Class 7 Social Science Chapter 6 Very Short Answer Questions - The Age of Reorganization

Q1: Who founded the Śhunga dynasty?
Ans: The Śhunga dynasty was founded by Puṣhyamitra Śhunga in 185 BCE.

Q2: What ritual did Puṣhyamitra Śhunga perform to claim unchallenged lands?
Ans: Puṣhyamitra Śhunga performed the ashvamedha yajña, a Vedic ritual involving a horse.

Q3: How long did the Śhunga Empire last?
Ans: The Śhunga Empire lasted for about a century before declining.

Q4: What language became important during the Śhunga period?
Ans: Sanskrit became an important language for philosophy and literature during the Śhunga period.

Q5: Which stūpa was enriched with carvings during the Śhunga period?
Ans: The Bharhut Stūpa was enriched with carvings during the Śhunga period.

Q6: What did the Śhungas contribute to art?
Ans: The Śhungas contributed to carvings depicting stories from Buddha’s life and other cultural elements.

Shunga Contribution to Art

Q7: Which region did the Sātavāhanas rule?
Ans: The Sātavāhanas ruled the Deccan region, including present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

Q8: What were two key capitals of the Sātavāhanas?
Ans: The Sātavāhanas’ capitals were Amrāvatī and Pratiṣhṭhāna (Paithan).

Q9: What goods did the Sātavāhanas trade with the Roman Empire?
Ans: The Sātavāhanas traded spices, textiles, gold-plated pearls, and ivory with the Roman Empire.

Q10: How did the Sātavāhanas promote trade?
Ans: The Sātavāhanas promoted trade through their strong maritime connections and trade routes.

Q11: What is the significance of the Naneghat Caves in Sātavāhana history?
Ans: The Naneghat Caves were used for collecting tolls and as rest stops for traders.

Q12: What is Sangam literature?
Ans: Sangam literature refers to Tamil poems composed during the Sangam Age, reflecting society and culture.

Sangam Period

Q13: Which south Indian kingdoms existed during the Sangam Age?
Ans: The Cheras, Cholas, and Pāṇḍyas were the prominent kingdoms during the Sangam Age.

Q14: Who defeated the Cheras and Pāṇḍyas to become a powerful ruler?
Ans: King Karikāla defeated the Cheras and Pāṇḍyas to become a powerful ruler of the Chola dynasty.

Q15: What was the Kallanai built by Karikāla?
Ans: The Kallanai, or Grand Anicut, was a water diversion system built by Karikāla to irrigate the Kāveri River delta.

Q16: What is the story of Kannagi in the Silappadikāram?
Ans: Kannagi’s story in the Silappadikāram tells of her quest for justice after her husband Kovalan was wrongfully executed by the Pāṇḍya king.

Q17: What was the role of the Cheras in trade?
Ans: The Cheras facilitated trade by exporting spices, timber, ivory, and pearls to the Roman Empire and West Asia.

Chera, Chola, Pandya

Q18: What did the Pāṇḍyas trade with the Greeks and Romans?
Ans: The Pāṇḍyas traded pearls and other goods with the Greeks and Romans.

Q19: Who is Khāravela, and what was his significance?
Ans: Khāravela was the ruler of the Chedi dynasty in Kalinga, known for promoting Jainism and his fair governance.

Q20: What is the significance of the Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves?
Ans: The Udayagiri-Khandagiri Caves, built for Jain monks, feature detailed carvings and spacious rooms.

Q21: What role did the Indo-Greeks play in Indian history?
Ans: The Indo-Greeks ruled parts of northwest India, blending Greek and Indian cultures in art, governance, and daily life.

Q22: What is the Heliodorus pillar?
Ans: The Heliodorus pillar near Vidisha was built by a Greek ambassador and praises Vāsudeva as the "god of gods."

Heliodorus Pillar Near Vidisha

Q23: Who were the Kuṣhāṇas, and where did they rule?
Ans: The Kuṣhāṇas were Central Asian rulers who controlled northern India and parts of Central Asia.

Q24: What was the significance of Kuṣhāṇa coins?
Ans: Kuṣhāṇa coins depicted kings and deities like Vāsudeva-Kṛiṣhṇa and were used to support trade.

Q25: What is the legacy of Gāndhāra and Mathurā art?
Ans: Gāndhāra and Mathurā art combined Greek and Indian styles, depicting gods and goddesses with realistic figures and detailed robes.