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The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Chinese Civilization

March 28, 2022June 29, 2018 by Raju

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Chinese Civilization

ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Answers

Trail HistoryCivics History & Civics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Maths

Keywords

Shang dynasty: It was the first known dynasty in China. Ancestor worship is to pray to the dead people of the family. The Chinese believed that human beings become powerful souls after death.
Oracles: They were priests or holy people who were in close touch with the gods.
Confucianism was the religious movement named after its founder, Confucius. It taught a practical code of moral conduct and became the state religion of China. Seri-culture It is the breeding of silkworms for the production of silk.
Mulberry tree: It is a tree with broad, dark, green leaves and edible berries. Silkworms eat the leaves of the white mulberry and the trees are used for rearing silkworms to produce silk.
Porcelain: It is a hard, white, shiny substance made by baking clay and used for making delicate pottery.
Great Wall of China: It was built by Emperor Shi Huangdi to protect the country from the frequent attacks of the barbarians.
Pagodas: are stupa-type temples that were an important feature of the Chinese architecture.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

The great rivers of China are Huang Ho and Yangtze Kiang
Emperor Shi Huangdi began the task of joining the independent walls of the Great Wall of China to protect China from the frequent attacks of invaders.
The Chinese were the first to make silk cloth.
The chief exports of China were silk, chinaware, tea and paper.
Confucianism became the state religion of China.
The Chinese wrote on silk or bamboo slips and later on paper.
In the 1 st century ce the Chinese made paper from bark of old trees, old rags and fishing nets.

B. Match the following

Answer:

C.Choose the correct answer:

1. China is bordered by the Himalayas/Pacific Ocean/ deserts in the east.
Ans. China is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east.

2. The chief occupation of the Chinese was agriculture/ woodwork/sericulture.
Ans. The chief occupation of the Chines was agriculture.

3. People in China made terracotta/porcelain/bamboo
Ans. People in China made porcelain pottery.

4.The oracles were holy priests/farmers/potters.
Ans. The oracles were holy priests.

5. Taoism/Confucianism/Buddhism became the state religion of China.
Ans. Confucianism became the state religion of China.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

The first known dynasty of China was the Qin dynasty.
False
Correct: The first known dynasty of China was the Shang dynasty.
The emperor occupied the highest position in Chinese society.
True.
The Chinese developed the art of making porcelain.
True.
The Chinese worshiped the forces of nature.
True.
The Chinese script is a form of picture writing.
True.
In China, temples were known as stupas.
False.
Correct :In China, temples were known as pagodas.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
How was China isolated and protected from the rest of the world?
Answer:
China, this vast country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Himalayas in the south, broad deserts and mountains in the west and Great Wall in the north. Within these boundaries lie the valley of two rivers. In this way China was isolated and protected from the rest of the world.

Question 2.
Name the rivers that gave rise to the ancient Chinese civilization.
Answer:
Huang Ho and Yangtze Kiang are two rivers that gave rise to ancient Chinese civilization.

Question 3.
Describe the social structure of the ancient Chinese civilization.
Answer:
The emperor occupied the highest rung of the social ladder followed by the nobles, the merchants, the craftspeople, the farmers and the slaves. The soldiers occupied a special place in society. They were feared and respected by the people. People lived in groups or clans and respected their ancestors and elders. The family was a close-knit unit.

Question 4.
What were the important occupations of the ancient Chinese?
Answer:
Agriculture, sericulture, domestication of animals, pottery and woodwork are main occupations of the ancient Chinese.

Question 5.
Name the countries with which the Chinese carried on trade?
Answer:
The Chinese carried on trade with Japan, India, Egypt, Mesopotamia , and regions as far as the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 6.
Which famous Chinese product was the chief item of export in the ancient and medieval ages?
Answer:
Chinese silk was world-famous and the chief item of export during the ancient and medieval ages.

Question 7.
Name the state religion of ancient China.
Answer:
Confucianism was the state religion of ancient China.

Question 8.
Why were the vast majority of people in ancient China illiterate?
Answer:
The Chinese script is a from of picture writing. There were about 40,000 word-pictures. Thus making the script complex and difficult. The Chinese could not understand them. So the vast majority of people in ancient China was illiterate.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
Why was the Huang He known as the ‘Sorrow of China’?
Answer:
The river Huang Ho was also known as the ‘Sorrow of China’ because it often changed its course after the floods and caused destruction of crops and canals dug for irrigation. People living on the banks of this river were especially affected.

Question 2.
Describe the Great Wall of China. Why was it built?
Answer:
The Great Wall of China was built by Emperor Shi Huangdi.It is one of the most impressive of Chinese architectural accomplishments. It is about 2,400 km long and varies in height from 4.5m to 9m. This wall forms the northern boundary of China. It was built across mountains, deserts and plains. There are 10,000 watch-towers at regular intervals along the wall. It was built to protect the China from the frequent attacks of barbarians.

