Important Questions For Class 11 History Chapter 1 Writing and City Life
Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 1 Writing and City Life
Writing and City Life is Chapter 1 of the Class 11 History book Themes in World History, published by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training). The chapter takes students to ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in present-day Iraq. It explains how rich farmland, river trade and temples helped the first cities grow, how family life and worship were organised, and how the world's earliest writing system, cuneiform, was born out of the need to keep records.
These Class 11 History Chapter 1 important questions and answers cover 5-mark and 10-mark long answer questions, 2-mark and 3-mark short answer questions, a passage-based question on the Warka Head and a classification question on urbanisation, all with pictures from the chapter. They help students revise for exams, help parents check preparation at home, and give teachers ready material for class practice. A free printable PDF of the complete set is also available for download.
Important Questions For Class 11 History Chapter 1 Writing and City Life
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Q1. This structure was considered as the centre of the Mesopotamian civilisation. Identify this and explain its religious importance.
Answer: This structure is a Ziggurat.
The gods and goddesses were believed to be the protectors and owners of the cities. Hence, a lot of wealth was offered by devotees for the construction of the temples.
Temples played a significant role in the daily life of Mesopotamians and were considered the learning centres.
The gods and goddesses of the Mesopotamian people that were widely worshipped were:
1. Anu: the God of sky.
2. Enlil: the God of wind.
3. Enki: the God of water and earth.
Q2. The location of Mesopotamia between rivers was the source of life as well as the cause of destruction. Explain the geography of Mesopotamia.
Answer: Mesopotamia was surrounded by the following geographical features that were both destructive and resourceful:
Due to the obstruction created by the sediments, rivers shifted their channels, which posed a danger to the crops and to the settlements.
Periodical relocation of settlements was done to protect life and property.
Settlements on the headstreams diverted water for their usage at the cost of settlements on the downstream.
Q3. The earliest known temple in the Mesopotamian civilisation was a small shrine made of unbaked bricks. Briefly explain the nature of the belief system.
Answer: Following are the various aspects of the belief system of Mesopotamia:
1. Worship was focused on gods and goddesses, and polytheism was practised.
2. God was considered as the owner of the agricultural fields.
3. Grains, curd and fish were offered to the deities.
4. The deities were considered omnipotent and there was an emergence of temples as institutions.
Q4. Mesopotamia between the River Euphrates and Tigris was the "cradle of civilisation". What are the traits taken to determine this?
Answer: The traits required for determining a civilisation are:
1. Urban revolution: Cities emerged on the important trade routes due to surplus production.
2. New political and military structures: Rulers and nobility emerged.
3. Social structure based on economic power – social stratification.
4. Development of writing: Cuneiform script was used.
5. Distinct religious structure: Ziggurats were made.
6. New forms of artistic and cultural activity – making of tools and seals.
Q5. The Mesopotamians were God-fearing people, who built large temples for their deities. Such beliefs were adopted by all the members of the family. Describe a few characteristics of the family system.
Answer: Following are the characteristics of the family system of Mesopotamia:
1. The norm in Mesopotamian society was that of a nuclear family.
2. The father was the head of the family.
3. The married son and his family often resided with the parents.
4. Some evidence about the procedures for marriage has been found.
5. A declaration was made after the bride's parents gave their consent for the marriage.
6. The groom's family members gave gifts to the bride's family.
Q6. Can you analyse the reason why Mesopotamian traders used different methods to transport their goods?
Answer: The medium used by Mesopotamian traders to transport their commodities depended on the nature of the items that they traded. For instance, as shipments of grain were very heavy, boat transport via rivers was viewed as most suitable for their transport. However, shipments of items like precious stones would likely remain small, so they could be transported via land, on foot, or by donkeys.
Q7. Can you assess why only a few people were hired as scribes in ancient Mesopotamia?
Answer: The early cuneiform script in ancient Mesopotamia had several hundred signs, due to which it would take many years to master it. Apart from this, scribes had to skilfully handle wet tablets, while simultaneously writing on them before they dried. For this reason, writing in Mesopotamia was viewed as a major intellectual feat. Given the twin challenges of mastering the script, as well as the right process to write it, it is hardly surprising that very few individuals were hired as scribes to be trained in its reading and writing.
Q8. Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows.
The Warka Head
This woman's head was sculpted in white marble at Uruk before 3000 BCE. The eyes and eyebrows would probably have taken lapis lazuli (blue), shell (white), and bitumen (black) inlays, respectively. There is a groove along the top of the head, perhaps for an ornament. This is a world-famous piece of sculpture, admired for the delicate modelling of the woman's mouth, chin, and cheeks. And it was modelled in a hard stone that would have been imported from a distance.
Can you assess the significance of 'The Warka Head' as a world-famous piece of sculpture?
Answer: Among the findings in the ancient Mesopotamian settlement of Uruk, the white marble head of a Sumerian woman is one of the finest works of ancient sculpture. Apparently hailing from Warka, it can be dated to around 3000 BCE. It is renowned for the delicate modelling of the woman's mouth, chin, and cheeks. Moreover, it was modelled on a hard stone that was likely imported from afar.
