The Class 7 History Chapter 6 notes will tell you the more intricate details of our past. Business, crafting, and trading are not new to our world and as such, have a long and storied history. People gathered together for convenience and out of necessity. Depending on the type of town, one could find administrative centres, temple towns, commercial hotspots, and many more. There was usually a core occupation that was supported by traders looking to make a living.
Access NCERT Solutions for Social Science Class 7 Chapter 6 – Towns, Traders and Craftspersons
1. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The Rajarajeswara temple was built in __________.
(b) Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint __________.
(c) Hampi was the capital of the __________ Empire.
(d) The Dutch established a settlement at ___________in Andhra Pradesh.
Ans:
- 1010 A.D. – The Rajarajeswara temple is a Shiva temple located near Taliparamba in Kerala’s Kannur district.
- Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti – Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti settled in Ajmer and began preaching.
- Vijayanagara – The empire was called after Vijayanagara, the capital city of the empire, whose ruins now surround Hampi, a World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India.
- Masulipatnam – Machilipatnam, sometimes known as Masulipatnam or Masulipatam, is a city in eastern Andhra Pradesh, India.
2. State whether true or false:
- We know the name of the architect of the Rajarajeswara temple from an inscription.
Ans: True – Kunjaramallan Rajaraja Perunthachchan was the architect of the Rajarajeswara temple.
- Merchants preferred to travel individually rather than in caravans.
Ans: False – The merchants had to cross through a number of kingdoms and woodlands on their way to their destination. They were afraid of being robbed while travelling through the woods. As a result, they tended to travel in caravans and formed guilds to safeguard their interests.
- (c)Kabul was a major centre for trade in elephants.
Ans: False – Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital and largest city, is located in the country’s eastern region.
- Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal
Ans: False – Surat is an important Indian commerce port, yet it is not in the Bay of Bengal.
3. How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?
Ans: The city of Thanjavur was supplied with water through tanks and wells.
4. Who lived in the “Black Towns” in cities such as Madras?
Ans: In towns like Madras, merchants and artisans lived in “Black Towns.” The “blacks,” or native traders and craftspeople, were imprisoned here, while the “white” rulers lived in the finer residences of Madras’ Fort St George and Calcutta’s Fort St William.
5. Why do you think towns grew around temples?
Ans: Temples grew up around them because:-
- Temples played an important role in the economy and society.
- Rulers provided land and money to temples in order for them to perform elaborate ceremonies, feed pilgrims and priests, and celebrate festivals. Pilgrims who went to the temples also helped.
- Temples served as hubs for commerce and craft production.
- The temple’s wealth was utilised to finance trade and banking. Furthermore, the large number of pilgrims provided ample economic opportunities for merchants and artisans.
Bhillasvamin (Bhilsa or Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh) and Somnath in Gujarat are two instances of temple towns.
6. How important were crafts persons for the building and maintenance of temples?
Ans:
- Temples were built with the help of bronze smiths, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, and masons.
- Craftspeople were essential in the construction and adornment of temples with gold, silver, alloy-work, textiles, and wood items.
- Pilgrims’ demands were also met by craftspeople, making them a significant element of the continuous trade.
- Temple gifts were also made by wealthy weavers.
7. Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
Ans: Surat attracted visitors from all over the world since it served as a commerce hub for west Asia.
- Surat served as a crossroads for trade with West Asia via the Ormuz Gulf. Surat is also known as the “Gateway to Mecca” because it is where many pilgrim ships depart for Mecca.
- Surat was home to Portuguese, Dutch, and English manufacturing and warehouses in the seventeenth century.
- Surat textiles were known for their gold lace borders (zari), and they were popular in West Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- The state built a slew of rest stops for visitors from all over the world who flocked to the city.
- At Surat, the Kathiawad seths or mahajans (moneychangers) possessed enormous banking houses.
- In the far-flung markets of Cairo, Egypt, Basra, Iraq, and Antwerp, Belgium, the Surat hund was honoured.
- People from all over the world came to Surat for these reasons.
8. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?
Ans: The following were the distinctions between craft production in Calcutta and Thanjavur:-
- European firms formally coordinated and planned craft manufacturing in places like Calcutta. Craftspeople in Thanjavur were self-sufficient.
- Craftspeople in Calcutta were not allowed to sell their own crafts and fabrics, whereas in Thanjavur, they were permitted to do so.
- Craftspeople in Calcutta worked on a system of advancements, but in Thanjavur, crafts were developed based on enthusiasm.
- The artisans in Calcutta were required to duplicate the drawings provided by the Company’s agents.
- Calcutta’s merchants and artisans (such as weavers) were relocated to other towns’ Black Towns, which were built by European firms. They didn’t have the same freedom as the Thanjavur artisans.
