Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 6 History Civics Chapter 7 Rise of Kingdoms and Republics

Exercise

I. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: More powerful territories in the 6th century were referred to as Mahajanapadas.

Answer: Mahajanapadas
These were the sixteen great kingdoms that existed in ancient India during the second urbanization period. They represented a shift from tribal settlements to organized territorial states with defined boundaries.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'Maha' as 'Great' and 'Janapada' as 'Territory' to remember the meaning of Great Kingdoms.
Exam Tip: Always double-check the spelling of 'Mahajanapadas' as it is a long and important term.

Question 2: In monarchy kingship was hereditary.

Answer: monarchy
In this system, the power to rule stayed within one family and passed from father to son automatically. This ensured a clear line of succession but concentrated all power in the hands of a single royal family.
Teacher's Tip: Connect 'M' for Monarchy with 'M' for 'Me and My family' to remember power stays in the family.
Exam Tip: Use the word 'hereditary' specifically when defining a monarchy to score better.

Question 3: Magadha emerged as the most powerful kingdom in North India in the sixth century BC.

Answer: Magadha
Magadha's location provided it with natural defenses and rich resources that other kingdoms lacked. It successfully conquered neighboring territories to become the center of political power in ancient India.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'Magadha' as the 'Magnificent' power of the North.
Exam Tip: Mention the time period '6th century BC' alongside Magadha for a complete answer.

Question 4: Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC.

Answer: Alexander the Great
He was a king of Macedonia who wanted to conquer the whole world and reached the northwestern borders of India. His invasion opened up new trade routes and cultural exchanges between India and the Greek world.
Teacher's Tip: Associate the year 326 BC specifically with Alexander's arrival in India.
Exam Tip: Include the title 'the Great' to show respect for the historical figure in your writing.

Question 5: Porus impressed Alexander by his bravery and wisdom.

Answer: Porus
Porus was an Indian king who fought a fierce battle against Alexander at the Jhelum river. Despite losing the battle, his dignified behavior made Alexander return his kingdom and become his friend.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the 'P' in Porus for 'Proud' and 'Powerful' king.
Exam Tip: Mention the 'Battle of Hydaspes' if you are writing a more detailed answer about Porus.

Question 6: A new school of art called Gandhara developed, as a result of Alexander’s invasion of India.

Answer: Gandhara
This art style combined Indian religious themes with Greek artistic techniques, especially in making statues of Buddha. It is one of the earliest examples of global cultural fusion in history.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Gandhara as a 'Grand' mix of Greek and Indian styles.
Exam Tip: Remember that Gandhara art is specifically associated with Greek influence when answering cultural questions.

II. Match Column A with Column B:

1. Bimbisara
2. Ajatashatru
3. Monarchy
4. Rise of Mahajanapadas
(a) Hereditary rule
(b) 6th century BC
(c) First prominent king of Magadha
(d) Killed his father and became king
Answer:
1. Bimbisara - (c) First prominent king of Magadha
2. Ajatashatru - (d) Killed his father and became king
3. Monarchy - (a) Hereditary rule
4. Rise of Mahajanapadas - (b) 6th century BC
Matching helps us see the direct relationship between famous rulers and their specific historical roles. It organizes key facts like time periods and political systems into easy pairs.
Teacher's Tip: Link Bimbisara with the start of Magadha and Ajatashatru with the conflict that followed.
Exam Tip: Draw straight lines or write the letters clearly next to the numbers to avoid confusion.

III. Long Answer type Questions:

Question 1: What were the main advantages that helped Magadha to emerge as the most powerful kingdom?

Answer: With the help of following advantages Magadha emerged as the most powerful kingdom
1. The presence of natural resources helped Magadha’s rise to power in the 6th century BC.
2. Rich deposits of iron ore contributed to the making of effective iron weapons and agricultural tools.
3. Due to strategic locations of both the capitals, Rajgriha (Rajgir) and Pataliputra, it was difficult for any rival to capture these cities.
4. The Magadhan rulers had well-organised, efficient and powerful almies, which consisted of elephants, horses and chariots.
5. The Magadhan territory being fertile, produced surplus food.
6. The Magadhan rulers gained immensely from trade and commerce.
7. The rivers like Ganga, Son, etc. provided waterways.
Magadha's geography acted as a shield and a source of wealth at the same time. The combination of strong metal for weapons and fertile soil for food made them unstoppable.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'FERT' - Food, Elephants, Rivers, and Tools to recall the points.
Exam Tip: Use a numbered list to present each advantage clearly for maximum marks.