Question 3.
Describe the town planning in ancient China.
Answer:
City Town Planning—City planning in ancient China began with the urbanization of the Huang He valley in the later part of die Neolithic Age. Urban planning in ancient China followed strict traditional rules of layout and design based on specific religious (e.g. feng shui) and scientific (i.e. astronomical) ideas and principles. The objective was to create favourable and auspicious conditions that would bring balance and harmony between man, government, heaven and earth.
The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions - The Chinese Civilization 4
The city of Chengzhou, built during the rule of the Zhou dynasty, represents an ideal city layout. The city was laid out in the form of a square, further subdivided into nine squares. Broad, parallel roads, running north to south, were intercepted at right angles by roads The square running east to west, dividing the city into wards. Palaces, houses, temples, markets etc.

were built within these blocks, each reserved for a specific group of buildings, for e.g., the Inner City with the central palace and government buildings was built in the center (square 5 in the diagram). The Outer City was built around it. The audience hail (square 1), the temples (squares 3 and 7) and the market buildings (square 9) were built within the Inner City. In large cities, rectangular defensive walls with gates were built around the Inner City as well as the Outer City. Some of the larger cities were surrounded by moats.

Question 4.
Briefly discuss the characteristics of the Chinese civilization with reference to
(a) society and
(b) Religion
Answer:
(a)
Society: Chinese lived in groups or clans. They respected their ancestors and elders. The family was a close-knit unit. The emperor occupied the highest rung of the social ladder followed by the nobles, the merchants the crafts- people, the farmers and the slaves. The soldiers occupied a special place and respected by the people.
(b)
Religion: The Chinese worshiped the forces of nature. A widely prevalent practice was ancestor worship. Astrologers and oracles were greatly respected. The oracles or holy priests were supposed to be in touch with the gods.

Question 5.
Give a brief account of the following:
(a) Agriculture
(b) Sericulture.
Answer:
(a) Agriculture: Agriculture was the main occupation of Chinese. They grew rice, wheat, millet, barley and soya bean. At first Chinese cultivated tea for medicinal purposes and later as a popular drink.
(b) Sericulture: Sericulture is the breading of silk warms for the production of silk. The Chinese were the first to make silk cloth and Chinese silk was world-famous and was the chief item of export during the Ancient and Medieval Ages.

Question 6.
Briefly describe:
(a) Chinese pottery
(b) Chinese woodwork.
Answer:
(a)
Chinese pottery: The Chinese developed the art of making exquisite porcelain types of pots and they decorated pots with colourful designs. They were first to make vases, jars, cups, saucers and bowls.
(b)
Chinese woodwork: Chinese used wood on a large scale for the construction of buildings. They made cabinets. The walls of palaces were made of polished wood.

Question 7.
Describe the religious beliefs of people in the ancient Chinese civilization.
Answer:
The Chinese worshiped the forces of nature. A widely prevalent practice was ancestor worship. Astrologers and oracles were greatly respected. The oracles or holy priests were supposed to be in touch with the gods. The emperor of China was regarded as the son of Shangdi, the god of heaven. Later, the Chinese became followers of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

Question 8.
Discuss the main feature of Confucianism?
Answer:
The principles he taught were basically a practical code of moral conduct. It was more a way of life than a religion. Confucius taught his disciples to appreciate the present world and cultivate the virtues of hard work, modesty, sobriety, gravity and thoughtfulness towards others. He stressed on loyalty and obligations. He attracted a large number of disciples. Later, Confucianism became the state religion of China.

Question 9.
Explain the important features of the Chinese script?
Answer:
The main features of Chinese script were following

The Chinese script is a form of picture writing. Each picture represents an idea.
The Chinese language does not have any alphabet.
There were about 40,000 word-pictures making the script complex and difficult.

Question 10.
Several Chinese inventions have changed the history of the world. Explain any five.
Answer:
Following Chinese inventions have changed the history of the world.

Chinese first made paper from bark of old trees, old rags and fishing nets.
The Chinese developed the art of block printing.
Seismograph was made in China to record earthquakes,
Other notable inventions were manufacture of gunpowder,
The mariner’s compass, the water mill, the wheelbarrow, umbrellas and kites.

G Picture study.

This is a picture of the statue of a person who founded a religious movement in ancient China that was basically a practical code of moral conduct.

1. Identify the person in the picture.
Ans. The person name is Confucius.

2. Name the religion founded by him.
Ans. He founded Confucianism religion.

3. Mention the important teachings of this religion.
Ans. This religion taught disciples to appreciate the present world and cultivate the virtues of hard word modesty, sobriety, gravity and thoughtfulness towards others. This religion stressed on loyalty and obligations.
4.
Name two other major religions that are followed by the people in this country.
Ans. Taoism and Buddhism are two other major religions that are followed by the people in this country.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Explain the geographical position of China?
Answer:
China is vast country is boardered by Pacific Ocean in the east, the Himalayas in the south, broad deserts and mountains in the west and Great Wall in the north.

Question 2.
What were the important occupations of the ancient Chinese? Mention two important points for each of the these occupations.
Answer:
Agriculture, sericulture, domestication of animals, pottery and woodwork are main occupations of the ancient Chinese. Sericulture— The second occupation of Chinese was to make silk cloth. Chinese silk was world-famous and was the chief items of export.
Domestication of animals The Chinese domesticated horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs and poultry. They used horses and Horse-drawn carts as a mean of transport.

