CBSE Class 12 History Kinship Caste and Class Early Societies Assignment

Key concepts in nutshell
♦ Many rules and different practices were followed by the people.
♦ Very often families were part of larger networks of people we define as relatives.
♦ Blood relations can be defined in many different ways.
♦ Mausmriti is considered the most o important Dharma Sutra and Dharmashastra. It was compiled between 200 BCE and 200 CE. This laid down rules governing social life.
♦ During Mahabharata age gotras were considered very important by higher verna of societies.
♦ Social differences prevailed and integration took place within the framework of caste system.
♦ According to the sutras only Kashtriyas could be a king.
♦ The original version of Mahabharata is in Sanskrit.
♦ It contains vivid descriptions of battles forest, palaces and settlements.
 

Question. In Sanskrit and inscriptions, merchants were known as_____________?
a) Nishad
b) Vanik
c) None of these
d) Chandala

Answer : B

Question. Nishada belongs to which community ?
a) Slave community
b) Hunting community
c) All of the above
d) Sailing community

Answer : D

Question. Purush Sukta, a hymm comes from_____________ ?
a) Rigveda
b) Samveda
c) Yajurveda
d) Manusmriti

Answer : A

Question. Where is Ahichchhatra located ?
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Odisha
c) Bengal
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer : A

Question. Satvahanas ruled over western India and Deccan from ______________?
a) 2nd century BCE - 2nd century CE
b) 6TH century BCE – 6TH century CE
c) None of these
d) 5th century BCE – 5th century CE

Answer : A

Question. Brihadaranyaka is ­­­­______________?
a) Veda
b) None of these
c) Puran
d) Upanishad

Answer : D

Question. Who ascended the throne of Hastinapur?
a) Duryodhan
b) Dhritrashtra
c) Pandu
d) Bishma

Answer : C

Question. What is the ancient name of Mandsaur?
a) Kaushambi
b) Shravasti
c) Ujjayani
d) Dashapura

Answer : D

Question. ______________ is the practice of a woman having several husbands.
a) Endogamy
b) Exogamy
c) Polygyny
d) Polyandry

Answer : D

Question. Which of the following terms is used for describing a name which is derived from a name of mother?
a) Both B and C
b) Patronym
c) Eponym
d) Metronym

Answer : D

Question. Shakas who came from Central Asia were regarded by the Brahmanas as?
a) Untouchables
b) Aryans
c) Daasas
d) Mlechchhas

Answer : D

Question. Who followed endogamy ?
a) Mauryas
b) All of the above
c) Satavahanas
d) Pandavas

Answer : C

Question. Shungas and Kanvas were the successors of _____________?
a) Mauryas
b) Pandyas
c) Cholas
d) Kushanas

Answer : A

Question. What is the term used when descent is traced through the mother?
a) Matriliny
b) All of the above
c) Maternal
d) Matriarchy

Answer : A

Question. V.S. Sukthankar is ______________?
a) An Achaeologiest
b) None of these
c) A Novelist
d) A Sanskritist

Answer : D

Question. According to Manusmriti, there are how many types of marriages?
a) Seven
b) Six
c) Eight
d) Nine

Answer : C

Question. The term vamsha is used for ……… .
a) families
b) lineage
c) descent
d) caste

Answer : B

Question. The critical edition of the Mahabharata was completed in the year ……… .
a) 1919
b) 1925
c) 1927
d) 1966

Answer : D

Question. The Shungas and Kanvas, the immediate successors of the Mauryas, were ……… .
a) Brahmanas
b) Kshatriyas
c) of ‘low’ origin
d) mlechchhas

Answer : A 

Question. In the case of the Satvahanas, succession to the throne was ……… .
a) matrilineal
b) patrilineal
c) Both a) and b)
d) Neither a) nor b)

Answer : B

Question. The term used for names derived from the name of the mother or female ancestor is called ……… .
a) matriliny
b) matrimonial
c) metronymic
d) matrilineal

Answer : C

Question. The term vanik in Sanskrit inscriptions is used to designate ……… .
a) merchants
b) soldiers
c) traders
d) farmers

Answer : A

Question. Which of the following is correct?
a) Brahmanas were supposed to study and teach the vedas.
b) Kshatriyas were expected to engage in agriculture.
c) Vaishyas were to engage in warfare.
d) Shudras were engaged in any work which they liked.

Answer : A

Question. The epic Mahabharata consists ……… verses.
a) 2400
b) 10000
c) 1000
d) 2800

Answer : B 

Question. Ekalavya belonged to which class?
a) Brahman
b) Nishad
c) Slave
d) Untouchable

Answer : B

Question. Dharmasutras was compiled in
a) Pali
b) Hindi
c) Sanskrit
d) Brahmi

Answer : C 

Question. Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occassion of their marriages as
a) Stridhana
b) Manusmriti
c) Biksha
d) None of these

Answer : A

Question. Who excavated the site Hastinapur in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh?
a) Daya Ram Sahni
b) Rakhal Das Banerji
c) BB Lal
d) John Marshall

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
a) Vaishya – Study the Vedas
b) Shudra – Engage in agriculture
c) Kshatriya – Give and receive gifts
d) Brahmana – Make gifts

Answer : A

Question. According to the Shastras, who could be kings?
a) Warrior
b) Kshatriya
c) Who had power to rule
d) Brahmanas

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following refers tomarriage within a unit?
a) Exogamy
b) Endogamy
c) Polyandry
d) None of these

Answer : B

Question. According to Manusmriti, which among the following is not one of the means for men to acquire wealth?
a) Inheritance
b) As a token of affection
c) Conquest
d) Investment

Answer : B

Question. Who were engaged in agriculture, pastoralism and trade?
a) Kshatriya
b) Brahmana
c) Shudra
d) Vaishaya

Answer : D

Question. Which one of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
a) Critical edition of the        – VS Sukthankar
     Mahabharata
b) The Bhagavad Gita         – Advice offered by Lord
                                               Krishna to Arjun
c) Purusha Sukta in the      – Created by Brahmanas
    Rigveda
d) Manusmriti                      – Laid down the duties of chandalas

Answer : C

Question. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
a) Ashtadhyayi of Panini           – 500 BCE
b) Charaka and Sushruta          – 400-500 CE
      Samhita
c) Natyashastra of Bharata       – 100 CE
d) Puranas (in Sanskrit)           – 400 BCE onwards

Answer : A

Question. Consider the following statements and choose the correct answer.
1. The original version of the Mahabharata is in Sanskrit.
2. According to the shastras, only kshatriyas could be kings.
3. During the Mahabharata age, gotras were considered very important by the higher varnas of Hindu society.
4. The Mahabharata contains vivid descriptions of battles, forests, palaces and settlements.
Codes
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Arrange the following major textual traditions written or compiled in the Sanskrit language in correct chronological sequence from the earliest to the latest :
(i) Ramayana and Mahabharata
(ii) Manusmriti
(iii) Major Dharmasutras
(iv) Puranas
Codes
a) (iv)- (iii) - (ii) - (i)
b) (ii) - (iv) - (i) - (iii)
c) (iii) - (i) - (ii) - (iv)
d) (iii) - (ii) - (iv) - (i)

Answer : C

Question. Arrange the location of the following cities of the Kuru-Panchala region and neighbouring areas in correct sequence from East to West:
(i) Ayodhya
(ii) Hastinapura
(iii) Indraprastha
(iv) Kushinagara
Codes
a) (i) - (ii) - (iii) - (iv)
b) (i) - (iii) - (ii) - (iv)
c) (ii) - (i) - (iii) - (iv)
d) (iv) - (i) - (ii) - (iii)

