RBSE Class 6 Social Science Important Questions History Chapter 9 Traders, Kings and Pilgrims

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 6 Social Science Important Questions History Chapter 9 Traders, Kings and Pilgrims Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 6 Social Science Important Questions History Chapter 9 Traders, Kings and Pilgrims

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. 
Buddhacharita was composed by:
(a) Ashvaghosha 
(b) Kanishka
(c) Xuan Zang 
(d) Shri Satakarni.
Answer:
(a) Ashvaghosha 

 

Question 2. 
The rulers who controlled the silk route were:
(a) Kushans 
(b) Cholas
(c) Mauryas 
(d) Pallas.
Answer:
(a) Kushans 

Question 3. 
The technique of silk making was invented in:
(a) Rome 
(b) Pakistan
(c) China 
(d) India.
Answer:
(c) China 

Question 4. 
The original form of Buddhism is known as:
(a) Theravada
(b) Mahayana 1
(c) Both (a) and (d)
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(a) Theravada

Question 5. 
The Satavahana Dynasty became powerful in India.
(a) Northern 
(b) Southern
(c) Western 
(d) Eastern.
Answer: 
(c) Western 

Fill in the blanks

Question 1.
Pepper was valued in the ............... empire.
Answer:
Roman

Question 2 
............... is a Tamil word, meaning three chiefs.
Answer:
Muvendar

Question 3. 
Shri Satakarni and other Satavahan rulers were known as lords of the ...............  
Answer:
Dakshinapatha

Question 4 
............... was the capital of the Pandyas.
Answer:
Madurai

Question 5. 
Two major centre of power of the Kushanas were ............... and ...............  
Answer: 
Peshawar, Mathura.

True/False

Question 1. 
North India was famous for gold, spices and especially black pepper.
Answer:
False

Question 2. 
The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas had two centres of power.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
The Kushanas were amongst the earliest rulers of the subcontinent to issue gold coins.
Answer:
True

Question 4. 
At the time of Kanishka a new form of Buddhism Hinayana was developed.
Answer:
False

Question 5. 
The idea of Bhakti is presented in Ramayana, a sacred book of the Hindus. 
Answer: 
False

Match the column

I	II
1. Black Pepper	(a) Western India
2. Satvahana	(b) Bihar
3. Nalanda	(c) Madhya Pradesh
4. Eran	(d) Southern India
5. Worship of Bodhisattva	(e) China, Korea, Japan

Answer:

I	II
1. Black Pepper	(d) Southern India
2. Satvahana	(a) Western India
3. Nalanda	(b) Bihar
4. Eran	(c) Madhya Pradesh
5. Worship of Bodhisattva	(a) Western India

Very Short Answer Type Question

Question 1. 
Name the item of import which was known as Black Gold. Why it was called so?
Answer: 
Pepper was particularly valued in the Roman Empire. Therefore, it was known as Black Gold due to its colour and importance.

Question 2. 
What was South India famous for?
Answer: 
South India was famous for gold, spices, pepper and precious stones.

Question 3. 
How were the goods exported by traders to Rome?
Answer: 
Traders carried many of the items to Rome in ships across the sea and by land in caravans were:

Question 4.
Name the three powerful chiefs or kings of South India.
Answer: 
The Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas.

Question 5. 
Mention the name of the most powerful ruler of the Satvahana dynasty.
Answer: 
Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni was the most powerful ruler.

Question 6. 
Name the port of the Cholas.
Answer: 
Puhar or kaveripattinam was a large port and trade centre of Cholas.

Question 7. 
Name the capital of the Pandayas.
Answer: 
Madurai was the capital of the Pandayas. 

Question 8. 
Why did some kingdoms of South India become rich?
Answer: 
These kingdoms were located along the coasts and the river valleys. Amongst river valleys, Kaveri is the most fertile, so the king who controlled the river valley and the coasts became powerful. 

Question 9. 
Mention the qualities of silk which made it a high valued fabric.
Answer: 
The rich, glossy colours of silk, smooth texture made silk a highly valued fabric.

