Class 7th History Chapter 9

Intext Question Page No.122 Question 1. Find out how many states have been created in the last to years.Is each of these states a region?   Answer:The three states namely- Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been created in the last  10 years, Yes, each of these state is a region. In Text Question Page No. 123 Question 1. Find out when the language(speak at home  were first used for writting. Answer:Students, do it yourselves, Hint: Ask uyour teacher or elders at home.] Intext Question Page No. 125   Question 1. Did women find a place within these stories?

Answer: Yes, women do find a place within these stories.  

Intext Question Page No. 126
Question 1. Find out weather there are traditions of heros/heroines 
in your town ore village. What are the qualities associated with them? 
In what ways are these similar to or different from the heroic ideals 
of the Rajputs?  
Answer: Students, do it youselves.
[Hint: Any local hero/heroes would possess the qualities pf a loyalty,
friendship,love, valouur, anger,etc. Most of these qualities would be similar
to ideals of the Rajputs.]  

Intext Question Page No. 127  
Question 1. Find out more any one of these dance forms.  
Answer:  
1. Bharatanayam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu.
2. Bharatanayam is a 20th centuary reconstruction of Cathir, the art of temple
dancers. Cathir, in turn, is derived from ancient danse form.
3. The wrd Bharata, some believe, signifies the author of the famous Sanskrit treatise
on stagecraft, called Natya Shastra.
4. Bharatanayam as a dance form and carnatic music set to it are deeply grounded in
Bhakti.
5. Bharatanayam, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony and a act of devotion.
6. Dance and music are inseparable forms; only with Sangeetam (worda of syllables set
 to raga or melody) can dance be conceptualiZed.
7. Bharatanayam has three distinct elements to it; Nritta (rythmic dance movements),
Natya (mime, or dance with a dramatic aspect) and Nritya (combination of Nritta and Natya).  

Intext Question Page No. 130
Question 1. How, then, did the new language emerge?  
Answer: The new Bengali language emerge by the evolution and mixing of
Sanskrit and local language.  

Intext Question Page No. 132
Question 1. Why do you think the second category of text was not written down?  
Answer. The second category of early Bengali leterature was orally transferred to the new generation.  

Intext Question Page No. 133
Question 1. Compare the temple shown here with that in chapter 2?  
Answer:The temple in chapter 2 is that Gangaikonda cholapuram. It is a well built
temple of stone and rock. The intricate design on the roof of the temple, which tapers,
is the most significant features of this temple. On the other hand, the temple shown here
 is a double roof tached hut, which is as it could be.

Intext Question Page No. 136  
Question 1.You are a Rajput Prince. How would you like your story to be told?  
Answer.I like my story to be a sung on the music by story tellers at several places in the
country.  

Additional Question.  

Q 1. Which language was introduced by the chera kings?  
Answer. The Chera king introduced Malayalam language and script in
 their inscriptions.
.  
Q 2.Why decided to built the Jagannatha temple ar Puri.  
Answer: Anantavarman, the most important ruler of the ganga dynasty of
Orissa decided to built the Jagannatha temple ar Puri.  

Q 3. Which Gods were worshipped by Bhaktas.
 Answer:The term Kathak is derived from Katha, a word used in Sanskrit and
other languages for story.
  
Q 4. Name two gharanas associated with Kathak.  
Answer:The two gharanas or traditions associated with Kathak are- Rajasthan
 (Jaipur)and Lucknow.  

Q 5. Name the six "classical" dance forms of our country.
 Answer: Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi,
Manipuri are the six "classical" dance forms of our country.
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Exercises Solved  

Let's Recall
Question 1. Match the following: Anantavrman Kerala Jagannatha Bengal Mahodayapuram Orissa Lilatilakam Kangra Mangalakavya Puri Miniature Kerala  
Answer: Anantavrman - Orissa Jagannatha - Puri Mahodayapuram - Kerala Lilatilakam - Kerala Mangalakavya - Bengal Miniature - Kangra  

Question 2. What is Manipravalam? Name a book written in that language?
 Answer: Manipravalam, literally means "diamonds and corals, refers to the two language Sanskrit and the regional language of Kerala. A book dealing with grammar and poetics-Lilatilakam was written in Manipravalam.

Question 3.Who were the major patrons of Kathak?  
Answer:The Mughals emperors and their nobles, courtiers of Rajasthan and Nawab of Awadh-Wajid Ali Shah were the major patrons of Kathak.  

Question 4 .What are the important architectural features of the temples of Bengal?  
Answer: The main archietectural features of the temples of Bengal are as under:
1. The brick and terracotta temples of Bengal were built with the support of several "low" social groups.
2. Intially, local deities were worsshipped in thatched huts in villages.
3. But, a soon as Brahmanas gave recognition to these local deities, temples were built for them.
4. Temples copied the double-roofed or four-roofed structure of the thached huts.
5. This led to the evolution of typical Bengali style in temple architecture. For example, "Bengla Dome".
6. In the complex of four-roofed structure, for triangular roofs placed on the four walls move up to converge opn a curved line and a point.
 7. Temples were usuallybuilt on a square platform.
8. The interior was relatively plain, but the outer walls of many temples were decorated with paintings, ornamental tiles or terracotta tablets.  

Let's Understand
Question 5. Why did minstrels proclaim the archievements of heroes?  
Answer:The minstrels proclaimed the achievements of heroes in order to:
1. Preserve their memories.  
2. Inpire other to follow their example.  

Question 6. Why do we Know much more about the cultural practices of ruler than about those of ordinary people?  
Answer:Rulers adopted many methods to preserve their achievements, such as, minstrels singing their heroic stories, paintings inscriptions, historical worth, donation to temples, etc., while ordinary people did not do any thing to preserve the records of their heroic deeds. Therefore, we know more about the cultural practices of rulers than about those of ordinary people.
  
Question 7. Why did conquerors try to control the temple of Jagnnatha at Puri?  
Answer.
1. The temple of Jagnnatha at puri exerted authority in social and political
matters over the people of Oressa.  
2. All those who conquered orissa, such as Mughals Marathas and Britishers, attempted
to gain control over the temple.
3. They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people.  
Question 8. Why were temples built in Bengal?  
Answer.The temple builders of Bengal wanted to lemonstrate their power and proclaim their piety. Therefore, they built temples.

 Question 9. Describe the most important features of the culture of your region, focusing on buildings performing arts and paintings?  
Answer.Students, do it yourselves. Hint: Take Delhi for example:
1. Architecture of Delhi presents old as well as new buildings such as Red Fort, Outtb Minar and Parliament House, India Gate.  
2. Delhi in the centre of all types of arts such as dances, plays, poetry sessions, etc. 3. All types of paintings are found and done in Delhi.]

Let's Do
Question 10. Do you use language for (a) speaking (b) reading (c) writing? 
Find out about one major composition in language that you use and 
discuss why you find it interresting. 
  Answer. Students, do it yourselves. [Hint: Take for example, Punjabe.
1. Isually at home, you speak Punjabi.
2. You reads book written in Gurumukhi, Hindi and English languages.
3. You write in Gurumukhi, Hindi and English languages.
4. Let one major book of Punjabi (Gurumukhi) language be Guru Granth Sahib.
5. It is the religious holy book of Sikhas and teaches us about religious tolerance, therfore, it is interesting.]  

Question 11. Chose one state each from north, west, south, 
east and central India. For each of these, prepare a list of foods 
that are commonly consumed, highlighting any differences and 
similarties that you notice. 
  Answer. Students, do it yourselvess. [Hint:
1. Suppose the five states are Kashmir (north), Gujart (west), bengal (east), Madhya Pradesh (central) and Tamil Nadu (South).  
2. Rice is common food item. 3. There are different ways in which rice is cooked in the above-mentioned states,such as Kashmir Pulaw, rice and fish (Bengal), rice with Sambhar (south), simple rice with dal (central) and sweet rice kheer (west).]  

Question 12.Choose another set of five state from each of these 
regions and prepare a list of clothes that are generaly worm by women 
and men in each Discuss your findings. 
Answer. Students, do it your selves.
[Hint: 1. Suppose the state are Punjab (north), Nagaland (east), Rajasthan (west), Kerala (south and Chattisgarh (central). 2. Look for the dresses pf these states through the internet, Write down the names of dresses of women and men separately. 3. Write down the similarities and differences in these dresses.]

