NCERT Book Class 6 Social Science (History) Chapter 5 Kingdoms, Kings and An Early Republic

CHAPTER 5
KINGDOMS, KINGS AND
AN EARLY REPUBLIC
Election day
Shankaran woke up to see his grandparents all ready to go
and vote. They wanted to be the first to reach the polling
booth. Why, Shankaran wanted to know, were they so
excited? Somewhat impatiently, his grandfather explained:
“We can choose our own rulers today.”

How some men became rulers
Choosing leaders or rulers by voting is something
that has become common during the last fifty
years or so. How did men become rulers in the
past? Around 3000 years ago, some men became
recognised as rajas by performing big sacrifices.
The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice was one
such ritual. A horse was let loose to wander freely
and it was guarded by the raja’s men. If the horse
wandered into the kingdoms of other rajas and
they stopped it, they had to fight. If they allowed
the horse to pass, it meant that they accepted that
the raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice was
stronger than them. These rajas were then invited
to the sacrifice, which was performed by specially
trained priests, who were rewarded with gifts. The
raja who organised the sacrifice was recognised
as being very powerful, and all those who came
brought gifts for him.
The raja was a central figure in these rituals.
He often had a special seat, a throne or a tiger
skin. His charioteer, who was his companion in
the battlefield and witnessed his exploits, chanted
tales of his glory. His relatives, especially his wives 43 
and sons, had to perform a variety of minor rituals. kingdoms, kings and

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