NCERT Solutions - Class 9 History Chapter 5: Pastoralists in the Modern World
Exercise
Q1. Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement?
Answer - Nomadic tribes move continuously for several reasons, which also benefit the environment:
● They move to find fresh grazing lands for their livestock, as grass gets exhausted in one place.
● Seasonal changes force movement to places with suitable climate and water availability.
● Continuous movement prevents overgrazing in one area, allowing the vegetation to regenerate.
● It helps maintain biodiversity and healthy ecosystems by allowing different species to thrive.
● Movement reduces soil erosion and degradation caused by constant grazing in a single spot.
● They move to find fresh grazing lands for their livestock, as grass gets exhausted in one place.
● Seasonal changes force movement to places with suitable climate and water availability.
● Continuous movement prevents overgrazing in one area, allowing the vegetation to regenerate.
● It helps maintain biodiversity and healthy ecosystems by allowing different species to thrive.
● Movement reduces soil erosion and degradation caused by constant grazing in a single spot.
Q2. Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:
Waste Land rules
Forest Acts
Criminal Tribes Act
Grazing Tax
Waste Land rules
Forest Acts
Criminal Tribes Act
Grazing Tax
Answer - The colonial government introduced these laws to control land use and generate revenue, affecting pastoralists as follows:
● Waste Land Rules: These laws declared uncultivated land as government property, reducing land available for pastoralists to graze.
● Forest Acts: Restricted access to forests, which pastoralists used for grazing, forcing them to settle or change their lifestyle.
● Criminal Tribes Act: Labeled some pastoral communities as 'criminals' based on their nomadic lifestyle, leading to surveillance and restrictions.
● Grazing Tax: Imposed a tax on grazing livestock, increasing economic pressure on pastoralists and limiting their movement.
● Waste Land Rules: These laws declared uncultivated land as government property, reducing land available for pastoralists to graze.
● Forest Acts: Restricted access to forests, which pastoralists used for grazing, forcing them to settle or change their lifestyle.
● Criminal Tribes Act: Labeled some pastoral communities as 'criminals' based on their nomadic lifestyle, leading to surveillance and restrictions.
● Grazing Tax: Imposed a tax on grazing livestock, increasing economic pressure on pastoralists and limiting their movement.
Q3. Give reasons to explain why the Maasai community lost their grazing lands.
Answer - The Maasai community lost their grazing lands due to:
● Colonial governments declared large areas as game reserves and national parks, restricting Maasai access.
● Land was taken for settler farms and agricultural expansion.
● New laws imposed restrictions on grazing and movement.
● Population growth and competition for land increased pressure on available grazing areas.
● Introduction of private land ownership disrupted communal land use.
● Colonial governments declared large areas as game reserves and national parks, restricting Maasai access.
● Land was taken for settler farms and agricultural expansion.
● New laws imposed restrictions on grazing and movement.
● Population growth and competition for land increased pressure on available grazing areas.
● Introduction of private land ownership disrupted communal land use.
Q4. There are many similarities in the way in which the modern world forced changes in the lives of pastoral communities in India and East Africa. Write about any two examples of changes which were similar for Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders.
Answer - Two similar changes experienced by both Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders are:
● Loss of grazing lands: Both groups faced restrictions as colonial governments took over land for forests, agriculture, or conservation.
● Sedentarisation: Both communities were forced to settle in one place due to laws and changing economic pressures, losing their traditional nomadic lifestyles.
● Loss of grazing lands: Both groups faced restrictions as colonial governments took over land for forests, agriculture, or conservation.
● Sedentarisation: Both communities were forced to settle in one place due to laws and changing economic pressures, losing their traditional nomadic lifestyles.