Chapter 8: Villages, Towns And Trade

Chapter Description

Chapter 8 "Villages, Towns, and Trade" discusses the different types of settlements in ancient India, in villages and towns, and how trade connected these settlements. It also covers the various occupations of people, the use of iron tools in agriculture, and explains the significance of trade routes and urban centers like Mathura and Arikamedu.

Key Highlights

• Village Structure: Hierarchical structure of villages with large landowners (vellalar), ploughmen (uzhavar), and landless laborers (kadaisiyar and adimai) in Tamil regions
• Irrigation & Agriculture: The use of iron tools and the construction of irrigation works like canals, wells, and tanks to boost agricultural production
• Life: The multifaceted roles of towns like Mathura as centers of trade, religion, and craft production, with various inscriptions and archaeological finds highlighting their importance
• Trade: The use of punch-marked coins, Sangam literature, and accounts by foreign travelers to understand ancient trade practices
• Crafts and Trade Roles: The organization of craftspersons into shrenis and their role in training, production, and trade

Type of Questions You Will Get

• Fill in the Blanks related to vellalar (large landowners), gramabhojaka (village headman), uzhavar (ploughmen), and grihapatis (small landowners)
• Descriptive Questions such as Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka, why he was powerful, list craftspersons in both villages and cities, and explain types of evidence historians use to learn about trade routes
• Multiple Choice Questions about the materials of punch-marked coins, the associations of shrenis, etc.
• Comparative Questions such as Compare drainage systems of ancient cities with modern ones, and what were the roles of men and women in ancient and modern societies

The NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8 "Villages, Towns, and Trade" of Class 6 Social Science History is available for free download in PDF format, which makes it simple for students to study offline at home, school or any other place anytime.