Question 4.
Give a brief account of the following:

Chinese society
Tea cultivation

Answer:

Chinese society— Chinese lived in groups or clans.
They respected their ancestors and elders. The family was a close-knit unit. The emperor occupied the highest rung of the social ladder followed by the nobles, the merchants the crafts- people, the farmers and the slaves. The soldiers occupied a special place and respected by the people.
Tea cultivation— The Chinese were the first to cultivate tea. At first tea was cultivated for medicinal purposes and later as a popular drink.

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Indus Valley Civilization

March 28, 2022June 29, 2018 by Raju

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Indus Valley Civilization

ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Answers

Trail HistoryCivics History & Civics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Maths

Keywords

Dwelling houses are buildings, that people live in and but do not use as offices, trading places, etc.
Public building: These buildings are used by all the people and are not privately owned.
Granaries were the store houses where the people of Indus valley civilization stored their extra grain. The Great Granary was discovered at Harappa.
Great Bath was a big tank at Mohanjodaro that was probably used by the general public during religious ceremonies.
Drainage system: It is a process by which water or liquid waste is drained out from an area.
Terracotta: It is a reddish-brown clay that has been baked. Seals are the clay tablets used by Harappan merchants to stamp their goods.
Mother Goddess was the female deity worshiped by the people of the Indus Valley civilization. Many smoke- stained clay figures of the Mother Goddess have been found.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

The main river of the Harappan civilization was Ravi.
The Great Bath is located in Mohenjodaro.
The main occupation of the Harappan were farming.
The rich wore ornaments made of gold, silver and ivory.
The Harappan seals are made of clay, soapstone and copper.

B. Match the following:

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. The Harappan civilization belongs to the Mesolithic/ Neolithic/Bronze
Ans. The Harappan civilization belongs to the Bronze Age.

2. Lothal/Ropar/Harappa was the first city to be discovered in the Indus Valley region.
Ans. Harappa was the first city to be discovered in the Indus Valley region.

3. The Assembly Hall is in Mohanjodaro/Lothal/Harappa.
Ans: The Assembly Hall is in Mohanjodaro.

4. Wheat/Fish/Barley was the staple food of the Harappans.
Ans. Wheat was the staple food of the Harappans.

5.The neem/banyan/pipal tree was probably regarded as sacred by the Harappans.
Ans. The pipal tree was probably regarded as sacred by the Harappans.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

The Harappan cities had an elaborate drainage system.
False.
Correct: The Harappan cities had well planned system.
Domestication of animals was the main occupation of the Harappans.
False.
Correct: Farming was the main occupation of the Harappans.
The Harappans decorated their pottery with various designs.
True.
The Harappans built strong boats.
True.
Invasion by foreign tribes like the Aryans might have led to the collapse of the Indus Valley civilization.
True

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What discoveries proved that India had a 4,500-year old urban civilization?
Answer:
The excavations carried out at various sites prove that around 4,500 years ago highly civilized people lived in this region and gave to the world its earliest cities, its first town planning, its first architecture in stone and clay and its first example of sanitary engineering and drainage system.

Question 2.
Why is the Indus Valley Civilization also called the Harappan civilization?
Answer:
The Indus Valley civilization is also called the Harappan civilizations because the things found in all the sites were very much like the articles found at Harappa.

Question 3.
Why did the Indus Valley people build granaries close to the river bank?
Answer:
All the granaries were built close to the river bank so that the grains could be easily transported with the help of boats.

Question 4.
Give one example to prove that the Indus Valley bronze smiths were skilled craftspeople.
Answer:
The bronze smiths made tools, weapons and metal sculptures such as the famous figure of the ‘dancing girl’. They were also engaged in other crafts like brick laying, boat making, stone cutting, masonry and carpentry.

Question 5.
How do we know that the Harappans had trade relations with the Mesopotamians?
Answer:
Trade relations with Mesopotamia have been proved with the discovery of Mesopotamian seals in the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan seals in the ancient cities of Mesopotamia.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
How were the Harappan cities planned? Explain briefly the main features of their dwelling houses.
Answer:
The Harappan cities were well-planned. The main streets ran parallel to each other, cut at right angles by smaller, streets, dividing the cities into rectangular blocks. The main roads were straight and very wide. The streets were often paved with baked bricks.
Dwelling houses were building that people live in. They were in different sizes. They were made of baked bricks of very good quality. But they not used as office, trading place etc.

Question 2.
With reference to the engineering skills of the Indus Valley people, explain briefly the features of

The Great Bath and
The drainage system

Answer:

The Great Bath: It was important building at Mohenjodero. This building resembled a large swimming pool, It had six entrances, a central bathing pool, galleries and dressing rooms. It was probably used by the general public during religious ceremonies.
The drainage system: The people of the Indus valley had an excellent, well-planned drainage system. The Kitchens and the bathrooms had drains connected to the street drains. The street drains ran along the side of the streets and were usually covered. They had manholes at regular intervals. The drainage system proves that the Indus Valley people paid great attention to sanitation and cleanliness.

Question 3.
Give a brief account of

Great Granary
Assembly Hall.

