HIST-CHP-5 Kingdoms Kings and An Early Republic

S.N.B.
P International School, Rahatani

TERM-I
CLASS-VI SUBJECT-SST LESSON-5
NOTES HISTORY KINGDOMS,KINGS AND
AN EARLY REPUBLIC
3. Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ‘ganas’?
Ans: These groups of people were not allowed to participate in the assemblies of the
‘ganas’.
 Women
 ‘Dasas’
 ‘Kammakaras’.
4.Why did the ‘rajas’ of ‘mahajanapadas’ build forts?
Ans: The ‘rajas’ of ‘mahajanapadas’ built forts for the following reasons:
 The rajas of mahajanapadas built forts to protect their capital city.

 This means that huge walls of wood, brick or stone were built around them. Forts
were probably built because people were afraid of attacks from other kings and
needed protection.
 It is also likely that some rulers wanted to show how rich and powerful they were
by building really large, tall and impressive walls around their cities. Also in this
way, the land and the people living inside the fortified areas could be controlled
more easily by the king.
5. In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were
chosen in ‘janapadas’?
Ans: The difference between present-day elections and the ways in which rulers were
chosen in ‘janapadas’ are as follows:
1. Present day elections are conducted by election commission. In janapadas we did

not have election commission. Some of the rajas were probably chosen by the
jana, the people. But around 3,000 years ago, we find some changes taking place
in the ways in which rajas were chosen. Some men now became recognised as
rajas by performing very big sacrifices.
2. In present-day elections, all citizens (including women and dasas etc.) participate
in election process after 18 years of their age. But in janapadas all free men over
the age of 30 were recognized as full citizens. In janapadas women and slaves
were not considered equal free citizens.
6. Find the state in which you live in the political map on page 136. 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.
Ans: Do yourself.
[Hint: The answer depends on the region you live in. For example-the state Uttar Pradesh –
The ‘janapadas’ in the present-day Uttar Pradesh—Panchala, Kosala.]
7. Find out whether any of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today.
Ans: Yes, all of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today.
8. Find out whether the groups mentioned in answer 3 have voting rights at present.
Ans: Yes, all the groups (full citizens of a state or country of age 18 or above including men,
women, dasas, kamakaras etc.) have voting rights at present.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
1. Name some places conquered by Alexander.
Ans: Alexander conquered parts of Egypt and West Asia.
2. Which rulers conquered the last of the ‘ganas’ or ‘sanghas’?

Ans: The Gupta rulers conquered the last of the ‘ganas’ or ‘sanghas’.
3. Write a short note on the ‘Ashvamedha’ ritual

Ans: The ‘Ashvamedha’ (horse sacrifice) was a ritual used to recognise men as ‘rajas’. A
horse was left to wander freely. If it wandered into another kingdom and the king of that
kingdom stopped it, they had to fight. The ‘raja’ who succeeded in the challenge was
recognised as stronger. He would then perform the sacrifice, in which other kings would
also come.
4. What were the different roles of different persons in the sacrifice?

Ans: The ‘raja’ was the central person in the sacrifice. He was given a special seat, like a
throne. His charioteer would tell others tales of the ‘rajas’ exploits. His wives and sons
would perform several minor rituals. Other ‘rajas’ would sit and watch. Priests sprinkled
sacred water on the king. Ordinary people brought gifts.
5. What is known about the ‘janapadas’ and their people?

Ans: Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in ‘janapadas’. They have
found that people lived in huts. The people kept cattle as well as other animals. They
grew a variety of crops like rice, wheat, barley, pulses, etc. They made earthen pots,
some of which were grey in colour and some red.
6. Write a short note on the governance system in ‘ganas’ or ‘sanghas’?
Ans: In ‘ganas’ or ‘sanghas’, these were not one but many rulers. Even if there were
several men together, each was called a ‘raja’. They performed rituals together. They
met in assemblies and took decisions. Women, ‘dasas’ and ‘kammakaras’ were not
allowed to participate in these assemblies.
7. What changes took place in agriculture around this time?

Ans: There were two significant changes in agriculture around this time:-
(i) Growing use of the iron ploughshares helped in yielding better grain produce. Heavy,
clayey soil could be turned over better with an iron ploughshare than with a wooden
ploughshare.
(ii) People began transplanting paddy. This meant that instead of scattering seed on the
ground, from which plants would sprout, saplings were grown and then planted in the
fields. Production developed due to this since many plants survived.
8. Why were the rulers of Mahajanapadas collecting taxes? What kind of taxes were
collected?
Ans: As the rulers of the mahajanapadas were (a) building huge forts (b) maintaining
big armies, they needed more resources. And they needed officials to collect these. So,
instead of depending on occasional gifts brought by people they started collecting
regular taxes.
Taxes were collected from the following people:
 Taxes on crops were the most important. This was because most people were
farmers. Usually, the tax was fixed at 1/6th of what was produced. this was known
as bhaga or a share.
 There were taxes on crafts persons as well. These could have been in the form of
labour.
 Herders were also expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal
produce.
 There were also taxes on goods that were bought and sold, through trade.
 And hunters and gatherers also had to provide forest produce to the raja.
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S.N.B.

P International School, Rahatani

 The rajas of mahajanapadas built forts to protect their capital city.

1. Present day elections are conducted by election commission. In janapadas we did

2. Which rulers conquered the last of the ‘ganas’ or ‘sanghas’?

3. Write a short note on the ‘Ashvamedha’ ritual

4. What were the different roles of different persons in the sacrifice?

5. What is known about the ‘janapadas’ and their people?

7. What changes took place in agriculture around this time?

Taxes were collected from the following people:

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