Hello students! Find below our excellent solutions to the exercise text questions, the in-text questions and a variety of extra questions in many formats designed to test your preparedness. As usual the solutions prepared by our team of subject experts trained both in India and abroad are the best place to begin your study. We advise you to read the lesson attentively and then attempt to answer the questions in your own words after reading our solutions. This will boost your understanding and retention.
Find NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 1- ‘Tracing Changes through a Thousand Years’ here.
Tracing Changes through a Thousand Years
Let’s recall (Page 14)
1. Who was considered a “foreigner” in the past?
Answer:
During the medieval period, the word ‘foreigner’ was used to refer to any stranger who appeared say in a given village, someone who was not a part of that society or culture. For instance, a city-dweller, therefore, might have considered a forest-dweller as a ‘foreigner’, but two peasants belonging to the same village were not foreigners to each other despite differences in their religious beliefs or castes.
2. State whether true or false:
(a) We do not find inscriptions for the period after 700.
(b) The Marathas asserted their political importance during this period.
(c) Forest-dwellers were sometimes pushed out of their lands with the spread of agricultural settlements.
(d) Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban controlled Assam, Manipur and Kashmir.
Answers:
(a) False – For the study of this period, historians still rely on coins, inscriptions, architecture and textual records for information.
(b) True – The Marathas used the opportunities of the age to become politically important.
(c) True –There was a gradual clearing of forests for agriculture during this period, so changes in their habitat forced many forest-dwellers to migrate.
(d) False – Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban was the ruler of an empire stretching from Bengal (Gauda) in the east to Ghazni (Gajjana), in Afghanistan, but he did not conquer Assam, Manipur and Kashmir.
3. Fill in the blanks:
a. Archives are places where _________ are kept.
b._____________ was a fourteenth-century chronicler.
c._______, _______, _______, ________ and ________ were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.
Answer:
(a) Archives are places where manuscripts are kept.
(b) Ziyauddin Barani was a fourteenth-century chronicler.
(c) Potatoes, corn, chillies, tea and coffee were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.
4. List some of the technological changes associated with this period.
Answer:
Some of the technological changes that are associated with this period are:
- The Persian Wheel in irrigation
- The Spinning Wheel in weaving
- Firearms in combat
5. What were some of the major religious developments during this period?
Answer:
Major religious developments of this period include several changes in Hinduism, emergence of the idea of bhakti and the introduction of Islam:
- In Hinduism new deities were worshipped
- Temples were constructed by royalty
- The Brahmanas, or priests, owing to their knowledge of Sanskrit, earned a lot of respect and became the dominant groups in society with the support of the new rulers who patronised them.
- The emergence of the idea of bhakti – of a loving, personal deity that devotees could reach without the aid of priests or elaborate rituals.
- Many new religions appeared in the subcontinent during this period. Merchants and migrants first brought the teachings of the Holy Quran to India in the 7th century.
Let’s Understand (Page 15)
6. In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries?
Answer:
The meaning of the term “Hindustan” has changed over the centuries. It was used in the thirteenth century by Minhaj-i-Siraj, a chronicler who wrote in Persian, to refer to the areas of Punjab, Haryana and the lands between the Ganga and the Yamuna. He used it in a political sense that they were part of the dominion of the Delhi Sultanate.
By contrast during the early 16th century, Babur used “Hindustan” to describe the geography, the fauna and the culture of the inhabitants of the sub-continent which was similar to the sense in which the 14th century poet Amir Khusrau used the word “Hind”. The term “Hindustan” did not carry the political and national meanings which we associate it with today.
7. How were the affairs of Jatis regulated?
Answer:
During the period from 700 to 1750 several social and economic differences emerged among the peasants which culminated in the formation of ‘jatis’ or sub-castes whereby people were ranked according to their backgrounds and occupations.
‘Jatis’ framed their own rules to manage the conduct of their members. An assembly of elders called the ‘Jati Panchayat’ in some areas imposed these rules. The ‘jatis’ were also required to abide by the rules of their villages which were governed by a chieftain.