Answer:

Great Granary:
The Great Granary at Harappa was a large building. Historians believe that it was used to store surplus food grains. There were two rows of granaries. Each row had six granaries.
Assembly Hall:
The Assembly Hall was another striking building found in Mohenjodaro. It was a pillared hall with thick walls and 20 pillars made of burnt or baked bricks. This may have been and assembly hall, a prayer hall or a palace.

Question 4.
Describe
(1) the dress and
(2) ornaments of the Indus Valley people.
Answer:

Dress:
People wore cotton and woollen garments. Two-piece dresses were worn by both men and women. The men wore a garment similar to the dhoti while the women wore skirts. The upper garments was a shawl worn around the shoulder.
Ornaments:
Both men and women wore ornaments. They wore necklaces, amulets and finger rings. The women also wore a headdress, earrings, bangles, girdles, bracelets and anklets. The rich wore ornaments made of gold, silver and ivory. The poor wore shell, bone and copper jewellery.

Question 5.
Describe the occupation and crafts of the Harappan people.
Answer:
The main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley was farming. Farmers grew wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables. They also cultivated cotton. The land was fertile. The second occupation of the people of the Indus Valley was domestication of animals like goat, sheep, buffaloes, elephants, bulls, dogs and cats.

The Indus Valley people were excellent potters and skilled crafts people. They made pottery of various shapes and sizes. They also made terracotta. The goldsmiths made gold and silver jewellery, copper smiths made utensils and the bronze smith made tools, weapons and metal sculptures. The people were also engaged in other crafts like brick laying, boat making, stone cutting, masonry and carpentry. Spinning and weaving were important occupations.

Question 6.
Write short notes on the following:

Trade
Seals of the Indus Valley

Answer:

Trade: The Indus Valley people carried on flourishing trade both within and outside India. They traded with countries like Mesopotamia, (fraq), Persia (Iran) and Afghanistan. Trade was carried on both by land and sea routes. Bullock carts, boats and ships were probably used for transport. A dockyard has been discovered at Lothal.
Seals of the Indus Valley: More than 2,000 seals have been unearthed from various sites. They are generally small, flat, rectangular or square in shape and made of clay, soapstone and copper. They are skillfully carved with figures of humans and animals such as the unicorn, humped bull, goat, tiger, elephant, etc. These seals were probably used by merchants and traders to stamp goods.

Question 7.
The study of objects and artifacts found in the ruins of the Indus Valley cities help us us to form an idea of Harrapan religion. Explain.
Answer:
Some of the objects found in the ruins help us to form an idea of the religion of the Harappans. No temples have been found. Numerous smoke-stained clay figures of a female deity have been found. This was probably the Mother Goddess. A three-faced figure, seated in a yogic posture and surrounded by various animals is engraved on some seals. The pipal tree was probably regarded as sacred and worshiped. The discovery of a large number of amulets suggests that people probably wore them as lucky charms to ward off evil spirits.

Question 8.
How did the Harappan civilization end?
Answer:
These are some causes of the decay of the Harappan civilization

The Harappan might have been destroyed by natural calamities like earthquakes, floods.
The climate also began to change and the region became more and more dry like a desert.
Perhaps the Aryans attacked their cities and destroyed them.
An epidemic or some terrible disease might have killed the people.

G Picture study.
This picture on the right-hand side shows a well-planned ancient city located on the banks of a river.

1. Identify the civilization from the ruins in the picture.
Ans. The ruins of Mohenjodaro indicate that it was one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization

2. When and by whom were these ruins discovered?
Ans. Rakhaldas Banerjee in 1922-23.

3. These ruins are an important source of information about the (a) town planning and (b) drainage system of this period. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Town planning— The Indus Valley cities were very well-planned. The streets were quite broad varying from a feet to 30 feet in breadth. The streets and roads were straight and they cut one another at right angles. The streets had rounded comers to enable the heavy carts to take a turn easily. Every street had a lighting system. Such a system of town-planning was not to be found at that time anywhere in the world.
(b) Drainage system— The people of the Indus valley had an excellent, well-planned drainage system. The kitchens and the bathrooms had drains connected to the street drains. The street drains ran along the side of the streets and were usually covered. They had manholes at regular intervals. The drainage system proves that the Indus Valley people paid great attention to sanitation and cleanliness.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Name some major sites of the Indus Valley civilization?
Answer:
Some major sites of the Indus Valley civilization are following.

Lothal (Gujarat)
Ropar (Punjab)
Kalibangan (Rajasthan)
Alamgirpur (U.P)
Banwali (Haryana)
Rakhigarhi (Haryana)
Dholavira (Gujarat)

Question 2.
What is Mohenjodaro mean and where it is located?
Answer:
Mohenjodaro means ‘mound of the dead’. It is located on the banks of the river Indus in the Larkana district of Sind, (now in Pakistan)

Question 3.
Write a short note on ‘Great Bath’?
Answer:
It was important building at Mohenjodero. This building resembled a large swimming pool, It had six entrances, a central bathing pool, galleries and dressing rooms. It was probably used by the general public during religious ceremonies.

Question 4.
What were the main items of food of the Harappa people?
Answer:
They ate wheat, barley, fruits, fish meat and vegetables.