Q9. Analyse the reasons behind the emergence of the earliest Mesopotamian cities in its desert regions.
Answer: The earliest Mesopotamian cities appeared in south Mesopotamia. Although the region was chiefly a desert, it became a fertile region due to the flow of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, which, while rising from the northern mountains, carried lots of silt. Upon entering the desert, they broke into many small channels, making the land fertile. Hence, these channels served as irrigation canals, due to which agriculture became most productive, despite inadequate rainfall. Consequently, various crops, like wheat, barley, peas or lentils were grown. Besides agriculture, pastoralism also flourished, as sheep and goats grazed on the steppe, the north-eastern plains and the mountain slopes. These animals produced abundant meat, milk, and wool. Moreover, fish was sufficiently available, as were date-palm fruits, especially in the summer. Hence, it can be said that rural prosperity led to the rise of cities.
Q10. Evaluate the significance of urbanism.
Answer: The significance of urbanism lies not in large populations inhabiting cities and towns but in the economic activity it generates in fields apart from food production, making it advantageous for people to come together around cities and towns. Urban economies comprise not just food production, but also trade, manufactures and services. Consequently, the urban populace becomes less self-sufficient and more dependent on the services of rural folk, which leads to regular interaction between both. Apart from this, another significant feature of urbanism is that the division of labour is clearly marked in urban life. Given the vast size of urban economies, it is hardly surprising that written records are needed to keep track of transactions.
Q11. Assess the theory based on which offerings were made to the deities and the evolution of the temple as the main urban institution.
Answer: 1. In Mesopotamian tradition, the God or the deity, in theory, owned all agricultural fields, fisheries and herds of the land's local pastoral communities. For this reason, the various offerings brought to the gods included mainly food items, like grain, curd, fish, etc.
2. Later, as time passed, the Mesopotamian temple increased its activities in the fields of various economic activities, like the processing of foods and textiles, oil pressing, grain grinding, spinning, the weaving of woollen cloth, etc. All these chief economic activities facilitated the importance of the temple as a main urban institution in ancient Mesopotamia.
Q12. Discuss the deities to whom the temples of Southern Mesopotamia were dedicated. How would you interpret their architecture?
Answer: 1. The temples of southern Mesopotamian cities were dedicated to various gods, like the Moon God of Ur, Inanna the Goddess of love and war, etc.
2. Many of the early Mesopotamian temples were built of brick. Later, as time passed, the temples became larger, containing several rooms and large courtyards. Unlike ordinary buildings, their outer walls went in and out at regular intervals.
Q13. Analyse the reasons behind continuous warfare in ancient Mesopotamia as well as its consequences.
Answer: 1. Incessant conflict in Mesopotamia took place over the issue of the supply of water for agricultural purposes.
2. The chiefs who ended up victorious in these conflicts would reward their followers by distributing the loot. If they wanted, they could also recruit the defeated soldiers as their guards or servants. In this way, they were able to increase both their influence and power.
3. However, as time passed, there was a change in this pattern. Much later, victorious chieftains started offering precious booty to their temples to benefit their masses.
4. They also sent men to fetch fine stones and metals for the welfare of both their deities and their community.
5. Exceptional arrangements were made to distribute the temple's wealth in a resourceful manner, while simultaneously taking account of the items that were transported in and out.
Q14. Evaluate the reasons behind the prosperity of ancient Mari, despite it not being a military superpower.
Answer: 1. The ancient northern town of Mari, situated on the Euphrates River, was one of the major trade centres of ancient Mesopotamia.
2. Boats passing through Mari carried items like wood, tin, copper, oil, wine, etc., all of which came from the mineral-rich regions of Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.
3. Boats ferrying these commodities would stop at Mari while en route to the southern cities of Mesopotamia.
4. As the boats stopped at Mari, city officials would go to check the cargo. Once the checking was done, they collected tax on the goods, which amounted to 10% of the total value. Once the checking and tax collection were done, the boats were allowed to sail further.
5. This trade and revenue collection system facilitated the growth of ancient Mari as a prosperous town, despite it not being militarily strong.
Q15. Outline the burial practices in Mesopotamia based on the excavations.
Answer: Due to the excavation of several graves in ancient Mesopotamian sites, much valuable information about Mesopotamian burial practices has come to light. For instance, while excavating the ancient city of Ur, it has been found that both the common folk and royalty were buried in family graves under their houses, along with some of their possessions. Also, in Abu Salabikh, one house burial contains some pig bones. However, remains have also been found buried in common city graveyards. All this implies that many were generally buried within their homes, while some of the common people were buried in cemeteries located outside cities.
Q16. Which of the following were necessary conditions and which the causes, of early urbanisation, 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,
(d) the division of labour,
(e) the use of seals,
(f) the military power of kings that made labour compulsory?
