Yearly Archives: 2022

Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was being done by Prabhakar?
Answer:
Prabhakar sat watching the smiths at the local shop.

Question 2.
Which things and steps helped in increasing production to the man?
Answer: New tools and transplantation increased production. Irrigation was also used. Irrigation works that were built during this time (before 600 B.C.) included canals, wells, tanks and artificial lakes.

Question 3.
What are Jatakas?
Answer:
The Jatakas were stories that were probably composed by ordinary people and then written down and preserved by Buddhist monks.

Question 4.
Explain the meaning of the term: Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.
Answer:
Several pieces of pottery have inscriptions in the early Brahmi script, which was used to write Tamil. These are called Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.

Vital Villages, Thriving Towns Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Discuss the scene of a smith’s shop.
Answer:

• At shop of the smith we can see a small bench on which tools are laid out, ready for sale.
• We can also see a bright fire burning and two men heating and beating metal rods into shape.
• It is generally very hot and noisy and yet it is fascinating to watch what is happening.

Question 2.
Discuss in a short paragraph ‘Iron Tools and Agriculture’.
Answer:

• We generally take the use of iron for granted today. In fact different types of things made of iron (as well as steel) are a part of our daily lives.
• The use of iron began in Indian subcontinent around 3000 years ago.
• Some of the largest collections of iron tools and weapons were found in the megalithic burials.
• There is evidence for the growing use of iron tools. These included axes for clearing the land and the ploughshare was useful for increasing agricultural production.

Question 3.
What do you mean by the term Sangam literature? Why are these called Sangam?
Answer:
1. Meaning. Some of the earliest works in Tamil are known as Sangam literature. I These texts were composed around 2300 years ago.

2. Cause of being called Sangam. These texts are called Sangam because they were composed and compiled in assemblies (known as Sangam) of poets that were held in the city of Madurai.

Question 4.
What do you understand by the term ‘Punch marked coins’? Explain in brief.
Answer:
Early coins. Archaeologists have found several thousands of coins belonging to this early ancient period of ancient India. The earliest coins which were in use for about 500 years were Punch marked coins. They have been given this name because the designs were punched on to the metal, silver or copper.

Coins were used as medium of exchange. But we should remember that coins were not only means of exchange. Other articles such as paddy, salt and some animals were also used as means of exchange.

Question 5.
Discuss the Northern Black Polished Ware or NBP Ware of the early centuries of the ancient India.
Answer:

• We have archaeological evidences for crafts of ancient India. These include extremely fine pottery, known as the Northern Black Polished Ware (or NBP Ware in short form).
• The Northern Black Polished Ware gets its name from the fact that it is generally found in the northern part of the subcontinent. It is usually black in colour and has a fine sheen (illustration).
• We can see and can give as an example of the Rampurwa Bull in this regard. This was part of a Mauryan pillar and has now been placed in Rashtrapati Bhawan (New Delhi). It is a good example of the skill of the sculptures of the time.

Question 6.
Explain in brief the role or functions of the Shrenis (guilds) in the Mauryan Age.
Answer:

• Many crafts persons and merchants now formed associations known as Shrenis.
• Shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material and distributed the finished product.
• Shrenis of merchants organized trade.
• Shrenis also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money. This was invested and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.

Question 7.
Write important historical events related with the following’ dates:

1. About 3000 years ago
2. About 2500 years ago
3. About 2000 years ago
4. Between 2000 and 1900 years ago

Answer:

Vital Villages, Thriving Towns Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Who lived in the villages in the subcontinent before and during the age of the Buddha?
Answer:
Inhabitants in the Villages

1. There were at least three different kinds of people living in most of the villages in the southern and northern parts of the subcontinent.

2. (a) In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as Vellalar,
(b) Ordinary ploughmen were known as Uzhavar, and
(c) Landless labourers including slaves, were known as Kadaisiyar and Adimai.

3. (a) In the northern part of India, the village headman was known as the Grama bhojaka. Usually, men from the same family held the positions for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary. The Gramabhojaka was often the largest landowner. Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.

Besides, as he was powerful, the king often used him to collect taxes from the village. He also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman.

