NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 4 New Beginnings: Cities and States

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Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 4 Question Answer

Answer:
After the Harappan civilisation (India’s ‘First Urbanisation’) disintegrated, urban life disappeared from India for about a thousand years. Then, in the 1st millennium BCE, a new phase of urbanisation began in the Ganga plains and neighbouring regions, gradually spreading across the Subcontinent. This new phase is called India’s ‘Second Urbanisation’ and it has continued right up to today.

Answer:
They show how clans settled into territories under a rājā, and how smaller janapadas later merged into bigger mahājanapadas. This period brought well-fortified capital cities, growing trade networks, iron tools and weapons, the first Indian coins and new political and social systems. It laid the foundation for the later kingdoms and empires of India.

Answer:
Two systems evolved:

1. Monarchy – The rājā’s position was hereditary, but he was expected to take advice from an assembly (sabhā/samiti) of elders and ministers. Example: Magadha, Kosala, Avanti.
2. Gaṇa/Sangha (early republic) – The sabhā or samiti held more power and even selected the rājā through discussion and voting. Example: Vajji (Vṛijji) and Malla.

Answer:

Answer:
Common names include: Kuru (capital Indraprastha), Pāñchāla, Matsya and Śhūrasena (Mathurā). This implies the Mahābhārata’s geography matches real historical mahājanapadas of that time – showing a connection between traditional literature and actual history.

Answer:

Answer:
As a society grows bigger, tasks become specialised – people focus on farming, defence, trade, crafts, religion, etc. This division makes work more efficient, but can also lead to inequality in wealth and power.

Answer:
Farmers, blacksmiths, potters, weavers, carpenters, goldsmiths, traders, moneylenders, soldiers, priests, physicians, scribes, boatmen, musicians, builders/masons.

Answer:
Kauṭilya recommends that a kingdom should: fortify its capital and frontier towns; support both its population and outsiders in emergencies; be rich in land, mines, forests and pastures; not depend only on rain for water; have good roads and waterways; and have a strong, varied economy.
Comparison with today: Modern states still focus on border security, water management (dams/irrigation instead of depending only on rain), good infrastructure (roads, ports), resource development and a diverse economy – so the basic idea hasn’t changed much, even though methods and technology have.

Answer:
There were two main systems:
Monarchies (like Magadha, Kosala, Avanti): The position of the rājā (ruler) was usually hereditary (passed from father to son). However, the rājā was expected to consult with ministers and assemblies (sabhā/samiti) and some texts suggest an incompetent ruler could potentially be removed by the assembly.
Gaņas or Sanghas (like Vajji, Malla): These functioned more democratically. The assembly (sabhā/samiti) held more power, made important decisions through discussion and voting and even selected the rājā. These are sometimes called ‘early republics’.

Answer:
To study the mahājanapadas, a historian would use:
Archaeological Sources: Excavations of ancient city sites (like Rājagriha, Kaushambi, Shishupalgarh) provide evidence of fortifications, city planning, types of buildings, tools (including iron ones), pottery styles, artifacts like punch-marked coins and trade goods. This helps understand the physical layout, material culture, technology (like iron metallurgy), economic activities and extent of urbanisation.
Literary Sources: Texts like late Vedic literature, Buddhist texts (e.g., Jatakas, Nikayas), and Jain texts contain lists of the mahājanapadas, names of cities and rulers, descriptions of political systems (monarchies vs. gaņas/sanghas), social structures (like the varņa-jāti system), economic life (agriculture, trade), religious beliefs and philosophical ideas of the period. These sources provide narrative context, political information and insights into the society and culture.

Answer:

• Iron tools (ploughs, axes) helped clear forests and farm land better, producing more food to support bigger populations.
• Iron weapons (swords, spears, arrows) were sharper and lighter than bronze, helping states defend themselves and expand, leading to bigger mahājanapadas.
• Iron also improved construction and craftwork, boosting the economy.
• More food + stronger defence + better economy = conditions needed for cities and urban life to grow.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 4 Very Short Answer Type Questions.

