Chapter 6: Second Urbanisation in India

Choose the correct alternative and write the complete sentence.

Ashmaka is the name in ______ language.

OPTIONS

Pali
Sanskrit
Ardhamagadhi
Prakrit

SOLUTION

Ashmaka is the name in Sanskrit language.

The capital of Kashi mahajanapada was ______.

OPTIONS

Gorakhpur
Chandanagar
Rajagriha
Varanasi

SOLUTION

The capital of Kashi mahajanapada was Varanasi.

Gautama Buddha was born in ______.

OPTIONS

Kushinagara
Sarnath
Lumbini
Pataliputra

SOLUTION

Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini.

The river ______ was the natural boundary between Uttara Panchala and Dakshina Panchala.

OPTIONS

Yamuna
Bhagirathi
Ganga
Niranjana

SOLUTION

The river Bhagirathi was the natural boundary between Uttara Panchala and Dakshina Panchala.

Find the incorrect pair from set B and write the correct ones.

Set ‘A’	Set ‘B’
(1) Kosala	Shravasti
(2) Anga	Champa
(3) Matsya	Mathura
(4) Gandhara	Taxila

SOLUTION

Set ‘A’	Set ‘B’
(3) Matsya	Virat Nagar

Choose the correct reason and complete the sentence.

Gautama Buddha travelled continuously for 45 years ______

OPTIONS

in the search of a Guru
to practice austerities
to preach dhamma
to attain enlightenment

Complete the concept map given below.

SOLUTION

Explain the statement with reasons.

Rise of mahajanapadas came into being.

SOLUTION

By 600 B.C.E. sixteen Mahajanapadas were established in India, from the northwest region to Magadha.
Conquering other janapadas and annexing their territory permanently to one's own, became a regular practice in the times of Mahajanapadas.
Ultimately, this conflict resulted in the creation of a large empire like Magadha.
Ancient India once again witnessed the rise of cities.

The process of Second urbanisation began in ancient India.

SOLUTION

The Janapadas with definite geographic borders and administrative systems were established roughly around 1000 B.C.E.
It resulted in the creation of sixteen Mahajanapadas from Afghanistan stretching to the banks of the Godavari in the south.
The capital cities of the mahajanapadas and some other cities, which flourished because of prospering trade once again brought the age of urbanisation in India.
It is known as the 'Second Urbanisation'.
By the 6th century B.C.E. these and a few other cities had become very prosperous.
Thus, the process of the second urbanisation began in ancient India.

Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautama Buddha attracted a large number of followers.

SOLUTION

Among the various stream of thoughts that arose in the 6th B.C.E a large number of people were attracted to the teaching of Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.
Their teachings showed the way to overcome the disparity in the society resulted from the Varna and caste system.
At the age of 42, Vardhamana Mahavira attained absolute knowledge (Keval Dnyana).
Thereafter, people started addressing him as 'Kevali', 'Jina', and 'Mahavira'.
While Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 35. After that, he was known as 'Buddha', 'Tathagata' and also as 'Shakyamuni'.

Explain the following concept.

Nastik Darshan

SOLUTION

Nastik Darshan refers to the Jain and the Buddhist schools of thought.
In other words, both, the Jain and the Buddhist schools of thought are considered as the 'nastik' schools.
Both refuse to accept the authority of the Vedas and the Vedic rituals.
Both the schools had followers in large numbers from all strata of society.

The eightfold path preached by Gautama Buddha

SOLUTION

Gautama Buddha explained the eightfold path by including:

Samyak Drishti (To understand and accept that nothing happens against the rules of nature)
Samyak Sankalp (Right determination)
Samyak Vacha (Right speech)
Samyak Karmanta (Right behaviour)
Samyak Aajiva (Livelihood by right means)
Samyak Vyayam (Conscious avoidance of offensive things)
Samyak Smriti (Watchfulness and memory of right things)
Samyak Samadhi (Establishing the mind firmly in equanimity; a state beyond pleasure and sorrow)

Describe the administrative system of the mahajanapadas with the help of following points.

Terms showing types of states
King’s installation
Authority of the king
Decision-making

SOLUTION

Terms showing types of states: Rajya, Swarajya, Bhavjya, Vairajya, Maharajya, Samrajya, and Prameshthya were the different types of states that existed during the 6th B.C.E.
King's installation: A 'Raja' was expected to be a 'Kshatriya' and according to the existing norms, a Brahmin was expected to refrain from accepting the position of a Raja. The position of Raja was generally hereditary. However, at times, a king was elected by the people.
Authority of the king: The coronation of a king gave him absolute authority over his subjects. He was the one to decide the amount of taxes to be collected from them. He was the ultimate lord of all the land in his kingdom and so he could donate any portion of that land according to his wish. Nevertheless, his power was not totally unrestricted.
Decision-making: The king made his decisions by seeking advice from his officials such as Purohita, Senani, Amatya, Gramani, etc. Besides, there was an assembly of people from all classes. When it assembled everybody present could participate in the decision-making process. There were times when people's assemblies made a king steps down from the throne.

Balbharati Solutions for History 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board

• Chapter 1: First Farmers

• Chapter 2: First Cities of India

• Chapter 3: Chalcolithic Villages in India

• Chapter 4: Vedic Period

• Chapter 5: Janapadas and Republics

• Chapter 6: Second Urbanisation in India

• Chapter 7: India and Iran (Persia)

• Chapter 8: India during Mauryan period

• Chapter 9: Post Mauryan India

• Chapter 10: Changing Times

• Chapter 11: Kingdoms in South India