Answer : D

Question. Match the following forms of marriage with their meanings and select the correct option accordingly:
Form of Marriage Meaning
A. Endogamy              1. Practice in which one man
                                       has several wives.
B Exogamy                 2. Marriage within the same
                                       family unit living in the same locality.
C. Polyandry               3. Practice in which one woman
                                       has several husbands.
D. Polygyny                4. Marriage outside the family unit.
Codes
     A B C D
a) 3 1 4 2
b) 2 4 3 1
c) 2 1 3 4
d) 3 4 1 2

Answer : B

Question. Match the following
List I                          List II
A. Brahmanas        1. Administer Justice
B. Kshatriya           2. Study and teach the veda
C. Vaishya             3. Agriculture
D. Shudra              4. Serve the higher three vernas
Codes
     A B C D
a) 1 2 3 4
b) 2 1 4 3
c) 2 1 3 4
d) 3 1 4 2

Answer : C

 

ASSERTION AND REASON BASED MCQs 

Directions : In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of
Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as.
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true but R is false.
(D) A is false and R is true.

Question. Assertion (A): Property is to be divided among sons and women could not claim a share.
Reason (R): Women in ruling families had access to wealth. For example: Prabhavati Gupta was granted land but such examples were very rare. A
Answer : B

Question. Assertion (A): Themes and episodes from the Mahabharata were depicted in sculpture, paintings, performing arts (dance, drama) and other kinds of narrations.
Reason (R): This enormous composition of Mahabharata is attributed to Sage Vyasa.
Answer : B

Question. Assertion (A): With the emergence of new towns, no change was observed in the beliefs and practices in social life.
Reason (R): A Brahmanical practice, evident from c. 1000 BCE onwards, was to classify people (especially Brahmanas) in terms of gotras.
Answer : D

Question. Assertion (A): Ekalavya shot seven arrows into dog’s mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery.
Reason (R): Drona demanded Ekalavya’s right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it. U
Answer : B

Question. Assertion (A): A wealthy Shudra can live like a rich man, can have servants and people respect him.
Reason (R): Economic status determined a person’s status in society.
Answer : A

Question. Assertion (A): Women can retain the gifts they received during their marriage as stridhana.
Reason (R): This can be inherited by their children. Husbands had also claim on it. R
Answer : C

Question. Assertion (A): One Brahmanical practice, evident from c. 1000 BCE onwards, was to classify people (especially Brahmanas) in terms of gotras .
Reason (R): women were expected to give up their father’s gotra and adopt that of their husband on marriage and members of the same gotra could not marry. 
Answer : B

Question. Assertion (A): The bodies of nishadas were found charred and it was believed that the Pandavas and Kunti were dead.
Reason (R): Kunti arranged for a feast. While most of the invitees were Brahmanas, a nishada woman came with her five sons. When they were satiated with drink and fell off to sleep, the Pandavas escaped, setting fire to the house. A
Answer : A

CASE-BASED MCQs

Read the following excerpt titled “A Mother’s Advice” carefully and answer the questions:
Duryodhana By making peace, you honour your father and me, as well as your well-wishers...it is the wise man in control of his senses who guards his kingdom.
Greed and anger drag a man away from his profits; by defeating these two enemies, a king conquers the earth. You will happily enjoy the earth, my son, along with the wise and heroic Pandavas.
There is no good in a war, no law (dharma) and profit (artha), let alone happiness; nor is there (necessarily) victory in the end–don’t set your mind on war.
Duryodhana did not listen to this advice and fought and lost the war.

Question. Why did Gandhari appeal to her son not to fight against the Pandavas?
(A) She knew that Pandavas will win.
(B) She knew that Kauravas will win.
(C) She knew that the war will end in a tie.
(D) She knew that it is not necessary that victory would come in war.
Answer : D

Question. What was the cause of war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas?
(A) Right to Panchayat of Dwarka
(B) Right to throne of Hastinapur
(C) Right to enslave the other party
(D) None of these
Answer : B

Question. Why did Duryodhana not listen to his mother?
(A) He was overconfident
(B) He was egoistic about his powers.
(C) His advisors pushed him towards war.
(D) All of these.
Answer : D

Question. Who won the war in the end?
(A) The Pandavas
(B) The Kauravas
(C) The war ended in a tie
(D) They finally entered into a treaty
Answer : A

 

Question. What do you mean by the term epic? 
Answer: Epic means a larger poetic text which narrates the life and achievements of the heroes or the past of a nation.