NCERT Solutions of Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 6: Download PDF Here
The NCERT Class 7 History Chapter 6 solutions PDF are designed to give students an edge when it comes to an understanding of this chapter by shortening the time it takes to grasp this information. You can download these reliable solutions for free and study as per your convenience.
Chapter 6: Towns, Traders, and Craftsperson
Introduction
Ch 6 History Class 7 notes initially starts with the types of towns one could find in the past. NCERT Solutions for Class 7 SST History touches upon the function of different kinds of towns and the significance of their resident traders and craftspeople (as well as the travellers). Towns, traders, and craftsperson Class 7 solutions will have all the information needed to brush up on this chapter.
Administrative Centres
Administrative Centres were essentially a place from which the king would rule. Thanjavur could be seen as an administrative centre as it was the capital of the Cholas. The presence of the Kaveri nearby offers an excellent water source, which also makes this land great for farming. Since the imperial capital was Thanjavur, you could also find skilled craftspeople and traders who were held to a higher standard for their work ever to be considered worthy of the imperial standard. It should be known that since towns didn’t have set designations, you could find that some towns had administrative centres and temples as well.
Temples, Towns, and Pilgrimage Centres
Temples always held a special place in the heart of anyone who lived in the past. From the noble king to the common architect, temples served a purpose for them all. Once a temple was erected in a remote area, the priests would help facilitate financial routes like traders and craftspeople. In the olden days, temples would be a place where pilgrims could find solace and even a meal. As more people came to visit the temple, more traders would flock to the area to support the needs of the priests and pilgrims alike.
Network of Small Towns
Towns popped up in the 8th century that became trading hubs for nearby villages, who would gather to sell their wares and buy some necessary products for themselves. There was no shortage of potters, oil pressers, sugarmakers, toddy makers, smiths, stonemasons, and so many more traders and craftspeople. Over time, a Zamindar would build a palace/home on or near the grounds where this trading occurs and then began to levy taxes on traders who wished to set up shop in the area. The traders either lived in the towns or travelled to the nearest hub to exchange their wares.
Traders and Craftspeople
As more and more villages and kingdoms came into contact with one another, traders began looking for new places to sell their goods while also looking for new sources of income. However, travelling alone during the past was quite perilous and so began the tradition of caravans. Traders started to travel in groups to protect themselves; the well-to-do traders even hired caravan guards. The network of trading eventually spread to European traders, who could not get enough of some of our spices. They are still used in staple European cooking to this day.
Craftspeople from the town of Bidar became famous as word spread of their intricate inlays of copper and silver (given the name Bidri). Jewellery and intricately embroidered clothing were both in high demand because of their aesthetic qualities.
Hampi, Masulipatnam, and Surat
Hampi: Hampi was one of the few towns whose walls were designed by interlocking pieces as opposed to bricks and mortar. This resulted in the creation of magnificent structures and arches, which made Hampi look majestic for its time. Trade boomed in all respects, and traders from all walks of life (from Muslim merchants to European traders) were welcome. Hampi flourished because of the constant influx of traders and pilgrims. However, after the defeat of Vijayanagara in 1565, Hampi fell into ruin.
Masulipatnam: Masulipatnam was another town that took to trade with pride. The name of the town meant “fish port town”, and it was on the delta of the Krishna river. In the 17th century, Masulipatnam was booming with trade. However, the advent of the East India Company and their rules resulted in most traders moving to Bombay or Calcutta. Today, Masulipatnam is but a shadow of its former glory.
Surat: Surat is where many of History’s greatest stories were told. Surat was often referred to as the “Gateway to the west”. It was through Surat that the Mecca pilgrimage could occur. The town saw people of all castes, creed, and station in life living together out of love for trade and profit. Surat is still a booming hub of commerce even today.
Key Features of NCERT Solution of Class 7 SST History Chapter 6
Our experts designed these NCERT solutions of Class 7 History Chapter 6 to help cover any issues students may face regarding this chapter. The key features of the town, traders, and craftsperson Class 7 solutions are as follows:
- It offers an excellent way to prepare for this chapter after studying it.
- The solutions are written to match acceptable answers in CBSE examinations, allowing for a better idea of what to expect.
- It adds extra information as well as tips on how to memorize important parts of the chapter effectively
Conclusion
The solutions begin by introducing the concept of towns and their role in the development of civilizations. Students learn about the factors that contributed to the growth of towns, including trade, craft production, and cultural exchange. Moreover, NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 6 delve into the lives and occupations of traders and craftspersons during ancient and medieval times. Students gain insights into the various crafts and trade practices that flourished in different regions. The solutions further explore the interconnectedness of towns and their influence on the economy, society, and culture. Students understand the impact of towns on the social hierarchy, division of labor, and urban-rural linkages. Additionally, the chapter discusses the significance of guilds and merchant associations in organizing trade and craft activities. Students learn about the functioning of guilds and their role in regulating quality and prices.