Class 9 History Chapter 5 Extra Questions

Pastoralists in the Modern World Class 9 History Chapter 5 Extra Questions are available here. These extra questions are prepared by the subject experts of our team.

Pastoralists in the Modern World Class 9 History Chapter 5 Extra Questions

Question 1: Who are nomadic pastoralists?
Answer: Nomadic pastoralists are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to another with their herds to earn a living.

Question 2: Who are the Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir?
Answer: The Gujjar Bakarwals of Jammu and Kashmir are herders who primarily raise goats and sheep.

Question 3: Why did many Gujjar Bakarwals migrate to the region in the nineteenth century?
Answer: Many Gujjar Bakarwals migrated to the region in search of pastures for their animals.

Question 4: How do the Gujjar Bakarwals organize their seasonal movements?
Answer: They move annually between their summer and winter grazing grounds. In winter, they stay in the low hills of the Siwalik range, and in summer, they migrate to the lush green mountainsides of Kashmir.

Question 5: What is a kafila in the context of the Gujjar Bakarwals’ journey?
Answer: A kafila refers to several households coming together for the annual migration journey of the Gujjar Bakarwals.

Question 6: How do the Bakarwals manage their herds during the winter months?
Answer: During winter, when high mountains are covered with snow, the Bakarwals graze their herds in the dry scrub forests of the low hills.

Question 7: Who are the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh?
Answer: The Gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh are people who herd flocks of sheep and goats.

Question 8: What is the seasonal movement pattern of the Gaddi shepherds?
Answer: They spend winter in the low hills of the Siwalik range, grazing their flocks in scrub forests. In April, they move north to Lahul and Spiti for the summer, and some move to higher mountain meadows as the snow melts.

Question 9: What do the Gaddi shepherds do in Lahul and Spiti during the summer?
Answer: In Lahul and Spiti during the summer, they harvest and sow crops before beginning their return journey in September.

Question 10: How do the Gaddi shepherds manage their flock’s seasonal movements?
Answer: They descend with their flocks to the Siwalik hills for winter grazing and start their journey back to the summer meadows in April.

Question 11: Where do the Gujjar cattle herders of Garhwal and Kumaon spend their winters?
Answer: The Gujjar cattle herders of Garhwal and Kumaon spend their winters in the dry forests of the bhabar.

Question 12: Where do the Gujjar cattle herders go in the summer?
Answer: In summer, they move up to the high meadows known as bugyals.

Question 13: Why did many Gujjar cattle herders originally migrate to the UP hills in the nineteenth century?
Answer: Many Gujjar cattle herders migrated to the UP hills in search of good pastures for their cattle.

Question 14: What is a common pattern among pastoral communities in the Himalayas?
Answer: A common pattern among pastoral communities in the Himalayas is cyclical movement between summer and winter pastures.

Question 15: How do pastoral communities in the Himalayas manage their pastures?
Answer: They continuously move their herds and flocks to new areas when pastures become exhausted or unusable, allowing the pastures to recover and preventing overuse.

Question 16: Who were the Dhangars in Maharashtra?
Answer: The Dhangars were an important pastoral community in Maharashtra.

Question 17: Where did the Dhangar shepherds stay during the monsoon in Maharashtra?
Answer: During the monsoon, the Dhangar shepherds stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra, which was semi-arid and covered with thorny scrub.

Question 18: What was the seasonal movement pattern of the Dhangar shepherds?
Answer: By October, after harvesting bajra in the central plateau, the Dhangar shepherds moved west to the Konkan, a region with high rainfall and rich soil.

Question 19: How did the Dhangars contribute to agriculture in the Konkan region?
Answer: In the Konkan region, the Dhangar flocks manured the fields and fed on stubble after the kharif harvest, contributing to soil fertility for the rabi crop. They also received supplies of rice from Konkani peasants.

Question 20: Why did the Dhangars leave the Konkan and coastal areas with their flocks during the onset of monsoon?
Answer: The Dhangars left the Konkan and coastal areas during the monsoon because their sheep could not tolerate the wet conditions, returning to their settlements on the dry plateau.

Question 21: What defined the seasonal rhythms of movement for cattle, goat, and sheep herders in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh?
Answer: Unlike mountain pastoralists, the cattle, goat, and sheep herders in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh moved based on the alternation of the monsoon and dry season.

Question 22: Where did the Gollas, Kurumas, and Kurubas live and what were their occupations?
Answer: The Gollas herded cattle, while the Kurumas and Kurubas reared sheep and goats. They lived near the woods, cultivated small patches of land, engaged in petty trades, and cared for their herds.