(b) Apart from the gramabhojaka, there were other independent farmers, known as
Grihapatis, most of whom were smaller landowners.

(c) And then there were men and women such as the dasa karamkara, who did not own land and had to earn a living working on the field of others.

4. In the most villages there were also some crafts persons such as the blacksmith, potter, carpenter and weaver.

Question 2.
How do we find out about early cities of subcontinent?
Answer:
We find out about early cities of the subcontinent through the following:

1. Stories or collection of ancient stories,
2. Description of travellers and sailors,
3. Sculpture, and
4. Archaeology.

1. Stories. The Jatakas were stories that were probably composed by ordinary people and then written down and preserved by Buddhist monks. The Jatakas throw sufficient light on the lives of the people who used to like these.

2. Travellers and sailors. Another way of finding out about early cities is from the accounts of sailors and travellers who visited them. One of the most detailed accounts that has been found was by an unknown Greek sailor. He described all the ports he visited.

3. Sculptures. We can use other kinds of evidences to find out about life in some of these early cities. Sculptures carved scenes depicting peoples’ lives in towns and villages, as well as in the forests. Many of these sculptures were used to decorate railings, pillars and gateways of buildings that were visited by people. For example, we can see Sanchi, for a site with stupas, in Madhya Pradesh. This place shows us some beautiful scenes in that city.

4. Archaeologists. In many early cities, archaeologists have found rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other. We have been pointed out some ring wells by the archaeologists in early cities. These (ring wells) seem to have been used as toilets in some cases, and as drains and garbage dumps. These ring wells are usually found in individual houses. We have hardly any remains of palaces, markets or of homes of ordinary people. Perhaps some remain to be discovered by archaeologists. Others made of wood, mud brick and thatch, may not have survived.

Question 3.
Describe functions performed in early cities like Mathura.
Answer:
Generally, some cities were considered important for a variety of reasons (or variety of functions performed in them). Let us look at the example of Mathura.
Mathura:

• It has been an important settlement for more than 2500 years.
• Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food for people in the city, which was located at the cross roads of two major routes of communication, from the northwest to north and east and from north to south.
• There were fortifications around the city and several shrines.
• Mathura was also a centre where some extremely fine sculpture was produced.
• Around 2000 years ago Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas (remember their first capital was Purshpur or modern Peshawar in Pakistan).
• Mathura was also a religious centre – there were Buddhist monasteries. Jain shrines and it was an important centre for worship of Lord Krishna.

Several inscriptions on surfaces such as stone, slabs, statues, have been found in Mathura. Generally, these are short inscriptions, recording gifts made by men and women to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants and crafts persons who lived in the city. For example, inscriptions from Mathura mention goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, perfumers.

Question 4.
Explain in short the main features of Arikamedu settlement.
Answer:
Arikamedu:

• This is located in Pondicherry. Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, this site was a coastal settlement.
• A massive brick structure, which may have been a warehouse, was found at the site.
• Other finds (of Arikamedu) include pottery from the Mediterranean region, such as amphorae (tall double-handled jars that contained liquids such as wine or oil) and stamped red-glazed pottery, known as Arretine Ware, which was named after a city in Italy (or ancient Roman Empire). This was made by pressing which was made locally though Roman designs were used.
• Roman lamps, glassware and gems have also been found at the site (i.e., Arikamedu).
• Small tanks have been found that were probably dyeing vats, used to dye cloth.
• There is plenty of evidence for the making of beads from semi-precious stones and glass.

Vital Villages, Thriving Towns Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
When did the use of iron begin in subcontinents?
(a) Around 3,000 years ago
(b) Around 6,000 years ago
(c) Around 9,000 years ago
(d) Around 12,000 years ago
Answer:
Around 3,000 years ago

Question 2.
What was the method of irrigation in ancient time?
(a) Canals
(b) Wells
(c) Tanks
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 3.
In which region landowners were known as Vellalars?
(a) Maharastra region
(b) Punjab region
(c) Tamil region
(d) None of these
Answer:
Tamil region

