Class 7 Social Science Questions Answer Chapter 7 NCERT

The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity

1. Imagine you receive a letter from someone living in the Gupta Empire. The letter starts like this: “Greetings from Pāṭaliputra! Life here is vibrant and full of excitement. Just yesterday, I witnessed …” Complete the letter with a short paragraph (250–300 words) describing life in the Gupta Empire.

Answer:

Greetings from Pāṭaliputra! Life here is vibrant and full of excitement. Just yesterday, I witnessed a grand festival at the temple dedicated to Lord Viṣhṇu. The streets were decorated with colorful flowers, and people were singing and dancing to celebrate. The market was bustling with traders selling beautiful silk textiles, spices, and sparkling gemstones. Some traders even came from faraway places like Rome and China, bringing exotic goods. I saw skilled artisans crafting intricate sculptures and painting detailed murals, which reminded me of the famous Ajanta caves. The city is peaceful, and the Gupta rulers ensure everyone is treated fairly. The king’s guards protect us, and the Vaishya merchants have set up charity houses where the poor and sick get food and medicines. I also visited a school where scholars were teaching mathematics and astronomy, inspired by the great Āryabhaṭa. They say he discovered that the Earth spins, which explains day and night! At home, my family reads stories from Kālidāsa’s poems, like Meghadūtam, which are so beautifully written. The iron pillar near the temple, which never rusts, is another wonder we all admire. Life here is full of learning, art, and kindness, and I feel proud to live in such a prosperous empire. I hope you can visit Pāṭaliputra someday to see its wonders!

Yours,

A citizen of the Gupta Empire

2. Which Gupta ruler was also known as the ‘Vikramāditya’?

Answer:

Chandragupta II was also known as ‘Vikramāditya’.

3. “Periods of peace support the development of various aspects of sociocultural life, literature, and the development of science and technology.” Examine this statement in the light of the Gupta Empire.

Answer:

The Gupta Empire is a great example of how peace helps society grow. During the Gupta period (3rd to 6th century CE), there was stability and prosperity, which allowed art, literature, science, and technology to flourish. Because the empire was peaceful, people could focus on creating beautiful things. For example, the Ajanta caves and Udayagiri caves have stunning paintings and sculptures that show the skill of Gupta artists. In literature, Kālidāsa wrote famous poems like Meghadūtam, which are still loved today. In science, Āryabhaṭa made discoveries in mathematics and astronomy, like explaining that the Earth spins and calculating the length of a year. Varāhamihira wrote about astronomy, weather, and even town planning. The Gupta rulers supported scholars and artists, which helped these fields grow. They also built universities like Nālandā, where people came to learn. The rust-resistant Iron Pillar in Delhi shows their advanced technology in metallurgy. This peaceful time allowed the Gupta Empire to become a ‘classical age’ in Indian history, with achievements that still inspire us today.

4. Recreate a scene from a Gupta ruler’s court. Write a short script, assign roles like the king, ministers, and scholars, and enact a role play to bring the Gupta era to life!

Answer:

Script: A Scene in Chandragupta II’s Court

Characters:

Chandragupta II (King)
Minister (Advisor)
Āryabhaṭa (Scholar)
Kālidāsa (Poet)
Courtier (Announcer)

• Scene: The royal court in Pāṭaliputra, decorated with golden pillars and colorful tapestries. The king sits on a grand throne, surrounded by his advisors and scholars.
• Courtier: (Bows) Welcome to the court of our great king, Chandragupta II, the Vikramāditya! Today, we discuss matters of knowledge and art to make our empire shine.
• Chandragupta II: My wise minister, what news do you bring to strengthen our empire?
• Minister: Your Majesty, our trade with Rome and China is growing. Textiles and spices are making us wealthy. I suggest we build more roads to help traders travel safely.
• Chandragupta II: Excellent idea! A strong economy will support our scholars and artists. Speaking of which, Āryabhaṭa, what discoveries have you made?
• Āryabhaṭa: (Steps forward) Your Majesty, I have calculated that the Earth spins on its axis, causing day and night. I’ve also found the length of a year to be 365 days and a few hours. These findings will help our farmers and navigators.
• Chandragupta II: Remarkable! Your work will guide our people for centuries. Now, Kālidāsa, have you composed something new to inspire our court?
• Kālidāsa: (Bows) Yes, Your Majesty. I present a verse from my poem, Meghadūtam: “O cloud, carry my message of love across the mountains and rivers.” It speaks of longing and the beauty of our land.
• Chandragupta II: Beautifully said, Kālidāsa! Your words capture the heart of our empire. Let us continue to support art, science, and trade to make our Gupta Empire the greatest!
• Courtier: Long live King Chandragupta II! Long live the Gupta Empire!

