When , Where and How CLASS VI

                                    HISTORY: OUR PASTS (VI)

                  My dear students, here we are going to learn about ---

• What is history?
• Why do we study history?
• Time frame under study about history.
• Sources of history.                    

1) What is History?

Ans: History is the study of the events that happened in the past in the sequence of occurrence. Accordingly, history tells us about how early humans lived and progressed over thousands of years.

 

2) Why do we study History?

Ans: We study History because of the following reasons-

1) History tells us how humans discovered and invented various things. For example, it tells us how humans evolved from living in caves to reaching the Moon.

2) History tells us how cultural, social, and scientific developments took place.

3) History also tells us how people explored the world by travelling over thousands of kilometres on land and on water without any maps or navigational tools.

4) History helps us learn from the mistakes of the past and allows us to take better decisions.

                            So, history tells us how we have reached our current state which helps us to understand ourselves, our society and our surroundings better.

 

3. TIME FRAME UNDER STUDY ABOUT HISTORY

Our Earth was formed billions of years ago and life came into being in various forms slowly and gradually. Scientists believe that humans came into existence about 2,00,000 years ago. And also believe that it took humans several thousands of years to go from living in settlements and towns.

The time period of ancient history is from 5,00,000 BC to 800 AD.

4. What are the sources of history?

Ans: History is the study about the past. So to study history we need to depend upon on some reliable sources.Archaeologists recover objects by digging objects from sites that get buried under the earth. They tested these objects through the process of Carbon Dating.

Broadly the sources that are used to study history is divided into three categories - 

1)Literary Sources: Literary sources are written records. Before the invention of paper people used to write on the bark of birch tree or palm leaves. These are called as manuscripts. These manuscripts can be divided into two categories - 

a) Religious: Ancient Indian literature were religious in nature and they provided a wealth of knowledge about our ancient society. the Puranas ,the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Tripitakas, etc. are the few examples of religious manuscripts. 

b) Secular: The main subjects of secular books were grammar, politics, poems, drama etc. Arthashastra written by Chanakya,Panini' s grammar, Sangam literature, plays written by Kalidasa are the few examples of secular works of the people during those times.

2) Archaeological Sources: Archaeology is the study of the remains of the past.It helps us to reconstruct the history of the period when humans did not know how to write. Archaeology is the study about the remains of buildings, pottery, ornaments, bones, grains, remains of plants etc.

           Broadly, archaeological sources are divided into the following categories:

             1) Inscriptions: Inscriptions are the records engraved mostly on rocks, stone pillars, walls and on metal slabs. They were written in the languages of Prakrit, Pali, Brahmi, Sanskrit, Telegu and Tamil.

               2) Coins: Coins are another important archaeological sources to study about history. Historians have been discovered thousands of ancient Indian coins.Basically, metals used in the coins tell us about the economic condition of a particular empire and their knowledge of metallurgy.

                 3) Monuments or remains of buildings: Monuments consist of buildings , stupas, caves, temples, etc. Monuments are the buildings of historical importance.They tells us about the art and architecture, religious and cultural life of the people of the period in which they were built. Ajanta Stupa, Sanchi Stupa, and Ellora caves are some examples of monuments.

                  4) Artefacts and other findings: Artefacts are the objects of the past that were man made like tools, ornaments, etc. It gives us the various man made objects for example, ornaments, toys, tools, and pottery etc. All these gives us valuable knowledge of how people lived, their occupations and their customs.

3) Accounts of Foreign Travellers: Another important source of history is the accounts of foreign travellers. Several writings gives us valuable knowledge about ancient Indian history. For example, Indica written by Megasthenes gives us valuable information on the Mauryan Empire.

Similarly,accounts of Fa- Hien and Hiuen Tsang tell us about the socio-economic and religious situation in India in the 5th and 7th century CE.

5)What is history?

Ans: History is the study of the events that happened in the past in the sequence of occurrence.

 

6) When was human come into existence?

Ans: Humans came into existence about 2,00,000 years ago.

 

7)  Name the three periods in which the study of history is divided into three periods -

            a) Ancient history

            b) Medieval history

            c) Modern history

8)  What is the time period of ancient history?

Ans: From 5,00,000 BC to 800 AD.

 

9) What is taken as the reference point from where historians count dates?

Ans: The birth of Jesus Christ.

 

10)Why people moved from one place to another place?

Ans: People moved from one place to another place because of the following reasons -

        a) In search of food people moved from one place to another place.

          b) In case of natural disasters like floods, families people moved from one place to another place tor save their lives.

           c) Religious leaders moved to spread their teachings.

            d) Traders moved to sell their goods to far off places.

             e) Kings sent their armies to conquer land.

             f) People travelled to discover new lands.

 

11) Who wrote Arthashastra?

