🏛️ CBSE CLASS 12 – HISTORY (Course A)

Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class – Early Societies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)
Maximum Marks: 80 Time: 3 hours

Instructions

1. All questions are compulsory.
2. Answers to be written in points wherever possible.
3. Use maps and diagrams wherever required.
4. Marks for each question are indicated.

Section A – Very Short Answer Questions (1 × 5 = 5 marks)

(20–30 words each)

Q1. What is meant by “Kinship” in early Indian societies?
Answer: Kinship refers to blood relations (consanguinity) or relations by marriage (affinity) that structured families and society. (1)

Q2. Who prepared the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata?
Answer: The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, prepared it in the 20th century by comparing manuscripts from all over India. (1)

Q3. Define “Dvija” in the context of early Indian society.
Answer: Dvija or “twice-born” refers to the first three varnas (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas) who underwent the upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony. (1)

Q4. What was the ideal family structure in early Indian society?
Answer: The ideal family was patriarchal and joint, led by the eldest male, with multiple generations living together. (1)

Q5. Name one social practice that varied regionally despite textual prescriptions.
Answer: Marriage within maternal cousins was accepted in some southern regions but forbidden in northern India. (1)

Section B – Short Answer Questions (3 × 5 = 15 marks)

(60–80 words each)

Q6. Explain the primary rules of marriage in early Indian society.
Answer:

• Endogamy: Marriages within the same caste.
• Exogamy: Marriage outside one’s gotra to avoid close kin unions.
• Monogamy was ideal; polygyny allowed for kings or elites.
• Widow remarriage was mostly restricted for upper castes.
• Regional variations existed; some communities practiced cousin marriages. (3)

Q7. List the four varnas and their roles.
Answer:

1. Brahmanas: Priests, teachers, and preservers of sacred knowledge.
2. Kshatriyas: Rulers and warriors.
3. Vaishyas: Traders and agriculturists.
4. Shudras: Servants, laborers, and artisans.

• Status often linked to ritual purity and occupation. (3)

Q8. What does “Beyond Birth” signify in social mobility?
Answer:

• Though varna was hereditary, upward mobility was possible through wealth, political power, or rituals.
• Downward mobility occurred if one failed in duties or lost power.
• Social position was influenced by resources, occupation, and conduct, not only birth. (3)

Q9. How did the Mahabharata help historians understand early Indian society?
Answer:

• Provides insights on kinship, inheritance, marriage, and gender roles.
• Reflects social hierarchies, moral values, and conflicts.
• Shows interaction between ritual prescriptions and practical life.
• Stories like Draupadi’s humiliation reveal women’s honor and male power structures. (3)

Q10. Mention two reasons why the Mahabharata is considered a dynamic text.
Answer:

1. It evolved over centuries via oral transmission and later additions.
2. It reflects changing social, political, and moral concerns, adapting to different regions and eras. (3)

Section C – Long Answer Questions (5 × 5 = 25 marks)

(120–150 words each)

Q11. Describe the family and inheritance system in early Indian society.
Answer:

• Families were patriarchal and joint, led by eldest male.
• Property inherited through male lineage; women had limited rights.
• Fathers, husbands, and sons controlled women’s life stages.
• Joint families provided security, labor sharing, and ritual continuity.
• Inheritance disputes among brothers or cousins were common, reflected in Mahabharata.
• Marriage, widowhood, and remarriage were regulated by texts and local customs. (5)

Q12. Explain the social differences within and beyond caste.
Answer:

• Varna system divided society into Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras.
• Certain groups like Chandalas were outside varna system (untouchables).
• Women’s social position depended on caste purity.
• Wealth and resources also created class distinctions.
• Buddhism and Jainism challenged birth-based hierarchy, emphasizing ethical conduct. (5)

Q13. What was the role of resources and economic status in determining social position?
Answer:

• Agriculture produced surplus, supporting urban centers.
• Land grants and control over resources increased Brahmanical influence.
• Merchants and artisans gained wealth-based status.
• Guilds regulated trade, quality, and professional identity.
• Social status was increasingly linked to wealth, occupation, and access to resources. (5)

Q14. How did early Indian thinkers explain social inequalities?
Answer:

• Texts like Dharmashastras justified inequalities via dharma and divine order.
• People were created with different qualities and duties (guna and karma).
• Social hierarchy was seen as necessary for order.
• Buddhist and Jain thinkers emphasized ethics over birth, challenging caste rigidity.
• Social contracts ensured stability and justice in society. (5)

Q15. Discuss the importance of Mahabharata in understanding moral and social values.
Answer:

• Reflects dilemmas of duty, loyalty, justice, and morality.
• Episodes illustrate conflicts over inheritance, kinship, and gender roles.
• Shows interaction between dharma (ethical duty) and social norms.
• Provides historical evidence of ritual, hierarchy, and governance.
• Continues to guide cultural, ethical, and philosophical thought in India. (5)

Section D – Source-Based Question (4 marks)

Q16. Read the excerpt and answer the questions:

“The Dvija (twice-born) were expected to undergo the sacred thread ceremony and follow prescribed duties. Shudras were excluded from these rites and had limited access to knowledge.”

(a) What does “Dvija” signify?
Answer: First three varnas (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas) who underwent the sacred thread ceremony.

(b) What restrictions did Shudras face?
Answer: They were excluded from sacred rites, Vedic education, and ritual privileges.

(c) How does this excerpt reflect social inequality?
Answer: Social status was ritual and birth-based, creating hierarchical division. (4)

Section E – Map Work (6 marks)

Q17. Locate the following on the map of India:

• (a) Pataliputra
• (b) Mathura
• (c) Ujjain
• (d) Kashi (Varanasi)
• (e) Takshashila
• (f) Kaveripattinam

Answer Key (Map labels):

• Pataliputra: Bihar (Patna region)
• Mathura: Uttar Pradesh
• Ujjain: Madhya Pradesh
• Kashi: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• Takshashila: Near Rawalpindi, Pakistan
• Kaveripattinam: Tamil Nadu, Coromandel coast

Section F – Value-Based / Analytical Question (8 marks)

Q18.
“Social hierarchy in early Indian society was not rigid; it adapted to economic, political, and moral changes.”
Discuss with examples.

Answer:

• Varna system provided ritual hierarchy, but mobility was possible.
• Wealth and political power enabled upward social movement.
• Mahabharata depicts disputes over inheritance and marriage, showing negotiation of social rules.
• Guilds, trade, and urbanization created class-based status beyond varna.
• Buddhism and Jainism promoted ethical conduct over birth, challenging rigid hierarchy.
• The dynamic nature of texts and practices shows flexibility in social order. (8)

Marking Scheme Summary