Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires| NCERT Solutions History Class 11

Nomadic Empires – Class 11 NCERT Solution discusses the various nomadic empires that existed in history, including the Mongol Empire, the Hun Empire, and the Scythian Empire. The chapter also discusses the social and economic structures of nomadic empires. Nomadic peoples were typically organized into tribes or clans, and they relied on animal husbandry and trade for their livelihood. These NCERT Solutions are prepared by our Top Social Science Experts to take care of all Important Topics that might be asked in the upcoming examination 2024-2025. So, Students can refer to these solutions for their final Examination preparation.

These Class 11 Social Science Chapter 3 Nomadic Empires NCERT Solutions are carefully developed using easy-to-understand language while adhering to the guidelines for solving NCERT Solutions for Class 11. Working through these solutions can be highly beneficial for students in their board exams, as well as in preparing for future competitive Exams.

NCERT Solutions Class 11 Social Science Chapter 3 – Nomadic Empires

Exercise Page No 61 (Activity 1)

Q. Assume that Juwaini’s account of the capture of Bukhara is accurate. Imagine yourself as a resident of Bukhara and Khurasan who heard the speeches. What impact would they have had on you?

Answer:

As a resident of Bukhara and Khurasan hearing Juwaini’s account, the speeches would evoke fear and anger at the brutality of the Mongol invaders, leading to feelings of desperation and hopelessness about the future. However, they might also inspire determination and resilience to rebuild and resist future invasions.

Exercise Page No 71 (Activity 2)

Q. Note the areas traversed by the Silk Route and the goods that were available to traders along the way. This map does not reflect one of the eastern terminal points of the silk route during the height of Mongol power. Can you place the missing city? Could it have been on the Silk Route in the twelfth century? Why not?

Answer:

The missing eastern terminal point of the Silk Route during the height of Mongol power was Beijing (then known as Khanbaliq), the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. While Beijing was a significant city during the Mongol Empire, it was not traditionally considered a major hub along the Silk Route in the twelfth century.

During the twelfth century, the Silk Route primarily extended from China through Central Asia, Persia, and into the Eastern Mediterranean. Beijing did not emerge as a prominent city until later, during the Yuan Dynasty in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Therefore, it would not have been considered a part of the Silk Route during the twelfth century.

Exercise Page No 72 (Activity 3)

Q. Why was there a conflict of interests between pastoralists and peasants? Would Genghis Khan have expressed sentiments of this nature in a speech to his nomad commanders?

Answer:

The conflict between pastoralists and peasants started from competition over land and resources. Pastoralists needed grazing land for their livestock, while peasants relied on arable land for agriculture, leading to disputes over access to territory and water sources. However, Genghis Khan likely emphasized unity and cooperation rather than expressing sentiments of conflict in his speeches to nomad commanders, focusing on maintaining stability and promoting loyalty within his empire.

Exercise Page No 74 (Activity 4)

Q. Did the meaning of yasa alter over the four centuries separating Genghis Khan from ‘Abdullah Khan? Why did Hafiz-i Tanish make a reference to Genghis Khan’s yasa in connection with ‘Abdullah Khan’s prayer at the Muslim festival ground?

Answer:

Over four centuries, the meaning of “yasa” evolved from specific laws to represent justice and righteousness. Hafiz-i Tanish referenced Genghis Khan’s yasa during Abdullah Khan’s prayer to emphasize the continuity of justice across rulers and dynasties, aligning Abdullah Khan with Genghis Khan’s legacy as a just ruler.

Exercise Page No 76

Q1. Why was trade so significant to the Mongols?

Answer:

Trade was significant to the Mongols for several reasons:

• Trade provided a important source of income for the Mongols, allowing them to acquire wealth through the exchange of goods and commodities.
• Trade routes facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies between different regions, contributing to cultural diffusion and enrichment.
• Through trade, the Mongols established diplomatic relations and alliances with neighboring states and distant civilizations, enhancing their political influence and power.
• Control over trade routes provided strategic advantages for the Mongol military, facilitating the movement of troops, supplies, and intelligence across vast territories.

Q2. Why did Genghis Khan feel the need to fragment the Mongol tribes into new social and military groupings?

Answer:

Genghis Khan felt the need to fragment the Mongol tribes into new social and military groupings for several reasons:

• Fragmentation allowed Genghis Khan to consolidate power and establish centralized control over the diverse Mongol tribes, enabling more effective governance and coordination of military campaigns.
• By reorganizing the tribes into new social and military groupings, Genghis Khan promoted loyalty and unity among his followers, minimizing internal rivalries and divisions.
• Genghis Khan’s reorganization promoted a meritocratic system where individuals were rewarded based on skill and loyalty rather than tribal affiliation, strengthening the effectiveness and cohesiveness of the Mongol military.
• Fragmentation provided tactical flexibility, allowing Genghis Khan to deploy forces rapidly and adapt to changing military situations, enhancing the Mongols’ ability to conquer and govern vast territories.

Q3. How do later Mongol reflections on the yasa bring out the uneasy relationship they had with the memory of Genghis Khan.

Answer:

Later Mongol reflections on the yasa reveal an uneasy relationship with Genghis Khan’s memory. While revered as the empire’s founder, Mongol rulers adapted his legacy to suit their agendas, exploiting it for political legitimacy. Though he was admired, there was also hesitation and criticism, realizing the complexity of his authority. This shows the conflict between tradition and adaptability and their complex relationship to Genghis Khan’s memory.