Class 7th History Chapter 8

Intext Question Page No.105 Question 1.You can observe this process of local myths  and legends receiving wider acceptance even today Can  you find some examples around you.  Answer: 1. Hinduism, the religion of the majority of the citizens of India, is a varived faith whose local manifestations are diverse. 2. Folk religion in Hinduism many explain the rationale behind local religious practices,and contain local myths that explain the existence of local religious customs or the location of temples. 3. One such example is as under:India possesses a large body of heoric ballads andepic poetry preserved in oral tradition. One such oral epic, telling of sotry of Pabuji, has been collected by Dr. Johan Smith fom Rajasthan.It is a long poem in the Rajesthani languag, traditionally told by professional storytellers, Known as Bhopas. They deliver it in front of a tapestry the depicts the characters of the story and functions as a portable temple, accompanied by a ravanhattho fiddle. Intext Question Page No. 106 Question 1. How does the poet describe his relationship   with the deity? Answer: The poet feels of his lord inside his body. Due to this presence, the poet is set free from sorrow, birth, death and illusion.He believes that nobody can separate him from God. Intext Question Page No. 107 Question 1. Try and find out more about the ideas of  Shankara or Ramanuja. Answer. Some of the major ideas of Shankara are as under: 1. His teachings aimed at cleansing Vedic philosophy of it obscurities and inconsistencies and thereby making it intelligible and aceptable to the common man. 2. According to him, Brahman was only an existence without any quality by which it could be described. 3. It was pure consciousness, not a subject knowing an object. 4. Maya was neither an existence nor a non-existence and wasa therfore indescribable. 5. His ideas were based on Upanishads and some of them were borrowed from Buddhism. Intext Question Page No.108 Question 1. What is the temple that Basavanna is  offering to God? Answer:Basavanna is offering the temple of his body to his beloved God. According to him, his legs are pillars, his body the shrine, and head a Cupola of gold. Intext Question Page No. 109 Question 1. Discuss the ideas about the social  order expressed in these compositions. Answer. The ideas expressed by these composition are as folllow: 1. Lower caste people were a rejected lot of society. 2. They were beaten. 3. They had to eat left-ower food. 4. But there were few people who identified the beaten and battered people.Tukaram calls such people as saints. 5. Saints treated a slave as his own son.It can be concluded that the social order had mixed people. Intext Question Page No. 155 Question 1. Why do you think Mirabi left the  Rana's place? Answer. Mirabia left the Rana's palace because there she had to face restrictions and Rana's opposition in her devotional activities. Intext Question Page No. 116 Question 1. In what ways are the ideas in this  poem similar to or different from those of Basavanna  and Jalaiddin Rumi? Answer.The central ideas of Kabir, Basavanna an Jaluddin Rumi emphases that the God resides within one's heart. It cannot be found anywhere else on this earth. Intext Question Page No. 120

Q 1. You are attending a meeting where a siant is discussing 
the cast system. Relate the conversation.
Answer.
1. Siant would critically examine the caste system.
2. He would present its disadvantage and prove them with suitable
examples.  
3. He would also suggest ways in which the caste system can be
reformed. Otherwise he would denounce the caste system ask
his followers to breakway from it.
4. He would suggest the path of Bhakti (personal devotion to beloved
God) to his followers.
 5. He would sing devotional songs (bhajan) to
end the meeting.
  
Additional Question.  
Q 1. What did Buddha teach?  
Answer. Buddha taught that it was possible to overcome social
differences and break the cycle of rebirth throw personal effort.

 Q 2. What was the source of Idea of Bhakti ?
Answer:The idea of Bhakti (devotion) was advocated in the Bhagavadggita.  

Q 3. Which Gods were worshipped by Bhaktas.  
Answer:Bhaktas worsipped Shiva, Vishnu and Durga
  
Q 4. Who were Alvara and Nayanars?
 Answer: The saints devoted to Shiva and Vishnu were Nayanars
and Alvars, respectivily.

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Exercises Solved  
Let's Recall
Question 1. Match the following: 
The Buddha           Namaghar  Nizamuddin
 Shankaradeve      Worship of Shiva     
Auliya                     Worship of Vishnu 
 Nayanars               Questioned social differences 
 Alvars                    Suffi Siant 
Answer:
The Buddha      Questioned social differences
Shankaradeve   Namaghar Nizamuddin
Auliya                Sufi Siant
Nayanars          Worship of Shiva
Alvars               Worship of Vishnu  

Question 2. Fill in the blanks: 
(a) Shankara was an advocate of _____. 
(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the ____. 
(c) _____,_____ and ______ were advocates of Virashaivism. 
 (d) _____ was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.  
 Answer:
(a) Shankara was an advocate of Advaita.
(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the Vishistadvaita.
(c) Basavanna,Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi were advocates of Virashaivism.
(d) Pandharpur was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.  