Ans: Chanakya.

 

12) What is Archaeology?

Ans: Archaeology is the study of the remains of the past. It helps us to reconstruct the history of the period when humans did not know how to write. They also study about the remains of buildings, pottery, weapons, tools,ornaments, bones, grains, remains of plants etc.

 

13) What are Inscriptions?

Ans: Inscriptions are records engraved mostly on rocks, stone pillars, walls and on metal slabs.

 

14) What is epigraphy?

Ans: The study about the inscriptions are called as epigraphy.

 

15) Name the languages in which the majority of the inscriptions have been found.

Ans: Inscriptions are found in the languages of Prakrit, Pali, Brahmi, Sanskrit, Telegu and Tamil.

 

16) What is numismatics?

Ans: The study of coins is known as numismatics.

 

17) What is pass?

Ans: A pass is a path or a road in the mountains.

 

18) What are artefacts?

Ans: Artefacts are the objects of the past that were  man made like tools , ornaments etc.

 

19) Who wrote Indica?

Ans: Megasthenes.

 

20) What are the manuscripts?

Ans: Manuscripts are the written records on the bark of the birch tree or a palm leaf.

 

21) What are the monuments?

Ans: Monuments are the buildings of the historical importance.It consist of buildings, stupas, caves, temples etc. They tells us about the art and architecture, religious and cultural life of the people of the period in which they were built.

22.Choose the  correct option.

1.The study of history is divided into

i)two periods                     ii)three periods

iii)four periods                   iv)five periods

Ans: ii)three periods

2.The time period for the study of ancient history is

 i)5,00,000 BCE to 800 CE

ii) 5,00,000 BCE to 1000 CE

iii) 5,00,000 BCE to 1200 CE

Iv) none of these

Ans: 5,00,000 BCE to 800 CE

3.The kingdom of Magadha emerged in the

i)Narmada Valley                             ii)Indo - Gangetic Plain 

iii)Bank of Krishna river                   iv)bank of Mahanadi river

Ans: ii)Indo - Gangetic Plain

4. Trade with Rome took place through

i) land  route      ii)sea route         iii)both land and sea route          iv)none of these

Ans:ii)sea route

5.Before the invention of paper people used to write on

i) Palm leaf          ii) peepal leaf        iii)bark of birch  tree               iv) both i and iii.

Ans:  iv) both i and iii.

6.Epigraphy is the study of 

i) coins           ii)manuscripts            iii) inscriptions         iv)artefacts

Ans: iii) inscriptions 

7.Inscriptions of King Ashoka tell us about 

i)dhamma                           ii)Buddhism                                                   

  iii) art of warfare                 iv) economic condition

Ans: i)dhamma   

8. The study of coins is called 

i)epigraphy                    ii)numismatics

iii) carbon dating           iv)anthropology

Ans: ii) numismatics.

9.Indica was written by 

i)Kalidasa                            ii)Valmiki 

iii)Megasthenes                     iv) Vyasa

Ans:iii)Megasthenes .

23.Fill in the blanks.

 

1.The birth of Jesus Christ is a taken as the reference point from where historians count dates.

 

2.Arthashastra was written by Chanakya.

 

3.Study of inscriptions is called epigraphy.

 

4. Inscriptions of the King Ashoka tells us about his dhamma.

 

5.Most of the inscriptions are written in Prakrit ,Pali and Sanskrit languages.

 

6.Metals used in the coins tells about the economic condition of a particular Empire.

 

7.Monuments are buildings of historical importance.

 

8.Indica was written by Megasthenes.

 

9.Accounts written by Fa- Hien  and Hiuen Tsang tell us about the social economic and religious situation in India in the 5th and 7th century CE.

24.State whether true or false.

 

1.All dates after the birth of Christ are counted backwards.

         Ans: False.

 

2. The Himalayas separates India from Europe. 

Ans: False.

 

3. The Puranas and the Vedas are the examples of literary sources.

         Ans: True.

4.Sociologists record the history in a systematic way 

Ans:False

 

5.In one of the gold coins King Samudragupta is  shown playing the Tabla .

Ans: False.

 

6. Account of Megasthenes gives us valuable information about King Harsha.

Ans: False.

 

25.Name

1.The people who dig up the earth to find the remains of the past buried under it and study it archaeologists.

 

2.The structured study of the events that happened in the past history.

 

3.The powerful Kingdom that emerged in the Indo - gangetic Plains  Magadha.

 

4.The thing commonly written on the bark of the birch tree manuscripts.

 

5. The person who is shown on the coins are playing veena King Samudragupta

.

6.The thing found engraved on the rocks and pillars inscriptions.

 

7.The study of coins numismatics.

 

8.The person who wrote Indica Megasthenes.

 

9. The people who study inscriptions epigrapher.