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The NCERT Class 11 History Chapter 2: Empires from Themes in World History examines the rise and structure of empires, focusing on the Roman Empire and its administration, economy, and societal features from around 27 BCE to 476 CE. It explores urban life, trade networks, governance, and cultural exchanges, providing insights into imperial expansion and its impact. This section offers detailed solutions to the chapter’s exercise questions, helping CBSE students in understanding key historical concepts for exam preparation.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Themes in World History Chapter 2: Empires
This section provides clear solutions for Class 11 Themes in World History Chapter 2: Empires. The detailed explanations below help students grasp the subject thoroughly.
Exercise
(Answer in Brief)
1. If you had lived in the Roman Empire, where would you rather have lived – in the towns or in the countryside? Explain why.
Answer: If I had lived in the Roman Empire, I would have lived in the towns. The chapter highlights that towns like Rome and Alexandria offered opportunities in trade, administration, and cultural activities, supported by infrastructure like aqueducts and forums. The countryside, while peaceful, involved labour-intensive farming with fewer amenities, making town life more appealing due to its social and economic advantages.
2. Compile a list of some of the towns, cities, rivers, seas and provinces mentioned in this chapter, and then try and find them on the maps. Can you say something about any three of the items in the list you have compiled?
Answer: List: Towns/Cities – Rome, Alexandria; Rivers – Tiber, Nile; Seas – Mediterranean; Provinces – Gaul, Egypt.
- Rome: The chapter describes Rome as the political and cultural heart of the empire, known for its Forum and imperial governance.
- Nile: This river supported Egypt’s agriculture and trade, crucial for Rome’s grain supply.
- Mediterranean: A key sea for Roman trade and naval power, connecting various provinces.
3. Imagine that you are a Roman housewife preparing a shopping list for household requirements. What would be on the list?
Answer: As a Roman housewife, my shopping list would include olive oil for cooking, wine for daily use, grain for bread, wool for clothing, and pottery for storage. The chapter mentions these as staples in Roman households, reflecting reliance on local markets and trade goods.
4. Why do you think the Roman government stopped coining in silver? And which metal did it begin to use for the production of coinage?
Answer: The Roman government likely stopped coining in silver due to economic strain and silver shortages, as the chapter suggests during the 3rd-century CE crises. It began using bronze, which was more abundant, to maintain currency circulation despite the decline in precious metal availability.
Also Read: NCERT Class 11 Political Science Chapter 6 Political Theory: Citizenship Solutions (Free PDF)
(Answer in a Short Essay)
5. Suppose the emperor Trajan had actually managed to conquer India and the Romans had held on to the country for several centuries. In what ways do you think India might be different today?
Answer: If Trajan had conquered India and Roman rule persisted for centuries, India today might reflect significant Roman influence. The chapter notes Rome’s advanced infrastructure, like roads and aqueducts, which could have modernised India’s urban systems earlier. Roman law and governance might have shaped a centralised administration, differing from India’s diverse regional kingdoms. Culturally, Latin influences could have blended with Indian languages, and trade with the Mediterranean might have boosted economic integration, potentially altering India’s historical trajectory toward a more Westernised society.
6. Go through the chapter carefully and pick out some basic features of Roman society and economy which you think make it look quite modern.
Answer: The Roman society and economy exhibit modern features as outlined in the chapter. The use of a complex road network and aqueducts for trade and water supply mirrors today’s infrastructure. The division of labour, with artisans and merchants, resembles modern specialisation. Additionally, the Roman market economy, supported by coinage and long-distance trade, parallels contemporary global trade systems, giving it a surprisingly modern appearance.
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 History Themes in World History Chapter 2: Empires
You can download the NCERT solutions for Class 11 Themes in World History Chapter 2: Empires. We have provided the free PDF for students below.
Explore Solutions of Class 11: Themes in World History
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