1. What does the word ‘janapada’ mean?
See AnswerJanapada means “where people have set foot,” referring to a territory settled and ruled by a rājā.

2. Who wrote the Arthaśhāstra?
See AnswerThe Arthaśhāstra was written by Kauṭilya, an ancient scholar and advisor on statecraft.

3. How many mahājanapadas are usually listed in ancient texts?
See AnswerAncient texts most frequently list sixteen mahājanapadas across northern and central India.

4. Name any two powerful mahājanapadas mentioned in the chapter.
See AnswerMagadha and Kosala were two of the most powerful mahājanapadas mentioned in the chapter.

5. What was Rājagṛiha famous for?
See AnswerRājagṛiha, in modern Bihar, was the capital city of the Magadha mahājanapada.

6. What is a moat?
See AnswerA moat is a deep, wide, water-filled ditch built around a fort for defence.

7. What were sabhā and samiti?
See AnswerSabhā and samiti were assemblies or councils where clan matters and decisions were discussed.

8. Name the two mahājanapadas known for democratic functioning.
See AnswerVajji (Vṛijji) and Malla were mahājanapadas known for their democratic, assembly-based functioning.

9. What are gaṇas or sanghas?
See AnswerGaṇas or sanghas were mahājanapadas ruled by assemblies rather than a single hereditary king.

10. What metal were the first Indian coins made of?
See AnswerThe first Indian coins were made of silver and are called punch-marked coins.

11. Name the two major trade routes mentioned in the chapter.
See AnswerThe two major routes were the Uttarapatha and the Dakṣhiṇapatha connecting different regions.

12. What was Śhiśhupalgarh?
See AnswerŚhiśhupalgarh was the fortified capital of the Kalinga region, near modern Bhubaneswar.

13. Name the three kingdoms that emerged in south India.
See AnswerThe Cholas, the Cheras and the Pāṇḍyas emerged as kingdoms in south India.

14. Where does the English word ‘caste’ come from?
See AnswerThe word ‘caste’ comes from the Portuguese word ‘casta’, used by 16th-century travellers.

15. By which period had the mahājanapadas ceased to exist?
See AnswerThe mahājanapadas ceased to exist by around 300 or 200 BCE.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 4 Short Answer Type Questions.

1. Why did urban life disappear from India after the Harappan civilisation declined?
See AnswerUrban life disappeared because all components of the Harappan order—structures, markets, specialised craftspeople, writing, sanitation and administration—vanished. People reverted to rural or village life, and urban living remained absent from India for nearly a thousand years.

2. How did janapadas grow into mahājanapadas?
See AnswerJanapadas were smaller clan-based territories led by a rājā. As trade networks expanded and connected them, some janapadas merged together by the 8th or 7th century BCE, forming larger, more organised units called mahājanapadas.

3. What role did the assembly play in a janapada’s governance?
See AnswerThe sabhā or samiti, made up mostly of clan elders, discussed important matters. A good rājā was expected to take their advice and some texts even mention that an incompetent ruler could be removed by the assembly.

4. How did geography help the mahājanapadas to grow?
See AnswerMost mahājanapadas developed in the fertile Ganga plains, which supported strong agriculture. Nearby hills provided iron ore and expanding trade networks connected these regions, together helping the mahājanapadas grow prosperous and powerful.

5. What defensive features did mahājanapada capitals usually have?
See AnswerCapitals were large, well-fortified cities surrounded by a moat for extra defence. Gateways through the rampart walls were often kept narrow so guards could control the movement of people and goods entering or leaving.

6. How did iron technology impact daily life and warfare?
See AnswerIron tools, widespread by the late 2nd millennium BCE, helped expand agriculture by making farming easier on a larger scale. Iron also produced lighter, sharper weapons like swords and spears, sometimes leading to warfare between neighbouring mahājanapadas.

