NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 6: Kingdom, Kings and Early Republic

In this chapter, we would read about kings, their kingdoms, the rituals and cultures of these kingdoms. Initially, kings did not become hereditarily. They were chosen. Thus, we would also read about how a person could become king. We would also read about the cities that these kings' ruled and how some cities grew to be more powerful than others. Students would also learn about the tax system in these kingdoms. Finally, the chapter would also teach us about the changes in agriculture in these kingdoms. The important points to learn in the chapter include:

• The Jana or people chose some earlier kings or rajas.
• Around 3000 years earlier, people started performing big sacrifices to become rajas. The Ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was one such ritual. A horse would be let loose by a raja. His men would surround the horses. If the horse entered the kingdom of another raja, and the raja stopped the horse, then there would be a war between the two kingdoms. If the raja did not stop the horse, then that means that he surrendered to the raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice. Then there was a big sacrifice performed by priests. The raja would then sacrifice the horse and become the raja of the new kingdoms also.
• These kingdoms were known as Janapadas.
• Some Janapadas became more important than others. These were called the Mahajanapadas. Mahajanapadas were fortified. The rajas laters also started maintaining an army.
• To get more resources, rajas started levying taxes. There were taxes on crops, herders, craft persons etc.
• There were two changes in agriculture. Iron ploughs were introduced, and farmers started transplanting paddy.