Rome is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and developed around the same time as the cities in the Ganga valley. Rome was the capital of one of the largest empires, one that spread across Europe, North Africa and West Asia. Augustus, one of the most important emperors, who ruled about 2000 years ago, said that he found Rome a city of brick and made it into a city of marble. He and later rulers, built temples and palaces. They also built huge amphitheatres- open arenas surrounded by tiers of seats- where citizens could watch all kinds of shows and public baths (with separate timings for men and women), where people met and relaxed. Huge aqueducts- channels to supply water- were built to bring water to the city- for the baths, fountains and toilets.
Why do you think the amphitheatres and aqueducts have survived?

What is the Sangam literature and when were they composed?

Discuss the scene of a smith's shop.

Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?

Look at the chart, you will find that some of the stages in the construction of irrigation works are mentioned. fill in the rest by using the following phrases:
• Labour is provided by the people.
• Farmers also benefit because crop production is more certain.
• Farmers have to increase production to pay taxes.
• Kings provide money and plan irrigation works.

Landless labourers were known as ________________

Uzhavar were ordinary ______________

The largest collections of _____________and weapons were found in the _________burials.

Ploughmen were known as ______________in Tamil.

____________was a word used for large landowners in Tamil.

Mathura was famous because it was a

Which kinds of inscriptions have been found in Mathura?

When did the use of iron begin in the sub-continent?

Which of the following religions is related to Jataka?

Ring wells were used as

What was used as a dye cloth?

How was Arretine Ware made?

Why were Varanasi and Madurai famous?

What was the use of iron tools?

Which kinds of places or markets did not survive?

List the craftspersons in most of villages.

What were the irrigation works built around 2500 years ago?

When did the use of iron begin?

What do you mean by Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions?

What was being done by Prabhakar?

Answer the following questions based on picture given below:

(i) What does this picture represent?
(ii) These are made-up of which material?
(iii) What was the function of the above picture?

Explain the main features of Arikamedu settlement.