Question 10. 
How silk is made?
Answer: 
Making of silk is a complicated process. Raw silk has to be extracted from the cocoons of silk worms. Later it is spun into thread and women into cloth.

Question 11. 
Where is the silk first made?
Answer: 
Techniques of making silk were first invented in China around 7000 years ago.

Question 12. 
What do you understand by ‘Silk Route’?
Answer: 
The Chinese traders used different land routes to send silk to distant lands. This network was known as ‘Silk Route’.

Question 13. 
Name the writer of Buddha- charita.
Answer: 
Ashvaghosha wrote Buddha- charita.

Question 14. 
List the two sects of Buddhism.
Answer: 
Hinayana and Mahayana are the two sects of Buddhism.

Question 15. 
Mention some features of Mahayana Buddhism.
Answer: 
It is sect of Buddhism. It came into existence in the time period of Kushanas. The followers of the Mahayana worshiped Buddha as a God.

Question 16. 
What do you understand by Bodhisattvas?
Answer: 
Bodhisattvas were the persons who had obtained enlightenment and became very popular throughout China, Japan, Korea and central Asia.

Question 17.
Discuss about Hinayana.
Answer: 
It is a sect of Buddhism. In it, Buddha’s presence was shown in the sculptor by using some signs. For e.g. enlightenment of Buddha was shown by the sculptor of the peepal tree. ,

Question 18. 
Differentiate between Hinayana and Mahayana. 

Hinayana	Mahayana
(i) This sect was against idol worship.	(i) This sect was in the favour of statue or idol worship.
(ii) They considered Buddha as a teacher or Guru.	(ii) They considered Buddha as God.

Question 19. 
Name the older form of Buddhism.
Answer: 
Hinayana or Therauda Buddhism.

Question 20. 
Name the countries where Buddhism flourished.
Answer: 
Buddhism spread towards the southeast to Sri Lanka, Thailand, parts of south¬east Asia and Indonesia.

Question 21. 
What was the significant feature of later Hinduism?
Answer: 
The worship of deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and Goddesses such as Durga became important.

Question 22. 
Name the book that tells us the core idea of bhakti. Answer: The idea of Bhakti is presented in the Bhagavad Gita.

Question 23. 
State Krishna’s message to Arjun in the Bhagavad Gita.
Answer: 
Krishna, the God asks Arjun, his devotee and friend, to abandon all dharmas and take refuge in him, as only he can set Arjuna free from every evil.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
“There was trade relations between the Romans and the south Indian people”. Highlight evidences to prove the statement.
Answer: 
(i) Pottery:
From several archaeological sites, the Northern Black Polished Ware like pottery and others have been found such as bowls and plates. According to archaeologists, traders may have carried these items from the places where they were made to sell them at other places.

(ii) Coins:
Many Roman gold coins have been found in south India. It suggests the trade relations with Rome.

(iii) Literature:
In Sangam literature, some detail about trade and trade relations have been found.

Question 2. 
What are the features of the southern half of the Indian sub¬continent?
Or
State and explain the features of the southern half of the Indian subcon¬tinent.
Answer: 
Several features of southern half of the Indian sub-continent include:

1. It is marked by a long coastline where one can find hills, plateaus and river valleys.
2. Kaveri is the most prolific river valley of the southern half.
3. Kings and chiefs who controlled the river valleys and coasts were the most powerful and wealthy.

Question 3. 
“Traders explored several sea routes.” Justify the statement.
Answer: 
Traders explored several sea routes. Some of these followed the coasts. They went across the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal. These traders took advantage of the monsoon winds to cross the sea quickly. If traders wanted to reach the western coast of the subcontinent from Arabian or east Africa, they choose to sail with the south west monsoon.

Question 4. 
Discuss some common features of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas.
Or
Write a short note on the ‘three chiefs’.
Answer: 
(i) Centres of power:
These three kingdoms had two centres of power:
(a) inland
(b) one on the coast

(ii) Taxes:
The chiefs of these kingdoms did not collect regular taxes. They demanded gifts from the people. They collect tributes from neighbouring areas to fulfill the expenses.