Question 2: What policy did Bimbisara follow to extend his territories?

Answer: Bimbisara extended his territories through conquests and marriages. He married the daughter of the king of Kosala and received the province of Kashi as dowry. The ruler of Kosala thus became his friend. He also married the Lichchavi princess of Vaishali and thereby extended his friendship ties in this region. His third wife was the daughter of a chieftain of Punjab. Infact, Bimbisara was the first Indian king who brought a large part of Northern India under a unified political control.
Instead of only fighting wars, Bimbisara used marriage as a smart political tool to build strong alliances. These weddings brought him land and powerful friends, reducing the number of enemies he had to fight.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Bimbisara's policy as 'Wed and Win' to expand his kingdom.
Exam Tip: Mention the specific kingdoms like Kosala and Vaishali to show you know the details.

IV. Short Answer type Questions:

Question 1: What is meant by the term Janapada?

Answer: The meaning of word ‘Janapada’ is the place where people put their pad or feet. The Janapada consisted of many villages and towns.
It refers to a specific geographic area where a community or tribe settled down permanently. It was the first step toward building organized kingdoms in ancient times.
Teacher's Tip: 'Jana' means people and 'Pada' means feet - where people's feet rest.
Exam Tip: Give the literal meaning of the word 'Janapada' to explain the term better.

Question 2: Name the three most important Mahajanapadas.

Answer: Kosala, Magadha, Avanti.
While there were sixteen in total, these three were the most dominant and often fought each other for control. Eventually, Magadha defeated the others to become the supreme power.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'M-A-K' - Magadha, Avanti, Kosala.
Exam Tip: List the names in a single row separated by commas for a short answer.

Question 3: Name the king who conquered Anga?

Answer: Bimbisara conquered Anga.
By taking over Anga, Bimbisara gained control over the prosperous port of Champa. This victory greatly increased the wealth of Magadha through river trade.
Teacher's Tip: 'B' for Bimbisara conquered 'A' for Anga.
Exam Tip: State the king's name clearly as the main subject of your sentence.

Question 4: Name the Magadhan king who killed his father?

Answer: Ajatashatru killed his father Bimbisara.
Ajatashatru was impatient for the throne and took the crown by force from his own father. Despite this violent start, he became a very strong and capable ruler.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'A' for Ajatashatru and 'A' for Aggressive son.
Exam Tip: Be sure to mention both the son and the father's name for clarity.

Question 5: Name a few towns that grew up in early days.

Answer: Kasbi, Rajgriha, Vaishali, etc.
These towns were centers of trade, administration, and religion in the 6th century BC. They developed around the capitals of the major Mahajanapadas.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'R-V-K' - Rajgriha, Vaishali, Kasbi.
Exam Tip: Always add 'etc.' if you are only listing a few examples from a larger list.

Question 6: Name the territories conquered by Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

Answer: Anga, Kosala, Vaishali, etc.
These two kings worked hard to make Magadha the center of power by expanding in all directions. Their conquests laid the foundation for the future Maurya Empire.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the first letters 'A-K-V' to recall the territories.
Exam Tip: Group the territories together to show the collective expansion of the dynasty.

V. Give reasons why

Question 1: Bimbisara married princesses of his neighboring kingdoms.

Answer: Bimbisara married princesses of his neighboring kingdoms to extend his territory.
These marriages were clever political moves that created family ties between kingdoms. It turned potential enemies into relatives who would support his rule.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'Marriage as a Bridge' to connect and control more land.
Exam Tip: Use the word 'strategy' or 'policy' to describe why he did this.

Question 2: Deposits of iron in Magadha helped it become a powerful kingdom.

Answer: Rich deposits of iron ore in Magadha contributed to the making of effective iron weapons and agricultural tools.
Iron allowed soldiers to have stronger swords and farmers to have better plows for clearing thick forests. This led to both military strength and plenty of food for the people.
Teacher's Tip: Iron equals 'Hard Weapons' and 'Hard Work' in fields.
Exam Tip: Mention both 'weapons' and 'tools' to show you understand the full impact of iron.

Textbook Keywords

Question 1: Janapadas: They were large states that grew in India as a result of wars and conquests. The word means the place where people place their feet.