Answer: The categories are as follows:
Necessary condition for urbanisation:
(i) Highly productive agriculture
Causes of early urbanisation:
(i) Water transport
(ii) The military power of kings that made labour compulsory
Outcome of the growth of cities:
(i) The division of labour
(ii) The use of seals
Q17. Describe the layout of the Ur town.
Answer: 1. The Ur town was one of the earliest cities to be excavated. The Ur town and its ordinary houses were systematically excavated in the 1930s.
2. There was a lack of town planning, which is indicated by narrow unpaved lanes and irregular shapes of house plots. It had narrow winding streets, which indicates that wheeled carts could not go to many houses. Donkeys were used to carry sacks of firewood and grains.
3. Street drains, which were present in the contemporary Mohenjo-Daro, were missing at Ur. Drains and clay pipes were found in the inner courtyards of the Ur houses.
4. This indicates that they brought down the rainwater from the roof slopes to a sump (a sump is a covered basin in the ground into which water and sewage flow) in the inner courtyard. This was done so as to avoid the unpaved streets from becoming extremely slushy after the rain.
5. People here swept all the house refuse into the streets, which resulted in the increase of the street level, thus after a while requiring the level of the house also to be raised. Over time, the thresholds of houses had also to be raised so that no mud would flow inside after the rains.
6. Sunlight came not from the windows but through the doors opening into the courtyards. This gave privacy to the families.
7. Various superstitions regarding houses were also followed by the people. This is evident from the records of these superstitions in omen tablets at Ur. For example, it was believed that a raised entrance brought wealth, and a front door that did not open towards a neighbour's house was considered auspicious.
8. Evidence of a town cemetery at Ur has been found. It had graves of both the royalty and the commoners. Despite this fact, there is evidence of burials under the floors of ordinary houses also. Enormous riches (jewellery, gold vessels, wooden musical instruments inlaid with white shell and lapis lazuli, ceremonial daggers of gold, etc.) were buried with some kings and queens at Ur.
Q18. City life, trade and writing were connected in Mesopotamia. Explain.
Answer: The earliest form of writing dates back to 3200 BCE. Originally, Sumerian writing was pictographic, that is, scribes drew pictures or representations of objects. People back then drew 'word-pictures' on wet clay tablets using a pointed instrument called a stylus.
Writing began when Mesopotamian society needed to keep records of transactions – because in city life, transactions occurred at different times, and involved many people and a variety of goods. The first Mesopotamian tablets, written around 3200 BCE, recorded transactions of goods that were brought into or distributed from the temples of Uruk. These tablets were mostly found in temples and some private houses. Their association with seals and sealing signified that they were mostly related to storage and trade. The most common cuneiform tablets record signs of oil, beer, perfume, sheep, clothing, oxen, fish, bread loaves, etc., suggesting storage and transaction records.
In city life, transactions occurred at different times, involving many people and a variety of goods. So, writing developed out of record-keeping and contracts for the storage, transportation and exchange of goods, and continued to be used mostly for that.
Another large category of cuneiform writing was used not only for keeping records but also for making dictionaries, giving legal validity to land transfers, narrating the deeds of kings and announcing the changes a king had made in the customary laws of the land. These tablets with accounts and administrative records were mostly found in archive rooms. Initially, archives were only in temples. Later, as palaces arose, they too had archives that kept these tablets.
By 2600 BCE or so, the letters became cuneiform, and the language was Sumerian. Sumerian, the earliest known language of Mesopotamia, was gradually replaced after 2400 BCE by the Akkadian language. Cuneiform writing in the Akkadian language continued in use until the first century CE, that is, for more than 2,000 years.
The sound of a cuneiform sign was not a single consonant or vowel (such as m or a in the English alphabet), but a syllable (say, -put-, or -la-, or -in-). Thus, the signs that a Mesopotamian scribe had to learn ran into hundreds, and he had to be able to handle a wet tablet and get it written before it dried. So, writing was a skilled craft but, more importantly, it was an enormous intellectual achievement, conveying in visual form the system of sounds of a particular language.
Q19. What was offered to the gods and how did the temple become the main urban institution?
Answer: 1. God was, in theory, the owner of the agricultural fields, the fisheries and the herds of the local community. Thus, the offerings brought for the gods included grain, curd and fish.
2. Over time, the temple increased its activities in the field of processing of food and textiles, such as oil pressing, grain grinding, spinning and the weaving of woollen cloth, and thus became the main urban institution.
Q20. What do ancient stories tell us about the civilisation of Mesopotamia?
Answer: Ancient stories reveal the nature of Mesopotamian society, institutions, trade activities, agriculture, and kingship's initiative to encourage writing and schools, and economy-related conflicts among the rulers and communities. For example, a flood story in the Bible describes Mesopotamia as a land of brick-built cities. According to the Bible, the flood was meant to destroy all life on earth. However, God chose a man, Noah, to ensure that life could continue after the Flood. Noah built a huge boat, an ark. He took a pair each of all known species of animals and birds on board the ark, which survived the Flood. There was a strikingly similar story in the Mesopotamian tradition, where the principal character was called Ziusudra or Utnapishtim.
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