Question 4.
Who were grama bhojaka?
(a) Village head men
(b) Ordinary people of village
(c) Educated persons
(d) illiterate persons
Answer:
Village head men

Question 5.
People who had no land of their own and worked for others were
(a) Independent farmers
(b) Dasa Saramakaras
(c) Herders
(d) Grihapatis
Answer:
Dasa Saramakaras

Question 6.
What was the only resource of poor man in the story clever poor man?
(a) Dead rats
(b) Dead dogs
(c) Dead goats
(d) None of these
Answer:
Dead rats

Question 7.
Where was ring well found?
(a) Kolkata
(b) Mumbai
(c) Delhi
(d) Chandigarh
Answer:
Delhi

Question 8.
Why were the sculptures used by the ancient cities?
(a) To decorate railings, pillars etc.
(b) To decorate cities
(c) None of these
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 9.
Where was salt produced plentifully along?
(a) Sea
(b) River
(c) Lakes
(d) wells
Answer:
Sea

Question 10.
What was ring well used for?
(a)Bathing
(b) Washing cloths
(c)Irrigation
(d) Drainage
Answer:
Drainage

Question 11.
Why was Mathura famous for?
(a) Religious centre
(b) Forested area
(c) Port
(d) All of these
Answer:
Religious centre

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Write an important historical event which took place more than 2300 years ago.
Answer:
Mauryan empire began more than 2300 years ago.

Question 2.
Name the countries where Ashokan inscriptions have been found.
Answer:

• (Modern) Afghanistan
• (Modern) Pakistan
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Syria
• Egypt
• Greece

Question 3.
Name the Indian states which were outside the Mauryan empire during the reign of Ashoka.
Answer:

• A part of modern Tamil Nadu or Chola empire.
• Chera empire or modern Kerala.

Question 4.
Who founded the Mauryan empire and when?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya (the grandfather of Ashoka) founded the Mauryan empire. He did so more than 2300 years ago.

Question 5.
Who supported Chandragupta?
Answer:
Chandragupta was supported by a wise man named Chanakya (or Kautilya).

Question 6.
Who wrote Arthashastra?
Answer:
Chanakya (or Kautilya) wrote Arthashastra.

Question 7.
What were written down in Arthashastra?
Answer:
Many of Chanakya’s ideas were written down in Arthashastra.

Question 8.
Explain the meaning of word ‘Dynasty’.
Answer:
Dynasty. When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the family is generally called a dynasty. For example, the Mauryan dynasty or the Gupta dynasty.

Question 9.
Write the names of three rulers of the Mauryan dynasty.
Answer:

1. Chandragupta
2. Bindusara, and
3. Ashoka.

Question 10.
Write the name of the Mauryan capital.
Answer:
Pataliputra.

Question 11.
Make a list of important cities of the Mauryan empire.
Answer:

• Pataliputra (the capital town),
• Taxila, and
• Ujjain.

Question 12.
How is an empire different from other kingdoms?
Answer:
Differences between an Empire and other Kingdoms:

• Emperors need more resources than kings as empires are larger including several
  kingdoms and need to be protected by big armies.
• Emperors also have to have a larger number of officials who collect taxes

Question 13.
Who was Megasthenese? Write one reason for which he is known even today.
Answer:

• Megasthenese was an ambassador who was sent to the court of Chandragupta by the Greek ruler of West Asia named Seleucus Nicator.
• Reason of Popularity. Megasthenese wrote an account about what he saw. His description got the form of a book entitled ‘Indica’. Nowadays this book does not exist in its original form.

Question 14.
Write an important event related with the following date:
More than 2300 years ago.
Answer:
This date is related with the beginning of the Mauryan empire. Question 15. Why are the following dates important?

1. 327 – 26 B.C.
2. 323 B.C.
3. 321 B.C.
4. 305 B.C.
5. 269 B.C.
6. 260 B.C.
7. 185 B.C.

Answer:

Question 16.
Which important event took place in China about 2400 years ago?
Answer:
Emperors in China began building the Great Wall about 2400 years ago.

Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Mention any three big or prominent cities of the Mauryan empire. Why were these cities popular (or famous)?
Answer:

1. Pataliputra, the capital town of the Mauryan empire. It was main centre of all political activities and administration.
2. Taxila (nowadays in modem Pakistan) was a gateway to the northwest, including Central Asia.
3. Ujjain lay on the route from north (India) to south India. Merchants, officials and crafts persons probably lived in all the above mentioned three cities.

Question 2.
Write three main features of life of the people of the Mauryan empire.
Answer:
The main features of life of the people of the Mauryan empire were:

• There were several cities in the empire. Mainly emperor and his other family members along with important officials of the kingdom lived in capital. Merchants, officials and crafts person probably lived in cities.
• In other areas (other than cities), there were villages of farmers and herders.
• In some areas, such as central India, there were forests, where people gathered forest produce and hunted animals for food.
• People in different parts of the empire spoke in different languages. They probably ate different kinds of food and wore different kinds of clothes as well.
• Besides, there were the forest regions. People living in these areas were probably more or less independent, but may have been expected to provide elephants, timber, honey and wax to Mauryan officials.

Question 3.
Discuss the ruling system of the Mauryan empire.
Or
Mention main features of administrative system of the Mauryan empire.
Answer:
The ruling system (or Administration) of the Mauryan Empire was:

• As the Mauryan empire was very large, its different parts were ruled differently.
• The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor. This meant that officials were appointed to collect taxes from farmers, herders, crafts persons and traders in villages and towns in the area.
• Mauryan government’s officials also punished those who disobeyed the ruler’s order.
• Some of the Mauryan officials were given salaries.
• Messengers went to and fro, and spies kept a watch on the officials.
• The Mauryan emperor supervised all officials, species, ambassadors etc. probably with the help of members of the royal family and senior ministers.

Question 4.
Write three or four sentences about provinces and the administration of the Maury an Empire.
Answer:

1. There were several provinces in the Mauryan empire.
2. Each province was ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain.
3. Although there was some amount of control from Pataliputra and royal princes were often sent to provinces as governors.
4. In provinces local customs and rules were probably followed.

Question 5.
Why was control of roads and rivers considered important during the Mauryan Age?
Answer:
The Mauryas tried to control roads and rivers. These were important for transport w and to collect whatever resources were available as tax and tribute. For example, the Arthashastra (the famous literary work of Kautilaya or Chanakya) tells us that the north¬west was important for blankets and south India for its gold and precious stones.

Question 6.
Explain the following terms:

1. Tribute
2. The Brahmi script

Answer:
1. Tribute. Unlike taxes, which were collected on a regular basis, tribute was collected as and when it was possible from people who gave a variety of things, more or less willingly.
2. The Brahmi script. The most of the modem Indian scripts have developed from the Brahmi script.

Question 7.
Who was the most famous ruler of the Mauryan dynasty? How did he try to teach his message to the people?
Answer:

• The most famous Mauryan ruler was Ashoka.
• Ashoka was the first ruler who tried to teach his message to the people through inscriptions.
• The most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were written in Prakrit.

Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe in your own words what Megasthenese had written about the Mauryan Emperor and about the Capital City of the Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
Here is a part of Megasthenese’s description about the Mauryan Emperor and the Capital City: (Pataliputra or modem Patna)
1. The Emperor

• The occasions on which the emperor appears in public are celebrated with grand royal processions. He is carried in a golden palanquin (Palankeen).
• Emperor’s guards rode elephants decorated with gold and silver. Some of the guards carried trees on which live birds, including a flock of trained parrots circled about the head of the emperor.
• The king (or the emperor) was normally surrounded by armed women. He was afraid that someone might try to kill him.
• The emperor had special servants to taste the food before he ate. He never slept in the same bedroom for two nights.

2. The Capital City or Pataliputra (or modern Patna)

• The Capital City of the Mauryan empire was Pataliputra (modern Patna). It was a large and beautiful city. It was surrounded by a massive wall. It had 570 towers and 64 gates.
• The houses (of capital city), of two and three storeys were built from wood and mud bricks.
• The emperor’s palace was made of wood and decorated with stone carvings. It was surrounded with gardens and enclosures for keeping birds.