Question. Give Two Importance of Manusmriti? 
Answer: (i) It gives vital information about law and social practices.
(II) It influences the Hindu way of life even today.

Question. Why the war Mahabharata was fought? What was its result? 
Answer: The war of Mahabharata was fought to acquire land and authority. The war was won by the Pandavas.

Question. What do you mean by term kula and Jati? 2
Answer: Sanskrit texts use the term kula to designate families and jati for the larger network of kinfolk .

Question. What is endogamy? 
Answer: Endogamy refers to marriage within a unit. This could be a kin, group, caste or a group living in the same locality.

Question. What did B.B.Lal note about the houses in the second phase of Mahabharata period Explain? 
Answer: B.B.lal has given a description about the houses in the second phase. He noted that within the limited area excavated, no definite plans of houses were obtained, but walls
of mud and mud bricks were duly encountered. The discovery of mud plaster with prominent reed marks suggested that some of the houses had reed walls plastered over
with mud.

Question. In what ways was the Buddhist theory of a social contract different from the Brahmanical view of society derived from the Purusha sukta? 
Answer:
(I) The Purusha sukta says that four varnas emerged from the Purasha sukta.
(II) These varnas where Brahamans, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudras.
(III) The Bramahans enjoyed the supreme position in the society.
(IV) The Kshatriyas where worriers, they ran the administration.
(IV) The Vaishaya were engaged in trade. The Shudras where destined to serve the three Varnas.
(V) Only the birth was the basis of status and respect in the society.
The Buddhism did not accept this concept. They believe that the inequality in the society was artificial and temporary. They rejected birth as the basis of social prestige.

Question. Explain the relationship between the Varna system and the occupation according to Brahmanical texts. How did the Brahmanas reinforce these? 
Answer: Relatonship between the varna system and occupation according to Brahmanical texts:
(I) Brahmanas- study and teach the vedas,perform sacrifices.
(II) Kshtriyas –study the vedas , get sacrifice performed and engage in warfare ,protect
people and administer justice.
(III) Vaishyas-study the vedas,get sacrifices performed and engaged in agriculture and
trade.
(IV) Shudras-assigned only one occupation-that of serving the three higher varnas.
The Bramanas enforced these by:
(a) Divine origin.
(b) Advising kings to enforce the order.
(c) Caste based on birth.

Question. The rules of the Brahmanical texts were not universally followed in ancient time.
Justify giving five evidence. 
Answer: Brahmanical texts were not universally followed in ancient times:
(i) Women were expected to give up the gotra of the father after marriage. However the women married satvahana rulers continued to have names derived from others gotra.
They did not adopt husband’s gotra.
(ii) According to the shastras only Kshatriyas could become rulers. But there were many ruling families that claims to be Brahmanas or Vaishyas.
(iii) There were population whose practices were not influenced by Brahmanical ideas such as Nishadas, nomadic pastoralists.
(iv) There were instance of multiple occupations of the same caste such as silk weavers of Mandasor.
(v) Instances of chandalas not accepting the life of degradation prescribed in the Shastras.
(vi) Generally marriage took place within the caste. Sometimes marriage took place outside the caste such as Bhim and Hidimba.
(vii) Women were not allowed to share the property of their father. Exceptions are there such as Prabhavati Gupta.

