CLASS 7 SOCIAL SCIENCE FINAL TERM

History

Lesson 7: The Making of Regional Culture

This chapter explores how language, food, clothing, poetry, dance, and painting define regional identities.

The Cheras and Malayalam: The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram (modern-day Kerala) introduced Malayalam in official inscriptions, showing how regional languages developed.  

Jagannatha Cult: In Puri, Odisha, the local deity became identified with Vishnu. This shows how regional religious traditions influenced culture.  

The Rajputs: Associated with heroism and chivalry, their stories were preserved in poems and songs.  

Kathak: Originally a caste of storytellers in temples, it evolved into a major dance form under the patronage of the Mughals and Nawabs of Lucknow.

Miniature Paintings: Small-sized paintings (often in watercolor) flourished under the Mughals. When the empire declined, artists moved to the Himalayan foothills, creating the "Basohli" and "Kangra" styles.  

The Growth of Bengali: While derived from Sanskrit, it evolved through Persian influence and local tribal languages.

Lesson 8: Eighteenth-Century Political Formations

This covers the period between the death of Aurangzeb (1707) and the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).

The Crisis of the Empire: Factors like long wars in the Deccan, depletion of resources, and the rise of powerful Mansabdars led to the decline of the Mughals.  

Emergence of New States:

The Old Mughal Provinces: Awadh (founded by Sa’adat Khan), Bengal (Murshid Quli Khan), and Hyderabad (Asaf Jah).  

The Watan Jagirs: Many Rajput kings (like Amber and Jodhpur) gained high autonomy.  

The Seizing of Independence: The Sikhs (organized by Guru Gobind Singh and later Banda Bahadur), the Marathas (under Shivaji and the Peshwas), and the Jats.

Civics

Lesson 2: Role of Government in Health

Definition of Health: It isn't just about being free of illness; it includes mental well-being, clean water, and a pollution-free environment.

Public vs. Private Healthcare:

Public: Run by the government; affordable or free; meant for all citizens (e.g., PHCs and Government Hospitals).

Private: Owned by individuals/companies; expensive; concentrated in urban areas.

The Kerala Experience: In 1996, Kerala gave 40% of the state budget to Panchayats to ensure proper planning for water, food, and education.  

The Costa Rican Approach: This country decided not to have an army and spent that money on health and education instead, becoming one of the healthiest countries in Central America.

Lesson 8: A Shirt in the Market

This chapter traces the "Chain of Markets" from a cotton farmer to a supermarket consumer.

The Cotton Farmer: Small farmers (like Swapna) are often caught in a debt trap, forced to sell cotton at low prices to local traders who lent them money.  

The Weaver (Putting-out System): Merchants supply raw materials to weavers and receive the finished cloth. Weavers save on buying yarn but are paid very low wages.  

The Garment Factory: Workers (mostly women) work long hours for minimum wages to produce clothes for export.

The Profit Gap: The foreign businessperson makes the most profit, while the small farmer and weaver earn the least. This highlights inequality in the market.

Geography

Lesson 6: Human Environment Interactions (Tropical & Subtropical)

The Amazon Basin (Tropical):

Climate: Hot and wet all year round.

Rainforests: Thick canopies; home to diverse wildlife (Toucan, Tapir, Piranha).

People: Practice "Slash and Burn" agriculture; main food is Manioc (Cassava).

The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin (Subtropical):

Features: Fertile plains, ox-bow lakes, and the Sundarbans Delta.

Agriculture: Paddy (rice) is the main crop due to high rainfall.

Wildlife: One-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal Tiger.