Question 5.
Describe the toys used by the Harappa children?
Answer:
Harappa children played with various toys like wheeled carts, dolls, animals with movable heads, sliding monkeys, rattles and whistles. The toys were generally made of baked clay or terracotta.

Question 6.
How was the Indus Valley civilization discovered? Why is it also called the Harappan civilization?
Answer:
Indus valley was discovered by the finding of seals and pottery among the ruins of ancient Summerian cities.

Question 7.
What do you know about the religious beliefs and practices of the Harappans?
Answer:
The people of the Indus Valley believed in religion. They worshiped ‘Mother Goddess’. She was the female deity. No temples have been found. But many smoke-stained clay figures of the Mother Goddess have been found. The pipal tree was probably regarded as sacred and also worshiped people wore amulets as lucky charms to ward off evil spirits. People also believed of life after death. They buried the dead together with items of daily use. Sometimes they cremated the dead and kept the ashes or bones in an urn along with that items.

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Egyptain Civilization

March 28, 2022June 29, 2018 by Raju

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Egyptain Civilization

ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Answers

Trail HistoryCivics History & Civics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Maths

Keywords

Herodotus: He was the ancient Greek historian who said that Egypt was ‘The Gift of the Nile’.
Hyksos tribes: They invaded and ruled Egypt for about a hundred years (1,700 bce – 1,600 bce).
Ptolemy: He was one of the generals of Alexander the Great. He was also the founder of the last dynasty of Egypt. Pharaoh He was an Egyptian King.
Cleopatra: She was the famous queen of Egypt whose death in 30 bce also marked the end of the Egyptian civilization.
Great Pyramid at Giza: Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest pyramid in Egypt, built by King Khufu or Cheops. It is also among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. SphinxIt is an architectural marvel of ancient Egypt. It is a mythological figure with the body of a lion and the face of a man.
Mummification: This is a the preservation of dead bodies by embalming them. The preserved dead bodies are called mummies.
Ra: He was the sun God of the Egyption civilization. He was the most important god of the Egyptians.
Osiris He was the god of the blessed dead.
Nomes: These were the provinces of the Egyptian civilization.
Nomarch: He was the official who governed each province.
Hieroglyphic Script: It was writing developed by the Egyptians. Hieroglyphic means ‘sacred writing’.
Papyrus: Papyrus Plant is a water reed from which the ancient Egyptians made paper. The word paper is derived from papyrus.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

The Nile provided water for irrigation and also served as a national highway.
Egyptian women were treated with respect.
The staple diet of the ancient Egyptians consisted of wheat and beer.
Egyptian houses had small windows high up on the walls to keep out the sun and let in the daylight.
The chief occupation of the ancient Egyptians was agriculture.
Two examples that prove that the Egyptians were great builders are Pyramids and Sphinx.
Two important gods of the Egyptians were Ra and Osiris.

B. Match the following.

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. Ptolemy/Herodotus/Alexander called Egypt the ‘Gift of the Nile’.
Ans. Herodotus called Egypt the ‘Gift of the Nile’.

2. The history of ancient Egypt was divided into three/six/ eight
Ans. The history of ancient Egypt was divided into three periods.

3. The father/mother/grandfather was the head of the family in ancient Egypt.
Ans. The father was the head of the family in ancient Egypt.

4. Men and women in ancient Egypt wore dresses made of white linen/silk/satin.
Ans. Men and women in ancient Egypt wore dresses made of white linen. .

5. Ra/Orisis/Pharaoh was worshipped as the sun god.
Ans. Ra was worshipped as the sun. god.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

Women were more or less equal to men in the eyes of law.
True
Only the woman in ancient Egypt wore jewellery.
False.
Correct: Men and women both in ancient Egypt wore jewellery.
The Egyptians followed the barter system.
True.
The ruler of Egypt was known as the pharaoh.
True
The city of Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great.
True

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
How did the Egyptian desert help in the development of Egyptian culture and civilization?
Answer:
These deserts served as natural barriers to foreign invasions. So the early Egyptian settlers enjoyed many years of peace and security. This atmosphere help in the development of Egyptian culture and civilization.

Question 2.
What are the periods in which the history of ancient Egypt is divided?
Answer:
The history of ancient Egypt is divided into three periods.

The Old Kingdom approximately 3,000 bce- 2,000 BCE
The Middle Kingdom approximately 2,000 bce -1,700 BCE
The New Kingdom approximately 1,600 bce – 1,100 bce.

Question 3.
Which Egyptian monument is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?
Answer:
Great Pyramid at Giza, built by King Khuruf or Cheops.

Question 4.
What is a mummy?
Answer:
The preserved dead body is called Mummy.

Question 5.
How was a body mummified?
Answer:
A dead body was embalmed with spices and wrapped in a fine linen.

Question 6.
Why did the ancient Egyptians preserve the bodies of the dead?
Answer:
The Egyptians believed in life after death, So they preserve the body of the dead.

Question 7.
Name the most important nature god of the Egyptians.
Answer:
The Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses connected with nature. Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the god of the dead, were among the most important gods.

