History

Towns, Traders and Craftspersons

Question:

How did the system of advances snatch the freedom of the weavers?
OR
How did the Indian Crafts persons lose their independence?

Answer:

The Indian textiles were in great demand in the European markets. As a result, the English began to make attempts to control the Indian craftspersons by appointing Indian traders as their agents. They introduced the system of advances under which the weavers had to weave cloth which was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their own cloth or weaving their own patterns. Instead, they had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the company agents. This system snatched the freedom of the Indian weavers. They began to be guided by someone else.

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Towns, Traders and Craftspersons

Q 1.

What is bell metal?

Q 2.

Find out about the present-day taxes on markets. Who collects these taxes? How are they collected and are they used for?

Q 3.

Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Madras.

Q 4.

What did the Indian traders bring from Africa?

Q 5.

How did pilgrims contribute to the temples?

Q 6.

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?

Q 7.

What do the ruins of Hampi reveal?

Q 8.

How was water supplied, to the city of Thanjavur?

Q 9.

What do temple towns represent? [Imp.]

Q 10.

What purpose did small towns serve? [V. Imp.]

 Or

Describe various Junctions of small towns.

Q 11.

How did the European Companies gain control of the sea trade?

Q 12.

Mention some articles of trade on which temple authorities collected taxes.

Q 13.

What were the textiles of Surat famous for?

Q 14.

What is bronze?

Q 15.

What is lost wax' technique? [V. Imp.]

Q 16.

Why did the rulers endow temples with grants of land and money?

Q 17.

Name a few Indian spices which became an important part of European cooking. Ans. Pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, g. 9. What were craftspersons of Bidar famous for?

Q 18.

Why did the Dutch and English East India Companies attempt to control Masulipatnam?

Q 19.

Who lived in the Black Towns' in cities such as Madras?

Q 20.

Why has Surat been called the gate to Mecca?[V. Imp.]

Q 21.

Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Calcutta

Q 22.

What was special with the Surat hundis?

Q 23.

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.

Q 24.

In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities Wee Thanjavur?

Q 25.

How did temple authorities use their wealth?

Q 26.

What was the system of advances?

Q 27.

Fill in the blanks:
(a) The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in ………………..
(b)  Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint…………………
(c) Hampi was the capital of the ………….
(d) The Dutch established a settlement at…………….. in Andhra Pradesh.

Q 28.

Why do you think towns grew around temples?

Q 29.

Describe the trade activities of the big and small traders belonging to the medieval time.

 

Q 30.

What were the reasons of the decline of Swat? [V. Imp.]

Q 31.

Give an account of the architecture of Hampt

Q 32.

Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?

Q 33.

How did the system of advances snatch the freedom of the weavers?
OR
How did the Indian Crafts persons lose their independence?

Q 34.

How important were craftspersons for the building and maintenance of temples?

Q 35.

How was Hampi in its heyday in the 15-16th centuries? When did it fall into ruin?

Q 36.

Describe Swat as a gateway to the West .

Q 37.

What made the city of Masulipatnam populous and prosperous?