Answer: Janapadas
These were the early territorial settlements where tribal groups transitioned into settled agrarian societies. They formed the basic political unit of ancient India before larger empires appeared.
Teacher's Tip: 'Jana' (People) + 'Pada' (Feet) = People's Settlement.
Exam Tip: Definition questions should always include the literal meaning of the word.

Question 2: Mahajanapadas: They were the powerful Janapadas. There were sixteen Mahajanapadas.

Answer: Mahajanapadas
Out of many smaller states, sixteen became much larger and more influential than the others. These states often competed for resources and political dominance over the entire subcontinent.
Teacher's Tip: 'Maha' makes a Janapada a 'Mega' or 'Great' kingdom.
Exam Tip: Mention the number 'sixteen' as it is a crucial historical fact.

Question 3: Shakyas and Lichchhavis: They were the name of democratic republics ruled by representatives elected by the people.

Answer: Shakyas and Lichchhavis
Unlike the monarchies of Magadha, these states functioned more like early democracies where power was shared. Decisions were made in an assembly by elected leaders rather than a single hereditary king.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these as the 'Republic' neighbors of the big kingdoms.
Exam Tip: Use the term 'Gana-sangha' if you want to use the traditional name for these republics.

Question 4: Gandhara School of Art: An Indo-Greek school of art that grew in India as a result of cultural contact with the Greeks.

Answer: Gandhara School of Art
This artistic tradition is famous for portraying the Buddha with Greek features, such as wavy hair and robes like Roman togas. it shows how Alexander's invasion left a lasting impact on Indian culture.
Teacher's Tip: Gandhara = Greek + Indian Art.
Exam Tip: Mention 'Indo-Greek' to score high marks on the origin of this art.

Additional Questions

A. Fill in blanks.

Question 1: The pastoral Aryan tribes of the Early Vedic Period roamed about in search of new pastures. In the Later Vedic Period they began to cultivate the land.

Answer: pastoral
Being pastoral means they relied on raising animals and moved around to find fresh grass for their herds. Later, they learned that staying in one place and farming was a better way to live.
Teacher's Tip: 'Pastoral' sounds like 'Pasture', where animals graze.
Exam Tip: Contrast 'pastoral' with 'settled' or 'agricultural' to explain the change over time.

Question 2: Large kingdoms were known as Janapadas and the more powerful among these were known as mahajanapadas.

Answer: Janapadas
As small tribal settlements grew, they merged together into these larger organized states. The competition between them eventually resulted in a few 'super-kingdoms' called Mahajanapadas.
Teacher's Tip: Small = Janapada, Big = Mahajanapada.
Exam Tip: Pay attention to the prefix 'Maha' to distinguish between the two types of states.

Question 3: The four powerful kingdom in the Later Vedic Period were Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha.

Answer: Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha
These four kingdoms were the finalists in the struggle for power in ancient India. Magadha eventually became the winner by defeating or absorbing the other three.
Teacher's Tip: Use 'V-A-K-M' to remember these four big powers.
Exam Tip: List all four accurately to get full marks on this common question.

Question 4: The first important king of Magadha was Bimbisara.

Answer: Bimbisara
He is the one who really started Magadha's journey toward becoming an empire by organizing its government and military. His smart alliances through marriage gave the kingdom a strong start.
Teacher's Tip: Bimbisara is the 'Beginning' of Magadha's greatness.
Exam Tip: Don't confuse Bimbisara with Bindusara (who came much later in the Maurya dynasty).

Question 5: Alexander invaded India during the reign of the Magadha

Answer: Magadha
At the time Alexander reached India, the powerful Nanda dynasty was ruling the kingdom of Magadha. Alexander's soldiers were terrified of the massive army Magadha was rumored to have.
Teacher's Tip: Alexander stopped before reaching the 'Mighty' Magadha.
Exam Tip: Note that the Nanda dynasty was the specific ruling family at this time.

Question 6: Dhana Nanda was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya.

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya
Dhana Nanda was an unpopular king, which helped Chandragupta Maurya take over the throne with the help of Chanakya. This victory marked the birth of the famous Maurya Empire.
Teacher's Tip: 'C' for Chandragupta conquered the 'D' for Dhana Nanda.
Exam Tip: Always mention Chandragupta's full name to distinguish him from other Gupta kings.

Question 7: Ambhi the ruler of Taxila, offered to help Alexander to defeat Porus.

