NCERT Solutions Class 7th History Social Science Chapter – 6 Towns, Traders, And Craftspersons Question & Answer 

Question 1. Fill in the blanks –

1. The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in ………………..
2. Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint…………………
3. Hampi was the capital of the ………….
4. The Dutch established a settlement at…………….. in Andhra Pradesh.

?‍♂️Answer – 

1. (a) early 11th century
2. (b) Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
3. (c) Vijayanagara
4. (d) Masulipatnam

Question 2. State whether true or false –
(a) We know the name of the architect of the Rajarajeshvara temple from an inscription.
(b) Merchants preferred to travel individually rather than in caravans.
(c) Kabul was a major centre for trade in elephants.
(d) Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Bengal.
?‍♂️Answer – (a)—T, (b)—F, (c)—F, (d)—F.

Question 3. How was water supplied, to the city of Thanjavur?
?‍♂️Answer – Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

Question 4. Who lived in the ‘Black Towns’ in cities such as Madras?
?‍♂️Answer – Merchants, artisans (such as weavers), native traders and craftspersons lived in the ‘Black Towns’.

Question 5. Why do you think towns grew around temples?
?‍♂️Answer – Towns grew around temples because of the following reasons –

1. Priests, workers, artisans, craftspersons settled around temples.
2. Several shops came up around temples to cater to the needs of pilgrims and priests etc.

Question 6. How important were craftspersons for the building and maintenance of temples?
?‍♂️Answer – Craftspersons were very important because of the following reasons –

1. They carried out inlay work in copper and silver. Craftspersons from Bidar were well-known for Bidri work.
2. Goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons, carpenters built temples.
3. They also maintained them.
4. Weavers also played an important role in cotton textiles.

Question 7. Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
?‍♂️Answer – People from distant lands visited Surat because of the following reasons –

1. Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz.
2. Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.
3. There was a big market for cotton textiles. One could find several retail and wholesale shops selling cotton textiles.
4. The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders, Le. zari and had a market in West Asia, Africa and Europe.
5. There were ample rest-houses for the visitors. Magnificent buildings and innumerable pleasure parks attracted people of far-off places.

Question 8. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities Wee Thanjavur?
?‍♂️Answer – Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

1. Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.
2. In Kolkata, it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles, and silk textiles.
3. Thanjavur was a temple town and all lived in town.
4. Calcutta was a trading town and craftsmen lived in “Blacktown” areas.

Question 9. Compare any one of the cities described in this chapter with a town or a village with which you are familiar. Do you notice any similarities or differences?
?‍♂️Answer – Comparison between Surat and Delhi

• First of all, an image was made of wax. This was covered with clay and left in sun to dry.
• It was then heated and a small hole was made in the clay cover. The molten wax was drained out through this hole.
• Then molten wax was poured into the clay mould through the hole. Once the metal cooled and solidified, the clay cover was carefully removed and the image was cleaned and polished.

• The present-day taxes on markets are collected as license fees of shops.
• MCD must collect these taxes.
• MCD does this work with the help of its various departments.
• The taxes collected by MCD are used in the welfare of the public, roads, sewage, electricity, water, etc.

• Hampi was a well-fortified city. No mortar or cementing agent was used in the construction of these walls. The technique followed was to wedge them together by inter-locking.
• The buildings in the royal complex had splendid arches, domes and pillared halls with niches for holding sculptures.
• They also had well-planned orchards and pleasure gardens with sculptural motifs such as the lotus and corbels.

• Because of the decline of the Mughal Empire, Surat faced a huge loss of markets and productivity
• The control of the sea routes went into the hands of the Portuguese
• Surat could not complete with Bombay were the English East India Company shifted its headquarters in 1668.