(iii) Management of wealth:
The kings kept some part of the wealth for themselves and distributed the rest amongst their supporters, family members, poets and soldiers.

(iv) Poets composed poems in praise of these kings and they rewarded them with gold, horses, elephants, etc.

Question 5. 
Mention the ways by which the knowledge of silk spread far and wide.
Answer: 
For many centuries, the making of silk technique was a secret but its knowledge spread because of following reasons:

1. The Chinese started to travel to distant lands carrying silk with them. Sometimes, they gave silk as gift to different people.
2. The Chinese would trade in silk with Indians for some objects like metal and stones.
3. The Indians would trade in silk with the Roman empires.
4. Chinese rulers gifted silk to rulers in Iran and west Asia.
5. About 2000 years ago, wearing silk became fashion for rich people. Silk was used in high societies and its knowledge spread due to these classes.

Question 6. 
Write a note on ‘The Satavah anas’.
Answer: 
The Satavahana dynasty emerged as power in western India. The most important rulers of the Satavahanas was Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.The inform¬ation regarding the achievements of Shri Satakarni could be obtained from an inscription composed by his mother. Shri Satakarni and other Satavahana rulers were known as ‘Lords of dakshinapatha’.

Question 7. 
Discuss about the Chinese- Buddhist pilgrims and travel records.
Answer: 
The Chinese Buddhist pilgrims include:
Fa Xian, Xuan Zang and I-Qing. These pilgrims came to India to visit the important sites of Buddhism. 
(i) Fa Xian: 
He was a buddhist pilgrim who visited sites of Buddhism. He collected many Buddhist manuscripts and took back to China.

(ii) Xuan Zang: 
He was a Chinese scholar and pilgrim. He carried back with him statues of Buddha made of gold, silver and sandalwood, 600 manuscripts loaded on the back of 20 horses. He translated manuscripts from Sanskrit to Chinese.

(ii) I-Qing: 
He was also a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who came about 50 years after Xuan Zang. They came to visit places associated with the life of the Buddha as well as famous monasteries.

Result: 
These pilgrims left details of journey, like dangers they encountered details of countries and monasteries they visited while travelling.

Question 8. 
Who were Kushanas and how they controlled the silk route during their rule?
Answer: 
The Kushana were the best known rulers who controlled the silk route.

1. Their two major centres of power were Peshawar and Mathura.
2. Taxila was also included in their kingdom.
3. During their rule, there was a branch of silk route in central Asia to the seaports.
4. The Kushanas were amongst the earliest rulers of the subcontinent to issue gold coins.

Question 9. 
Who was Kanishka? Why is he famous in history?
Answer: 
The most famous ruler of the Kushana was Kanishka. He ruled around 1900 years ago. He was a great supporter of Buddhism. He organised a Buddhist council where scholars meet and discussed issues related to Buddhism. He is famous in history because of services to Buddhism. He is also known as ‘second Ashoka’.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas were powerful rulers of south Indian. Describe.
Answer: 
The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas ruled in south India about 2300 years ago. He was a very powerful ruler. This description is as follows:

1. The word ‘Muvendar’ is used for them in Sangam poems, meaning three chiefs. These were the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.
2. Each of the three chiefs had two centres of power: one inland, and one on the coast.
3. Of these six cities, two were very important: Puhar or Kaveripattinam, the port of the Cholas, and Madurai the capital of the Pandyas.
4. The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas demanded and received gifts from the people.
5. They also went on military expeditions and collected tribute from neighbouring areas. They kept some of the wealth and distributed the rest amongst their supporters, including members of their family, soldiers, and poets.
6. Many poets whose compositions are found in the Sangam collection composed poems in praise of chiefs who often rewarded them with precious stones, gold, horses, elephants, chariots, and fine cloth.

Question 2. 
What do you know about the Satavahana dynasty?
Answer: 
Satavahana Dynasty:

1. Around 200 years later a dynasty known as the Satavahanas beame powerful in western India. There were many majestic kings in this dynasty.
2. The most important ruler of the Satavahanas was Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni. We know about him from an inscription composed on behalf of his mother, Gautami Balashri.
3. He and other Satavahana rulers were known as lords of the dakshinapatha, literally the route leading to the south, which was also used as a name for the entire southern region.
4. He sent his army to the eastern, westeri. and southern coasts.
5. Shri Satakarni wanted to establish his control over foreign trade and ports of south India.

