NCERT Solutions Class 7 Social Science (History)
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 7 Social Science (History) Chapter – 7 (Tribes, Nomads And Settled Communities) has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Chapter – 7 (Tribes, Nomads And Settled Communities)
Let’s Recall
1. Match the following:
| Garh | khel |
| Tanda | chaurasi |
| Labourer | caravan |
| Clan | Garha Katanga |
| Sib Singh | Ahom state |
| Durgawati | paik |
Answer –
| Garh | chaurasi |
| Tanda | caravan |
| Labourer | paik |
| Clan | khel |
| Sib Singh | Ahom state |
| Durgawati | Garha Katanga |
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The new castes emerging within varnas were called ________.
(b) ________ were historical works written by the Ahoms.
(c) The ________ mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
(d) As tribal states became bigger and stronger, they gave land grants to ________ and ________.
Answer –
(a) The new castes emerging within varnas were called jatis.
(b) Buranjis were historical works written by the Ahoms.
(c) The Akbar Nama mentions that Garha Katanga had 70,000 villages.
(d) As tribal states became bigger and stronger, they gave land grants to poets and scholars.
3. State whether true or false:
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.
(b) There were no tribal communities in the northwestern part of the subcontinent.
(c) The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities.
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent.
Answer –
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions. (True)
(b) There were no tribal communities in the northwestern part of the subcontinent. (False)
(c) The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities. (False)
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent. (False)
4. What kinds of exchanges took place between nomadic pastoralists and settled agriculturists?
Answer – Nomadic pastoralists moved over long distances with their animals and lived on milk and other pastoral products. They exchanged wool, ghee, etc., with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products.
Let’s Understand
5. How was the administration of the Ahom state organised?
Answer – Ahom society was divided into clans called khels. A khel controlled several villages. All adult males served in the army during war. People from heavily populated areas were shifted to less populated places. Peasants were assigned land by the village community.
6. What changes took place in varna-based society?
Answer – Within the varna-based society:
- Smaller castes called jatis emerged.
- Many tribes and social groups were taken into cast-based society and given the status of jatis.
- Jatis, rather than varna, became the basis for organizing society.
- Artisans, smiths, carpenters and masons were also given the status of separate jati.
7. How did tribal societies change after being organised into a state?
Answer – After being organized into a state, tribal societies gradually got divided into unequal social classes. The leading families joined the ruling class, while the others joined the lower jatis.
Let’s Discuss
8. Were the Banjaras important for the economy?
Answer – The banjaras were very important for the economy. They helped traders by working as carriers. At the same time they carried on their own trade and also transported food grains for the Mughal army during their campaigns.
9. In what ways was the history of the Gonds different from that of the Ahoms? Were there any similarities?
Answer – The histories of Ahoms and Gonds were different in that while the Gonds were completely annexed by the Mughals, the Ahoms managed to reclaim their independence soon after their annexation. They were similar in the fact that both had risen from being small tribal communities to becoming powerful tribal states that modeled themselves on other centralized kingdoms.
Let’s Do
10. Plot the location of the tribes mentioned in this chapter on a map. For any two, discuss whether their mode of livelihood was suited to the geography and the environment of the area where they lived.
Answer – Several tribes live in different parts of India. See the map given below
These tribes settled temporarily at the places which suited them as per their need and livelihood. Whenever they found the environment or their mode of living unfavourable, they migrated to other suitable places.
11. Find out about present-day government policies towards tribal populations and organise a discussion about these.
Answer – Present-day government policies towards tribal populations are very positive.
- Overall upliftment.
- Land rights.
- Education.
- Cultural and social upliftment.
- Roads, water, industries.
- Mainstreaming.
- Enforcement of reservation in government jobs.
12. Find out more about present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the sub-continent.
Answer – Present-day nomadic pastoral groups in the sub-continent are – Gaddi shepherds living in the western Himalayas, Gujjar Bakarwals, living in Jammu & Kashmir, Banjaras living in Rajasthan. These nomadic people keep sheep, goats and camels. They frequently visit Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