Question 2.
Discuss Ashoka’s war in Kalinga.
Or
Discuss main events of Ashoka’s war in Kalinga. What were effects of this war on him?
Answer:
1. Ashoka’s War in Kalinga. Kalinga is the ancient name of coastal Orissa. Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga. About a lakh and a half people were captured and more than a lakh of people were killed. He conquered Kalinga after eight years. In this way, he became the emperor of almost whole of India.

2.. Impact of Ashoka’s War in Kalinga

• Ashoka was very horrified when he saw the result of violence and bloodshed. He decided not to fight any more wars.
• Ashoka was very sad and decided to observe dhamma, and to teach others about it as well.
• He believed after this victory in war that winning people over through dhamma was much better than conquering them through force (or threat).
• He inscribed his message of peace and love for the future, so that his son and grandson after him should not think about war. Instead, they should try to think about how to spread dhamma.

Question 3.
What was Ashoka’s Dhamma? What did he do in this field?
Answer:
Ashoka’s Dhamma:
1. Dhamma is the Prakrit word for Sanskrit term Dharma. Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve worship of a god, or performance of a sacrifice.

2. Ashoka felt that like a father, he had a duty to instruct his subject. He was greatly inspired by the teachings of the Buddha.

3. There were numerous problems that troubled emperor Ashoka. People in the empire followed different religions and this sometimes led to conflict. Animals were sacrificed. Slaves and servants were ill-treated. Besides, there were quarrels in families and amongst neighbours. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems, so, he appointed officials, known as the Dhamma Mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. Besides Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read the message to those who could not read it themselves.

4. He asked his people to give up useless rituals. He advised his subjects to be gentle with slaves and servants. He asked them to respect their elders.

5. Ashoka asked his people to treat all creatures with compassion. They should give gifts to brahmins and monks.

6. Ashoka asked that it was wrong to praise one’s own religion or criticize another’s. Each one should respect the other’s religion. According to Ashoka if one praises one’s own religion while criticising another’s, one was actually doing greater harm to one’s own religion. Therefore, one should try to understand the main ideas of another’s religion and respect it.

7. Ashoka sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.

8. Ashoka built roads, planted trees along these roads, dug wells and built rest houses. Besides he arranged for medical treatment for both the human beings and the animals.

Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
Which are the animals shown in our national Emblem?
(a) Goats
(b) Lions
(c) Bulls
(d) None of these
Answer:
Lions

Question 2.
How many lions are shown in our national Emblem?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Answer:
Four

Question 3.
What was name of grandfather of Ashoka?
(a) Krishna
(b) Mahavira
(c) Sidhartha
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya

Question 4.
In which book were Chanakya’s ideas written?
(a) Ramayana
(b) Mahabharata
(c) Arthashastra
(d) None of these
Answer:
Arthashastra

Question 5.
Who was supported by a wise man named Chanakya?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusar
(c) Chandragupta
(d) All of these
Answer:
Chandragupta

Question 6.
Who was Bindusar’s son?
(a) Chandragupta
(b) Sidhartha
(c) Ashoka
(d) Ram Krishna Paramhans
Answer:
Ashoka

Question 7.
From which area was Taxila and Ujjain ruled?
(a) Pataliputra
(b) Bihar
(c) Delhi
(d) Agra
Answer:
Pataliputra

Question 8.
In which language were the Ashoka’s inscriptions written?
(a) Dev Nagari
(b) Sanskrit
(c) Tamil
(d) Brahmi Script
Answer:
Brahmi Script

Question 9.
What is the meaning of word Dhamma?
(a) Environment
(b) Dharma
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 10.
How many towers supported the massive wall of Pataliputra?
(a) 670
(b) 870
(c) 570
(d) 470
Answer:
570

Question 11.
How many people were killed in the war of Kalinga?
(a) More than 20,000
(b) More than 40,000
(c) More than 60,000
(d) More than one Lakh
Answer:
More than one Lakh

Question 12.
Which is the other animal on Mauryan Pillar?
(a)Lion
(b)Cat
(c) Dog
(d) Bull
Answer:
Bull

Question 13.
How can ‘a’ be written in Bengali?
(a) अ
(b) त्र
(c) ञ
(d) भ
Answer:
ञ

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was being done the first time by Anagha?
Answer:
Anagha was going the first time on a school trip.