Question 3. 
What is the Silk Route?How did the Kushanas control it?
Answer: 
Silk Route:
China who went to distant lands on foot, horseback, and on camels, carried silk with them. The paths they followed came to be known as the Silk route.

Control of Kushanas Rulers:

1. The best-known of the rulers who controlled the Silk Route were the Kushanas.
2. They ruled over central Asia and north-west India around 2000 years ago. Their two major centres of power were Peshawar and Mathura. Taxila was also included in their kingdom.
3. During their rule, a branch of the Silk Route extended from Central Asia down to the seaports at the mouth of the river Indus, from where silk was shipped westwards to the Roman Empire.
4. The Kushanas were amongst the earliest rulers of the subcontinent to issue gold coins. These were used by traders along the Silk Route. 

Question 4. 
Describe two features of Mahayana, the new stream of Buddhism.
Answer: 
At the time of Kanishka, a new form of Buddhism, known as Mahayana Buddhism, was developed. This had two distinct features:
1. Earlier, the Buddha’s presence was shown in sculpture by using certain signs. For instance, his attainment of enlightenment was shown by sculptures of the peepal tree. Now, statues of the Buddha were made. Many of these were made in Mathura, while others were made in Taxila.

2. The second change was a belief in Bodhisattvas. These were supposed to be persons who had attained enlightenment, they could live in complete isolation and meditate in peace. However, instead of doing that, they remained in the worlc to teach and help other people. The worship of Bodhisattvas became very popular, and spread throughout Central Asia. China, and later to Korea and Japan.

Question 5. 
Describe the growth and spread of Buddhism during the reign of Kanishka.
Answer: 
The most famous Kushana ruler was Kanishka. There was a lot of development and spread of Buddhism during his reign:

1. He organised a Buddhist council, where scholars met and discussed important matters.
2. Ashvaghosha, a poet who composed a biography of the Buddha, the Buddhacharita, lived in his court.
3. At the time of Kanishka, a new form of Buddhism, known as Mahayana Buddhism was developed.
4. Buddhism also spread to western and southern India, where dozens of caves were hollowed out of hills for monks to live in.
5. Buddhism also spread south-eastwards to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia including Indonesia. The older form of Buddhism, known as Theravada Buddhism was more popular in these areas.

Question 6. 
What do you understand by pilgrims? Tell us about the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who visited India.
Answer: 
Pilgrims:
Pilgrims are men and women who undertake journeys to holy places in order to offer worship.

Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who visited India:
Three famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrims came to India. The best-known of these are the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims, Fa Xian, who came to the subcontinent about 1600 years ago. After this Xuan Zang came around 1400 years ago and became famous. I-Qing came about 50 years after Xuan Zang. They came to visit places associated with the life of the Buddha as well as famous monasteries. Each of these pilgrims left an account of his journey. They wrote of the dangers they encountered on their travels, which often took years, of the countries and the monasteries that they visited, and the books they carried back with them.

Question 7. 
Nalanda was a unique centre of learning. Explain.
Or
What did Xuan Zang write about the Nalanda’s centre of Buddhist learning?
Answer: 
Nalanda-A unique Centre of Buddhist Learning:
Nalanda was a distinct centre of learning in ancient India. Students from distant places came to study here. Xuan Zang and other pilgrims also studied in Nalanda, (Bihar). Xuan Zang has written the following description about Nalanda:

1. The teachers are men of the highest ability and talent.
2. They follow the teachings of the Buddha in all sincerity.
3. The rules of the monastery are strict, and everyone has to follow them.
4. Discussions are held throughout the day, and the old and the young mutually help one another.
5. Learned men from different cities come here to settle their doubts.
6. The gatekeeper asks new entrants difficult questions. They are allowed to enter only after they have been able to answer these.
7. Seven or eight out of every ten are not able to answer.