5. Match the two columns:

Answer:

(1) Kānchipuram	(d) Known as ‘a city of a thousand temples’.
(2) Ujjayinī	(e) A prominent centre of learning in ancient India.
(3) Udayagiri	(b) Famous for rock-cut caves featuring intricate carvings of Hindu deities, especially Viṣhṇu.
(4) Ajanta	(a) Known for vibrant cave paintings that depict the Jātaka tales.
(5) Pāṭaliputra	(c) Capital of the Guptas.

6. Who were the Pallavas and where did they rule?

Answer:

The Pallavas were a powerful dynasty in South India who ruled from the 3rd to the 9th century CE. They emerged after the Sātavāhana dynasty and became strong in parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was Kānchipuram, known as the ‘city of a thousand temples’. The Pallavas were great patrons of art and architecture, building magnificent temples and rock-cut caves, and they supported learning through centres called ghaṭikās.

The Big Questions (Page 145)

1. Who were the Guptas? Why is the Gupta period sometimes called the ‘classical age’ in Indian history?

Answer:

The Guptas were a powerful dynasty that ruled India from the 3rd to the 6th century CE, with their capital at Pāṭaliputra (modern-day Patna). They started as regional rulers in present-day Uttar Pradesh and grew to form a large empire covering most of northern, western, and parts of central and eastern India. The Gupta period is called the ‘classical age’ because it was a time of great achievements in many fields. Art, literature, science, and technology flourished due to the peace and prosperity under rulers like Chandragupta II and Samudragupta. For example, beautiful sculptures and paintings were created in places like Ajanta and Udayagiri caves. Sanskrit literature grew with Kālidāsa’s poems, and scientists like Āryabhaṭa made discoveries in mathematics and astronomy. The rust-resistant Iron Pillar in Delhi shows their advanced metallurgy. The Guptas also supported learning, with places like Nālandā University, making this period a golden era of Indian culture and knowledge that still inspires us today.

2. What was happening in the rest of the subcontinent at this time?

Answer:

While the Guptas ruled in northern and central India, other kingdoms were active in different parts of the subcontinent during the 3rd to 6th centuries CE. In the south, the Pallava dynasty was gaining power in present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, with their capital at Kānchipuram, known as the ‘city of a thousand temples’. They were devotees of Lord Śhiva and built magnificent temples and rock-cut caves, supporting art and learning. In the central region, the Vākāṭakas ruled near present-day Nagpur, with their capital at Nandivardhana. They were allies of the Guptas, and Prabhāvatī Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, strengthened ties by marrying into their family. In the northeast, the Kāmarūpa kingdom, ruled by the Varman dynasty, was a cultural and political center in the Brahmaputra valley (modern-day Assam and parts of Bengal and Bangladesh). These kingdoms had their own rulers, art, and traditions, making the subcontinent vibrant and diverse during the Gupta period.

3. Who were some great figures of this period, and why do their stories matter today?

Answer:

Several great figures from the Gupta period left a lasting impact, and their stories matter today because they shaped India’s culture and knowledge.

• Chandragupta II (Vikramāditya): A Gupta king who expanded the empire through wars and alliances. He supported art and science, and the Iron Pillar was built during his reign. His story shows how a ruler’s support can lead to progress.
• Samudragupta: Chandragupta II’s father, known for his military conquests and love for art. He played the veena and supported scholars, showing that leaders can be both strong and creative.
• Āryabhaṭa: A mathematician and astronomer who discovered that the Earth spins, causing day and night, and calculated the length of a year. His work laid the foundation for modern science, and we still use his mathematical ideas.
• Varāhamihira: An astronomer and scholar who wrote the Bṛihat Samhitā, covering astronomy, weather, and town planning. His logical thinking inspires scientific study today.
• Kālidāsa: A poet who wrote Meghadūtam and other works. His beautiful poems about love and nature are still read, showing the power of literature.