L-1 HISTORY OF
TRADE AND COMMERCE IN INDIA
A. One Word or One
Line Questions
Q. 1. How did
India establish trade relations with the rest of the world?
Ans. India established trade relations with the rest
of world through ‘Silk Route’.
Q. 2. According
to archaeological evidence, which were two main routes for trade from India?
Ans. Land route and sea route.
Q. 3. Which
system of exchange was prevalent in times of ancient civilization?
Ans. Barter system of exchange.
Q. 4. In which
form of money came into existence with the progress of civilization?
Ans. With the progress of civilization, metallic money
came to existence.
Q. 5. Name some
of the important economic activities of people in ancient India.
Ans. Agriculture, domestication of animals, weaving
cotton, dyeing fabrics, handicrafts, sculpting, masonry etc.
Q. 6. Which
were the intermediaries who played an important role in the promotion of trade
and commerce in ancient India?
Ans. These intermediaries were: brokers, distributors,
commission agents, Jaga seths,
bankers etc.
Q. 7. Name the
taxes imposed on trade and commerce in the ancient India.
Ans. Octroi duty, custom duty, ferry tax, labour tax
etc.
Q. 8. Name any
four major trade centres in ancient India.
Ans. Pataliputra, Peshawar, Taxila, Mathura.
Q. 9. Write any
four major exports of India in ancient times.
Ans. Spices, indigo, opium, copper etc.
Q. 10. List any
four major import items of ancient India.
Ans. Gold, silver, lead, rubies etc.
B. Fill in Blanks
1. India’s maritime trade with the rest of the world
was done through ............ route.
2. The local bankers in ancient India were known as ............ .
3. ............ and ............ were two financial
instruments which were used to carry-out transactions in ancient India.
4. A hundi which is payable at sight is ............
hundi.
5. ............ hundi is that hundi which is payable
after a specific period of time.
6.............. Hundi is drawn to cover the risk
involved in the process of transit of goods.
Ans.
1.silk, 2.jagat seths, 3. Hundi and chitti, 4. darshani, 5. Muddati, 6. Jokhami
C. True/False
1. ‘Silk route’ was a maritime route for trade.
2. India’s civilisational centres like Harappa and
Mohenjodaro had no trade and commerce relations with other contemporary
civilisations.
3. The development of a traditional system of weights
and measures also made a significant
contribution in the promotion of trade and commerce in ancient times.
4. A hundi is not capable of change through transfer.
5. Firman-jog hundi is payable on the order of the
payee.
6. Small factories in the form of Karkhanas
(Workshops) were also there in the ancient times.
7. In the ancient times, exports of India were more
more than its imports and hence balance
of trade was favourable.
8. In the ancient times, modes of transport for trade
were land and sea.
Ans.
1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True, 6. True, 7. True, 8. True
D. MCQ
1. Which of the
following contributed in the development of trade and commerce in ancient India?
(a) Evolution of money
(b) Development of a traditional system of weights and
measures
(c) Development of indigenous banking system
(d) All of these.
2. Which of the
following is not a feature of Hundi?
(a) It warrants the payment of money
(b) It is not capable of change through transfer
(c) It is not capable of change through transfer by
valid negotiation
3. The
development of indigenous banking system promoted which of the following activities in the
ancient India?
(a) Agriculture
(b) Domestication of animals
(c) Small factories in the form of karkhanas
(d) All of these.
4. Who provided
loans for foreign trade in ancient India?
(a) Intermediaries
(b) Government
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
5. At which of
the following trading centres of ancient India, did Chinese ships used to visit for trade ?
(a) Pulicat
(b) Calicut
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these.
6. By whom,
were guilds organised in ancient India ?
(a) Local bankers
(b) Intermediaries
(c) Trading communities
(d) All of these.
7. Which of the
following taxes, was not imposed on trade and commerce in ancient India?
(a) Sales tax
(b) Octroi tax
(c) Ferry tax
(d) Custom duty.
Ans.
1. (d), 2. (b), 3. (d), 4. (a), 5. (b), 6. (c), 7. (a),