Question 2.
From where Anagha was going?
Answer:
Anagha was going from Pune to Varanasi.

Question 3.
How is Anagha going to Varanasi?
Answer:
Anagha is going to Varanasi by train.

Question 4.
Who came to see off Anagha? What did she tell her teacher?
Answer:
Anagha’s mother came to see her off. She told her teacher “Do tell the children about the Buddha, and take them to see Samath as well.”

Question 5.
Who was the Buddha? Write three-four sentences about him.
Answer:
The real name of the Buddha was Siddhartha. He belonged to a small gana known as the Sakya gana, and was a Kshatriya. He was also known as Gautama. He was the founder of Buddhism. He was bom about 2500 years ago.

Question 6.
Mention two major changes taking place in India near about 2500 years
ago.
Answer:

1. Some kings in Mahajanapadas were growing more powerful.
2. New cities were developing and life was changing in the villages as well.

New Questions and Ideas Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Discuss in brief the story of the Buddha.
Answer:

1. When Gautma Buddha was a young man, he left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge. He wandered for several years, meeting and holding discussions with other thinkers (philosophers). He finally decided to find his own path to realization, and meditated for days on end under a peepal free at Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment. After that, he was known as the Buddha or the wise one.

2. After attaining enlightenment Buddha went to Samath, near Varanasi, where he taught for the first time. He spent the rest of his life travelling on foot, going from place to place, teaching people, till he passed away at Kushinara.

Question 2.
Write in short the life story of Vardhamana Mahavira.
Answer:

• Vardhamana Mahavira was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji Sangha.
• At the age of thirty, Mahavira left home and went to live in a forest. For twelve years he led a hard and lonely life, at the end of which he attained enlightenment.
• The teachings of Mahavira and his followers were written down at a place called Valabhi, in Gujarat, about 1500 years ago.

Question 3.
Write important historical events against the following dates:
1. about 2500 years ago
2. about 1500 years ago. Answer:
Answer:

New Questions and Ideas Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
What were the main teachings of the Buddha?
Answer:
The main teachings of the Buddha were:

• The Buddha taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness. This is caused because we have cravings and desires (which cannot be fulfilled).
• Sometimes, even if we get what we desire, we are not satisfied (permanently) and want (or desire) even more and more (or other things). The Buddha described this as thirst or tanha.
• The Buddha taught that thirst or tanha or constant craving could be removed by following moderation in everything.
• He also taught people to be kind and to respect the fives of others, including animals.
• The Buddha believed that the result of our actions (called Karma), whether good or bad, affect us both in this life and the next.
• He also encouraged, people to think for themselves rather than to follow simply what he (the Buddha) said.
• The Buddha taught in Prakrit, which was the language of the ordinary people, so that everybody could understand his message.

Question 2.
Write a short note on the following:
1. Upanishads
2. Panini, the grammarian.
Answer:
1. Upanishads:
(a) Background. Around the time that the Buddha was preaching and perhaps a little earlier, other thinkers also tried to find answers to difficult questions. Some of them wanted to know about life after death, others wanted to know why sacrifices should be performed. Many of these thinkers felt that there was something
permanent in the world, something that would last even after death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahman or the universal soul. They believed that ultimately, both the atman and the brahman were the one and the same.

(b) Many ideas of the ancient thinkers were recorded in books called the Upanishads. These were part of the later Vedic texts (i.e., all three Vedas, other than the Rigveda are called the later Vedas).

(c) Upanishad literally means “approaching and sitting near” and the texts contain conversation between teachers and students. Generally, ideas were presented through simple dialogues.

2. Panini, the grammarian:
He was a great scholar, who prepared a grammar for Sanskrit. He arranged the vowels and the consonants in a special order, and then used to create formulae like those found in Algebra. He used them to write down the rules of the language in short formulae (around 3,000 of them).

