1. Choose the appropriate option.

a) The Aryans entered India through the

(i)Himalayas
(ii)Arabiansea
(iii)BolanPass
(iv)KhyberPass
Answer: (iv) Khyber Pass

b) Vedas are written in

(i) Sanskrit
(ii) Prakrit
(iii) Hebrew
(iv) Tamil
Answer: (i) Sanskrit

c) The ______ was the basic unit of the state.
(i) Village
(ii) Family
(iii) Town
(iv) Tribe
Answer: (i) Village

d) Agriculture and ______ were the main occupations of the Vedic people.
(i) Metallurgy
(ii) Cattle breeding
(iii) Trade
(iv) Fishing
Answer: (ii) Cattle breeding

e) The word Veda means
(i) Power
(ii) Education
(iii) Knowledge
(iv) Law
Answer: (iii) Knowledge

2. Fill in the blanks.

a) People gave voluntary gifts called ______ to the king.
Answer: Bali

b) ______ are prose texts containing details about the meanings of Vedic hymns and rituals.
Answer: Brahmanas

c) ______ is a collection of spells and magical charms.
Answer: Atharva Veda

d) It was the duty of ______ to uphold the law, or Dharma, and punish.
Answer: The king

3. Match the columns.

Column A	Column B
a) Surya	(ii) Sun God
b) Agni	(iv) God of fire
c) Varuna	(v) God of water
d) Vayu	(iii) God of wind
e) Usha	(i) Goddess of dawn

Answer:
a → (ii)
b → (iv)
c → (v)
d → (iii)
e                             →                              (i)

4. Name the following in one or two words.

a) The second Veda
Answer: Sama Veda

b) The language of the Vedas
Answer: Sanskrit

c) Another name for Dasas
Answer: Dasyus

5. Answer the questions in 10 to 20 words.

a) Why was the Early Vedic period also known as the Rig Vedic period?
Answer: Because the Rig Veda, the earliest Veda, was composed during this time, giving the period its name.

b) Who were the Indo-Aryans?
Answer: Indo-Aryans were tribes who migrated into India from Central Asia through the northwest passes.

c) What are Upanishads?

Answer: The Upanishads are philosophical texts explaining spiritual ideas, meditation, and the nature of the soul.

d) What are the types of pottery discovered at Vedic sites?

Answer: Archaeologists found Black-and-Red Ware, Painted Grey Ware, and Northern Black Polished Ware.

6. Answer the questions in 50 to 70 words.

a) Discuss the archaeological sources of the Vedic period.

Answer: Archaeological sources of the Vedic period include pottery such as Painted Grey Ware, iron tools, ornaments, and remains of houses. Fire altars and sacrificial pits also provide information about religious practices. These findings, along with burial sites and inscriptions, help historians reconstruct the economic and cultural life of the Vedic people.

b) How did the condition of women change during the Later Vedic period?
Answer: In the Early Vedic period, women enjoyed freedom, education, and respect. They participated in religious ceremonies and even composed hymns. However, during the Later Vedic period, their position declined. Child marriages, restrictions on education, and the practice of dowry reduced their independence. Women gradually lost equal status in society.

c) Write about the religious conditions during the Vedic period.
Answer: The Vedic people worshipped natural forces such as the Sun (Surya), Fire (Agni), Wind (Vayu), and Water (Varuna). They performed yajnas and sacrifices to please these gods. Religion was simple in the Early Vedic period but became more complex in the Later Vedic age with rituals, priests (Brahmins), and dominance of sacrifices.

d) Describe the Aryan migration.
Answer: The Aryans were nomadic tribes who migrated from Central Asia into India around 1500 BCE. They entered through the Khyber Pass and settled in northwest India, later spreading to the Gangetic plains. They brought with them new languages, customs, and religious practices, which shaped Indian civilisation during the Vedic age.

e) Describe the evolution of political life in the Vedic age.

Answer: In the Early Vedic age, tribes were small and governed by assemblies like Sabha and Samiti. The chief, called Rajan, ruled with the help of elders. In the Later Vedic age, kingdoms grew larger, the power of kings increased, and hereditary monarchy developed. The role of assemblies declined as kings gained more control.

7. Give reasons.

a) The Vedas are known as a storehouse of knowledge.

Answer: The Vedas contain hymns, prayers, philosophy, rituals, and details about social, political, and economic life of the Aryans. They provide vast knowledge of religion, society, and culture, making them a treasure of wisdom.

b) The cow was regarded as the standard of value in the Early Vedic period.
Answer: Cows were the main source of milk, ghee, and agricultural help. They were considered sacred and a symbol of wealth. Cows were even used as a medium of exchange, which made them the standard of value.

8. Picture Study.

a) Which ashram would you associate this picture with?

Answer: Brahmacharya Ashram

b) List the four ashrams of the Vedic period.
Answer: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa

c) Describe the four ashramas in brief.
Answer:

• Brahmacharya: Student life devoted to education.
• Grihastha: Householder life focusing on family and duties.
• Vanaprastha: Retirement life spent in meditation and detachment.
• Sannyasa: Renunciation, giving up worldly ties for spiritual goals.