CBSE Class 11 History Chapter 2: Writing and City Life NCERT Solutions

It is stated that natural fertility and high food production were not the sole causes of early urbanisation because cities and towns were centres for a variety of significant economic activities beyond agriculture. While a surplus in food production certainly provided an advantage for people to congregate in towns, the economies of these urban centres also heavily relied on trade, manufacturing, and services. Individuals living in cities were not self-sufficient solely through food production; they depended on the goods and services provided by surrounding villages and other cities. This indicates a continuous and necessary interaction among these diverse urban economic activities for the sustenance and growth of the city.

The factors can be categorized as follows:

Necessary Conditions for Early Urbanisation:

• (a) Highly productive agriculture: This provided the food surplus necessary to support a non-farming population.
• (b) Water transport: Efficient transport was crucial for moving goods and people, facilitating trade and resource acquisition.
• (d) The division of labour: Specialisation allowed for increased efficiency and the development of various crafts and services essential for urban life.

Causes of Early Urbanisation:

• (c) The lack of metal and stone: This scarcity might have spurred innovation and trade to acquire these essential materials, driving economic activity.
• (e) The use of seals: Seals were important for trade, administration, and marking ownership, indicating organised economic and social structures.
• (f) The military power of kings that made labour compulsory: Royal authority could mobilise large workforces for public projects, contributing to urban development.

Outcome of the Growth of Cities:

• An enhanced transport system (building upon initial water transport).
• Growth of trade and economic activities, along with related institutions, administrations, and organisations.
• Growth of writing and schools (as mentioned in later questions).

Mobile animal herders were not always a threat to town life because there was a mutual need for exchange between them and the town dwellers. The herders required grain and metal tools, which were produced or acquired by the people living in towns. In return, the herders could offer essential products such as young animals, cheese, leather, and meat. This economic interdependence fostered a relationship that was not inherently conflict-driven. However, conflicts did arise, particularly with people living in agricultural villages, where herders might raid and seize stored goods.

The early temples in Mesopotamia, which began to be built around 5000 BCE, resembled houses in their fundamental concept and structure. The earliest known temple was a modest shrine constructed from unbaked bricks, similar to the materials used for dwellings. This architectural similarity stemmed from the belief that these temples were the divine residences or 'houses' of the various gods worshipped by the people, such as the Moon God of Ur or Inanna, the Goddess of Love and War. As these religious centres developed, their temples became larger and featured multiple rooms arranged around open courtyards, yet the core idea of the temple as a divine dwelling persisted.

With the commencement of city life, several new institutions emerged, including temple architecture, organised trade, organised warfare, sculpture, and the development of writing and schools. The solutions suggest that the establishment and flourishing of most of these institutions would have significantly depended on the initiative and support of the king. For instance, the advancements in Mesopotamian civilisation, particularly the development and maintenance of writing systems and schools, required substantial resources. These schools were not just for record-keeping but for training intellectuals. Running such institutions demanded considerable investment to support the associated personnel, which was only feasible with the backing of a strong kingship that could mobilise and allocate resources effectively.

Ancient stories provide valuable insights into the Mesopotamian civilisation, revealing aspects of its society, its complex institutions, and its economic activities. They shed light on the practices of agriculture, the structure of kingship, and the significant initiative taken by rulers to promote writing and establish schools. These narratives help us understand the economic foundations of the civilisation and the cultural developments that arose from them, including the importance of organised record-keeping and intellectual pursuits.