NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 1 Tracing Changes through a Thousand Years

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 1, Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years, help students understand how Indian society changed between 700 CE and 1750 CE. This chapter explains how history is studied by historians using different sources such as manuscripts, inscriptions, monuments, maps, and travellers’ accounts. It also shows how names, ideas, and regions changed over time, making history a dynamic subject.

The chapter highlights the importance of cartography (map-making) and how maps improved with new knowledge and technology. It explains how new rulers, including the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals, influenced administration, culture, language, and architecture. Students also learn about changes in social life, such as the growth of new social groups like Rajputs, Jatis, and traders.

Religious developments played a key role during this period. The chapter discusses the spread of Islam, Bhakti movements, and how different beliefs shaped society. Economic changes, including agriculture, trade, and towns, are also explained in a simple manner.

Overall, Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years questions answers helps students understand how political, social, cultural, and economic changes shaped medieval India and laid the foundation for modern times.

Class 7 History Chapter 1 Tracing Changes through a Thousand Years Questions Answers

1. Who was considered a “foreigner” in the past?

 Ans: In the past, anyone who was alien to a certain society was called a foreigner.

 2. State whether true or false: (a) We do not find inscriptions for the period after 700. 

Ans: False (b) The Marathas asserted their political importance during this period. Ans: True (c) Forest-dwellers were sometimes pushed out of their lands with the spread of agricultural settlements. Ans: True (d) Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban controlled Assam, Manipur and Kashmir. Ans: False

3. Fill in the blanks: (a) Archives are places where _______ are kept. 

Ans: Archives are places where manuscripts are kept. (b) ______ was a fourteenth-century chronicler. Ans: Ziyauddin Barani was a fourteenth-century chronicler. (c) __, ___, ___, ___ and ___ were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period. Ans: Potatoes, corn, chillies, tea and coffee were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.

 4. List some of the technological changes associated with this period. 

Ans: Some of the technological changes associated with this period were as follows:

• The Persian wheel for irrigation
• The spinning wheel in weaving
• The Firearms in combat

5. What were some of the major religious developments during this period? 

Ans: Some of the major religious developments during this period were:

• The inclusion of new deities in Hinduism
• The construction of temples by Royals
• The growth in importance of the priests
• The emergence of bhakti for a loving personal deity that people could reach out to without the aid of priests or elaborate rituals
• Conversion of Indians to other religions by foreigners

6. In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries? 

Ans: Hindustan earlier was referred to as the land beyond the Indus river. In the mediaeval period, they called the Delhi Sultanate Hindustan. Babur, in his memoirs called Hindustan the land beyond Hindu Kush mountain ranges. At present, the Islamic nations refer Hindustan to the Republic of India. 

7. How were the affairs of jatis regulated?

Ans: The affairs of the jatis were regulated by an assembly of elders, known as the jati panchayat. But, jatis were also required to follow the rules of their own village.

 8. What does the term pan-regional empire mean?

 Ans: The term pan-regional empire refers to an empire which stretches over several  regions. The Mauryan Empire, the Gupta Empire, the Chola Empire, the Maratha Empire, etc. are examples of pan-regional empires. 

9. What are the difficulties historians face in using manuscripts?

Ans: While using manuscripts, historians face a number of difficulties such as:

• Manuscripts were written with hand
• There were significant differences between any two copies
• It was difficult to read handwritten manuscripts
• The scribes who copied them also introduced changes
• The Historians have to read different versions of the same text to guess the originality

10. How do historians divide the past into periods? Do they face any problems in doing so? 

Ans: The historians divide the past into periods based on the economic and social factors which characterise them. But the economic and social changes keep taking place and so definite boundaries cannot be drawn. Also, these periods are compared with the modern period.

Mastering Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years Question Answer for Class 7

History isn't just a list of dates; it's a vital part of understanding our identity. When you dive into the tracing changes through a thousand years question answer class 7 curriculum, you'll see how the very definition of "Hindustan" changed from the 13th century to the modern era. You'll find that maps created by Al-Idrisi in 1154 look vastly different from those made by French cartographers in the 1720s.

Studying these shifts helps you build a strong foundation for higher grades. Many students look for tracing changes through a thousand years notes to keep these transitions handy for revision. Whether you're solving a tracing changes through a thousand years question answer mcq or writing long descriptions, the key is to notice how society adapted to new influences.

Evolution of Maps and Cartography

The thousand years between 700 and 1750 saw incredible progress in how people viewed the world. Early maps, like the one by the Arab geographer Al-Idrisi, placed South India at the top where we usually expect to find North India.

• 12th Century: Maps were less detailed and often featured "upside-down" orientations compared to modern standards.

• 18th Century: French cartographers provided much more detail, especially along the coastal areas, which European sailors and merchants used frequently.

Because of these differences, historians must be very careful about the context in which information was produced. A map isn't just a drawing; it’s a reflection of the knowledge available at that specific point in time.

Changes in Historical Terminology

One of the most interesting parts of the tracing changes through a thousand years question answer set is learning how words change meaning. Take the word "foreigner," for example.

1. Medieval Period: A "foreigner" was any stranger who didn't belong to a specific society or village. A city dweller might think of a forest dweller as a foreigner.

2. Modern Period: We use "foreigner" to mean someone who isn't Indian.

Similarly, the term "Hindustan" didn't always mean the modern nation-state of India. In the 13th century, Minhaj-i-Siraj used it to describe the lands of Punjab, Haryana, and the lands between the Ganga and Yamuna. Later, Babur used it to describe the geography and culture of the entire subcontinent.

New Social and Political Groups

Between 700 and 1750, several new groups rose to prominence. This period was a time of great mobility. People traveled long distances in search of wealth and opportunity.

• The Rajputs: Derived from "Rajaputra" (son of a ruler), this group became famous for their bravery and loyalty.

• The Jatis: As society became more complex, people were grouped into Jatis (sub-castes) based on their backgrounds and occupations. Jatis had their own rules and regulations, managed by an assembly of elders called the Jati Panchayat.

New technologies also arrived, such as the Persian wheel for irrigation, the spinning wheel for weaving, and firearms for combat. These innovations changed how people lived and fought.

The Role of Archives and Manuscripts

Before the printing press, scribes copied manuscripts by hand. This was a difficult job! Because they were copying manually, small changes in words or sentences crept into the texts over time.

Important Note: Over centuries of copying, these small differences grew so much that different versions of the same text became significantly different from each other.

Historians today have a tough time because the original manuscripts of authors are rarely found. They must read many different versions to guess what the author actually wrote. Archives became the primary place to store these documents and records, providing a wealth of information for those looking for tracing changes through a thousand years question answer .

Religious and Regional Transformations

This period witnessed major changes in what we now call Hinduism. New deities were worshipped, and royalty began constructing grand temples. The importance of Brahmanas and priests grew because of their knowledge of Sanskrit.

The period also saw the arrival of Islam. Merchants and migrants brought the teachings of the holy Quran to India in the 7th century. Just like other religions, Islam was interpreted in various ways by its followers, leading to the Shia and Sunni traditions.

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