CHAPTER 4: NEW BEGINNINGS: CITIES AND STATES
1. What happened to the Indus Valley or Harappan civilisation in the early second millennium BCE?
A. It expanded across the entire world.
B. It disintegrated, and many cities were abandoned.
C. It immediately became the Magadha Empire.
D. It developed a modern democratic system.
Answer: B. It disintegrated, and many cities were abandoned.
2. What is India’s first phase of urbanisation called in the chapter?
A. Second Urbanisation
B. Industrial Urbanisation
C. First Urbanisation
D. Modern Urbanisation
Answer: C. First Urbanisation
3. What happened to urban life in much of India after the decline of the Harappan civilisation?
A. It continued unchanged everywhere.
B. It remained largely absent for about a millennium.
C. It spread immediately to southern India.
D. It became entirely dependent on overseas trade.
Answer: B. It remained largely absent for about a millennium.
4. When did a new phase of urbanisation begin in the Ganga plains and neighbouring regions?
A. In the first millennium BCE
B. In the first millennium CE
C. In the nineteenth century CE
D. In the third millennium CE
Answer: A. In the first millennium BCE
5. What is this new phase of urbanisation called?
A. First Urbanisation
B. Second Urbanisation
C. Rural Revolution
D. Industrial Revolution
Answer: B. Second Urbanisation
6. Which two main sources help historians learn about the ancient urban centres of the Second Urbanisation?
A. Modern newspapers and television
B. Archaeological excavations and ancient literature
C. Satellite television and novels
D. Coins alone and modern maps
Answer: B. Archaeological excavations and ancient literature
7. Which types of ancient literature mention the new urban centres?
A. Late Vedic, Buddhist and Jain literature
B. Only modern poetry
C. Only European travel diaries
D. Only scientific journals
Answer: A. Late Vedic, Buddhist and Jain literature
8. What is a janapada?
A. A sea route used by traders
B. A territory associated with a clan or group of people
C. A type of ancient coin
D. A religious monument
Answer: B. A territory associated with a clan or group of people
9. What is the Sanskrit meaning of “janapada” explained in the chapter?
A. Where people have set foot or settled down
B. A place without inhabitants
C. A fortified mountain
D. A market beside a river
Answer: A. Where people have set foot or settled down
10. Who generally led a janapada?
A. A merchant
B. A rājā or ruler
C. A foreign ambassador
D. A travelling monk
Answer: B. A rājā or ruler
11. What helped the janapadas grow?
A. The disappearance of all trade
B. The expansion of trade networks
C. The abandonment of agriculture
D. The closure of roads
Answer: B. The expansion of trade networks
12. By approximately which centuries BCE had some janapadas merged into larger states?
A. Eighth or seventh centuries BCE
B. First or second centuries CE
C. Eighteenth or nineteenth centuries CE
D. Fifth or sixth centuries CE
Answer: A. Eighth or seventh centuries BCE
13. What were the larger states formed by merging janapadas called?
A. Mahājanapadas
B. Gram sabhas
C. Guilds
D. Provinces of the modern republic
Answer: A. Mahājanapadas
14. How many mahājanapadas appear in the frequently mentioned list described in the chapter?
A. Eight
B. Twelve
C. Sixteen
D. Twenty-four
Answer: C. Sixteen
15. According to the chapter, which mahājanapada lay in the northwest?
A. Anga
B. Gandhāra
C. Aśhmaka
D. Magadha
Answer: B. Gandhāra
16. Which mahājanapada was located in the east?
A. Anga
B. Avanti
C. Kamboja
D. Matsya
Answer: A. Anga
17. Which mahājanapada was located in central India, close to the Godavari River?
A. Kuru
B. Kosala
C. Aśhmaka
D. Malla
Answer: C. Aśhmaka
18. Why were many mahājanapadas concentrated in the Ganga plains?
A. The region had fertile agricultural land, access to iron ore and developing trade networks.
B. The region had no rivers or farmland.
C. The region was isolated from all trade.
D. The region had no natural resources.
Answer: A. The region had fertile agricultural land, access to iron ore and developing trade networks.