7. What was the significance of coins in this period?
See AnswerCoins, made necessary by growing trade, were first made of silver and called punch-marked coins. Later, copper and gold coins appeared too. Each mahājanapada usually issued its own coins, which were also exchanged with neighbouring regions.

8. Explain the two-fold varṇa-jāti system briefly.
See AnswerSociety was organised through jāti, communities tied to specific hereditary occupations like farming or metallurgy and varṇa, a four-fold Vedic classification of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras based on their social roles and duties.

9. Were occupations always fixed under the varṇa-jāti system?
See AnswerNo, historical evidence shows people could change occupations when circumstances demanded, such as during a drought forcing farmers to migrate to cities or Brahmins taking up trade or military work when needed.

10. How did trade routes help connect ancient India?
See AnswerThe Uttarapatha connected the northwest to the Ganga plains and eastern India, while the Dakṣhiṇapatha ran from Kauśhāmbī across the Vindhyas to the south. Lateral roads linked coastal ports, making India one interconnected trading region.

Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 4 Long Answer Type Questions.

1. Describe the process and importance of India’s Second Urbanisation.
See AnswerAfter the Harappan civilisation’s decline, India experienced roughly a thousand years without cities. In the 1st millennium BCE, a new wave of urbanisation began in the Ganga plains and Indus basin, confirmed by both archaeological excavations and references in late Vedic, Buddhist, and Jain literature. This phase, called the Second Urbanisation, saw the rise of janapadas and mahājanapadas, new technologies like iron metallurgy, the first coins and expanding trade networks. Unlike the First Urbanisation, this phase has continued, in various forms, right up to the present day, making it a foundational period in Indian history.

2. Explain the different systems of governance found among the mahājanapadas.
See AnswerMost mahājanapadas, such as Magadha, Kosala and Avanti, functioned as monarchies where the rājā was the hereditary ultimate authority, though he was expected to consult ministers and an assembly of elders. He collected taxes, maintained law and order, built fortifications and led armies. However, mahājanapadas like Vajji (Vṛijji) and Malla worked differently: their sabhā or samiti held greater power, taking major decisions—including selecting the rājā-through discussion and voting. These were called gaṇas or sanghas and historians regard them as some of the earliest “republics” in world history, showing that ancient India had diverse political systems.

3. How did trade, technology, and communication routes shape life during the mahājanapada period?
See AnswerThis period saw major technological progress, especially the shift from bronze to iron metallurgy, which strengthened agriculture and produced better weapons. Growing trade led to India’s first coins, called punch-marked coins, made initially of silver and later of copper and gold. Two major routes, the Uttarapatha and Dakṣhiṇapatha, along with several lateral roads connecting ports, allowed people, goods, and ideas to travel across the Subcontinent. By 300-200 BCE, nearly the entire Subcontinent, including the Northeast, had become one vibrant, interconnected land, with trade extending even to Central and Southeast Asia.

4. Discuss the varṇa-jāti system and how it evolved over time.
See AnswerAs Indian society grew more complex, it organised itself through jāti, communities linked to specific hereditary occupations such as agriculture, metallurgy or craft, which were often further divided into sub-jātis with their own customs. Alongside this existed the varṇa system from Vedic texts, dividing society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras based on their functions in society. While this system brought some structure and stability, historical evidence shows it was more flexible in earlier periods, with individuals sometimes changing occupations. Over time, however, it became rigid, leading to inequality and discrimination, especially during British rule.

5. Describe the developments in south and east India during the age of mahājanapadas.
See AnswerWhile the mahājanapadas flourished in the north, important urban centres also developed elsewhere. In the east, Śhiśhupalgarh, capital of Kalinga, emerged as a strongly fortified square city with broad streets. In the south, cities began developing from around 400 BCE and around this time three kingdoms – the Cholas, Cheras and Pāṇḍyas—rose to prominence, mentioned both in archaeological findings and ancient Tamil literature. Rich in resources like gemstones, gold and spices, these southern regions traded profitably not just within India but with overseas kingdoms, connecting the whole Subcontinent into one vibrant trading network by 300-200 BCE.