Chapter 2 Writing and City Life
Mr. DINESH KUMAR SHARMA PGT ( HISTORY)
Question1.
Why do we say that it was not natural fertility and high levels of food production that were
the causes of early urbanization?
Answer:
It is often said that natural fertility and high levels of food production were the causes of early
urbanization. It is because of the following reasons:
Natural fertility encourages settled life and agricultural production.
It paved the way for animal husbandry.
Fertility of the soil was also helpful in the beginning of new occupations.
Flourishing trade and commerce is also another major factor for urbanization.
The development of art of writing and administration played a very critical role in the
development of urbanization.
Question 2.
Which of the following were necessary conditions and which the causes of early urbanization,
and which would you say were the outcome of the growth of cities:
(a) highly productive agriculture
(b) water transport
(c) the lack of metal and stone
(c) the division of labor
(e) the use of seals
(f) the military power of kings that made labor compulsory?
Answer:
Following were the necessary conditions for urbanization:
Highly productive agriculture
Water transport
The division of labor
Causes of early urbanization:
Lack of metal and stones
The use of the seals
The military power of the kings made labor compulsory.
The outcome of the growth of cities:
Efficient transport system.
Trade and services developed.
Question 3.
Why were mobile animal herders not necessarily a threat to town life?
Answer:
Mobile animal herders were required to exchange ghee, metal tools, grains, etc. So they were
not a threat to town life.
Question 4.
Why would the early temple have been much like a house?
Answer:
Early settlers began to build temples at selected spots in their villages. The earliest known
,temple was a small shrine made of unbaked bricks. These early temples were much like a house
because they were small in size. There used to be an open courtyard around which rooms were
constructed. Temples were the residence of various gods. Temples also had their outer wall
going in and out at regular intervals, which no ordinary building ever had.
Question 5.
Of the new institutions that came into being once city life had begun, which would have
depended on the initiative of the king?
Answer:
Temple, trade, seal making , sculpture and the art of writing were the new institutions that came
into being with the beginning of the city life. These institutions depended on the initiative of the
king.
Question 6.
What do ancient stories tell us about the civilization of Mesopotamia?
Answer:
Ancient stories of Mesopotamia are valuable sources of information. As per the stories,
Mesopotamia is situated between two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. Mesopotamia was one of
the advanced civilizations of its time. Its society was divided into three classes, i.e.
1. The upper class
2. The middle class and
3. The lower class
People belonging to upper classes led a life full of comforts and luxury and enjoyed special
privileges. Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. Their life was normally
prosperous. Religion was an important part of their life and people worshiped many gods and
goddesses. Shamas was their main God. It was the Sun. Ziggurat was the name given to
Sumerian temples.
Another description from the Bible: According to the Bible, the flood was meant to destroy all
forms of life on the earth. However, God chose a man, Noah, to ensure that life could continue
after devastating flood on the earth. Noah, built a huge boat, an ark. He took a pair each of all
known species of animals and birds on the board, the arks which survived the flood. When
other things were destroyed by the flood, his boat remained safe along with all the species.
Thus began a new life on the earth. There was a similar striking story in Mesopotamian
tradition, where the principal character was called Ziusudra or Utnapishtim.
Class 11 History Chapter 2 More Questions Solved
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Where is Mesopotamia?
Answer:
Mesopotamia is in the republic of Iraq. It is situated between two world-famous rivers;
Euphrates and Tigris. The ancient Mesopotamian civilization also flourished in this region.
Question 2.
For which reason the Mesopotamian river is well known?
Answer:
It is well known for its development of city life, rich literature, and mathematics.
Question 3.
When and where did archaeological work begin in Mesopotamia first of all?
Answer:
First of all, archaeological work began in Mesopotamia in 1840 at the given sites.
, Uruk
Mari
Question 4.
What is the meaning of the word ‘Mesopotamia’?
Answer:
The word ‘Mesopotamia’ is derived from two Greek words ‘Mesos’ and ‘Potamos’. The word
‘Mesos’ means the middle and ‘Potamas’ means river. Hence, the land lying or situated
between two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) is called Mesopotamia.
Question 5.
What does the Bible depict about floods?
Answer:
According to the Holy book of Christian, i.e. the Bible, the flood was meant to destroy all forms
of life on the earth. However, God chose a human being Noah to ensure that life must go on
after the flood.
Question 6.
Where was city life developed first of all in the world? Name the cities also.
Answer:
The city life developed or came into being first of all in the world in Mesopotamia. These
earliest developed cities were:
Ur
Uruk
Kish.
Question 7.
Which type of cities came into prominence in Mesopotamian civilization?
Answer:
These types of cities came into prominence in Mesopotamian civilization. These were:
Religious Town
Trading Town
Imperial Town
Question 8.
Which were the major crops produced during Roman civilization?
Answer:
The major crops grown during the Roman civilization were wheat, peas, lintel and barley.
Question 9.
What were the reasons behind the development or growth of urbanization in Mesopotamia?
Answer:
The reasons behind the growth of urbanization in Mesopotamia were the following;
Growth of agriculture
Flourishing trade
Use of seals
The military strength of the ruler who made labor compulsory to all.
Question 10.
When did ancient town begin to flourish in Mesopotamia?
Answer;
The ancient town flourished in Mesopotamia dated back to bronze age, i.e. c. 3000 BCE.
Question 11.
Which was the ancient town of Mesopotamia? Name its capital also.