Question. The Mahabharata is a good source to study the social value of ancient times Prove it.?
Answer: Yes, Mahabharata is a good source to study the social value of ancient times.
(I) The Mahabharata gives a vivid description of the social values of the period as essential it is story between two set of warnings cousins and thus centre around conflict in the society.
(II) Patriliny succession it emphasized
(III) The Mahabharata reinforces the relations between the caste and the occupation prescription between the caste and the occupation prescribed in the Dharmashastras through stories. For example, the story of Eklavya.
(IV) The Mahabharata gives a vivid description of the caste system and interrelation of the different caste group. This is evident from the story of Hidimba’s marriage with Bhima.
(V) The Mahabharata also provides evidence to patriarchal society, for example Yudhishtira staking Draupadi, his wife in the game of dice.
(VI) Kanyadan or gift of daughter in marriage was considered an important religious duty of the father.
(VII) Different types of marriges were practiced in the society.
(VIII) The Mahabharata also gives two contrasting social norms in the relationship between
the mother and son for example(i)relationship between the Pandavas and their mother example (ii) the Kauravas and their mother.
(IX) It provides information about varna and different professions.
(X) Elders were dominating in the family.

Read the following passage given carefully and answer the question that follows: 
Draupadi’s Marriage
Drupada the king of Panchal orginsed a competition where the challenges was to string a bow and hit a target : the winner would be chosen to marry his daughter Draupadi. Arjuna was victorious and was garlanded by Draupadi. The Pandavas returned with her to their mother Kunti, who, even before she saw them asked them to share whatever they had got .she realized her mistake when she saw Drupadi, but her command could not be violated. After much deliberation, Yudhisthira decided that Drupadi would be their common wife.
When Drupda was told about this, he protested. However, the seer Vyasa arrived and told him that the Pandavas were in reality incarnations of Indra, whose wife had been reborn as Draupadi and they were thus destined for each other.
Vyasa added that in another instance a young woman had prayed to shiva for a husband, and in her enthusiasm, had prayed five times instead of once. This woman was know reborned as Draupadi and Shiva had fulfilled her desire Convinced by these stories, Drupada consented to the marriage.

Question. What was the competition organized by the Panchala king Drupada for the marriage of his daughter? 
Answer: Drupada organized a competition where the challenge was to string a bow and hit a target.

Question. What two explanations were given by Vyasa to convince king Drupada for Draupadi being the common wife of the Pandvas? 
Answer: Vyasa told that Pandvas were in reality incarnations of Indra. He also told that a women was blessed by Lord Shiva to have five husband was now reborn as Draupadi.

Question. What form of the marriage was Draupadi’s marriage to the pandvas? Give two views of historians about the form of marriage.
Answer: It was an example of polyandry. Some historians believes that such kind of marriage were perhaps prevalent in some section of societies. Some historians believe that such tradition was present in the Himalayan region. 

Question. How the Manusmriti has define the features and functions of chandalas? What some Chinese travelers have written about them ?
Answer:
(i) The Manusmriti (compiled c. 2nd century (CE) laid down what it described as the duties of the chandalas. They were expected to live outside the village use discarded bowls with dogs and donkeys as their wealth. They were to wear the clothes of the dead and eat out of broken dishes wear ornaments of black iron and wander constantly. They were not to walk about in villages and cities at night. They had to handle the bodies of those who had no relatives and act as executioners.
(ii) Much later in the account of his travels the Chinese Buddhish monk Fa Xian (5th century CE) wrote that the untouchables had to sound a clapper in the streets of the town to warn the people of their presence. Another Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang (7th century CE) observed that executioners and scavengers were forced to live outside the city and their houses were marked.

Question. Textual traditions are one of the major sources for understanding the process of changes. Explain the statement in about 100 words.
Answer: Textual traditions are of the major sources for understanding changes in the economy and polity. Some texts laid down norms of social behaviour. Others described and occasionally commented on a wide range of social situation and practices. And we can catch a glimpse of some social actors from inscriptions. Each of these sources is written from the perspective of some social categories. So we need to keep in mind who composed it and for whom. We also need to consider the language of the text, and ways in which it circulated.

