Our Pasts - 2.

Chapter 7 Tribes, nomads and settled communities

CBSE NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 7

In-text questions

Q.1. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?

Solution: Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

1. Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.

2. In Kolkata, it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles, and silk textiles.

3. Thanjavur was a temple town and all lived in town.

4. Calcutta was a trading town and craftsmen lived in "Blacktown" areas.

Q.2. What were the problems encountered by merchants? Do you think some of these problems persist today?

Solution: Since traders had to pass through many kingdoms and forests, they usually travelled in caravans and formed
guilds to protect their interests. They had fear of being robbed while passing through forests.

Secondly, they had to pay taxes. As the nobles and the landowners refused to pay taxes, the merchants had
to pay taxes. Some men do not properly behave them they also cheat theme. Today our market became
rough. These problems persist today but decreasing in most nations due to the developments.

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Let’s recall

Q.1. Find out more about the architecture of Thanjavur and Hampi.

Solution: Thanjavur was a capital city in the Medieval Chola period. In Tamil, it means that it is a city which is
surrounded by clod farmlands. Thanjavur is the headquarters of the Thanjavur District. The city is an
important agricultural centre located in the Cauvery Delta and is known as the Rice bowl of Tamil
Nadu.
The Thanjavur Maratha palace was the official residence of the Bhonsle family who ruled over the
Thanjavur region from 1674 to 1855. It was originally constructed by the rulers of the Thanjavur
Nayak kingdom and after their fall, it served as the official residence of the Thanjavur Marathas.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. Chronicles left by Persian and
European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand
city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets.
The Vijayanagara Empire built extensive water infrastructure, some examples of which —
including the Manmatha tank near Virupaksha temple, which is dated to about the 9th century—
predates the Vijayanagara.
According to an inscription found there, the Manmatha tank was upgraded and a Durga shrine was
added in 1199 CE. The inclusion of artwork at the tank, such as a warrior fighting a lion, is dated to
the 13th century, when Hoysalas frequented Hampi.

Q.2. Find out how grain is transported from villages to cities at present. In what ways, is this similar to or different from the
ways in which the Banjaras functioned?

Solution: At present, grain is transported from villages to cities in lorries, trucks, trains, etc. The present-day method
of transportation is far faster than the tactic of Banjaras who used bullock-carts and domestic animals for
grain transportation.

Q.3. Why do you think the Mughals tried to conquer the land of the Ahoms?

Solution: The Ahoms migrated to the Brahmaputra valley from present-day Myanmar within the thirteenth
century. They created a replacement state by suppressing the older form of government of the
bhuiyan (landlords).
During the sixteenth century, they annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas ( 1523) and of Koch-Hajo (
1581) and subjugated many other tribes. The Ahoms built an outsized state, and for this, they used
firearms as early. By the 1660s they might even make top quality gunpowder and cannons.
However, the Ahoms faced many invasions from the south-west. In 1662, the Mughals under Mir
Jumla attacked the Ahom kingdom. Despite their brave defence, the Ahoms were defeated. But direct
Mughal control over the region couldn't last long.

Q.4. Match the following:

(a) Garh (p) Khel

(b) Tanda (q) Chaurasi
(c) Labourer (r) Caravan
(d) Clan (s) Garha Katanga
(e) Sib Singh (t) Ahom state
(f) Durgawati (u) Paik

A) [["a","b","c","d","e","f"],["p","q","r","s","t","u"]];;a-q;b-r;c-u;d-p;e-t;f-s;

Answer: [["a","b","c","d","e","f"],["p","q","r","s","t","u"]];;a-q;b-r;c-u;d-p;e-t;f-s;

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Solution: (a-q) Garhs were created to split the kingdom. Each garh was ruled by a different Gond clan. This was
further subdivided into chaurasi units, which were made up of 84 settlements. The chaurasi was divided into
barhots, each of which had 12 villages.

(b-r) The Banjaras were the most prominent nomad traders. The name of their caravan was tanda. The
Banjaras were utilised by Sultan Alauddin Khalji to bring grain to the city marketplace.

(c-u) The Ahom state was reliant on forced labour. Those obliged to labour for the government were known
as Paiks. A population census was conducted. By rotation, each town had to send a certain number of paiks.

(d-p) Clans or khels were used to segregate Ahom society. Since there were few artisan castes in the Ahom
region, they migrated from neighbouring kingdoms. A khel was often in charge of numerous villages.

(e-t) The Ahoms had the tribal gods that they worshipped. However, the influence of Brahmanas grew in
the first part of the seventeenth century. The king provided territory to temples and Brahmanas. Hinduism
became the prevalent religion during the reign of Sib Singh.

(f-s) Salbahan, the Chandel Rajput ruler of Mahoba, had a daughter named Durgawati. Dalpat, on the other
hand, died young. Rani Durgawati was a great ruler who began to rule on behalf of her five-year-old son,
Bir Narain. The kingdom grew much larger under her reign. In 1565, Asaf Khan's Mughal army assaulted
Garha Katanga.

