VITAL VILLAGES

AND THRIVING
TOWNS
Social science NPPT
IRON TOOLS AND
AGRICULTURE

Things made of iron and steel are a part of our

daily lives.
The use of iron began in India around 3000
years ago.
Some of the largest collection of iron tools were
found in megalithic burials.
Around 2500 years ago there is evidence for
growing use of iron tools.
For example

Axes : used for clearing forests

Ploughshare : used for increasing agricultural
production
OTHER STEPS TO
INCREASED PRODUCTION:
IRRIGATION
The kings and kingdoms which are
famous could not have existed without
the help of flourishing villages.
With new tools and the method of
transplantation for increased production
irrigation was also used.
Irrigation works that were built during
this time included canals, wells, tanks
and artificial lakes.
WHO LIVED IN
VILLAGES?
o THERE WERE AT LEAST 3 DIFFFERENT KINDS OF
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN
REGIONS OF INDIA.
IN THE TAMIL REGION OF INDIA
Who were known as who?
Large land owners : VELLALAR

Ordinary plough men : UZHAVAR

Landless labourers : KADAISIYAR

Slaves : ADIMAI
WHO LIVED IN VILLAGES?
{PART 2}
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF INDIA
The village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.

The same men from the same generation held the post for many years.
The post was hereditary.
He was the largest landowner in the village.

He had slaves and hired workers to cultivate his land.

He was powerful and the king often used him to collect taxes from the
village.
He also functioned as a judge and often a policeman.
WHO LIVED IN
VILLAGES? {PART 3}
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF INDIA {PART 2}
The independent farmers were known as
Grihapatis.
Most of the Grihapatis were smaller
landowners.
There were men known as Dasa and
Kammakara,who had no land of their own
and had to work in fields owned by others.
In most villages there were craft persons,
blacksmith, potter and weaver.
FINDING OUT ABOUT CITIES:
TRAVELERS, SCULPTURE AND ARCHEOLOGY.

Sculptors carved scenes and depicted peoples lives in towns and villages,
as well as in the forest.
Many of the cities that developed from about 2500 years ago were capitals
of mahajanapadas.
Mahajanapadas were surrounded by massive fortification walls.
In many cities rows of pots and ceramic rings have been found. They may
have been used as toilets and as drains and garbage dumps. They are
usually found in individual houses.
Another way of finding out about early cities is from the accounts of
sailors.one account is found written by a unknown Greek sailor. He
described all the ports he visited.
 COINS
Archeologists have found several thousands of coins about 200
years ago.
The earliest coins that were in use were 500 years old and were
punch marked.
They were punched on to metals silver and gold.
CITIES WITH MANY
FUNCTIONS
MATHURA
Mathura has been an important settlement for more than 2500
years.
It is important as it was located at the cross roads of two major
routes of travel and trade from the from the northwest to the
east and north to south.
There were shrines and fortifications around the city.

Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food for

people in the city.
Mathura was a center for some extremely fine sculpture produced.

Around 2000 years ago Mathura became the second capital of the
Kushanas.
Mathura was a religious center there were Buddhist
monasteries, Jaina shrines and it was a important center for the
worship of Krishna.
CITIES WITH MANY
FUNCTIONS
MATHURA {part 2}
Several inscriptions on surfaces such as
stone slabs and statues have been found
in Mathura.
Short inscriptions such as recording gifts
made by men and women to monasteries
and shrines which was made by kings,
queens, merchants, officers and craft
persons.
Theses inscriptions even mention about
goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket
makers, garland makers and perfumers.
CRAFTS AND
CRAFTS PERSONS
o Extremely fine pottery known as
northern black polished ware has
been found as archeological
evidence for crafts.
o It gets its name from the fact that
it is found in the northern part of
India.
o It is black in color and has a fine
sheen.
o We know from text that famous
cities of cloth manufacturing are
Varanasi in the north
Madurai in the south
 CRAFTS AND CRAFT PERSONS
SHRENIS
The associations between craft persons and merchants is known as shrenis.

WHAT DID THE SHRENIS OF CRAFT PERSONS DO?

Provide training

Procured raw material

Distributed the finished material

WHAT DID THE SHRENIS OF MERCHANTS DO?

Organise trade

Serve as banks where rich men deposited their money.

A CLOSER LOOK
ARIKAMEDU
Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, Arikamedu was a
coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from
distant lands.
A massive block structure which ma have been a
warehouse was found at the site.
OTHER FINDS INCLUDE
Pottery from the Mediterranean region(such as amphorae)
Stamped red-glazed pottery(arretine ware which was
made by pressing wet clay
Into stamped moulds.
Roman lamps , glassware and gems.
Small tanks have been found which are probably dyeing
vats used for dyeing cloth.
There is plenty of evidence for the making of beads from
semi precious stones.