Questions covered are:
1. What would a traveler visiting a medieval town expect to find?
2. What is the significance of Thanjavur during the Chola dynasty?
3. Why were temple towns important in medieval India?
4. What technique was used to create Chola bronze statues?
5. How did small towns develop in medieval India?
6. What kinds of taxes were levied in medieval market towns?
7. Who were the Banjaras and what was their role in trade?
8. What impact did the European trading companies have on Indian craftspersons?
9. Describe the architectural splendor of Hampi?
10. What was the significance of Surat during the Mughal period?
11. Why did Masulipatnam decline in importance?
12. How did European exploration affect global trade in the fifteenth century?
********************************************
1. What would a traveler visiting a medieval town expect to find?
The traveler would find different types of towns like temple towns, administrative centers, commercial towns, or port towns, each with various functions such as administration, religious activities, trade, and craft production.
2. What is the significance of Thanjavur during the Chola dynasty?
Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola dynasty, known for its beautiful location near the Kaveri River, the grand Rajarajeshvara temple, bustling markets, and a variety of craft activities including cloth production by Saliya weavers and bronze idol making by sthapatis.
3. Why were temple towns important in medieval India?
Temple towns were central to the economy and society. Temples were built by rulers to demonstrate devotion, received endowments, supported large communities of priests, artisans, traders, and workers, and became centers of pilgrimage and urbanization
4. What technique was used to create Chola bronze statues?
The “lost wax” technique was used, which involved making a wax model, covering it with clay, draining out the wax after heating, and then pouring molten metal into the clay mold to create the statue.
5. How did small towns develop in medieval India?
From the eighth century onwards, small towns emerged from large villages, featuring mandapikas (market centers) and market streets called hattas. These towns had various artisan communities and hosted traders who brought products from distant places.
6. What kinds of taxes were levied in medieval market towns?
Taxes were levied on various goods such as sugar, jaggery, dyes, thread, cotton, salt, and cloth, as well as on traders, metal goods, and grains. Some taxes were collected in kind and others in cash.
7. Who were the Banjaras and what was their role in trade?
The Banjaras were traders, especially horse traders, who formed associations to protect their interests while traveling in caravans through various kingdoms and forests.
8. What impact did the European trading companies have on Indian craftspersons?
The European trading companies, using naval power, forced Indian traders to work as their agents. The demand for Indian textiles led to an expansion in crafts, but craftspersons lost their independence and had to produce designs dictated by European agents.
9. Describe the architectural splendor of Hampi?
Hampi was a well-fortified city with distinctive architecture, including arches, domes, pillared halls, orchards, and pleasure gardens. It was a hub of commercial and cultural activities, with temples playing a central role.
10. What was the significance of Surat during the Mughal period?
Surat was an important emporium for western trade, a gateway for pilgrim ships to Mecca, and home to a cosmopolitan population. It was known for its textiles with gold lace borders and was a major commercial hub until its decline due to various factors.
11. Why did Masulipatnam decline in importance?
Masulipatnam declined due to competition among trading groups, royal monopolies by the Qutb Shahi rulers, and the shift of European trading centers to Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras.
12. How did European exploration affect global trade in the fifteenth century?
European sailors, driven by the desire to reach India for spices, discovered new sea routes. Vasco da Gama reached India by sailing around Africa, and Christopher Columbus accidentally discovered the Americas while searching for India, leading to European colonization.
*****************************************
Fill in the Blanks:
1. The capital of the Chola dynasty was __________.
2. The __________ temple in Thanjavur was built by King Rajaraja Chola.
3. The “lost wax” technique was used to create __________ statues during the Chola period.
4. __________ was a famous craftsperson community known for their inlay work in copper and silver.
5. Surat was known as the gateway for trade with __________ via the Gulf of Ormuz.
6. The __________ community in Gujarat traded extensively with ports in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Southeast Asia.
7. __________ was the chief port of Golconda and a major trading center on the Andhra coast.
8. Hampi is located in the __________ basin, which was the nucleus of the Vijayanagara Empire.
9. The __________ tank was built with a 1.37 km long earthen dam across the Maldevi river by Vijayanagara rulers.
10. __________ was known for its textiles with gold lace borders (zari) that were famous in West Asia, Africa, and Europe.
11. __________ and __________ were linked to the celebrated Silk Route and were important for the horse trade.
12. The __________ was a platform in Hampi where the king received guests and watched performances.
13. __________ was a Portuguese sailor who reached Calicut in 1498.
14. The __________ festival, known today as Navaratri in the south, was an important celebration in Hampi.
15. European traders like the Portuguese, Dutch, and English had their factories and warehouses at __________ during the Mughal period.
Answers:
1. Thanjavur
2. Rajarajeshvara
3. bronze
4. Bidri
5. West Asia
6. Gujarati
7. Masulipatnam
8. Krishna-Tungabhadra
9. Anantraj Sagar
10. Surat
11. Kabul, Qandahar
12. Mahanavami
13. Vasco da Gama
14. Mahanavami
15. Surat
Useful Links: