weekly test 2

AREKHA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

CHHUKHA DZONGKHAG

WEEKLY TEST

Class: X

Date: 16/08/2024                                                                                       Full mark: 30

Subject: History                                                                                        Pass Mark: 20

Instruction: Write two VALID reasons for each of the following questions.

1. Importance of town planning in Indus Valley civilization

   • Good Infrastructure: The cities had a neat layout with straight streets and proper drainage, which kept the city clean and helped avoid floods and diseases.

   • Trade Efficiency: The organized structure of the cities made it easier for people to move around and for traders to sell and exchange goods.

2. Importance of geographical locations of Indus Valley cities

   • Near Rivers: Cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were built near the Indus River, providing plenty of water for farming and daily use. This helped the civilization thrive.

   • Trade Routes: These cities were also placed in important trade routes, allowing them to trade with other regions and boost their economy.

3. Socio-cultural features of Indus Valley civilization

   • Advanced Living: People lived in well-planned houses, some with private wells and bathrooms, showing how advanced their society was.

   • Religious Symbols: Seals and statues found suggest they had religious beliefs, possibly worshipping animals and fertility goddesses.

4. Economic and technological advancements

   • Trade Networks: They traded goods like pottery, jewelry, and metals with other regions, showing a strong economy.

   • Technology: They were skilled in making tools, pottery, and using metals, and had a system of standard weights for trade.

5. Differences between Indus Valley civilization and today

   • City Planning: Unlike modern cities, Indus Valley cities were planned without advanced tools but were still very organized with proper streets and drainage.

   • Communication: Today, we have phones and the internet to communicate, but the Indus people didn’t have such systems, and their written language is still not fully understood.

6. Reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley civilization

   • Climate Change: Changes in the rivers or drought might have made it difficult for people to farm, leading to food shortages.

   • Invasions: Some believe that outside groups, like the Aryans, may have attacked and weakened the cities, contributing to their fall.

7. How the Enlightenment led to European exploration

   • Scientific Curiosity: During the Enlightenment, people were eager to learn and discover new things. This curiosity pushed Europeans to explore new lands and seas.

   • Belief in Progress: Enlightenment ideas made Europeans believe they could improve the world by discovering new places, leading to more exploration for knowledge and wealth.

8. Why Spain and Portugal led exploration

   • Location: Spain and Portugal were close to the Atlantic Ocean, giving them easy access to the seas and encouraging them to explore unknown territories.

   • Royal Support: Their kings, especially in Portugal, invested a lot of money in ships and sailors to explore new lands, leading the way for European exploration.

9. Reasons Spain and Portugal explored in the 15th century

   • Trade Routes: They wanted to find new routes to Asia so they could directly access spices, silk, and other goods without going through the Middle East.

   • Spread Religion: Both countries wanted to spread Christianity to new lands and convert the people they encountered.

10. Effects of the Columbian Exchange

• New Crops: The exchange introduced crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and maize to Europe, which became important food sources and changed diets.

• Diseases: Unfortunately, it also spread diseases like smallpox to the Americas, which caused many deaths among the native populations.

11. Definition of colonization

• Colonization is when a powerful country takes control of another area or land, using its resources and sometimes settling its own people there.

12. Reasons for colonising America

• Wealth: European nations wanted to get rich by taking valuable resources like gold, silver, and land from the Americas.

• Expansion of Power: They also wanted to grow their empires and increase their political power by claiming new territories.

13. Reasons for colonising Africa

• Resources: Africa was rich in valuable resources like gold, diamonds, and rubber, which European countries wanted to control and profit from.

• Strategic Locations: By colonizing Africa, European countries could also control important trade routes and increase their influence in the world.

14. Reasons for colonising Asia

• Trade: Asia had many valuable goods, like spices, silk, and tea, and Europeans wanted to control these trades to make money.

• Cultural and Religious Influence: European countries also wanted to spread their culture and religion, especially Christianity, to Asian countries.

15. Buddha as an icon of socio-cultural awakening

• Challenged Caste System: Buddha’s teachings promoted equality and fairness.

• Spiritual Change: He encouraged people to seek enlightenment and live ethically.