8. What does the term pan-regional empire mean?
Answer:
The term pan-regional empire means an empire spanning over various regions. Some of the dynasties which established pan-regional empires were Mughals, Cholas, Khaljis and the Tughluqs.
Let’s Discuss (Page 15)
9. What are the difficulties historians face in using manuscripts?
Answer:
Manuscripts and documents preserved in libraries and archives provide invaluable information to historians about the past, but they are difficult to use. There was no printing press in those days so scribes had to copy the manuscripts by hand. Sometimes they could not decipher an illegible word so they substituted the word with another one they thought appropriate, and thus they introduced small changes.
These small differences grew over centuries of copying until manuscripts of the same text differed considerably from one another. This raises a serious problem because the original manuscripts are no longer available. Historians have to depend on copies made by later scribes. So, a historian has to read different manuscripts of the same text to guess what the original version was.
Another problem of using manuscripts is the different kinds of handwriting used in it. Persian and Arabic had different styles of writing which were difficult to understand.
Occasionally authors revised their chronicles at different times. The 14th century chronicler Ziyauddin Barani wrote his first chronicle in 1356 and another version two years later. The two differ from each other, but historians were unaware of the existence of the first version until the 1960s.
10. How do historians divide the past into periods? Do they face any problems in doing so?
Answer:
Historians do not just view time as a passing of hours, days, months and years as seen in a clock or calendar. They consider time as reflecting the social and economic changes and transformation of ideas and beliefs. The study of time can be simplified by dividing the past into periods that have similar characteristics.
The British historians in the nineteenth century divided Indian history into three periods, namely “Hindu”, “Muslim”, and “British”. They believed that the only thing which was of significance was the religion of the rulers and no other significant developments occurred in the cultural, economic and social aspects of the society. This myopic division ignored the rich diversity of the continent.
Few historians follow the same periodisation of India today while others look to economic and social factors to categorise the major elements of different moments of the past.
These thousands of years of Indian history witnessed considerable change, therefore describing the entire period as one historical unit is fraught with problems. We see that 16th century was not same as 18th century. Hence, describing the entire period as one historical unit is quite difficult.
Further, history is divided into the medieval and modern period. Modernity carries with it a sense of material progress and intellectual advancement. That is not to say that the medieval period was lacking in any change whatsoever. During these thousand years the societies of the subcontinent were transformed often and economies in several regions reached prosperity levels which attracted the interest of the European trading companies.
Other important developments in India were the emergence of Hinduism and Islam and the arrival of European trading companies.
Thus, the problems historians face while dividing into periods is that there are too many complex factors to be considered.
Let’s Do (Page 15)
11. Compare either Map 1 or Map 2 with the present-day map of the subcontinent, listing as many similarities and differences as you can find.
Answer:
Map 1 was made by the Arab geographer Al-Idrisi in 1154 C.E., whereas Map 2 was made by a French cartographer in the 1720s (almost 600 years later).
Map 1 was made in 1154 C.E., whereas Map 2 was made in the 1720s
In Map 1, places are marked in Arabic, whereas in Map 2, the places in the subcontinent are marked in French.
In Map 1, South India is where we expect to find North India and Sri Lanka is the island at the top.
In Map 1 the coastal areas are not marked in detail. Whereas in Map 2, the coastal areas are well-detailed.
Map 2 was used by merchants and European sailors on their voyages. Since Map 2 was made 600 years after Map 1, during which time information about the Indian subcontinent had changed considerably it seems more familiar to us.
12. Find out where records are kept in your village or city. Who writes these records? Is there an archive? Who manages it? What kinds of documents are stored there? Who are the people who use it?
Answer:
- Records are kept in our city at the National Archives of India located at the junction of Rajpath and Janpath. The National Archives of India is an attached office under Ministry of Culture. Its vision is to help in spreading a feeling of national pride in our documentary cultural heritage and ensuring its preservation for posterity.
