Class 7 SS Chapter 4 New Beginnings: Cities and States
Fill in
the Blanks
1. The Indus Civilization is known
as India’s first ______.
Ans: Urbanisation
2. The Second Urbanisation began
mainly in the ______ plains.
Ans: Ganga
3. A janapada was usually ruled by a
______.
Ans: rājā
4. The word “janapada” means where
people have ______ down.
Ans: settled
5. Larger states formed from
janapadas were called ______.
Ans: mahājanapadas
6. There were ______ famous
mahājanapadas in ancient India.
Ans: sixteen
7. The capital of Magadha was
______.
Ans: Rājagṛiha
8. The assembly or council in
ancient states was called ______ or samiti.
Ans: sabhā
9. The earliest Indian coins were
called ______ coins.
Ans: punch-marked
10. Iron tools helped increase ______
on a larger scale.
Ans: agriculture
MCQs with Answers
1. What is India’s first
urbanisation associated with?
A) Mauryan Empire
B) Gupta Empire
C) Indus Civilization
D) Mughal Empire
Ans: C) Indus Civilization
2. The Second Urbanisation began
during the ______ millennium BCE.
A) 3rd
B) 2nd
C) 1st
D) 4th
Ans: C) 1st
3. Which region saw the rise of many
new cities during the Second Urbanisation?
A) Thar Desert
B) Ganga Plains
C) Western Ghats
D) Deccan Plateau
Ans: B) Ganga Plains
4. What does the word “janapada”
mean?
A) Kingdom of rivers
B) Land of forests
C) Place where people settled
D) City of kings
Ans: C) Place where people settled
5. Who ruled a janapada?
A) Merchant
B) Monk
C) Rājā
D) Minister
Ans: C) Rājā
6. Which of the following was a
powerful mahājanapada?
A) Magadha
B) Chola
C) Vijayanagara
D) Maratha
Ans: A) Magadha
7. Which assembly advised the ruler
in ancient India?
A) Sabha and Samiti
B) Lok Sabha
C) Panchayat
D) Senate
Ans: A) Sabha and Samiti
8. Which mahājanapada followed an
early democratic system?
A) Kosala
B) Magadha
C) Vajji
D) Avanti
Ans: C) Vajji
9. What is a moat?
A) A farming tool
B) A deep ditch around a fort
C) A trade route
D) A type of coin
Ans: B) A deep ditch around a fort
10. Which metal became widely used
during the Second Urbanisation?
A) Gold
B) Silver
C) Bronze
D) Iron
Ans: D) Iron
11. Iron tools mainly helped improve
______.
A) music
B) agriculture
C) painting
D) literature
Ans: B) agriculture
12. The first Indian coins were
mainly made of ______.
A) copper
B) iron
C) silver
D) gold
Ans: C) silver
13. Coins used in ancient India were
called ______ coins.
A) gold-marked
B) punch-marked
C) trade-marked
D) royal-marked
Ans: B) punch-marked
14. Which route connected north India
to eastern India?
A) Dakshinapatha
B) Silk Route
C) Uttarapatha
D) Spice Route
Ans: C) Uttarapatha
15. Which kingdoms emerged in south
India around 400 BCE?
A) Cholas, Cheras, and Pāṇḍyas
B) Mauryas and Guptas
C) Mughals and Marathas
D) Satavahanas and Kushanas
Ans: A) Cholas, Cheras, and Pāṇḍyas
Answer the following questions-
1. What is meant
by the “Second Urbanisation” of India?
The Second
Urbanisation refers to the rise of new cities in India during the 1st
millennium BCE.
It began mainly in the Ganga plains and led to the growth of trade, states, and
urban life.
2. What were
janapadas?
Janapadas were
small territorial states formed by clans or groups of people.
Each janapada was ruled by a rājā and had its own administration.
3. What were
mahājanapadas?
Mahājanapadas were
larger and more powerful states formed by the merging of janapadas.
There were 16 famous mahājanapadas in ancient India.
4. Why were the
Ganga plains important for the growth of mahājanapadas?
The Ganga plains
had fertile soil and abundant water for agriculture.
Trade routes and availability of iron also helped these states grow.
5. What was the
role of sabhā and samiti in governance?
Sabhā and samiti
were assemblies where important matters were discussed.
They advised the ruler and sometimes even selected or removed kings.
6. What were
gaṇas or sanghas?
Gaṇas or sanghas
were states where decisions were taken collectively by assemblies.
They are considered early forms of democratic republics.
7. Why was iron
metallurgy important in ancient India?
Iron tools
improved farming and increased agricultural production.
Iron weapons also strengthened armies and helped kingdoms expand.
8. What were
punch-marked coins?
Punch-marked coins
were the earliest coins used in India, mainly made of silver.
Symbols were punched onto them for use in trade and exchange.
9. What is the
varṇa–jāti system?
The varṇa–jāti
system divided society into groups based on occupation and duties.
It helped organise society but later became rigid and unequal.
10. Why were
trade routes important in ancient India?
Trade routes
connected different regions of the Subcontinent.
They helped in the movement of goods, people, ideas, and culture.
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