Question 8.
Name the founder of the city of Alexandria.
Answer:
The Great Alexander founded the city of Alexandria.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
Why was Egypt called the ‘Gift of the Nile’?
Answer:
Nile has proved a great boon for Egypt. The river Nile makes the land quite fertile. The Egyptian fanners can grow crops on the same fields year after year. Nile also served as a highway and made navigation possible. This way promoted trade and commerce within the country as well as with other countries of the world. Rightly Egypt has been called ‘The Gift of Nile.’

Question 2.
Describe the structure of dwelling houses in ancient Egypt.
Answer:
Dwelling Houses— Houses were built around the crossing of two major roads. They were made of sun-baked bricks. Almost all the houses had flat roofs. The number of rooms in each house depended on whether the family was rich or poor. While most of the people lived in a one or two-room house without bathrooms, the richest people lived in three stored houses, usually made of stone, with as many as thirty rooms with bathrooms, gardens and pools. An average house had three rooms, a courtyard and a kitchen area. A narrow staircase led to the roof. The windows were small and were placed high up close to the ceiling to keep out the sun and let the daylight enter.

Question 3.
Describe briefly the social structure of ancient Egypt.
Answer:
The Egyptians were divided into three distinct classes. These are following

The upper class: The upper class consisted of the royal family, rich landowners, high ranking priests, government officials and doctors.
The middle class: The middle class consisted of merchants, manufacturers, crafts persons and the lower clergy.
The lower class: This class consisted of the peasants, At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the slaves who were mainly prisoners of war.

Question 4.
Describe the family life of the ancient Egyptians.
Answer:
The families were close -knit groups. The relationship between the husband, wife and children was usually close. The father was the head of the family. Women were treated with respect and their property rights were protected. Children enjoyed carefree and happy lives. Wealthy families lived lives of luxury and pleasure.

Question 5.
State the main occupations of the ancient Egyptians. Discuss any two.
Answer:
Agriculture, Domestication of Animals, Art and craft, Architecture and Engineering, Trade and commerce, mummification are the main occupation of the ancient Egyptians.

Agriculture: The chief occupation of the Egyptians was agriculture. The Nile provided water for irrigation. The Egyptians farmers can grow crops on the fertile land year after year. Their chief crops were wheat, barley and millet. Vegetable and fruits were also grown.

Domestication of Animals: The second occupation of Egyptian was domestication of Animals. Pigs, Cows, Sheep, goats, camels, doves and geese were domesticated.

Question 6.
Give an account of trade in ancient Egypt.
Answer:
Trade was earned on both by land and sea routes. For internal trade, goods were transported by boats and barges along the Nile and by road on camels and donkeys. For foreign trade, the Egyptians built the world’s first seafaring ships. They exported linen, wheat, glassware, jewelry and furniture. They imported gold, ivory, copper and cedar wood. The king controlled foreign trade. The barter system was used and the mediums of exchange were usually grain, silver and copper.

Question 7.
Describe the religion of people in ancient Egypt.
Answer:
The Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses connected with nature. Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the god of the dead, were among the most important gods.

The pharaohs, the rulers of Egypt, were also worshiped as gods. Each god had his own temple and priest. Every city, town and village had its own favourite god. Certain animals and birds such as the jackal, crocodile, bull and hawk were also worshiped.

The Egyptians believed in life after death. So they preserved the body of the dead. A dead body was embalmed with spices and wrapped in fine linen. Such a preserved body is known as a mummy. Food, wine, clothes, furniture, jewellery and weapons were put into the tombs. The pyramids were the tombs of the pharaohs.

Question 8.
Why did the Egyptian civilization decline ?
Answer:
The decline of the Egyptian empire set in with the collapse of the New Kingdom. Egypt was repeatedly invaded by the Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians and finally by Alexander the Great. Alexander founded the city of Alexandria. It later , became one of the greatest cultural centers of the ancient world during the reign of Ptolemy, one of the generals of Alexander. Ptolemy was the founder of the last dynasty of Egypt.

G. Picture study.
The figures on the right are of gods and goddesses.

Question 1.
The people of which civilization worshiped these gods and goddesses? What kind of temples did they build?
Answer:
The Egyptians worshiped these gods and goddesses.
The Egyptian Architects and engineers built remarkable temples which was known as Pyramid and Sphinx.

Question 2.
How do we know that they believed in life after death?
Answer:
The Egyptians believed in life after death. So they preserved the body of the dead. Food, wine, clothes, furniture, jewellery and weapons were put into the tombs.

Question 3.
With reference to this civilization answer in one or two words.
(a) One of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world:……….
(b) Embalming a corpse:…………………..
(c) Sun god:…………..
(d) God of the dead :
Answer:
(a) The Great Pyramid at Giza
(b) Mummification
(c) Ra
(d) Osiris

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Who called Egypt ‘Gift of the Nile’.
Answer:
The ancient Greek historian. ‘Herodotus’ called Egypt the ‘Gift of the Nile’.

Question 2.
Who was the founder of the last dynasty of Egypt?
Answer:
Ptolemy was the founder of the last dynasty of Egypt.

Question 3.
How many parts Egypt was divided into from the earliest times?
Answer:
From the earliest times Egypt was divided into two parts.