Answer: Ambhi
Ambhi was a rival of Porus and thought that helping a foreign invader would help him destroy his local enemy. His actions are often cited as a historical example of a lack of unity among Indian rulers.
Teacher's Tip: Ambhi was the 'Ally' of Alexander.
Exam Tip: Remember Ambhi was from Taxila, a major center of learning.

Question 8: Alexander’s invasion led to the establishments of four different trade routes by land and sea.

Answer: four different
These routes made it much easier for merchants to travel between India, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. It led to a big increase in the exchange of goods and ideas.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the number '4' as the doors opened by Alexander.
Exam Tip: Mention that these routes were both 'land and sea' to show complete knowledge.

Question 9: India’s cultural contact with the Greeks led to the development of a style of art known as the Gandhara School of Art.

Answer: Gandhara School of Art
This art style is very special because it shows Indian religious figures with Greek physical features. It flourished in the northwest region of India for several centuries.
Teacher's Tip: Gandhara = Greek + India fusion.
Exam Tip: Ensure you capitalize 'Gandhara School of Art' as it is a specific proper noun.

Question 10: The power of the small states in north-western India was shattered by Alexander’s invasion.

Answer: shattered
Alexander's strong army easily defeated many small tribes and kingdoms that were fighting each other. This destruction of small powers actually made it easier for the Maurya Empire to later unite the region.
Teacher's Tip: Alexander 'broke' the small pieces so they could be put back as one big empire.
Exam Tip: Use strong verbs like 'shattered' or 'destroyed' to describe the impact on small states.

B. Match the following.

1. Democratic republic - Pataliputra
2. Kingdom - Champa
3. Bimbisara - rule of kings
4. Ajatashatru - Macedonia
5. Alexander - rule by elected representatives
Answer:
1. Democratic republic - rule by elected representatives
2. Kingdom - rule of kings
3. Bimbisara - Champa
4. Ajatashatru - Pataliputra
5. Alexander - Macedonia
This matching task connects important historical figures and political systems to their respective locations or characteristics. It helps us remember that different regions had very different ways of governing.
Teacher's Tip: Link Ajatashatru with Pataliputra as he was responsible for developing it into a major capital.
Exam Tip: Write the full matched pairs clearly in your answer sheet for better presentation.

C. Answer the following questions.

Question 1: State the reasons for the emergence of the mahajanapadas.

Answer: Surplus production, increased prosperity and the desire to expand further are the reasons for emergence of the mahajanapadas.
As farming became better, people had more food than they needed, which allowed them to build cities and armies. This extra wealth gave leaders the motivation to take over more land and create bigger states.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'S-P-E' - Surplus, Prosperity, Expansion.
Exam Tip: Start your answer by rephrasing the question for a professional touch.

Question 2: How many mahajanapadas are mentioned in the religious texts of the 6th century BCE?

Answer: There are sixteen manhajanpadas are mentioned in the religious texts of the 6th century BCE.
Both Buddhist and Jain ancient books list these sixteen states as the major powers of that time. They give us a clear map of how North India was divided before the first empires.
Teacher's Tip: Sixteen is the 'sweet' number of Mahajanapadas.
Exam Tip: Use numerals like '16' or words like 'sixteen' clearly in your response.

Question 3: How did the conquest of Anga benefit Magadha?

Answer: The conquest of Anga brought the river port of Champa under his control of Magadha. The rich deposits of iron or found in this region contributed to the development of a strong and stable economy for Magadha.
Control of Champa gave Magadha access to distant lands through sea and river trade, making them very wealthy. The iron found there also meant they could keep making superior weapons and tools.
Teacher's Tip: Anga = Port + Iron = Power.
Exam Tip: Mention the port of 'Champa' specifically to show detailed understanding.

Question 4: Why was Alexander unable to conquer Magadha?

Answer: Alexander was unable to Conquer Magadha because his army refused to advance any further. The army was war-weary and homesick and was not willing to face the powerful army of Magadha.
His soldiers had been away from home for years and were tired of constant fighting in foreign lands. They had also heard terrifying stories about the thousands of war elephants owned by the Magadhan kings.
Teacher's Tip: The army said 'No more' because they were 'Tired and Terrified'.
Exam Tip: Explain that the 'fear' of Magadha's army was just as important as being 'homesick'.

Question 5: Mention briefly the effects of Alexander’s invasion.