Question. The following is an excerpt from the Mahabarta in which Yudishtra, the eldest Pandava speaks to Sanjaya a messenger : Sanjaya convey my respectful greetings to all the Brahmanas and the chief priest of the house of Dhritarashtra. I bow respectfully to teacher Drona……I hold the feet of our preceptor Kripa…. (and) the chief of the Kurus, the great Bhishma. I bow respectfully to the old king (Dhritarashtra). I greet and ask after the health of his son Dhritarashtra and his younger brother……. Also greet all the young Kuruwarriors who are our brothers sons and grandsons….. Greet above all him who is to us like father and mother, the wise Vidura (born of a slave woman)…. I bow to the elderly ladies who are known as our mother. To those who are our wives you say this, “I hope they are well protected… Our daughters in law born of good families and mothers of children greet on my behalf. Embrace for me those who are our daughters…… The beautiful fragrant well dressed courtesans of ours you should also greet. Greet the slave women and their children greet the aged the maimed (and) the helpless. Try and identify the criteria used to make this list in terms of age, gender kinship ties. Are there any other criteria ? For each category explain why are placed in a particular position in the list
Answer: The criteria had been used to make this list the terms of age gender and kinship ties in brief ca be mention in this way :
i) First of all respect should be paid to all the Brahamans and the chief priest of the ruler.
ii) Secondly Guru Dronacharya should be honoured.
iii) The great old man Bhismpitama was given place of honour at third position.
iv) After that Yudhisthira bow respectfully to old king and his young brother to all these people he considered like his father and then he should respect to female members of Kuru family as his mothers – Kinship were honoured.
v) At next place Yudhisthira showed honoured to Vidhura born of a slave women. After that the elderly ladies and daughters and mother of children were given respect.
vi) There is other criteria also respect should be shown equally to all elder persons whether they are from royal families or they are Brahamans or from any other Varnas because age should be given first of all regard without considering gender and blood relation.
vii) Yudhisthira put his list of honour keeping of view the old traditions of Brahamans text (books) and maintaining the old social order generally followed during the epic age.

Question. This is what a famous historian of Indian literature Maurice Winternitz, wrote about the Mahabarata: “just because Mahabarata represents more of an entire literature….. and contains so much and so many kinds of things….. (it) gives (s) us an insight into the most profound depths of the sold of the Indian folk”….Discuss.
Answer: There are several literary sources to reconstruct ancient Indian history.
Mahabarata is one of them. This is a famous historical source. Its importance has been recognized in not by Indian historian but also by foreign and western historian for example Maurice Winternitz wrote about great epic just because the Mahabarata represents more of an entire literature. It contains to so many kinds of hints related with different
aspects of the Indian lives. It we study this vast book it gives us and inside Mahabarata was written in Sanskrit, a language meant also exclusively for priests and elites. However the Sanskrit used in simpler than that of the Vedas. Therefore it was probably widely understood.
Historians usually classify the contents of the present text under two broad heads sections that contain stories designated as the narrative and section that contain prescriptions about social norms designated as didactic. This division is by no means watertight – the didactic sections include stories and the narrative often contains a social message. However
generally historians agree that the Mahabarata was meant to be dramatic moving story and that the didactic portions were probably added later.
Interestingly the text is described as an itihasa within early Sanskrit tradition. The literal meaning of the term is thus it was which is why it is generally translated as history. Was there a real war that was remembered in the epic ? We are not sure. Some historians think that the memory of an actual conflict amongst kinfolk was preserved in the narrative others pint out that there is no other corroborative evidence of the battle.
Who wrote the Mahabarata. This is a question to which there are several answers. The original story was probably composed by charioteer bards known as sutas who generally accompanied Kshatriya warriors to the beattlefiled and composed poems celebrating their victories and other achievements. These compositions circulated orally. Then, from the fifth century BCE, Brahmanas took over the story and began to commit it to writing. This was the time when chiefdoms such as those of the Kurus and Panchalas around whom the story of the epic revolves, were gradually becoming kingdoms. Did the new things want their itihasa to be recorded and preserved more systematically ? It is also possible that the unpheavals that often accompanied the establishment of these states, where old social.