Question 23: What was unique about the seasonal movement of herds in coastal tracts during the monsoon?
Answer: During the monsoon, cattle, goat, and sheep herders moved their herds from the dry plateau to coastal tracts because only buffaloes could tolerate the swampy, wet conditions there.

Question 24: Where were the Banjaras found and what was their primary activity?
Answer: Banjaras were found in villages across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. They moved over long distances in search of good pastureland for their cattle, engaging in trade with villagers for grain and fodder.

Question 25: How did the Raikas of Rajasthan combine cultivation with pastoralism?
Answer: The Raikas combined cultivation with pastoralism by staying in their home villages during the monsoons when pasture was available. By October, they moved in search of other pasture and water, returning during the next monsoon.

Question 26: What were the two main groups among the Raikas based on their herding practices?
Answer: One group of Raikas, known as the Maru Raikas, herded camels, while another group reared sheep and goats.

Question 27: What factors did pastoral groups like the Raikas consider for their survival?
Answer: Pastoral groups like the Raikas had to consider factors such as the duration herds could stay in one area, availability of water and pasture, timing of movements, and relationships with farmers to graze in harvested fields and manure the soil.

Question 28: How did pastoralists sustain their livelihoods?
Answer: Pastoralists sustained their livelihoods by combining activities like cultivation, trade, and herding, adapting to seasonal changes and varying environmental conditions.

Question 29: How did colonial policies affect pastoralists in terms of their grazing lands?
Answer: Colonial policies led to the shrinkage of grazing grounds for pastoralists. The colonial state aimed to convert all grazing lands into cultivated farms to increase land revenue and agricultural production for export to England.

Question 30: Why did the colonial government view uncultivated land as “waste land”?
Answer: The colonial government considered uncultivated land as “waste land” because it generated no revenue or agricultural produce. This perception drove policies to convert such lands into cultivated farms.

Question 31: What impact did Waste Land Rules have on pastoralists?
Answer: Waste Land Rules, enacted from the mid-nineteenth century, allowed the colonial government to take over uncultivated lands used by pastoralists as grazing tracts. This led to a decline in pasture availability and posed challenges for pastoralists.

Question 32: How did the colonial policies affect pastoralists’ agricultural stock and livelihoods?
Answer: Colonial policies resulted in a decline in pastoralists’ agricultural stock and adversely affected their trades and crafts. The focus on expanding cultivation reduced available pasture lands, impacting pastoralists’ traditional way of life.

Question 33: How did Forest Acts introduced by the colonial government affect pastoralists?
Answer: Forest Acts declared some forests as ‘Reserved’ for valuable timber and restricted pastoralists’ access entirely. Other forests classified as ‘Protected’ granted limited grazing rights but imposed strict regulations on movements and required permits for entry and stay.

Question 34: Why did colonial officials restrict pastoralists’ access to forests?
Answer: Colonial officials believed that pastoralist grazing habits were detrimental to forest regeneration. They argued that grazing activities destroyed young trees and prevented new growth, hence restricting access to protect forest resources.

Question 35: How did Forest Acts change the daily lives of pastoralists?
Answer: Forest Acts forced pastoralists to comply with strict regulations on forest entry and movement. They required permits specifying entry periods and duration, limiting pastoralists’ ability to stay even when sufficient forage was available. Violations could result in fines, significantly impacting pastoralists’ livelihoods.

Question 36: What was the impact of Forest Acts on pastoralists’ traditional grazing patterns?
Answer: Forest Acts disrupted pastoralists’ traditional grazing patterns by limiting access to forests that previously provided essential forage for their cattle. Regulations on timing and duration of stay controlled their movements, introducing new challenges to their way of life.

Question 37: Why were British officials suspicious of nomadic people during colonial rule?
Answer: British officials distrusted nomadic people because they were mobile, changing their residence seasonally in search of pastures or to hawk goods. The colonial government preferred a settled population that could be easily identified and controlled.

Question 38: What was the purpose of the Criminal Tribes Act passed by the colonial government in India in 1871?
Answer: The Criminal Tribes Act categorized many communities, including craftsmen, traders, and pastoralists, as inherently criminal. It mandated them to live only in specified village settlements, restricted their movements without permits, and subjected them to continuous police surveillance.