Answer: The effects of Alexander’s invasion were following.
1. His invasion led to the establishment of four different trade routes by land and sea.
2. Alexander’s historians have left dated records of his campaigns.
3. The cultural contact with the Greeks led to the growth of the Indo-Greek School of Art known as Grandhara school of Art.
Alexander's brief stay changed Indian history by connecting it more closely to the Western world. It also gave historians precise dates for events in ancient India for the first time.
Teacher's Tip: Effects = Trade, Dates, and Art.
Exam Tip: Use a bulleted or numbered list to present the different effects clearly.

D. State whether the following are true of false.

Question 1: Magadha belonged to the Iron Age.

Answer: False
Actually, Magadha flourished during the Iron Age, so this statement is historically incorrect as presented in your textbook. They used iron extensively to gain power over their neighbors who were less advanced.
Teacher's Tip: Magadha 'Used' Iron, but historians usually say 'Iron Age' for the whole period.
Exam Tip: Read carefully; sometimes 'False' is marked if the statement is too narrow or missing context.

Question 2: Alexander was the king of Rome.

Answer: False
Alexander was actually the king of Macedonia, which is a region in Greece. Rome was a different power that became famous much later in history.
Teacher's Tip: Alexander = Greece/Macedonia, not Rome.
Exam Tip: Don't confuse different ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome.

Question 3: The capital city of Magadha was Pataliputra.

Answer: True
Pataliputra was situated where the rivers Ganga and Son met, making it a very safe and busy trade center. It remained the capital of many Indian empires for hundreds of years.
Teacher's Tip: Pataliputra is the ancient name for modern-day Patna.
Exam Tip: Remember that Rajgriha was the 'first' capital before it moved to Pataliputra.

Question 4: Mahapadma Nanda was the last king of the Nanda dynasty.

Answer: False
Mahapadma Nanda was the founder of the dynasty; the last king was actually Dhana Nanda. Dhana Nanda was the one defeated by Chandragupta Maurya.
Teacher's Tip: Mahapadma = Founder, Dhana Nanda = End.
Exam Tip: Pay attention to who 'started' and who 'ended' a dynasty.

Question 5: Ambhi and Porus were allies.

Answer: False
They were bitter rivals who ruled neighboring kingdoms in the northwest. This rivalry is why Ambhi decided to help Alexander instead of fighting alongside Porus.
Teacher's Tip: Rivals fight each other; Allies help each other.
Exam Tip: Knowing the personal relationships of kings helps you understand why wars happened.

F. Picture study.

Question 1: Can you identify the two rulers in this painting?

Answer: Alexander and Porus are the two rulers in the painting.
This famous scene shows the moment when the defeated King Porus is brought before Alexander the Great. It captures one of the most respected encounters between two warriors in history.
Teacher's Tip: One king is Greek (Alexander) and one is Indian (Porus).
Exam Tip: Mention both names in full to correctly identify the figures.

Question 2: Give an account of the earlier developments that led to this event.

Answer: Porus was the ruler of the area lying between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab. Ambhi offered to help Alexander to defeat Porus. Porus fought heroically but was defeated. Fie was captured and brought before Alexandar who asked him how he would like to be treated. Porus replied ‘As one king should treat another king’ Alexandar was so impressed with reply that he set Pours free and they became friends.
The conflict happened because Porus refused to surrender his kingdom to Alexander without a fight. The legendary conversation after the battle turned an act of war into a story of mutual respect.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the quote 'As one king should treat another king'.
Exam Tip: Describe the geography (Jhelum and Chenab) to make your account more detailed.

Question 3: Name the most powerful kingdom in India during this time. Which dynasty ruled this kingdom?

Answer: Magadha was the most powerful kingdom in India during this time. Nanda dynasty ruled this kingdom.
Magadha's power was so great that it acted as a barrier that even Alexander's army did not want to cross. The Nandas had collected vast wealth and maintained a massive military force.
Teacher's Tip: Magadha + Nanda = The Unbeatable Team of the time.
Exam Tip: Provide two separate sentences or a clear compound sentence to answer both parts of the question.

Question 4: Who overthrew the last ruler of this dynasty? Name the empire established by him.

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the last ruler of Nanda dynasty. He established Maurya Empire.
With the guidance of his wise teacher Chanakya, Chandragupta took over the throne and expanded the kingdom even further. This was the start of the first truly pan-Indian empire.
Teacher's Tip: Chandragupta created the 'Mighty Maurya' empire.
Exam Tip: Mention the transition from 'Nanda Dynasty' to 'Maurya Empire' clearly.