Question 3. Describe the briefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, 
Sidhas and yogis.  
Answer: The briefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Sidhas and yogis were as under:  
1. The criticised the ritual and other aspects of conventional regional and the social order.
2. They used simple and logical arguments to present their thoughts.  
3. They advocate renuciation of the world. 
4. According to them Salvation could be attained by meditation on the formless ultimate reality and realisation of oneness with it. 
5. To achieve Salvation, they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercise and meditation.  

Question 4. What were the major ideas expressed by kabir? 
How the express these?
Answer: The major ideas of Kabir were follows:
1. He believed in a formless Superme God and preached that the only path to Salvation of through bhakti or devotion.
2. His teachings were based on a complete, ineed vehement, reaction of the major religious traditions.
3. He openly ridiculed al forms of external worship of both Brahmanical Hindusthan and Islam.
4. He also ridiculed the pre-eminence of the priestly classes and the caste system.
5. To express his ideas, he used a form of spoken hindi.  

Let's Understand  
Question 5. What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?  
Answer:
1. Sufis rejected oput wards religiosity and emphasised love and devotion to God and compassion towards all fellow human beings.  
2. They often rejected the elborate rituals and codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim religous scholars.
3. They sought union with God much as a lover seeks his beloved with a disregard for the world.
4. Sufi saints composed poem and prose literature including anecdotes and fables.
5. They believed that the heart can be trained to look at the world in different way.
6. They developed elaborate methods of training using zikr (chanting of a scared formula), contemplation, sama (singing) raqs (dancing).
7. The Sufi Siants held their assemblies in their khanqahs or hospices.  

Question 6. Why do you think many teachers rejected pervalent religious beliefs and practices? Answer: It has the following ways:
1. The social order had many unequal social castes.The lower castses were oppressed by the uppercasts.
2. The teachers of Bhakti of Sufisam wanted to free the right of worship God and simplify it by abandonning elaborate rituals to please God.
3. They believed in the power of presonal devotion.
4. The upliftment of lower castes could be attained by rejection of pervalent religious beliefs and practices.  

Question 7. What were the major teaching of Baba Guru Nanak?  
Answer. The major teaching of Baba Guru Nanak were as under:
1. He emphasised the importance of the worship of one God.
2. He insisted that caste, creed or gendar was irrelevant for attaining liberation.
3. His idea of liberation was not that of a state of inert blis but the pursuit of active life with a strong sense of social commitment.
4. He, himself, used the twerms nam, elan and insan for the essence of his teachings which actually meant right worship, welfare of purity of conduct.
5. He directed to the importance to right belief and worship, honest living and helping others.

Let's Discuss  
Question 8. For either the Virashaivas or the sants of Maharashtra, discuss their attiude towards caste.  
Answer. The attiude of Virashaivas towards caste wase as follows:
1. They reacted to the temple worship.
2. The towards Virashaivas argued strongly for the equality of all human beings.
3. The rejected Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women.

Question 9. Why do you think ordinary people preserved the 
memory of Mirabai?  
Answer.  Due to ther following resons, the ordinary people preserved
the memory of Mirabai:
1. She was a queen and devote of Krishna.
2. She composed innumerable bhajans expressing here intense
devotion to his beloved lord.
3. She left her husband's but she did not die. This popularised
her as being saved by Lord. Thus, her authenticity as a true devotes
was proved.
4. She even drank poison, sent by her husband, but she did not die. this popularised her as being saved by lord. Thus, her authenticity as a true devote.
5. Her songs openly challenged the nomars of the "upper" castes and become popular with the masses in Rajasthan and Gujarat.  

Let's do  
Question 10. Find out weather in your neighbourhood there are any dargahs, gurdwaras or temples associated with saints of the bhakti tradition in your neighourhood. Visit any one of these and describe what you see and hear?
Answer. Students, do it yourselves. Hint: There wouldn't be any picture or idol of any God. The religious shrine would be devoted to some saint, etc.]

Question 11.Find any of the saint-poets whose compositions have been included in this chapter, find out more about their works down other poems. find out weather these are sung, how they are sung, and what the poets wrote about.  
Answer. Students, do it yourselvess.
 [Hint: You can look for Kabir'spoem in Hindi textbooks]  

Question 12. There are a several saint-poets whose names have been mentioned but their works have not been includes in the chapter. Find out more about the language in which they composed, whether their compositions were sung, and what their compositions were about? Answer. Students, do it yourselves. [Hint: You can search internet for the subcontinental Bhakti and Sufi literature of various saints and Sufi masters. Also, you can discuss with your history teacher.]