Mr. DINESH KUMAR SHARMA PGT ( HISTORY)
Question1.
Why do we say that it was not natural fertility and high levels of food production that were
the causes of early urbanization?
Answer:
It is often said that natural fertility and high levels of food production were the causes of early
urbanization. It is because of the following reasons:
Natural fertility encourages settled life and agricultural production.
It paved the way for animal husbandry.
Fertility of the soil was also helpful in the beginning of new occupations.
Flourishing trade and commerce is also another major factor for urbanization.
The development of art of writing and administration played a very critical role in the
development of urbanization.
Question 2.
Which of the following were necessary conditions and which the causes of early urbanization,
and which would you say were the outcome of the growth of cities:
(a) highly productive agriculture
(b) water transport
(c) the lack of metal and stone
(c) the division of labor
(e) the use of seals
(f) the military power of kings that made labor compulsory?
Answer:
Following were the necessary conditions for urbanization:
Highly productive agriculture
Water transport
The division of labor
Causes of early urbanization:
Lack of metal and stones
The use of the seals
The military power of the kings made labor compulsory.
The outcome of the growth of cities:
Efficient transport system.
Trade and services developed.
Question 3.
Why were mobile animal herders not necessarily a threat to town life?
Answer:
Mobile animal herders were required to exchange ghee, metal tools, grains, etc. So they were
not a threat to town life.
Question 4.
Why would the early temple have been much like a house?
Answer:
Early settlers began to build temples at selected spots in their villages. The earliest known
,temple was a small shrine made of unbaked bricks. These early temples were much like a house
because they were small in size. There used to be an open courtyard around which rooms were
constructed. Temples were the residence of various gods. Temples also had their outer wall
going in and out at regular intervals, which no ordinary building ever had.
Question 5.
Of the new institutions that came into being once city life had begun, which would have
depended on the initiative of the king?
Answer:
Temple, trade, seal making , sculpture and the art of writing were the new institutions that came
into being with the beginning of the city life. These institutions depended on the initiative of the
king.
Question 6.
What do ancient stories tell us about the civilization of Mesopotamia?
Answer:
Ancient stories of Mesopotamia are valuable sources of information. As per the stories,
Mesopotamia is situated between two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. Mesopotamia was one of
the advanced civilizations of its time. Its society was divided into three classes, i.e.
1. The upper class
2. The middle class and
3. The lower class
People belonging to upper classes led a life full of comforts and luxury and enjoyed special
privileges. Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. Their life was normally
prosperous. Religion was an important part of their life and people worshiped many gods and
goddesses. Shamas was their main God. It was the Sun. Ziggurat was the name given to
Sumerian temples.
Another description from the Bible: According to the Bible, the flood was meant to destroy all
forms of life on the earth. However, God chose a man, Noah, to ensure that life could continue
after devastating flood on the earth. Noah, built a huge boat, an ark. He took a pair each of all
known species of animals and birds on the board, the arks which survived the flood. When
other things were destroyed by the flood, his boat remained safe along with all the species.
Thus began a new life on the earth. There was a similar striking story in Mesopotamian
tradition, where the principal character was called Ziusudra or Utnapishtim.
Class 11 History Chapter 2 More Questions Solved
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Where is Mesopotamia?
Answer:
Mesopotamia is in the republic of Iraq. It is situated between two world-famous rivers;
Euphrates and Tigris. The ancient Mesopotamian civilization also flourished in this region.
Question 2.
For which reason the Mesopotamian river is well known?
Answer:
It is well known for its development of city life, rich literature, and mathematics.
Question 3.
When and where did archaeological work begin in Mesopotamia first of all?
Answer:
First of all, archaeological work began in Mesopotamia in 1840 at the given sites.
, Uruk
Mari
Question 4.
What is the meaning of the word ‘Mesopotamia’?
Answer:
The word ‘Mesopotamia’ is derived from two Greek words ‘Mesos’ and ‘Potamos’. The word
‘Mesos’ means the middle and ‘Potamas’ means river. Hence, the land lying or situated
between two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) is called Mesopotamia.
Question 5.
What does the Bible depict about floods?
Answer:
According to the Holy book of Christian, i.e. the Bible, the flood was meant to destroy all forms
of life on the earth. However, God chose a human being Noah to ensure that life must go on
after the flood.
Question 6.
Where was city life developed first of all in the world? Name the cities also.
Answer:
The city life developed or came into being first of all in the world in Mesopotamia. These
earliest developed cities were:
Ur
Uruk
Kish.
Question 7.
Which type of cities came into prominence in Mesopotamian civilization?
Answer:
These types of cities came into prominence in Mesopotamian civilization. These were:
Religious Town
Trading Town
Imperial Town
Question 8.
Which were the major crops produced during Roman civilization?
Answer:
The major crops grown during the Roman civilization were wheat, peas, lintel and barley.
Question 9.
What were the reasons behind the development or growth of urbanization in Mesopotamia?
Answer:
The reasons behind the growth of urbanization in Mesopotamia were the following;
Growth of agriculture
Flourishing trade
Use of seals
The military strength of the ruler who made labor compulsory to all.
Question 10.
When did ancient town begin to flourish in Mesopotamia?
Answer;
The ancient town flourished in Mesopotamia dated back to bronze age, i.e. c. 3000 BCE.
Question 11.
Which was the ancient town of Mesopotamia? Name its capital also.