- The organisation is headed by the Director General of Archives who is assisted by Deputy Directors of Archives looking after various Divisions like Records, Records Management, Administration, Training, Publication, Library, Conservation, Digitisation etc.
- The nature of records stored there are categorized as Public Records, Cartographic records, Departmental records, Private papers, Oriental records. Rare manuscripts, government records, and other valuable books, etc. are stored there.
Scholars, researchers, and government officials use them. The organisation also provides assistance to documentary film makers and other professionals in locating, selecting and filming material of their interest.
Solutions for In–Text questions of NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts ll Chapter 1 ‘Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years’
Text Book Page No. 2
1. Look at the areas in the interior of the subcontinent on Map 2 of the textbook. Are they as detailed as those on the coast? Follow the course of the River Ganga and see how it is shown. Why do you think there is a difference in the level of detail and accuracy between the coastal and inland areas in this map?
Answer:
- No, the areas in the interior of the subcontinent on Map 2 are not as detailed as those on the coast.
- The course of the river Ganga is inaccurate. It takes a sharp dip southward unlike the actual course of the river which flows from west to east forming the great Northen plains before turning southwards towards the Bay of Bengal.
- The European sailors and merchants who used this map did not explore the interior of the subcontinent as much as they frequented the coastal areas. This is why the level of detail and accuracy of coastal areas is better than the inland areas, on the map.
Text Book Page No. 3
2. Can you think of any other words whose meanings change in different contexts?
Answer:
Some words whose meanings change is different contexts are as follows:(i) The word ‘mouse ’which originally meant a ‘rodent’ came to signify a’ computer device’ also.
(ii) The word ‘broadcast’ originally meant “to cast seeds out”; with the advent of radio and television, the word was extended to indicate “the transmission of audio and video signals”. Very few people know the earlier meaning of the term outside agricultural circles.
(iii) The word “bead” spelt ‘Bede” in Old English meant “prayer”, but over the ages the meaning shifted to indicate a “pearl in a rosary” which was used during prayers.
(iv) The word “Awful” literally meaning “full of awe”, originally meant “inspiring wonder (or fear)”, hence “impressive”. In contemporary usage, the word means “extremely bad”.
(v) The word “Awesome” — literally meaning “awe-inducing”, originally meant “inspiring wonder (or fear)”, hence “impressive”. In contemporary usage, the word means “extremely good”.
Text book Page No 4
3. When was paper more expensive and easily available– in the thirteenth or the fourteenth century?
Answer:
Paper was more expensive in the thirteenth century because it was scarce. In the fourteenth century there was an abundance of paper which was used even for wrapping goods in the market, so it was obviously cheaper.
Text Book Page No 10
4. Why do rulers make such claims?
Answer:
Rulers make exaggerated claims about their conquests to show how powerful they were. This serves to create a sense of awe in the enemy and demoralise the enemy. Such claims helped the kings in extending their authority over other lands and expanding their domain. They wanted to portray that they were invincible.
Textbook Page no 11
5. Find out whether and for how long your state was a part of these pan-regional empires.
Answer
My state Delhi was a part of the Khalji empire between 1290 and 1320.
It was also a part of the Tughluq empire from 1320 to 1413.
It was a part of the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1827.
6. Do you remember what Amir Khusrau had to say regarding Sanskrit, knowledge and
Brahmanas?
Answer:
The poet Amir Khusrau said that Sanskrit was a language which did not belong to any particular region. It was an old language which the common people did not know. Only the Brahmanas had knowledge of Sanskrit.
Extra Questions NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts ll Chapter 1 ‘Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years’
A. Multiple Choice type Questions (MCQ)
1.What does a cartographer make?
(i) Cartridges
(ii) cartoons
(iii) maps
(iv) None of the above
2.When did Al-Idrisi draw the map?
