What, Where, How and When? — CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 1

What Can We Know About the Past?

History is not just a collection of dates and names of powerful kings; it is the story of ordinary people who lived before us. By studying the past, we can find out about several things: what people ate (like wild fruits, plants, or hunted animals), the kinds of clothes they wore (animal skins, cotton, or wool), and the types of houses in which they lived. We can also learn about the daily lives of different occupational groups such as hunters, herders, farmers, rulers, merchants, priests, craftspersons, artists, musicians, and scientists. Additionally, we can discover the games children played, the stories they heard, and the songs they sang. Understanding these aspects helps us see how human society evolved over thousands of years.

Where Did People Live? Tracking Early Human Settlements

1. Narmada River Valley (Gathering & Hunting) — People lived along the banks of this river for several hundred thousand years. They were skilled gatherers who collected roots, fruits, and forest produce, and also hunted animals for survival.
2. Sulaiman and Kirthar Hills (Beginning of Agriculture) — Located in modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, this is where women and men first began to grow crops like wheat and barley about 8,000 years ago. They also began rearing animals like sheep, goats, and cattle.
3. Garo Hills and Vindhyas (Development of Farming) — Agriculture developed rapidly in these regions. Rice was first grown in areas located to the north of the Vindhya mountains in central India.
4. Indus and its Tributaries (First Cities) — About 4,700 years ago, some of the earliest cities flourished on the banks of the Indus and its tributaries due to the abundance of fresh water and fertile land.
5. Ganga and Son Valleys (Later Kingdoms) — About 2,500 years ago, cities developed on the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries, leading to the formation of powerful kingdoms like Magadha.

Key Terms: How Do We Find Out About the Past?

Manuscripts

Handwritten records on palm leaves or specially prepared bark of the birch tree, which grows in the Himalayas.

Inscriptions

Writings carved on relatively hard surfaces such as stone, clay tablets, or metal plates, often containing orders of kings.

Archaeology

The study of human activity in the past through the recovery and analysis of material culture, including buildings, paintings, tools, and coins.

Historians

Scholars who study the past using clues from manuscripts, inscriptions, and archaeological discoveries.

Exam Tip: Decoding Historical Dates (BC, AD, BCE, CE)

Students often lose marks by confusing historical dates. Remember these simple rules:

1. BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era): These dates count backwards from the birth of Jesus Christ (the reference point '0'). For example, 2000 BCE is earlier than 1000 BCE.

1. AD (Anno Domini) or CE (Common Era): These dates count forward. For example, 2024 CE comes after 1000 CE.

Double Check Tip: If an exam question asks for the time difference between 500 BCE and 500 CE, you must add them together (500 + 500 = 1000 years), not subtract them!

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What is the main difference between a manuscript and an inscription? A: Step 1: Define a manuscript. A manuscript is a document written by hand, traditionally on soft organic materials like palm leaves or birch tree bark. Step 2: Define an inscription. An inscription consists of words or symbols carved or engraved onto hard surfaces such as stone, clay tablets, or metal plates. Step 3: Compare their durability. Manuscripts are fragile and often destroyed by insects over time, whereas inscriptions are highly durable and survive for thousands of years. Final answer: Manuscripts are handwritten on soft, organic materials (palm leaves), while inscriptions are engraved on hard, durable surfaces (stone or metal).
• Q: Why did early people settle near river valleys? A: Step 1: Identify basic survival needs. Water is essential for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. Step 2: Consider agricultural benefits. River banks have fertile soil (alluvium) which is ideal for growing crops. Step 3: Identify transport advantages. Rivers served as easy pathways for travel, communication, and trade. Final answer: Early people settled near river valleys because they provided a continuous source of fresh water, fertile soil for farming, and natural routes for transportation.
• Q: Where was rice first grown in ancient India? A: Step 1: Recall the agricultural developments in different regions of ancient India. Step 2: Identify the specific region associated with rice. Historical evidence shows that rice cultivation began to the north of the Vindhya mountains in central India. Step 3: Connect to other crop regions. Wheat and barley were first grown in the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills, while rice was distinct to the Vindhya region. Final answer: Rice was first grown in the areas located to the north of the Vindhya mountains.
• Q: Who are archaeologists and what tools/sources do they use to study history? A: Step 1: Define an archaeologist. An archaeologist is a scientist or scholar who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical artifacts. Step 2: List their sources. They examine physical remains such as buildings made of stone and brick, paintings, sculpture, tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments, and bones. Step 3: Describe their method. They explore and excavate (dig under the surface of the earth) to find these objects and use scientific dating methods to understand their age. Final answer: Archaeologists are scholars who study past human lives by excavating sites and analyzing physical remains like tools, coins, bones, and ruined buildings.

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