NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 Towns, Traders, and Crafts Persons

Author at PW
February 24, 2025

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6:- A traveller visiting a mediaeval town would find different things depending on the type of town it is – a temple town, an administrative centre, a commercial town, or a port town. Many towns, however, served more than one purpose, combining elements like administration, religion, trade, and craft production. To learn more about these towns, students can refer to Class 7 History Chapter 6: Towns, Traders, and Craftspersons. 

The NCERT Class 7 History Chapter 6 questions and answers provide detailed solutions to the exercises in the History Class 7 Chapter 6 question answer format, making it easier to understand the topic. These answers are a great resource to help students prepare for exams. Get the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 from the below article.

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Class 7 History Chapter 6

Class 7 History Chapter 6 focuses on an important time in Indian history known as the Delhi Sultanate. This chapter explains how Muslim rulers, like Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, and Alauddin Khilji, established their rule in India and shaped its culture, trade, and society. It talks about the rise of towns, the role of traders and craftspersons, and how these changes influenced people's daily lives.

In this chapter, students will also learn about the system of governance the Sultans introduced, their military achievements, and the growth of Islam in India. To understand this period fully, it's important to focus on the key events, rulers, and cultural shifts that took place. The NCERT  Class 7 History Chapter 6 Questions and Answers section will help you understand the material better, as it discusses the major points in simpler terms. You can also look at the NCERT History Class 7 Chapter 6 Question Answer to revise and make sure you understand the key ideas about towns, traders, craftspersons, and how life in the Delhi Sultanate shaped India’s future.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6

Check out the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 to get a detailed understanding of the Delhi Sultanate and its impact on medieval India. This chapter covers the rise of Muslim rulers, the growth of towns, and the role of traders and craftspersons. 

Fill in the blanks:

  • The Rajarajeshvara temple was built in ………………..

  • Ajmer is associated with the Sufi saint…………………

  • Hampi was the capital of the ………….

  • The Dutch established a settlement at…………….. in Andhra Pradesh.

Answer:

  • early 11th century

  • Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti

  • Vijayanagara

  • Masulipatnam

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 1

2. 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.
Answer:  (a)—T, (b)—F, (c)—F, (d)—F.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 2

3. How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?
Answer: Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 3

4. Who lived in the ‘Black Towns’ in cities such as Madras?
Answer: Merchants, artisans (such as weavers), native traders and crafts persons lived in the ‘Black Towns’.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 4

5. Why do you think towns grew around temples?
Answer: Towns grew around temples because of the following reasons:

  • Priests, workers, artisans, crafts persons settled around temples.

  • Several shops came up around temples to cater to the needs of pilgrims and priests etc.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 5

6. How important were crafts persons for the building and maintenance of temples?
Answer: Crafts persons were very important because of the following reasons:

  • They carried out inlay work in copper and silver. Crafts persons from Bidar were well-known for Bidri work.

  • Goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, masons, carpenters built temples.

  • They also maintained them.

  • Weavers also played an important role in cotton textiles.

7. Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?
Answer: People from distant lands visited Surat because of the following reasons:

  • Surat was the gateway for trade with West Asia via the Gulf of Ormuz.

  • Surat has also been called the gate to Mecca because many pilgrim ships set sail from here.

  • There was a big market for cotton textiles. One could find several retail and wholesale shops selling cotton textiles.

  • The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders, Le. zari and had a market in West Asia, Africa and Europe.

  • There were ample rest-houses for the visitors. Magnificent buildings and innumerable pleasure parks attracted people from far-off places.

8. In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Wee Thanjavur?
Answer: Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

  • Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.

  • In Kolkata, it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles, and silk textiles.

  • Thanjavur was a temple town, and all lived in town.

  • Calcutta was a trading town and craftsmen lived in “Blacktown” areas.

9. 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?
Answer: Comparison between Surat and Delhi

Surat

Delhi

  • Emporium during the Mughal period due to the production of various goods.

  • Gateway to West Asia due to the trade centre.

  • Cosmopolitan city.

  • Factories and warehouses.

  • Known for cotton textiles.

  • It was also an emporium during the Mughal period.

  • Basically administrative town.

  • Cosmopolitan city.

  • Factories and warehouses.

  • Known for business, trade, and commercial pursuits.

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Very Short Answers

  • Why did the rulers endow temples with grants of land and money?
    Answer: They did so in order to carry out elaborate rituals, feed pilgrims and priests, and celebrate festivals.

  • How did pilgrims contribute to the temples?
    Answer: They made donations.

  • What is bronze?
    Answer: Bronze is an alloy that contains copper and tin.

  • What is bell metal?
    Answer: Bell metal contains a greater proportion of tin than other kinds of bronze. This produces a bell-like sound,

  • How did temple authorities use their wealth?
    Answer: They used their wealth to finance trade and banking,

  • What did the Indian traders bring from Africa?
    Answer: They brought gold and ivory from Africa.

  • Name a few Indian spices which became an important part of European cooking. 

         Answer. Pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, etc. 

  • What were crafts persons of Bidar famous for?
    Answer: They were famous for their inlay work in copper and silver,

  • What do the ruins of Hampi reveal?
    Answer: The ruins at the Hampi reveal a well-fortified city.

  • What were the textiles of Surat famous for?
    Answer: The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders i.e. Zari

  • Why did the Dutch and English East India Companies attempt to control Masulipatnam?
    Answer: Because Masulipatnam became the most important port on the Andhra coast,

  • How did the European Companies gain control of the sea trade?
    Answer: They gained control of the sea trade by using their naval power,

  • What was the system of advances?
    Answer: Under the system of advances the weavers had to weave cloth which was already promised to European agents.

  • Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Madras.
    Answer: Fort St. George.