Question 39: How did the Criminal Tribes Act impact nomadic communities?
Answer: The Criminal Tribes Act severely restricted the freedom of nomadic communities, forcing them to live in designated settlements and curtailing their traditional mobility. It stigmatized these communities as criminal by nature, leading to continuous monitoring and control by village police.

Question 40: Why did the colonial government prefer a settled population over nomadic communities?
Answer: The colonial government believed that settled populations were easier to control and govern. They viewed settled villagers as more law-abiding and stable, contrasting with nomadic communities whom they perceived as unpredictable and potentially criminal.

Question 41: How did the colonial government increase its revenue from pastoralists?
Answer: The colonial government imposed taxes on various aspects such as land, canal water, salt, trade goods, and animals. Pastoralists were taxed for every animal they grazed, with the grazing tax introduced in most pastoral tracts of India during the mid-19th century.

Question 42: What was the impact of the grazing tax on pastoralists?
Answer: The grazing tax per head of cattle increased rapidly, and the collection system became more efficient over time. Initially auctioned to contractors who sought high taxes to profit, by the 1880s, the government directly collected taxes from pastoralists, issuing passes that recorded the number of cattle and the tax paid.

Question 43: How did the method of tax collection change over time for pastoralists?
Answer: Initially, contractors auctioned the right to collect taxes from pastoralists, aiming to maximize profits. By the 1880s, the government issued individual passes to pastoralists, who had to show these passes and pay taxes to enter grazing tracts, with details of their cattle and taxes paid recorded on the pass.

Question 44: Why did the colonial government impose taxes on pastoralists?
Answer: The colonial government imposed taxes on pastoralists to expand its revenue base. Taxes were levied on grazing animals as part of a broader strategy to increase state income from various economic activities, including agriculture and trade.

Question 45: What were the consequences of converting grazing lands into cultivated fields during colonial rule?
Answer: Converting grazing lands into cultivated fields led to a serious shortage of pasturelands. This decline in available pastureland restricted the movement of pastoralists and intensified grazing pressure on remaining pastures.

Question 46: How did the reservation of forests impact pastoralists during colonial times?
Answer: Reservation of forests meant that pastoralists could no longer freely graze their cattle in these areas. This restriction reduced available grazing lands further, exacerbating the shortage of pastures for animals.

Question 47: What was the traditional practice of pastoral movements, and how did it benefit grazing lands?
Answer: Nomadic pastoralists traditionally grazed their animals in one area and then moved to another, allowing grazed lands time to naturally regenerate vegetation. This practice supported sustainable grazing and maintained pasture quality.

Question 48: How did the decline in pasture quality affect animal stock during colonial rule?
Answer: As restrictions on pastoral movements increased, grazing lands were continuously used without sufficient time for natural restoration. This led to a decline in pasture quality, shortages of forage for animals, and increased mortality among cattle during scarcities and famines.

Question 49: How did pastoralists respond to the decline in available pasturelands during colonial times?
Answer: Some pastoralists reduced the size of their herds because of inadequate pasture, while others sought out new grazing grounds when access to traditional areas became restricted.

Question 50: What challenges did the Raikas face after 1947, and how did they adapt?
Answer: After 1947, the Raikas could no longer move into Sindh due to political boundaries between India and Pakistan. To adapt, they migrated to Haryana, where their sheep could graze on agricultural fields after harvests, providing much-needed manure for the fields.

Question 51: How did the political changes affect traditional pastoral movements?
Answer: Political boundaries between India and Pakistan restricted the traditional movements of camel and sheep herding Raikas, preventing them from accessing grazing areas along the Indus River in Sindh.

Question 52: Why did some pastoralists reduce their herd sizes during colonial rule?
Answer: With declining pasturelands and increased restrictions, some pastoralists chose to reduce the number of cattle in their herds to ensure adequate grazing and sustenance for their animals.

Question 53: How did some richer pastoralists adapt to changing circumstances over the years?
Answer: Some richer pastoralists bought land and settled down, transitioning from their nomadic lifestyle. They either became settled peasants cultivating land or engaged in more extensive trading.

Question 54: How did poorer pastoralists cope with economic challenges?
Answer: Many poor pastoralists borrowed money from moneylenders to survive. Some ended up losing their cattle and sheep, forcing them to work as laborers on fields or in small towns.

Question 55: Despite challenges, how have pastoralist communities managed to thrive in recent decades?
Answer: Pastoralists have adapted by changing their grazing routes, reducing herd sizes, diversifying their income sources, and integrating modern practices into their traditional lifestyles. This adaptability has helped them expand their numbers in many regions.

