

Question: 22. What does the Heliodorus Pillar indicate?

Answer: The Heliodorus Pillar near Vidisha is an important example of cultural contact between India and the Indo-Greeks. Heliodorus was an Indo-Greek ambassador. His inscription describes Vasudeva as the God of Gods. This shows that foreigners were also influenced by Indian religious traditions.

Question: 23. Who were the Shakas?

Answer: The Shakas, also known as Indo-Scythians, came to India from the north-west and established their rule here. They remained influential in different regions from the late second century BCE to the fifth century CE. The development of the Shaka Samvat is associated with their period.

Question: 24. What was the importance of the Shaka Samvat?

Answer: The Shaka Samvat is an important Indian system of time calculation. It was adopted as the National Calendar of India in 1957.

Question: 25. Who were the Kushans?

Answer: The Kushans originally came from Central Asia and probably reached India in the second century CE. At their height, their empire extended from Central Asia to large parts of northern India. Their rule saw considerable development in trade and cultural exchange.

Question: 26. Who was Kanishka?

Answer: Kanishka was a powerful ruler of the Kushana dynasty. Along with military campaigns, he also encouraged art and culture. Trade developed during his rule and contacts between different cultures increased.

Question: 27. What do the coins of Kanishka tell us?

Answer: The coins of Kanishka contain symbols of different religious traditions. Some coins show Buddha, while others show Shiva and Nandi. This indicates a spirit of coexistence and respect for different religious traditions during that period.

Question: 28. What were the main features of Gandhara art?

Answer: Gandhara art shows a mixture of Greek-Roman and Indian artistic elements. Brownish-black schist stone was generally used. The statues of Buddha particularly show realistic body forms and flowing, wavy garments.

Question: 29. What were the main features of Mathura art?

Answer: Mathura art developed in the Mathura region of present-day Uttar Pradesh. It shows more distinctly Indian artistic features. Red sandstone was mainly used. Figures of Kubera, Lakshmi, Shiva, Buddha, Yakshas and Yakshinis were created in this style.

Question: 30. What was the difference between Gandhara and Mathura art?

Answer:

Basis	Gandhara Art	Mathura Art
Major influence	Greek-Roman and Indian	Mainly Indian
Stone	Brownish-black schist	Red sandstone
Special feature	Realistic body forms and flowing garments	Fuller figures and smooth texture
Major subjects	Especially statues of Buddha	Buddha, Shiva, Lakshmi, Kubera, Yakshas, etc.

Question: 31. What was the importance of the Silk Route?

Answer: The Silk Route was a large network of ancient trade routes. It connected China with the Mediterranean world and passed through Central Asia and Persia. Important parts of it were under Kushana control, which helped increase India's trade with Asia and western regions.

Question: 32. How did foreign rulers become assimilated into Indian culture during this period?

Answer: Foreign rulers came to India as conquerors, but they also adopted many aspects of Indian culture. They placed Indian deities on their coins and adopted Indian art, languages and religious ideas. This resulted in cultural interaction between Greek, Central Asian and Indian traditions.

Question: 33. Why can this period be called an age of Indian cultural synthesis?

Answer: During this period, there was continuous contact between different Indian and foreign cultures. This led to the development of new styles in art, architecture, coins and literature. Gandhara art, which combined Greek and Indian elements, is a good example. Despite this interaction, Indian themes, especially Hindu and Buddhist themes, remained prominent.

Question: 34. What were the major features of the Age of Reorganisation?

Answer: The major features of this age were—

1. Emergence of many new kingdoms after the Mauryan Empire.
2. Struggle for power and territory among different kingdoms.
3. Arrival of foreign rulers in India.
4. Interaction and synthesis of different cultures.
5. Development of art and architecture.
6. Development of Sanskrit literature.
7. Growth of internal and external trade.
8. Development of the Chola, Chera and Pandya kingdoms in South India.