Class 7 History Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – Towns, Traders and Craftspersons

Question 1: Fill in the blanks:
(a) The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in _1010 A.D._.
(b) Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti.
(c) Hampi was the capital of the VijayanagaraEmpire.
(d) The Dutch established a settlement at Masulipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Question 2: State whether true or false:
(a) We know the name of the architect of the Rajarajeshvara temple from an inscription.
(b) Merchants preferred to travel individually rather than in caravans.
(c) Kabul was a major centre for trade in elephants.
(d) Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal.
Answer: (a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) False

Question 3: How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?

Answer: Water was supplied to the city of Thanjavur from tanks and wells.

Question 4: Who lived in the “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras?
Answer: Merchants and artisans lived in “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras.

Question 5: Why do you think towns grew around temples?
Answer: Towns grew around temples because temples were central to economy and society. Temple authorities used their wealth to finance trade and banking. Also, the large number of pilgrims provided ample opportunities for traders and artisans to conduct business.

Question 6: How important were craftspersons for the building and maintenance of temples?
Answer: Craftspersons played a crucial role in the building and adorning of temples with gold, silver, alloy-work, and textile and wood products. They also catered to the needs of pilgrims, thereby forming an important part of the ongoing trade.

Question 7: Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
Answer: People from distant lands visited Surat because it was the gateway of trade with west Asia. It was also famous for its Zari textiles which had a huge market in west Asia, Africa and Europe.

Question 8: In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?
Answer: Craft production in cities like Calcutta was formally organized and planned by the European companies. In Thanjavur, the production focused on the needs of the temple and the pilgrims.