  • Name the residence meant for the white rulers in Calcutta
    Answer: Fort St. William.

  • Mention some articles of trade on which temple authorities collected taxes.
    Answer: Sugar and jaggery, dyes, thread, and cotton, coconut, salt, areca nuts, butter, sesame oil and cloth.

Short Answers

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

  • The present-day taxes on markets are collected as license fees of shops.

  • MCD must collect these taxes.

  • MCD does this work with the help of its various departments.

  • The taxes collected by MCD are used in the welfare of the public, roads, sewage, electricity, water, etc.

2. Give an account of the architecture of Hampi.
Answer: The architecture of Hampi was distinctive in several ways :

  • Hampi was a well-fortified city. No mortar or cementing agent was used in the construction of these walls. The technique followed was to wedge them together by inter-locking.

  • The buildings in the royal complex had splendid arches, domes and pillared halls with niches for holding sculptures.

  • They also had well-planned orchards and pleasure gardens with sculptural motifs such as the lotus and corbels.

3. How was Hampi in its heyday in the 15-16th centuries? When did it fall into ruin?
Answer: In its heyday in the 15-16th centuries Hampi was an important centre of commercial and cultural activities. Moors, which was a name used collectively for Muslim merchants, Chettis and agents of European traders such as the Portuguese, visited the markets of Hampi.

Temples were the hub of cultural activities. Temple dancers known as devadasis performed before the deities, royalty and masses in the many-pillared halls in the Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, temple. The Mahanavami festival was one of the most important festivals celebrated at Hampi. Hampi fell into ruin following the defeat of Vijayanagara in 1565 by the Deccan Sultans.

4. What made the city of Masulipatnam populous and prosperous?
Answer: The city of Masulipatnam was a centre of intense activity during the 17th century. Both the Dutch and English East India Companies attempted to control this city as it became the most important part of the Andhra coast. Qutab Shah rulers of Golconda imposed royal monopolies on the sale of textiles, spices, and other items to prevent the trade from passing completely into the hands of the various East India Companies. This led to fierce competition among various trading groups such as the Golconda nobles, Persian merchants, Telugu Komati Chettis, and European traders. As a result, the city became populous and prosperous.

5. 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 crafts persons 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 cloth or weaving their 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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Long Answers

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

Answer: There were many kinds of traders. These included the Banjaras and several traders especially horse traders.
The traders usually travelled in caravans and formed guilds to protect their interests. There were several such guilds in South India from the eighth century onwards—the most famous being the Manigramam and Nanadesi. These guilds traded extensively both within the peninsula and with Southeast Asia and China. There were also communities like the Chettiyars and the Marwari Oswal who went on to become the major trading groups of the country.

Gujarati traders, including the communities of Hindu Baniyas and Muslim Bohras, traded extensively with the ports of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and China. They sold textiles and spices in these ports and exchange, brought gold and ivory from Africa; and spices, tin, Chinese blue pottery, and silver from Southeast Asia and China.

The towns on the west coast were home to Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish, and Syrian Christian traders. Indian spices and cloth sold in the Red seaports were bought by Italian traders and eventually reached European markets, fetching high profits. This ultimately drew European traders to India.

Class 7 History Chapter 6 Summary

In Class 7 History Chapter 6, titled "Towns, Traders, and Crafts Persons," students learn about the rise of towns and cities in medieval India and their role in the growth of trade and craftsmanship. This chapter highlights how towns developed along trade routes, and how traders and craftspersons contributed significantly to the economy and culture of the time. These towns became centres of commerce, where local and international trade flourished, connecting India to the wider world.

Important Notes:

  1. Rise of Towns:

    • Towns in medieval India grew around trade routes, rivers, and fortresses.

    • These towns became bustling hubs for the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture.

  2. Role of Traders:

    • Traders, both local and foreign, played an important role in exchanging goods like spices, textiles, and precious metals.

    • The chapter explains how traders from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia connected India with other regions.

  3. Craftspersons:

    • Skilled craftspersons, such as weavers, potters, and metalworkers, produced goods for both local use and export.

    • Specialised crafts like fine embroidery, pottery, and ironwork flourished in towns, contributing to the growth of trade.

  4. Markets and Trade:

    • Markets were vital in the growth of towns, where goods were exchanged, and different cultures interacted.

    • These exchanges helped in the spread of ideas, religions, and practices, further shaping the social fabric of medieval India.

  5. Impact on Society:

    • The rise of towns, along with the role of traders and craftspersons, led to the growth of the middle class in these urban centres.

    • These economic activities also contributed to the cultural exchange and development of new artistic traditions.

Check out: CBSE Class 7 Science Important Topics and Study Tips

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 FAQs

1. What is the main focus of Class 7 History Chapter 6?

This chapter focuses on the growth of towns, the role of traders and craftspersons, and the development of commerce during medieval India. It explores how these elements contributed to the economy, culture, and society during the Delhi Sultanate.

2. How did towns in medieval India develop?

Towns developed around trade routes, near rivers, and in fortified areas. These towns became centres of economic activity, where traders and craftspersons gathered to exchange goods and ideas.

3. What role did traders play in medieval Indian society?

Traders were key to connecting different parts of India and other countries. They traded goods like spices, textiles, and precious metals, promoting cultural exchange and economic growth.

4. What types of goods were exchanged in the markets of medieval towns?

Common goods exchanged in markets included spices, textiles, pottery, metals, and luxury items such as jewels. These markets facilitated local and international trade.

5. Who were the craftspersons, and what was their role in the towns?

Craftspersons were skilled workers, including weavers, potters, and metalworkers, who created goods for both local use and trade. Their crafts helped to boost the economy and attract traders from various regions.

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