Vital Villages, Thriving Towns – Class 6 History Chapter 6 Questions and Answers

🏡 Vital Villages, Thriving Towns – Class 6 History Chapter 6 Questions & Answers

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Here are well-structured and easy-to-understand NCERT-based Questions and Answers for Chapter 6 – Vital Villages, Thriving Towns of Class 6 History. This section is ideal for revision, exam preparation, and strengthening your understanding of how ancient villages and towns grew and contributed to India's rich history.

📘 Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is an ‘agrahara’?

Ans: An agrahara was a land or village granted to Brahmins, often free of tax.

Q2. What was a shreni?

Ans: A shreni was an association of merchants, craftsmen, or artisans in ancient India.

Q3. What do archaeologists find in towns like Arikamedu?

Ans: Archaeologists have found Roman pottery, beads, and evidence of trade in Arikamedu.

Q4. Who were grihapatis?

Ans: Grihapatis were independent landowners, usually heads of families or households.

Q5. Name one Tamil Sangam text that gives information about early cities.

Ans: The book ‘Silappadikaram’ gives valuable insights into early cities.

📗 Short Answer Questions

Q6. How were villages important in ancient India?

Ans: Villages were important because they were centers of agriculture. Most people lived in villages and were engaged in farming, cattle rearing, and local crafts. They formed the backbone of the rural economy.

Q7. What types of people lived in the village?

Ans: Villages had various groups of people: large landowners (vellalars), ordinary ploughmen (uzhavar), and landless laborers (kadaisiyar). There were also craftspersons like blacksmiths, potters, and weavers.

Q8. What was the role of grihapatis in villages?

Ans: Grihapatis were heads of households and owned land. They usually managed the farm, employed laborers, and paid taxes to the king.

Q9. What kind of work did craftspeople do in towns?

Ans: Craftspeople produced goods such as cloth, ornaments, tools, and pottery. Some worked with metal, others with beads, ivory, or precious stones. Their products were traded both locally and internationally.

Q10. How did shrenis help craftspersons?

Ans: Shrenis organized craftspersons and merchants into groups. They helped in maintaining quality, training, and setting prices. They also acted as banks and supported religious or social causes.

📙 Long Answer Questions

Q11. Describe the structure of a typical village in early India.

Ans: A typical village in ancient India had:

• Vellalars: Big landowners who controlled farming activities and paid taxes.
• Uzhavars: Ordinary ploughmen who worked on their own land.
• Kadaisiyars: Landless laborers and workers who worked on others’ land.
• Craftspersons: Blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, and weavers who lived on the village outskirts.

Villages had common wells, temples, grazing lands, and were often self-sufficient.

Q12. Explain the significance of Arikamedu in ancient trade.

Ans: Arikamedu was a major port town on the east coast of India. Archaeological evidence shows that it was involved in Indo-Roman trade. Roman pottery, amphorae, glassware, and beads found at Arikamedu prove that goods were exchanged with the Roman Empire. It served as an international trade hub during 200 BCE to 200 CE.

Q13. How did towns grow and thrive in early India?

Ans: Towns developed due to agriculture, trade, and craft production. Surplus produce from villages was brought to towns for trade. Craftspersons created goods for local use and export. Shrenis helped organize these trades. Temples, kings, and wealthy merchants supported the building of market areas and encouraged urban growth. Trade with distant lands also boosted the economy.

📝 Extra Practice Questions (For Exams)

Q14. What were punch-marked coins? What do they tell us?

Ans: Punch-marked coins were early coins made of silver with symbols punched onto them. They show the use of currency in trade and economic growth in early towns.

Q15. Why were temples important in ancient towns?

Ans: Temples were not only religious centers but also places of economic activity. They received donations, owned land, and supported artisans, traders, and laborers.

🔑 Conclusion

The chapter “Vital Villages, Thriving Towns” helps us understand how both rural and urban areas contributed to India’s ancient development. These Question–Answer sets are designed to prepare you for exams, assignments, and deepen your learning in a simple and organized manner.

Keep revising. Stay curious. History is full of stories waiting to be discovered!