New Beginnings: Cities and States

What is the main message of the chapter "New Beginnings: Cities and States"?

1. Ancient societies remained unchanged forever.
2. The growth of agriculture, trade, cities, and organised states transformed ancient Indian society and laid the foundation for future civilizations.
3. Cities had no importance in history.
4. Trade reduced the development of kingdoms.

What was one important result of the growth of cities?

1. Increase in economic activities and cultural exchange
2. Complete end of farming
3. Reduction in population
4. Disappearance of trade

Which occupation was closely linked with trade?

1. Merchant
2. Hunter only
3. Shepherd only
4. Fisherman only

Why did people settle in permanent villages and towns?

1. Because agriculture provided a stable food supply
2. Because hunting completely disappeared overnight
3. Because rivers dried up
4. Because trade ended

Which factor encouraged the rise of larger kingdoms?

1. Better administration and stronger armies
2. Decrease in population
3. Absence of agriculture
4. End of trade

Why were taxes collected in ancient states?

1. To waste resources
2. To support administration, public works, and defence
3. To reduce farming
4. To stop trade

What helped connect different cities and regions?

1. Trade routes
2. Thick forests only
3. Desert sands
4. Mountains without roads

Which group mainly produced handmade goods in ancient cities?

1. Farmers only
2. Artisans
3. Soldiers
4. Priests only

Why did trade become more important during this period?

1. People stopped producing goods.
2. Surplus goods could be exchanged with other regions.
3. Agriculture completely disappeared.
4. Roads were never built.

What was one major responsibility of ancient kings?

1. Collecting taxes and maintaining law and order
2. Growing crops personally
3. Building mountains
4. Controlling rainfall

Why were rivers important for the growth of ancient cities?

1. Rivers reduced sunlight.
2. Rivers provided water, fertile land, and transport routes.
3. Rivers prevented farming.
4. Rivers stopped trade.

Which factor contributed most to the growth of cities?

1. Decline in farming
2. Increased agricultural production and trade
3. Reduction in population
4. Lack of roads

What is a state?

1. A group of mountains
2. An organised political unit governed by rulers and laws
3. A large river
4. A farming tool

Which metal played a major role in agricultural expansion during this period?

1. Gold
2. Silver
3. Iron
4. Copper

What was one of the major developments after the decline of the Harappan Civilization?

1. People completely stopped farming.
2. New cities, kingdoms, and states began to emerge.
3. All people moved outside India.
4. Writing completely disappeared forever.