Question 56: According to ecologists, why is pastoralism considered viable in dry regions and mountains?
Answer: Ecologists argue that pastoralism remains ecologically viable in dry regions and mountains because it allows for sustainable use of natural resources, adaptation to environmental changes, and preservation of biodiversity.

Question 57: How did changes in laws and settlement patterns affect pastoral communities globally?
Answer: Globally, new laws and settlement patterns forced pastoral communities to alter their traditional lifestyles. They had to adjust their movements, livelihood strategies, and land use practices to comply with these changes imposed by modern governance structures.

Question 58: Where do over 22 million Africans depend on pastoral activity for their livelihood, and what communities are involved?
Answer: Over 22 million Africans depend on pastoral activity in semi-arid grasslands or arid deserts where rain-fed agriculture is challenging. Communities involved include Bedouins, Berbers, Maasai, Somali, Boran, and Turkana.

Question 59: How do African pastoralists earn their livelihood?
Answer: African pastoralists raise cattle, camels, goats, sheep, and donkeys. They sell milk, meat, animal skins, and wool. Some also engage in trade, transport, agriculture, and various odd jobs to supplement their incomes.

Question 60: How have the lives of African pastoralists changed over the colonial and post-colonial periods?
Answer: The lives of African pastoralists have changed dramatically due to new laws and regulations that took away their land and restricted their movement. These changes have impacted their ability to cope during droughts and reshaped their social relationships.

Question 61: Which specific pastoral community will be discussed in detail to illustrate these changes?
Answer: The Maasai community will be examined in detail to demonstrate how new laws and regulations affected their land rights, movement patterns, and social structures during colonial and post-colonial periods.

Question 62: What was the extent of Maasailand before colonial times, and how did it change afterwards?
Answer: Before colonial times, Maasailand stretched over a vast area from north Kenya to the steppes of northern Tanzania. After European colonial powers intervened in the late nineteenth century, Maasailand was divided by international boundaries between British Kenya and German Tanganyika, resulting in the Maasai losing about 60% of their pre-colonial lands.

Question 63: How did European imperial powers affect the territorial landscape of Maasailand?
Answer: European imperial powers scrambled for territorial possessions in Africa, leading to the division of Maasailand into different colonies. This resulted in the gradual takeover of the best grazing lands for white settlement and the confinement of the Maasai to smaller, less fertile areas in south Kenya and north Tanzania.

Question 64: What challenges did the Maasai face as a result of losing their grazing lands?
Answer: The Maasai were pushed into an arid zone with uncertain rainfall and poor pastures after losing a significant portion of their lands. This posed challenges for their traditional pastoralist lifestyle and their ability to sustain their cattle herds.

Question 65: How did the loss of grazing lands impact the Maasai’s way of life?
Answer: The loss of grazing lands restricted the Maasai’s movement and access to adequate pastures, forcing them to adapt to a smaller area with less favorable conditions for their cattle herds. This change significantly affected their cultural and economic practices.

Question 66: How did British colonial policies affect the land use patterns of the Maasai in East Africa?
Answer: The British colonial government encouraged local peasant communities to expand cultivation, which led to the conversion of pasturelands into cultivated fields. Additionally, large areas of grazing land were turned into game reserves like Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Park, restricting Maasai access to these traditional grazing grounds.

Question 67: What impact did the creation of game reserves like Serengeti National Park have on the Maasai pastoralists?
Answer: Game reserves such as Serengeti National Park were created over extensive Maasai grazing lands, preventing Maasai pastoralists from hunting or grazing their herds in these areas. This loss of access to traditional lands further constrained their ability to sustain their pastoral lifestyle.

Question 68: How did the loss of grazing lands and water resources affect the Maasai pastoralists?
Answer: The loss of the finest grazing lands and water resources placed pressure on the small remaining area of land where the Maasai were confined. Continuous grazing within this limited space led to the deterioration of pasture quality, making fodder consistently scarce and exacerbating the challenge of feeding their cattle.

Question 69: What changes occurred in the economic and political relationships between the Maasai pastoralists and their agricultural neighbors under British colonial rule?
Answer: In pre-colonial times, the Maasai dominated their agricultural neighbors economically and politically. However, by the end of colonial rule, the expansion of cultivation and creation of reserves reversed this dynamic, leading to a decline in Maasai influence and control over land that had traditionally been theirs.

Question 70: How did colonial policies in Africa affect the mobility of pastoralists in the late nineteenth century?
Answer: Colonial governments began imposing restrictions on the mobility of African pastoralists, confining them within special reserves and requiring permits to move their livestock.