(i) 12th century
(ii) 14th Century
(iii) 7th Century
(iv) None of the above
3. In Al Idrisi’s map, in which language are the place names written?
(i) English
(ii) Persian
(iii) Arabic
(iv) French
4. In which language did chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj write his chronicle?
(i) In Arabic
(ii) In French
(iii) In Gauri
(iv) in Persian
5. Ziyauddin Barani was a 14th century
(i) poet
(ii) chronicler
(iii) cartographer
(iv) painter
6. Which of the following terms does not mean ‘foreigner’?
(i) ajnabi
(ii) pardesi
(iii) aboriginal
(iv) immigrant
7. When did paper become readily available and cheap?
(i) 12th Century
(ii) 13th Century
(iii) 14th Century
(iv) None of the above
8. What was the area which is known as Bengal today called during Ghiyasuddin Balban’s reign?
(i) Dravida
(ii) Gauda
(iii) Gajjana
(iv) None of the above
9. Which sect of Muslims had accepted the authority of the early leaders of the community?
(i) Khalifas
(ii) Sunnis
(iii) Shias
(iv) None of the above
10. Which dynasties were able to build pan-regional empires?
(i) Cholas
(ii) Khajis
(iii Tughluqs
(iv) All of the above
Answers:
1. (iii) maps
2. (i) 12th century
3. (iii) Arabic
4. (iv) in Persian
5. (ii) chronicler
6. (iii) aboriginal
7. (iii) 14th Century
8. (ii) Gauda
9. (ii) Sunnis
10. (iv) All of the above
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box to complete the following sentences:
| Sanskrit | chivalric | Rajputs | Gauri | loyalty |
1. The language spoken during the 14th century in present day Bengal region was __________.
2. A _________code of conduct – extreme valour and a great sense of _______ were the qualities attributed to ________ by their poets and bards.
3. Their knowledge of __________texts earned the Brahmanas a lot of respect in society.
Answer:
1. The language spoken during the 14th century in present day Bengal region was Gauri.
2. A chivalric code of conduct – extreme valour and a great sense of loyalty – were the qualities attributed to Rajputs by their poets and bards.
3. Their knowledge of Sanskrit texts earned the Brahmanas a lot of respect in society.
C. Match the words in column A with those in column B
| A | B |
| Amir Khusrau | 12th century Arab geographer |
| Al-Idrisi | Used the term ‘Hindustan’ to describe the geography, the fauna and cullture of the inhabitants of the subcontinent. |
| Minhaj-i-Siraj | Remarked that Sanskrit did not belong to any region |
| Babur | 14th century chronicler who wrote two versions of his chronicle |
| Ziyauddin Barani | Used the term ‘Hindustan’ in political sense to denote lands that were part of the dominions of the Delhi sultan to refer to the |
Answer:
| A | B |
| Amir Khusrau | Remarked that Sanskrit did not belong to any region |
| Al-Idrisi | 12th century Arab geographer |
| Minhaj-i-Siraj | Used the term ‘Hindustan’ in political sense to denote lands that were part of the dominions of the Delhi sultan |
| Babur | Used the term ‘Hindustan’ to describe the geography, the fauna and cullture of the inhabitants of the subcontinent. |
| Ziyauddin Barani | 14th century chronicler who wrote two versions of his chronicle |
D. State whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:
1. Merchants and migrants first brought the teachings of the holy Quran to India during this period.
2. The Greeks called the Indian subcontinent ‘Indus”.
3. Manuscripts were collected by the wealthy people and stored in their mansions.
4. According to the poet Amir Khusrao’s account in 1318, ‘Hindawi’ was spoken in the region around
eastern Uttar Pradesh.
5. The Shia Muslims believed that Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law , Ali, was the legitimate leader of
the Muslim community.
Answer:
1. True
2. True
3. False – manuscripts were placed in libraries and archives.
4. false – According to the poet Amir Khusrau’s account, ‘Hindawi’ was spoken in the area around
Delhi and ‘Awadhi’ was spoken in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
5. True
E. Very Short Answer type Questions:
1. What does a cartographer do?
Answer:
A cartographer draws maps.
2. What is an archive?
Answer:
n archive is a place where documents and manuscripts are stored.
3. Where is Sri lanka located in Al-Idrisi’s map of India?
Answer:
Sri Lanka is the island located at the top of the map.