Q4. ‘If history relies upon written records produced by city-based literati, nomadic societies will always receive a hostile representation.’ Would you agree with this statement? Does it explain the reason why Persian chronicles produced such inflated figures of casualties resulting from Mongol campaigns?

Answer:

The statement suggests a tendency for city-based literati to produce biased representations of nomadic societies. While this bias may contribute to hostile portrayals, other factors like cultural and political influences also play a role. Persian chronicles inflated casualties from Mongol campaigns partly to justify suffering and vilify conquerors, reflecting these biases and the devastation caused by the invasions.

Q5. Keeping the nomadic element of the Mongol and Bedouin societies in mind, how, in your opinion, did their respective historical experiences differ? What explanations would you suggest account for these differences?

Answer:

The historical experiences of Mongol and Bedouin societies differed in several key aspects:

• Geographical Context: Mongols originated from the Central Asian steppes, characterized by vast grasslands and seasonal nomadism, while Bedouins inhabited the arid deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, relying on pastoralism and trade routes.
• Political Organization: Mongols formed a centralized empire under Genghis Khan, with a hierarchical military structure and administrative apparatus, enabling rapid conquest and governance over diverse territories. In contrast, Bedouin society was decentralized, organized into tribes with fluid leadership structures and alliances, which limited their ability to centralize power on a large scale.
• Cultural Influences: Mongols adopted elements of settled civilizations, including governance systems, religions, and technologies, through conquest and assimilation, leading to cultural syncretism and adaptation. Bedouins maintained unique cultural identity influenced by their nomadic lifestyle, tribal traditions, and the influence of Islam, preserving a more homogeneous cultural heritage.
• Impact on Surrounding Regions: Mongol conquests had far-reaching consequences, transforming Eurasian trade routes, facilitating cultural exchange, and contributing to the rise and fall of empires. The Bedouins’ influence on neighboring regions was more localized, primarily centered on trade networks and occasional conflicts with neighboring states.

These differences can be explained by various factors, including ecological conditions, historical interactions with settled civilizations, and geopolitical dynamics. The geographical diversity of the regions inhabited by Mongols and Bedouins influenced their respective lifestyles, economic activities, and interactions with neighboring societies. Additionally, the presence of centralized leadership among the Mongols enabled more extensive conquests and administrative control, while the decentralized nature of Bedouin society promoted a more fluid and adaptive approach to governance and cultural identity.

Q6. How does the following account enlarge upon the character of the Pax Mongolica created by the Mongols by the middle of the thirteenth century?

Answer:

The following account likely elaborates on the character of the Pax Mongolica by highlighting its key features:

• Trade Networks: It would describe the extensive trade networks facilitated by the Mongol Empire, which connected Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. These trade routes promoted economic prosperity, cultural exchange, and technological diffusion, promoting a period of relative peace and stability known as the Pax Mongolica.
• Safe Passage: The account may emphasize the security provided by the Mongol Empire along trade routes, ensuring the safe passage of merchants, travelers, and caravans. This security allowed for the free flow of goods, ideas, and people across vast distances, contributing to the growth of commerce and cultural exchange.
• Legal and Administrative Framework: It might mention the establishment of a standardized legal and administrative framework under Mongol rule, which regulated trade, resolved disputes, and facilitated governance across diverse regions and ethnic groups. This uniform system of law and governance promoted stability and facilitated interactions between different cultures and civilizations.
• Cultural Exchange: The account could discuss the cultural exchange and syncretism promoted by the Pax Mongolica, as travelers, scholars, and artisans from various regions interacted and exchanged ideas, languages, religions, and artistic traditions. This cultural interchange enriched societies and contributed to the emergence of new cultural forms and innovations.

Summary – NCERT Solutions History Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires

The chapter on Nomadic Empires in the NCERT Class 11 History textbook is a fascinating study of the lives and achievements of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. The chapter begins by introducing the reader to the concept of nomadic empires, which were large political entities that were created and ruled by nomadic peoples. The chapter then goes on to discuss the various nomadic empires that existed in history, including the Mongol Empire, the Hun Empire, and the Scythian Empire. The chapter concludes by discussing the impact that nomadic empires had on the world around them. Nomadic empires were often feared and respected by their neighbors, and they played a significant role in the development of trade and commerce between different regions of the world.

Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires- FAQs

What were the key characteristics of nomadic empires?

Nomadic empires were characterized by mobility, pastoralism, and military prowess, often establishing expansive territorial domains through conquest.

How did nomadic societies differ from settled civilizations?

Nomadic societies were mobile, relying on pastoralism for sustenance, while settled civilizations were based on agriculture, urbanization, and centralized governance.

What factors contributed to the rise of nomadic empires?

Factors included ecological conditions, such as grasslands suitable for pastoralism, technological advancements in warfare, and opportunities for trade and plunder.

How did nomadic empires impact settled civilizations?

Nomadic empires facilitated cultural exchange, trade networks, and political upheaval, influencing the course of history through conquests, migrations, and interactions with settled societies.

What were the legacies of nomadic empires?

Legacies include contributions to military tactics, administrative systems, and cultural diffusion, influencing subsequent empires and influencing Eurasian history.