Vital Villages Thriving Towns - Class 6 History - Extra Questions

Ploughmen were known as _________ in Tamil.

'Uzhavar'. In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as vellalar, ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar, and landless labourers, including slaves, were known as kadaisiyar and adimai.


Describe the functions of the 'gramabhojaka'. Why do you think he was powerful?

The 'gramabhojaka' was the largest landowner. He had slaves and he hired workers to cultivate the land. He was powerful since the king entrusted him with the important job of collecting taxes from the villagers. His other functions were those of a policeman and judge.


Most 'grihapatis were __________.

Smaller. Apart from the gramabhojaka, there were other independent farmers, known as grihapatis, most of whom were smaller landowners.


The 'gramabhojaka' often got his land cultivated by the __________.

The 'gramabhojaka' often got his land cultivated by the-slaves and workers.
In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the gramabhojaka. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary. The gramabhojaka was often the largest landowner. Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.


How did the dasa karmakara earn a living?

Dasa karmakara were those people who did not own land. They had to work on the fields of other land holders to earn a living.


What do you know about punch marked coins?

Punch marked coins were the earliest coins which came into use. These were remained in use for about 500 years. Designs of such coins were punched on to the metal (silver or copper).


Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

  1. Large landowners were called 'Vellalar'.
  2. Ordinary ploughmen were called 'Uzhavar'.
  3. Landless laborers were called Kadaisiyar and adimai.
  4. Village headman was called Gram Bhojaka.
  5. Men and women who did not own land were called Dasa Karmakara.
  6. Tall double-handed jars that contained liquids were called Amphorae.


What were shrenis? What functions did shrenis of crafts persons perform?

Shrenis were associations of crafts persons and merchants. The shrenis of crafts persons performed various functions. They provided training, procured raw material and distributed the finished product. Then came shrenis of merchants who organised the trade. Shrenis also performed the role of banks where rich men and women deposited money.


Class 6 History Extra Questions