4. What do we understand by the term ‘Hindustan’ now?
Answer:
We understand ‘Hindustan’ to mean ‘India’, the modern nation-state.
5. When was the term ‘Hindustan” first used and by whom?
Answer:
The term ‘Hindustan’ was first used in the 13th century by Minhaj-i-Siraj, a chronicler who wrote in Persian.
6. What sources do historians use to to study a particular period?
Answer:
Historians rely on coins, inscriptions, architecture and textual records to study a particular period in history.
7. How did the scribes copy the manuscripts?
Answer:
Scribes copied the manuscripts by hand.
8. What changes took place in Hinduism during the period from 700 to 1750?
Answer:
New deities were worshipped, new temples were constructed by royalty and the Brahmanas became a dominant group in society.
9. What do you know understand by the terms ‘Shia’ and ‘Sunni’?
Answer:
‘Shia and “Sunni’ are the names of two sects of Islam.
10. What were the new technologies which appeared at different moments during these thousand years?
Answer:
The new technological innovations were the Persian wheel in irrigation, the spinning wheel in weaving and firearms in combat.
11. What were the new food items and beverages which were introduced in the subcontinent during this period?
Answer:
This period saw the introduction of new food items like potatoes, corn, chillies ,and new beverages like coffee and tea in the subcontinent.
12. Name one group of people who grew in importance during this period.
Answer:
The Rajputs became important during this period.
F. Short Answer Type Questions:
1. From which word is the term ‘Rajput’ derived. What do you know about the Rajputs?
Answer:
The word ‘Rajput’ was derived from the term ‘’Rajaputra” which means the son of a ruler. Between the 8th and the 14th centuries, the term ‘Rajput’ was applied more generally to denote a group of warriors who claimed Kshatriya caste status.
The term included not just rulers and chieftains but also soldiers and commanders who served in the armies of different monarchs all over the subcontinent. A chivalric code of conduct – extreme valour and a great sense of loyalty- were the qualities attributed to the Rajputs by their poets and bards
2. What do you know about the emergence of the idea of bhakti?
Answer:
One of the major developments during the thousand years of history we are exploring was the rise of the idea of ‘Bhakti’ – of a loving, personal deity who could be reached without the intervention of priests or elaborate rituals. People’s belief in the divine was deeply personal.
3. Why Brahmanas earned respect in the society?
Answer:
Brahmanas earned respect in the society because they alone had the knowledge of Sanskrit which no one in general had. They occupied a dominant position in society which was consolidated by the support of their patrons – new rulers searching for power and prestige.
4. What was the extent of Sultan Gyasuddin Balban’s empire?
Answer:
According to a Sanskrit ‘prashasti’ glorifying the Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266-1287) , he held sway over a vast empire that stretched from Bengal (Gauda) in the east to Ghazni (Gajjana) in Afghanistan in the west. It also included all of south India(Dravida). It is said that people of different regions – Gauda, Andhra, Kerala,Karnataka, Maharastra and Gujarat fled before his armies. Historians, however, regard these as exaggerated claims.
5. What does the term pan-regional empire mean? What was its impact?
Answer:
A pan-regional empire means an empire spanning across several regions. By 700 many regions possessed distinct geographical dimensions, their own languages and cultures. There were several conflicts between these states. Occasionally dynasties like the Cholas, Khaljis, Tughlaqs and Mughals were able to unify several regions and build empires that were pan-regional. Not all such empires were equally stable or successful.
The years of imperial pan-regional rule altered the character of the regions so even when the empires declined, the regions were left with the legacies of the big and small states that had ruled over them. This was apparent in the shared traditions in the realms of governance, management of the economy, elite cultures and language.
6. Which were the new groups of people to grow prominent in this age? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
This was a period of great mobility. Groups of people travelled long distances in search of opportunity. The subcontinent held immense wealth and the possibilities for people to make their fortune.
The Rajputs became an important group known for their extreme valour and loyalty. Other groups such as the Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, Ahoms, and Kayasthas also became prominent in this age. They availed most of the opportunities of society.
