New Beginnings: Cities and States — Hard

Q1. Consider the following statements about India's Second Urbanisation: I. It began in the 1st millennium BCE in the Ganga plains and parts of the Indus basin. II. It came immediately after the Harappan civilisation, without any gap. III. It has continued right up to today. Which of the statements are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q2. Arrange the following developments in correct chronological order, as per the chapter: I. Harappan / Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation disintegrates. II. Clans settle on territories called janapadas, each led by a raja. III. Sixteen mahajanapadas emerge as bigger merged units. IV. Mahajanapadas cease to exist around 300 BCE.

• A. I → III → II → IV
• B. I → II → III → IV
• C. II → I → III → IV
• D. II → III → I → IV

Q3. Match the mahajanapada with its capital, using information from the chapter: Mahajanapada — Capital A. Vatsa — 1. Champa B. Anga — 2. Mathura C. Shurasena — 3. Indraprastha D. Kuru — 4. Kaushambi

• A. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
• B. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
• C. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
• D. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

Q4. Assertion (A): On the 16 mahajanapada map, Anga is shown at the eastern end of the list. Reason (R): The chapter states that the more frequent list extends from Gandhara in the northwest to Anga in the east and Ashmaka in central India.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q5. Which of the following statements about Ashmaka, as given in the chapter, is NOT correct?

• A. It was one of the 16 mahajanapadas
• B. It lay in central India, close to the Godavari River
• C. It marked the southernmost extent of the more frequent mahajanapada list
• D. It was the most powerful mahajanapada, along with Magadha

Q6. Consider the following statements about the sabha and samiti in the janapadas: I. According to some texts, an incompetent ruler could be removed by the assembly. II. The chapter says this proves removal of the raja was an established law in every janapada. III. The words sabha and samiti first appear in the Vedas. Which are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q7. Assertion (A): Scholars often call the gana or sangha mahajanapadas of Vajji and Malla 'early republics'. Reason (R): In these states, members of the assembly selected the ruler and took major decisions through discussion and vote.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q8. Statement A: We may assume that most of the members of the sabha or samiti were elders in the clan. Statement B: The raja was supported by ministers and an assembly of elders. Which is correct?

• A. Only A is correct
• B. Only B is correct
• C. Both A and B are correct, and they describe related features of governance
• D. Neither A nor B is correct

Q9. The chapter observes that 'most of those ancient capitals continue to be living cities today — "modern" cities that are often 2,500 years old!' Which is the BEST inference a teacher should draw for the classroom?

• A. These ancient sites have no archaeological remains left to study
• B. Continuity of urban life at the same locations links present-day India with the Second Urbanisation
• C. All modern Indian cities were founded after the British arrived
• D. Only the four most powerful mahajanapada capitals are still inhabited

Q10. Ravi reads the Kautilya quote at the start of the chapter: 'The kingdom shall be protected by fortifying the capital and the towns at the frontiers.' Which feature of mahajanapada capitals BEST matches this idea?

• A. Fairly large well-fortified cities with a moat outside the fortifications
• B. Open villages without rampart walls or gateways
• C. Underground tunnels connecting the four most powerful capitals
• D. Capitals shifted from one site to another every few years

Q11. Consider the following statements about iron metallurgy in the Second Urbanisation: I. Techniques of extracting and shaping iron were perfected from the early 2nd millennium BCE. II. The Harappan civilisation had mastered iron metallurgy. III. Iron made better weapons than bronze — lighter and sharper. Which are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q12. Priya is told that the first Indian coins, called 'punch-marked coins', were generally silver. Which additional fact from the chapter is correct?

• A. Each mahajanapada minted only iron coins for its army
• B. Coins were used only inside one mahajanapada and never exchanged
• C. A mahajanapada usually issued its own coins, but coins from neighbouring regions were also used and exchanged
• D. Coins replaced trade in goods completely by 800 BCE

Q13. Match the trade development with its correct description from the chapter: A. Uttarapatha — 1. Started from Kaushambi and crossed the Vindhya Range southwards B. Dakshinapatha — 2. Shell and gemstone industry site C. Kodumanal (Tamil Nadu) — 3. Connected northwest regions to the Ganga plains, all the way to eastern India D. Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas — 4. Three south Indian kingdoms that emerged from about 400 BCE

• A. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
• B. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
• C. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
• D. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

Q14. Consider the following statements about the jati, as described in the chapter: I. It was a group or community of people with a specific professional occupation closely tied to livelihood. II. The skills that defined a jati were generally transmitted from generation to generation. III. The chapter says that in the early period, individuals and communities could never change their professional occupations. Which are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q15. Match each varna with the role given in the chapter: A. Brahmins — 1. Trade, business or agriculture to increase society's wealth B. Kshatriyas — 2. Artisans, craftspeople, workers or servants C. Vaishyas — 3. Preserving and spreading knowledge, performing rituals D. Shudras — 4. Defending society and the land, warfare if necessary

• A. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
• B. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
• C. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
• D. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2