19. Which group contains the four powerful states specifically mentioned in the chapter?
A. Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti
B. Anga, Kuru, Matsya and Malla
C. Gandhāra, Kamboja, Chedi and Aśhmaka
D. Vajji, Malla, Kuru and Panchala
Answer: A. Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti
20. What defensive feature often surrounded the fortified cities of the mahājanapadas?
A. A moat
B. A railway line
C. A modern highway
D. A concrete dam
Answer: A. A moat
21. Why were gateways through city walls often kept narrow?
A. To prevent farming outside the city
B. To control the movement of people and goods
C. To allow rivers to enter the city
D. To make the city impossible to reach
Answer: B. To control the movement of people and goods
22. What were the assemblies or councils of janapadas called?
A. Sabhā or samiti
B. Sena or durga
C. Jāti or varṇa
D. Uttarapatha or Dakṣiṇapatha
Answer: A. Sabhā or samiti
23. What role did the assemblies play in the governance of a janapada?
A. They discussed matters concerning the clan.
B. They controlled only overseas trade.
C. They replaced all agricultural workers.
D. They built every village without consulting rulers.
Answer: A. They discussed matters concerning the clan.
24. What was a good ruler expected to do when making decisions?
A. Ignore all advice from others.
B. Take advice from assemblies, ministers and administrators.
C. Avoid maintaining law and order.
D. Refuse to collect revenue.
Answer: B. Take advice from assemblies, ministers and administrators.
25. Which statement best describes the monarchies among the mahājanapadas?
A. The rājā held ultimate authority and was supported by ministers and an assembly.
B. Every citizen directly selected every official.
C. No ruler existed.
D. Foreign traders made every political decision.
Answer: A. The rājā held ultimate authority and was supported by ministers and an assembly.
26. Which pair of mahājanapadas had assemblies with greater decision-making power, according to the chapter?
A. Magadha and Avanti
B. Vajji and Malla
C. Kosala and Vatsa
D. Anga and Gandhāra
Answer: B. Vajji and Malla
27. How could Vajji and Malla make important decisions?
A. Only through the hereditary king’s personal orders
B. Through discussion and, when necessary, voting
C. Only through foreign rulers
D. Through decisions made by merchants alone
Answer: B. Through discussion and, when necessary, voting
28. What were political systems such as Vajji and Malla called?
A. Gaṇas or sanghas
B. Empires or colonies
C. Guilds or markets
D. Ports or harbours
Answer: A. Gaṇas or sanghas
29. Why have scholars sometimes called these systems “early republics”?
A. Their assemblies selected rulers and made major decisions.
B. They had no political institutions.
C. Their rulers were always foreign officials.
D. Their economies depended only on hunting.
Answer: A. Their assemblies selected rulers and made major decisions.
30. Which metal technology became especially important during the Second Urbanisation?
A. Iron metallurgy
B. Plastic manufacturing
C. Aluminium production
D. Modern steelmaking
Answer: A. Iron metallurgy
31. How did iron tools contribute to agricultural development?
A. They helped facilitate agriculture on a larger scale.
B. They eliminated the need for cultivation.
C. They prevented people from clearing land.
D. They made farming impossible.
Answer: A. They helped facilitate agriculture on a larger scale.
32. How did iron affect weapons during this period?
A. It was used only for jewellery.
B. It allowed the production of lighter and sharper weapons than bronze.
C. It made weapons unnecessary.
D. It was used only for building roads.
Answer: B. It allowed the production of lighter and sharper weapons than bronze.
33. What was another important innovation associated with growing trade?
A. The first use of coins in India
B. The invention of the railway
C. The development of paper currency in its modern form
D. The introduction of digital payments
Answer: A. The first use of coins in India
34. What were the first Indian coins described in the chapter made from?
A. Silver
B. Plastic
C. Aluminium
D. Glass
Answer: A. Silver
35. Why were these early coins called “punch-marked coins”?
A. Symbols were punched into the soft metal.
B. They were printed on paper.
C. They were decorated with paint only.
D. They were shaped using modern machines.
Answer: A. Symbols were punched into the soft metal.