Q.5. The new castes emerging within varnas were called _____.

A) jatis

Answer: jatis

Solution: The new castes emerging within varnas were called jatis. The economy and the needs of society grew,
people with new skills were required. Smaller castes, or jatis, emerged within varnas. Brahmanas have
appeared as a new cast. Smith carpenters and masons were also recognised as separate jatis by the
Brahmanas.

Q.6. _____ were historical works written by the Ahoms.

A) Buranjis

Answer: Buranjis

Solution: Buranjis were historical works written by the Ahoms. The Ahom kingdom ruled the region of
Assam. Ahom society was very sophisticated. Historical works were written at first in the Ahom language
and then in Assamese.

Q.7. The _____ mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.

A) Akbar Nama

Answer: Akbar Nama

Solution: Garha Katanga was a rich state. The history of Akbar’s reign, mentions the Gond kingdom of Garha
Katanga that had 70000 villages. The name of the book is Akbar Nama. The Mughals defeated the Gonds,
they captured a huge booty of precious coins and elephants.

Q.8. As tribal states became bigger and stronger, they gave land grants to _____ (temples/institutions) and _____
(brahmans/Kshatriyas).

A) temples

B) brahmans

Answer: brahmans

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Solution: The Ahoms had their own tribal gods that they worshipped. However, the influence of Brahmanas grew in the first part
of the seventeenth century.

The king provided territory to temples. Hinduism became the prevalent religion during the reign of Sib Singh. The ritual
of giving grants to the temples and the Brahmans were practised. However, after converting to Hinduism, the Ahom
rulers did not totally abandon their old beliefs.

Q.9. Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.

A) True

B) False

Answer: True

Solution: Tribal people were found in almost every region of the subcontinent. Contemporary historians and travellers
give very scanty information about tribes. A few exceptions apart, tribal people did not keep written
records. But they preserved rich customs and oral traditions. These were passed down to each new
generation. Present-day historians have started using such oral traditions to write tribal histories.

Q.10. There were no tribal communities in the northwestern part of the subcontinent.

A) True

B) False

Answer: False

Solution: Tribal people were found in almost every region of the subcontinent. The area and influence of a tribe
varied at different points in time. The Balochis were another large and powerful tribe in the northwest. They
were divided into many smaller clans under different chiefs.

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Let’s understand

Q.1. The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities.

A) True

B) False

Answer: False

Solution: The Gonds lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana or a “country inhabited by Gonds”. They
practised shifting cultivation. The administrative system of these kingdoms was becoming centralised. The
kingdom was divided into garhs. Each garh was controlled by a particular Gond clan. This was further
divided into units of 84 villages called chaurasi. The chaurasi was subdivided into barhots which were made
up of 12 villages each.

Q.2. The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent.

A) True

B) False

Answer: False

Solution: The large tribe of Bhils was spread across western and central India. By the late sixteenth century, many of
them had become settled agriculturists and some even zamindars. Many Bhil clans, nevertheless, remained
hunter-gatherers. The Gonds were found in great numbers across the present-day states of Chhattisgarh,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Q.3. What kinds of exchanges took place between nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?

Solution: 1. Nomadic pastoralists gave wool, ghee etc.

2. They lived on milk and other pastoral products.
3. They moved over long distances with their animals.
4. Settled agriculturalists gave the nomadic pastoralists grains, cloth, utensils and other products.

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Let’s discuss

Q.1. How was the administration of the Ahom state organised?

Solution: The Ahoms migrated to Brahmaputra valley during 13th century and they largely relied on forced labour.
They worked for the State and were known as 'paiks'.

A population census was taken and every village has to send these paiks on a rotation basis thereby making
the people shift from largely populated zones to lesser ones. Thus, by the 17th century the administration of
Ahoms became centralised.

Q.2. What changes took place in varna-based society?

Solution: The needs of people grew simultaneously with the growth of the economy and society. Varna-based caste
system developed on the basis of the skills of the people living in a society. Jatis grew within the varnas and
artisans specialised in specific skills like that of carpenters, masons were regarded as separate Jatis.

Moreover, many tribes were included in this caste-based society and were given the status of jatis. Thus,
Jatis became the base for the organisation of society.

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Let’s do

Q.1. How did tribal societies change after being organised into a state?

Solution: The growth of states has a very close relationship with transformation in tribal society. For instance, in the
Gond community, their equal society is separated into unequal social sections.

Gond rajas gave away grants of land to Brahmanas thereby becoming more influential among them. This
power made the Gonds recognise themselves as 'Rajputs'. The Gonds ruled a vast kingdom and of them, the
Gond raja of Garha Katanga was referred to as Sangram Shah.

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