G. Long answer Type Questions
1. How did society change with the clearing of forests and extension of agriculture during this period?
Answer:
Throughout this period, there was a gradual clearing of forests and the extension of agriculture. Many forest dwellers were forced to migrate when they lost their habitat.
Others started tilling land and became peasants. The new peasants were gradually influenced by the by regional markets, chieftains, priests, monasteries and temples. They became part of large and complex societies and had to pay taxes as well as offer goods and services to the local lords.As a result, economic and social disparities arose amongst peasants. Some possessed more productive land, others also kept cattle and combined artisanal work with agricultural activity during the lean season.
As society became more differentiated, people were grouped into ‘jatis’ or subcastes and ranked on the basis of their backgrounds and their occupation. ‘Jatis’ framed their own rules and regulations to manage the conduct of their members. These regulations were enforced by an assembly of elders described in some areas as the ‘jati panchayat’ But ‘jatis’ were also required to follow the rules of their villages. Several villages were governed by a chieftain. Together they were only a small unit of a state.
This is how society evolved following the clearance of forest.
2. What was the change in the religion of the time? Trace out major developments?
Answer: The period between 700 and 1750 witnessed major changes in religion. Important changes took place in Hinduism such as the worship of new deities, the construction of temples by royalty, and the growing importance of Brahmanas, the priests, as dominant groups in society.
The idea of bhakti emerged. The concept of a loving, personal deity who could be reached easily without the intervention of priests or elaborate rituals took root.
Moreover, this was a time when new religions appeared in the subcontinent. Merchants and migrants brought the new teachings of the ‘Quran’, the holy book of the Muslims. The Muslim accept the sovereignty of the one God, Allah, whose love, mercy and bounty embrace all who believe in Him, without regard to social background.
A class of patrons emerged. They were the rulers who provided shelter and protection to the ulemas—the learned theologians and jurists. Muslims were divided into two groups—Shia and Sunni. Shia Muslims believed that the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali, was the legitimate leader of the Muslim Community, while the Sunni Muslims accepted the authority of the early leaders—Khalifas of the community.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) on NCERT Class 7 History- Our Pasts-ll Chapter 1 ‘Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years’
Chapter 1 – ‘Tracing Changes Through a Thousand years,’ unique?
Our team of competent subject experts have crafted these accurate solutions taking into account every detail and presenting them in the most easy-to-understand way possible. Every single aspect of the lesson has been explained in a clear and lucid manner. We recommend that you go through them in detail to resolve any doubts you may have, improve your conceptual knowledge and hone your analytical skills.
Feel free to download the free PDFs of the solutions anytime! There’s plenty more helpful study material and other resources on the way – so keep visiting our website and join our email list to get free access to them!
The following interesting topics are discussed in this chapter:
(i) New and old terminologies
Changes in terms and their meanings
(ii) Historians and their sources.
Value of paper
Manuscripts and chronicles
What are archives?
(iii)New social and political groups
The appearance of new technology
Introduction to new crops and beverages
Regulation of jatis
(iv) Region and empire
What is a pan-regional empire?
(v) Old and new religions
Important religious developments
(vi) Thinking about Time and Historical Periods
Yes indeed! You can download the free PDF versions of these excellent solutions anytime (please look towards the top of the page)!
If you are looking for reliable exam preparation advice, look no further! Our subject experts have painstakingly provided many extra questions based on latest CBSE syllabus and guidelines. The extra questions are similar to exam questions and are designed to give you sufficient practice. Go through the solutions before the exam and practice writing out some answers within a specified time period. This is an important step which should not be skipped because practice not only makes perfect, but also boosts your self-confidence. You will be well-equipped to take on any challenge that your examiner may pose! Good luck!
No worries! We provide you with a dedicated teacher cum mentor, who will prepare you for exams as well as counsel you about your future. Sounds good? Feel free to reach out to us anytime!
We provide expert one-on-one coaching and mentoring to you depending on your convenience and needs – have it completely your way! Book live online classes now!