36. Which other metals were used for coins later?
A. Copper and gold
B. Plastic and rubber
C. Wood and cloth
D. Coal and limestone
Answer: A. Copper and gold
37. What does the chapter explain about the use of coins in trade?
A. Coins were used only inside one village and never exchanged.
B. Coins from neighbouring regions were also used and exchanged.
C. Coins replaced all other goods immediately.
D. Coins were never used between regions.
Answer: B. Coins from neighbouring regions were also used and exchanged.
38. What was a jāti generally associated with in the varṇa–jāti system?
A. A group or community linked to a specific professional occupation
B. A geographical mountain range
C. A type of royal fortification
D. A system of measuring rainfall
Answer: A. A group or community linked to a specific professional occupation
39. How were the skills associated with a jāti generally transmitted?
A. From generation to generation
B. Only through foreign schools
C. Through elections every year
D. By random selection
Answer: A. From generation to generation
40. What could happen to a jāti over time?
A. It could develop sub-jātis with their own customs and traditions.
B. It always disappeared after one generation.
C. It became a geographical river.
D. It could never develop distinct customs.
Answer: A. It could develop sub-jātis with their own customs and traditions.
41. How many varṇas are described in the chapter?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Six
Answer: C. Four
42. What role was associated with Brahmins in the varṇa system described in the chapter?
A. Preserving and spreading knowledge and performing rituals
B. Managing only overseas ports
C. Working exclusively as soldiers
D. Building only city walls
Answer: A. Preserving and spreading knowledge and performing rituals
43. What role was associated with Kshatriyas?
A. Defending society and land and engaging in warfare when necessary
B. Performing only agricultural work
C. Preserving knowledge as their sole duty
D. Managing only religious pilgrimages
Answer: A. Defending society and land and engaging in warfare when necessary
44. Which occupations were associated with Vaishyas?
A. Trade, business and agriculture
B. Warfare alone
C. Religious rituals alone
D. Fortification construction alone
Answer: A. Trade, business and agriculture
45. Which groups of workers were associated with Shudras in the chapter’s description?
A. Artisans, craftspeople, workers and servants
B. Kings and ministers only
C. Foreign ambassadors only
D. Monks and nuns only
Answer: A. Artisans, craftspeople, workers and servants
46. What does the chapter explain about the historical varṇa–jāti system?
A. It remained completely unchanged throughout history.
B. It was more flexible in earlier periods and became more rigid over time.
C. It had no influence on Indian society.
D. It existed only in modern cities.
Answer: B. It was more flexible in earlier periods and became more rigid over time.
47. Which two major communication routes are mentioned in the chapter?
A. Uttarapatha and Dakṣiṇapatha
B. Silk Road and Spice Route only
C. Grand Trunk Road and modern highways
D. Northern Railway and Southern Railway
Answer: A. Uttarapatha and Dakṣiṇapatha
48. What did the Uttarapatha connect?
A. The northwest regions with the Ganga plains and eastern India
B. Only the southern coast with Sri Lanka
C. Only the Himalayas with the Thar Desert
D. The Deccan Plateau with Antarctica
Answer: A. The northwest regions with the Ganga plains and eastern India
49. Which three kingdoms emerged in the southern regions around this period?
A. Cholas, Cheras and Pāṇḍyas
B. Magadha, Kosala and Avanti
C. Vajji, Malla and Vatsa
D. Gandhāra, Kamboja and Kuru
Answer: A. Cholas, Cheras and Pāṇḍyas
50. What happened by around 300 or 200 BCE, according to the chapter?
A. The entire Subcontinent became disconnected.
B. Goods and culture travelled across an interconnected Subcontinent, and the mahājanapadas ceased to exist.
C. All trade routes were permanently closed.
D. Urbanisation ended everywhere in the world.
Answer: B. Goods and culture travelled across an interconnected Subcontinent, and the mahājanapadas ceased to exist.
