Write a brief note on the silver mines in Peru. 


The silver mines in Peru began to function in the 1550s, and the monk Dominigo de Santo Tomas reported to the Council of the Indies that the Potosi was a mouth of hell which swallowed Indians by the thousands every year and that greedy mine owners treated them like stray animals.

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What is meant by the capitalist mode of production?  


The capitalist system of production is one in which the means of production and distribution are owned by individuals or corporates and where competitors participate in a free market.

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Enumerate the characteristic features of the Inca civilisation. 

Characteristic features of Inca Civilization :


(i) Palatial Buildings : The Inca Civilization and many tall buildings. These buildings include palaces, temples and forts which mostly made up of stones.

(ii) Cities : Each city was divided into four parts. Each city was ruled over by a noble.

(iii) Beautiful Roads : There was a network of roads in the empire.

(iv) Engineering Excellence : The Inca people are famous for their engineering skill. Their temples, forts, bridges and means of irrigation are of a unique construction.

(v) Social Classes : The king was the head of the State. He inherited his power from the sun. After the king the nobles and priests came. The farmers and craftsmen were ordinary people.


(vi) Agriculture : There was ladder type agriculture on mountains. They grew maize, potatoes and beets.


(vii) Handicrafts : The Incas were perfect in pottery, weaving and making beautiful designs.


(viii) Script : They had no script. Their writing was of Quivu type.



Tips: -

 (Imp.)
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What do you know about Pizarro and the Incas? Explain.


Pizarro was uneducated and poor when he joined the army and found his way to the Caribbean Islands in 1502.


1. Pizarro had heard stories about the Inca kingdom as a land of silver and gold (El-dor-ado) He made repeated attempts to reach it from the Pacific. On one of his journeys back home. He was able to meet the Spanish king and show him beautifully designed gold jars of Inca workmanship.

The king's greed was aroused, and he promised Pizarro the governorship of the Inca lands if he conquered it. Pizarro planned to follow Cortes' method but was disconcerted to find that the situation in the Inca empire was different.


2. ln 1532, Atahualpa secured the throne of the Inca empire after a civil war. Pizarro arrived on the scene and captured the king after setting a trap for him. The king offered a roomful of gold as ransom for his release – the most extravagant ransom recorded in history – but Pizarro did not honour his promise.

He had the king executed, and his followers went on a looting spree. This was followed by the occupation of the country. The cruelty of the conquerors provoked an uprising in 1534 that continued for two years, during which time thousands died in war and due to epidemics.


3. In another five years, the Spanish had located the vast silver mines in Potosi (in Upper Peru, modern Bolivia) and to work these they made the Inca people into slaves.

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Discuss the importance of iron and foreign trade in the growth of African civilizations.

Iron has a great importance in the development of civilizations in Africa. The historians estimate that the people of Africa acquired knowledge about iron probably in 1000 B.C. They got this knowledge from the Egyptians.
Whatever significant contribution the iron has made in the development of the African civilization is depicted like this :

1. The people of Africa, made use of iron tools for clearing the forests and reaping the harvest. Consequently, agriculture developed here at a quick pace.

2. The iron tools helped a lot in manufacturing ivory goods and digging out gold reserves. Their use resulted in the development of other industries.

3. Several states of Africa extended their territories with the help of iron weapons.

4. A considerable progress tool place in the trade of the African civilizations because of iron. Iron ore of Africa began to be exported to the countries of Asia, Arab and Europe.

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