Lower Egypt
Upper Egypt

Question 4.
What is ‘Sphinx’?
Answer:
‘Sphinx is an architectural marvel of ancient Egypt. It is a mythological figure with the body of a lion and the face of a man.

Question 5.
What is the one of the Seven Wonders of the world of Egyptians?
Answer:
The ‘Great Pyramid at Giza’ is one of the seven wonders of the world of Egyptians.

Question 6.
Write the names of exported and imported products of Egyptians?
Answer:
Egyptians exported linen, wheat, glassware, jewellery and furniture.
They imported gold, ivory copper and cedar wood.

Question 7.
Write on Political life and Administration of Egyptians?
Answer:
The Pharaoh was the king of Egypt. He was a hereditary ruler and was believed to be God’s representative on earth. He was at the head of an advanced administration. The country was divided into provinces called ‘nomes’, each governed by an official called ‘nomarch’. The king was assisted ., by officials. They supervised every aspect of the administration, including tax collection. The government controlled all the resources.

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Mesopotamain Civilization

March 28, 2022June 29, 2018 by Raju

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Solutions – The Mesopotamain Civilization

ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions

The Trail History and Civics for Class 6 ICSE Answers

Trail HistoryCivics History & Civics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Maths

Keywords

Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia means ‘the land between two rivers’ in Greek language. The Mesopotamian Civilization developed between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris
Ziggurats: Ziggurats were sacred temple-towers. They were dedicated to the patron god and were also used as schools, granaries and trade centers.
Cuneiform: It was the wedge-shaped script of the Mesopotamians, written on clay tablets.
Stylus: Stylus was a sharp pen made of reed, bone or metal.
Hummurabi’s code of low: It was the earliest complete record of laws written by King Hummurabi of Babylon.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

The two rivers associated with the Mesopotamian civilization were the Tigris and the Euphrates.
The three major civilization that rose and fell in the Mesopotamian Valley were Sumcriaon, Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations.
Mesopotamia is called the cradle and grave of many civilization.
To ensure steady supply of water throughout the year, the Mesopotamias built an elaborate and highly developed irrigation system.
The Mesopotamians built dykes to control floods.

B. Match the following.

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. Dams/Canals/temple-towers were found in teh sacred area of the city of Ur.
Ans. Temple-towers were found in teh sacred area of the city of Ur.

2. The main occupation of the Mesopotamians was agriculture/trade/art and craft.

Ans. The main occupation of the Mesopotamians was agriculture.

3. The Mesopotamians are believed to be the first to cultivate barley/wheat/pulses.
Ans. The Mesopotamians are believed to be the first to cultivate wheat.

4. The Mesopotamians kept a record of the business accounts on paper/clay tablets/parchments.
Ans. The Mesopotamians kept a record of the business accounts on clay tablets.

5. Each Mesopotamian city had its own special God/king/ priest.
Ans. Each Mesopotamian city had its own special God.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

Mesopotamia is called the cradle and grave of many civilizations.
True.
Natural barriers surrounded Mesopotamia.
False.
Correct: Natural barriers have not surrounded Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamian girls were sent to school to learn to read and write.
False.
Correct: The girls in Mesopotamia were sent to school to learn dance and music.
The Mesopotamians had trade relations with people in the Indus Valley.
True.
The king was regarded as the representative of God on earth.
True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What is the meaning of the word ‘Mesopotamia’?
Answer:
Mesopotamia means ‘the land between two rivers’ in Greek language. The Mesopotamian civilization developed between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris.

Question 2.
Name any two crops cultivated by the Mesopotamians.
Answer:
Wheat was the first crop that cultivated by the Mesopotamians. Barley, pulses and fruits were also cultivated by them.

Question 3.
What did the Mesopotamians invent to increase agricultural yield?
Answer:
To increase agricultural yield, they invented the ox-drawn plough. They also used the wheeled wagon for transportation of goods. The modem world is indebted to them for these inventions.

Question 4.
What were the important specialized skills of the Mesopotamians.
Answer:
Pottery, weaving and metal work were important specialized skills of the Mesopotamians.

Question 5.
How do we know that the Mesopotamians had trade links with the people of the Indus Valley?
Answer:
Seals found in the Indus valley, show that the Mesopotamians had trade links with the people of Indus valley.

Question 6.
What were greatest contributions of the Mesopotamians in the field of architecture.
Answer:

The Mesopotamians introduced architectural forms such as arches, columns, domes and vaults in the construction of buildings.
Their temple-towers and The Hanging Garden of Babylon is a brilliant specimen of Mesopotamian architecture. This is believed to be one of the greatest contributions of Mesopotmia in the field of architecture.

Question 7.
How do we know that Mesopotamians believed in life after death?
Answer:
Drinking vessels ornaments, weapons etc. have been found in some graves. By these things we know that Mesopotermians believed in life after death.

Question 9.
What led to the decline of the Mesopotamian Civilization?
Answer:
The following causes led to the decline of the Mesopotamian civilization.