Question 71: What were the consequences for pastoralists who violated colonial mobility restrictions?
Answer: Pastoralists who disobeyed the rules faced severe punishment, highlighting the strict enforcement of colonial regulations on their movements.

Question 72: How did the establishment of special reserves impact pastoral communities in Africa?
Answer: Pastoral groups like the Maasai were confined within the boundaries of special reserves, significantly limiting their traditional grazing practices and forcing them to adapt to new restrictions and regulations.

Question 73: Why did colonial governments impose mobility restrictions on African pastoralists?
Answer: Colonial governments aimed to control and regulate African pastoralists’ movements to facilitate agricultural expansion and conservation efforts, often viewing pastoral mobility as disruptive to these goals.

Question 74: How did colonial restrictions affect the economic activities of African pastoralists?
Answer: Colonial restrictions prohibited pastoralists from entering markets in white areas and participating freely in trade, impacting their ability to engage in traditional trading activities.

Question 75: Why were African pastoralists restricted from participating in trade under colonial rule?
Answer: White settlers and European colonists viewed pastoralists as dangerous and savage, leading to restrictions aimed at minimizing contact and economic interaction with them.

Question 76: Despite the restrictions, how did pastoralists continue their economic activities?
Answer: Although restricted, pastoralists continued trading under colonial rule, albeit with significant limitations and subject to various regulations imposed by colonial authorities.

Question 77: What were the broader impacts of colonial territorial boundaries on African pastoralists?
Answer: The imposition of new territorial boundaries drastically changed pastoralists’ lives, adversely affecting both their pastoral practices and their ability to engage in trade across previously open regions.

Question 78: How did droughts impact the Maasai pastoralists during the colonial period?
Answer: Droughts caused severe losses among the Maasai cattle, as they were confined to fixed reserves without the ability to move in search of pasture, leading to starvation and disease outbreaks among their livestock.

Question 79: Why did the traditional nomadic lifestyle of pastoralists help them cope with droughts?
Answer: Nomadism allowed pastoralists to move to areas with available forage during droughts, thereby avoiding starvation and crisis for their livestock.

Question 80: What were the consequences of restricting the Maasai to fixed reserves during droughts?
Answer: Restricting the Maasai to fixed reserves meant they were cut off from optimal grazing lands, leading to significant cattle losses during drought years due to lack of mobility and access to sufficient pasture.

Question 81: How did the reduction in grazing lands exacerbate the impact of droughts on pastoralists?
Answer: As grazing lands diminished, the frequency and severity of droughts had a more profound effect on pastoralists, resulting in a steady decline in their animal stocks over time.

Question 82: How was Maasai society structured in pre-colonial times?
Answer: Maasai society had two main social categories: elders, who formed the ruling group and settled disputes, and warriors, responsible for defending the tribe and organizing cattle raids.

Question 83: Why was raiding significant in traditional Maasai society?
Answer: Raiding was crucial because cattle represented wealth, and raids helped assert the power and status of different pastoral groups. It was also a way for young men to demonstrate their manliness and gain recognition as warriors.

Question 84: How did British colonial policies affect the traditional authority within Maasai society?
Answer: The British introduced measures that included appointing chiefs and imposing restrictions on raiding and warfare among the Maasai. This diminished the traditional authority of both the elders and the warrior class.

Question 85: What role did elders and warriors play in governing Maasai affairs?
Answer: Elders were responsible for governance, decision-making, and dispute resolution within the Maasai community. Warriors, on the other hand, focused on defense and organizing cattle raids to enhance their social status and demonstrate bravery.

Question 86: How did chiefs appointed by the colonial government in Maasailand accumulate wealth?
Answer: Chiefs gained wealth through regular incomes that allowed them to purchase animals, goods, and land. They also engaged in lending money to poorer neighbors and often became involved in trade, while their families managed livestock in the villages.

Question 87: What was the economic situation like for poor pastoralists in Maasailand during colonial times?
Answer: Poor pastoralists who relied solely on their livestock often lacked resources to survive during tough times such as war and famine. They frequently lost their animals and had to seek work in towns, doing jobs like charcoal burning or construction work.

Question 88: How did social changes affect Maasai society under colonial rule?
Answer: Two significant social changes occurred: firstly, the traditional distinction between elders and warriors based on age was disrupted but not entirely dismantled. Secondly, a new division emerged between wealthy chiefs who had diverse sources of income and poor pastoralists who struggled to survive on their livestock alone.