BING BANG THEORY

The Big Bang

Most astronomers believe the Universe began in a Big Bang about 14 billion years ago. At that time, the entire Universe was inside a bubble that was thousands of times smaller than a pinhead. It was hotter and denser than anything we can imagine.

Then it suddenly exploded. The Universe that we know was born. Time, space and matter all began with the Big Bang. In a fraction of a second, the Universe grew from smaller than a single atom to bigger than a galaxy. And it kept on growing at a fantastic rate. It is still expanding today.

As the Universe expanded and cooled, energy changed into particles of matter and antimatter. These two opposite types of particles largely destroyed each other. But some matter survived. More stable particles called protons and neutrons started to form when the Universe was one second old.

Over the next three minutes, the temperature dropped below 1 billion degrees Celsius. It was now cool enough for the protons and neutrons to come together, forming hydrogen and helium nuclei.

After 300 000 years, the Universe had cooled to about 3000 degrees. Atomic nuclei could finally capture electrons to form atoms. The Universe filled with clouds of hydrogen and helium gas.

VII....Tracing Changes Through A Years

Q1: Who was considered a ‘foreigner’ in the past?

Ans:A person who was a stranger or who was not a part of the society or culture was considered as a ‘foreigner’ or ‘pardeshi’ or ‘ajnabi’.

2: State whether True or False: –

1. We do not find inscriptions for the period after 700.
2. The Marathas asserted their political importance during this period.
3. Forest-dwellers were sometimes pushed out of their lands with the spread of agricultural settlements.
4. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban controlled Assam, Manipur and Kashmir

Ans:(a) T (b) T (c) T (d) F

Q3: Fill in the blanks:

1. Archives are places where ___________ are kept.
2. _______ was a fourteenth century chronicler.
3. _____ ______ _____ _____ and ______ were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period

Ans:(a) manuscripts / records / documents (b) Ziyauddin Barani (c) Potatoes, corn, chillies, tea and coffee.

Q4: List some of the technological changes associated with this period.

Ans:Some of the technological changes associated with this period:

• Persian wheel in irrigation.
• Fire arms in combat.
• Spinning wheel in weaving.
• New foods and brewages like potato, corn, chillies, tea and coffee.

Q5: In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries?

Ans:The meaning of the term ‘Hindustan’ changed over the centuries in various ways. In the 13th century Muihaj-i-Siraj used the term ‘Hindustan’ to mean the areas of Punjab, Haryana and the area lying between Ganga and Yamuna. He used this term in a political sense that was a part of the dominion of Delhi Sultan.
In the 16th century Babar used the same term to describe the geography, the fauna and the culture of the inhabitants of this subcontinent. In 14th century Amir Khusaru used the erm ‘Hind’ in the same sense as Babar did in 16thcentury.
But the term ‘Hindustan’ never carried the political and national meanings as the term ‘India’ does today.

Q6: How were the affairs of Jatis regulated?

Ans:The affairs of jatis were regulated in the following ways –

• Jatis formed their own rules and regulations.
• There was an assembly of elders called Jati panchayat which used to enforce the rules etc.
• Jatis were also directed to follow the rules of the village.
• Several villages were governed by a chieftain.

CLASS.....VII...Towns Trades And Craft Persons

Q1: Fill in the blanks: –

1. The Rajarajeshvara Temple was built in _______.
2. Ajmer is associated with the Sufi Saint ________.
3. Hampi was the capital of the _____ Empire.
4. The Dutch established a settlement at ______ in Andhra Pradesh.

Ans:

(a) Thanjavur (TN) (b) Moinuddin Chishti (c) Vijayanagara (d) Masulipatnam.

Q2: State whether True or False: –

1. We know the name of the architect of the Rajarajeshvara Temple from an inscription.
2. Merchants preferred to travel individually rather than in caravans.
3. Kabul was a major center for trade in elephants.
4. Surat was an important trading port on the Bay of Benga

Ans:(a)-T (b)-F (c)-F (d)-F

Q3: How was water supplied to the city of Thanjavur?

Ans:Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

Q3: How was water supplied to the city of Thanjav

Ans:Water from wells and tanks was supplied to the city of Thanjavur through channels.

Q4: Who lived in the ‘Black Towns’ in cities such as Madras?

Ans:‘Black Towns’ were established by the European rulers. The ‘Blacks’ of the native traders, artisans and crafts persons like weavers were confined in ‘Black Towns’ in the citieslike Madras by the white rulers.

Q5: Why do you think towns grew around temples?

Ans:Towns grew around temples because of the following reasons:

• Priests, workers, artisans, crafts persons settled around temples.
• Several shops came up around temple to cater to the needs of pilgrims and the priests etc.

Q6: How important were crafts persons for the building and maintenance of temples?

Ans:Crafts persons were very important for the building and maintenance of temples because of the following reasons:

• They carried in play work in copper and silver. Crafts persons from Bidar were well known for Bidri work.
• Goldsmiths, Bronze smiths, Blacksmiths, Masons, Carpenters built temples.
• They also maintained them
• Weavers also played an important role in cotton textiles.
• Thus they made delighted crafts in buildings and temples which looked beautiful and als

Q7: Why did people from distant lands visit Surat?

Ans:People from distant parts used to visit Surat during those days because –

• It was the gate-way to west Asia.
• They came here to purchase cotton textiles, textiles with their gold less border.

Q8: In what ways craft productions in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?

Ans:Craft production in Thanjavur was different from that of Kolkata in the following manner:

• Craft production in Thanjavur was in the form of inlays work in copper and silver.
• In Kolkata it was in the form of cotton textiles, jute textiles and silk textiles.

Q9: What were the problems encountered by merchants? Do you think some of these problems persist today?

Ans:During earlier times and medieval period merchants had to face lot of problems, most of which however, don’t persist today. Merchants had to pass through many kingdoms and forests. They had to travel in caravans, which are not required now-a-days. They had to carry goods on the back of camels, donkeys and horses as then there were no transport facilities like today. Their goods were looted frequently since there was no proper security as it is now. They had to face competition with European traders and work in a limited environment. Harsh climate and routes killed several merchants on the way or in the middle of their journey during those days since weather forecasting was not advanced as it is now.