The Euphrates River is lifeline of this great civilization, unexpectedly changed its course. The region became more and more dry like a desert.
Winds and sandstorms might have been responsible for the destruction of Mesopotamian civilization.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
What were the main features of town planning in Mesopotamia?
Answer:
The city was divided into three main parts-the sacred area, the walled city on a mound and the outer town. The sacred area had the temple-tower or ziggurat dedicated to the patron God of the city. There were smaller temples dedicated to other gods. This area also had the storehouse as well as the ^ offices. People lived in the walled city and the outer town areas. Houses were built along the streets. Each house had a central courtyard with room around it.

Question 2.
What were greatest contributions of the Mesopotamians in the field of architecture.
Answer:

The Mesopotamians introduced architectural forms such as arches, columns, domes and vaults in the construction of buildings.
Their temple-towers and The Hanging Garden of Babylon is a brilliant specimen of Mesopotamian architecture. This is believed to be one of the greatest contributions of Mesopotamia in the field of architecture.

Question 3.
Give an account of (a) the social structure and (b) family life in the Mesopotamian society.
Answer:
(a)
The Mesoptamian Society was divided into three classes:

The upper class: The members of the royal family, priests and high officials were under the upper class.
The middle class: This class consisted of farmers, artisans and traders.
The lower class: This class consisted of slaves.

(b)
The father was the head of the family. The rights of women were protected. Children were brought up very strictly and boys were sent to schools to study arithmetic, reading and writing. Girls were trained in dance and music.

Question 4.
What were the important occupations of the Mesopotamians?
Answer:
The main occupation of the Mesopotamians was agriculture.

Question 5.
Give a brief account of trade that developed in Mesopotamia.
Answer:
Stone, timber and metal ores were scarce in Mesopotamia and so these commodities were traded for the produce of the fields. A flourishing foreign trade developed. Food grains and finished products were exported to the Mediterranean countries and Egypt.

Question 6.
Explain briefly the religious beliefs and practices of the Mesopotamians.
Answer:
The Mesopotamians believed in many gods. Every city had its own special God. They worshipped the sun, rain, moon and stars. Mesopotamians believed that the king was the chief priest and the representative of God on earth. The priests occupied a very important position in society. The Mesopotamians also believed in life after death.

Question 7.
Write short notes on the following:
(a) Ziggurat (b) Family life
Answer:
(a)
Ziggurat— Ziggurats were temple-tower, found in the sacred area of the city of Ur. They were monumental structures made from sun-baked bricks. They were dedicated to the patron god of the city. They were many storeys high and ‘ decorated with tiles, precious stones and marble. Ziggurats were also used as schools, granaries and trade centers.
(b)
Family life — The father was the head of the family. The rights of women were protected. Children were brought up very strictly and boys were sent to schools to study arithmetic, reading and writing. Girls were trained in dance and music.

Question 8.
Give a brief account of the decline of the Mesopotamian Civilization?
Answer:
The following causes led to the decline of the Mesopotamian civilization.

The Euphrates River is lifeline of this great civilization, unexpectedly changed its course. The region became more and more dry like a desert.
Winds and sandstorms might have been responsible for . the destruction of Mesopotamian civilization.

G Picture study.
This is the picture of a building in the Mesopotamain city of ur.

Question 1.
Identify the building.
Answer:
The Ziggurat of Ur

Question 2.
What is the significance of the building ?
Answer:
Ziggurats were temple-tower, found in the sacred area of the city of Ur. They were monumental structures made from sun-baked bricks. They were dedicated to the patron god of the city. They were many stores high and decorated with tiles, precious stones and marble. Ziggurats were also used as schools, granaries and trade centers.

Question 3.
What do you know about the architectural contributions of the Mesopotamians ?
Answer:

The Mesopotamians introduced architectural forms such as arches, columns, domes and vaults in the construction of buildings.
Their temple-towers and The Hanging Garden of Babylon is a brilliant specimen of Mesopotamian architecture.
This is believed to be one of the greatest contributions of Mesopotmia in the field of architecture.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Why did the Early Civilization flourish in the river – valleys?
Answer:
The Early Civilization flourish in the river valleys because of certain reasons:- The water for cultivation and irrigation was easily available there in abundant. The soil was rich and arable which could easily be brought under cultivation without much labour. On rivers man began to carry himself as well as his loads.

Question 2.
Which products did Mesopotamians export.
Answer:
Mesopotamians exported food grains and finished products were exported to the Mediterranean countries and Egypt.

Question 3.
What were the achievements of the Mesopotamians in the field of knowledge?
Answer:
They built canals and dykes to promote agriculture. They introduced Hummurabi’s code of law. Mesopotamians were the first to grow wheat, invention of wheel and also issued receipts and bills in business transactions.

Question 4.
Where did the Mesopotamians kept a record of the business accounts?
Answer:
The Mesopotamians kept a record of the business account on clay tablets.

Question 5.
What things proof of the technical knowledge and of the artisans Mesopotamians?
Answer:
The discovery of metal objects, statues gold and silver ornaments and potter is proof of the technical knowledge and skill of the Mesopotamians artisans.

Question 6.
Describe the place of king for Mesopotamians?
Answer:
The king was the chief priest and the representative of God on earth for Mesopotamians.