NCERT Solutions for class 6 Social Studies History Chapter 5 Kingdoms, Kings and An Early Republic

Let’s recall

Question 1. State whether true or false:

(a) Rajas who let the ashvamedha horse pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice.

(b) The charioteer sprinkled sacred water on the king.

(c) Archaeologists have found palaces in the settlements of the janapadas.

(d) Pots to store grain were made out of Painted Grey Ware.

(e) Many cities in mahajanapadas were fortified.

Answer:- (a) True

(b) True

(c) False

(d) True

(e) True

Question 2. Fill in the chart given below with the terms: hunter- gatherers, farmers, traders, crafts persons, herders.

Answer:- Farmers—one-sixth of the produce.

Crafts-persons—in the form of labour.

Herders—in the form of animals and animal products.

Traders—taxes on goods brought and sold.

Hunter-gatherers—forest produce.

Question 3. Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas?

Answer:- The groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas are following:-

1. Women
2. Dasas ( the slaves)
3. Kammakaras (the landless labourers)

Let’s discuss

Question 4. Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas build forts?

Answer:- The rajas of Mahajanapadas built forts in ancient India for several reasons.

1. Forts provided protection and security against external invasions and attacks.
2. They served as administrative centers to control and govern the region effectively.
3. Forts were strategic military bases, allowing the rulers to maintain their dominance and influence over neighboring territories.
4. The construction of forts also reflected the socio-political importance of the rulers, showcasing their power and authority to their subjects and potential rivals.

Question 5. In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas?

Answer:-  Present day Election commissions conduct elections. In janapadas we did not have any such commission. Some of the rajas were probably chosen by the jana, the people. But around 3,000 years ago, In janapadas, men became ‘rajas’ by performing the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

In present-day elections, all residents, including women and dasas, participate in election process once they reach the age of eighteen. But in janapadas all free men over the age of 30 were recognized as full citizens and only they had right to vote not to women and slaves.

Let’s do

Question 6. Were there any janapadas in your state? If yes, name them. If not, name the janapadas that would have been the closest to your state, and mention whether they were to the east, west, north or south.

Answer:- Do it Yourself (The Kuru janapada was located around the Delhi and its capital was Indraprastha.. )

Question 7. Find out whether any of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today.

Answer:- Yes, all of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today, as per the law.

Question 8. Find out whether the groups mentioned in answer 3 have voting rights at present.

Answer:- Yes, all the groups including men, women, dasas, kamakaras etc. after the age of 18 or above have voting rights at present.