Question 3.
Discuss Jainism in brief.
Answer:

1. The word Jaina comes from the term Jina, meaning conqueror. Followers of Vardhamana Mahavira, who were known as Jainas, had to lead very simple lives, begging for food. They had to be absolutely truthful and honest. They were especially asked not to steal.

2. The followers of Mahavira had to observe celibacy. And men preachers had to give up everything, including their clothes.

3. Mahavira taught a simple doctrine: men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes. They must follow rules of ahimsa which means not hurting or killing living beings, very strictly.

4. The Jain Munnies had to cover their mouth and nose with a piece of cloth, ensuring that they did not breathe to kill small insects.

5. “All beings” said Mahavira, “long to live. To all creatures life is dear”. Ordinary people could understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they used Prakrit.

Question 4.
Why did the Jainism not become popular among most of the people?
Or
What were the reasons of less popularity of Jainism?
Answer:

• It was very difficult for most men and women to follow main principles (or rules) strictly as desired by the founders and preachers of Jainism.
• Nevertheless, thousands left their homes to learn and teach the new way of life, preached by Jainism. Many more remained behind and supported those who became monks and nuns providing them with food.
• Jainism was supported mainly by traders. Farmers (the main portion of India’s population), who had to kill insects to protect their crops, found it more difficult to follow the rules.

Question 5.
Discuss the Sangha.
Answer:
1. Both the Buddha and the Mahavira (the founders of the Buddhism and the Jainism) felt that only those who left their homes could gain true knowledge. They arranged for them to stay together in the sangha, an association of those who left their homes.

2. The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. From this book we know that there were separate branches for men and women. All men could join the sangha. However, children had to take the permission of their parents, slaves that of their masters, those who worked for the king had to take his permission and debtors that of creditors. Women had to take their husbands’ permission.

3. Men and women who joined the sangha led simple lives. They meditated for most of the time, and went to villages, towns and cities to beg for their food during fixed hours. That is why, they were known as bhikshus and bhikshunis. They taught others, and helped one another. They held frequent meetings to settle any quarrels that took place.

4. Those who joined the sangha included brahmins, kshatriyas, merchants, labourers, barbers and slaves. Many of them wrote down the teachings of the Buddha. Some of them also composed beautiful poems, describing their life in the sangha.

Question 6.
Discuss the Monasteries of the Jainas and the Buddhists.
Answer:
1. To begin with, both Jaina and Buddhist monks went from place to place throughout the year, teaching people about their religions. The only time they stayed in one place was during the rainy season, when it was very difficult to travel.

2. As time passed on, the supporters of the monks built temporary shelters for them in gardens or they lived in natural caves in hilly areas.

3. Then, several supporters of monks and nuns and they themselves, felt the need for more permanent shelters. These were known as Viharas (fagIt). The earliest Viharas were made of wood, and then of brick. Some were even dug out in hills, especially in western India.

4. Generally, the land on which the Vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or the ruler. The local people came with gifts of foods, clothings and medicines etc. for the monks and nuns. In return they taught the people their teachings.

New Questions and Ideas Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
When was Gautam Buddha born?
(a) About 3,000 years ago
(b) About 2,500 years ago
(c) About 1,500 years ago
(d) About 1,000 years ago
Answer:
About 2,500 years ago

Question 2.
What was the early name of Gautam Buddha?
(a) Sidhartha
(b) Ashoka
(c) Mahavira
(d) Parsvanatha
Answer:
Sidhartha

Question 3.
Where did Buddha decide to find his own path to realisation?
(a) Gaziabad in UP
(b) Bodh Gaya in Bihar
(c) Kurukshetra in Haryana
(d) None of these
Answer:
Bodh Gaya in Bihar

Question 4.
Where did Buddha go to teach first time?
(a) Ringas
(b) Sikar
(c) Sarnath
(d) All of these
Answer:
Sarnath

Question 5.
Who thought that people should be kind and respect others?
(a) Gautam Buddha
(b) Bheronath
(c) Shiva
(d) Barhama
Answer:
Gautam Buddha

Question 6.
Who is famous tirthankara of Jains?
(a) Lord Krishna
(b) Lord Shiva
(c) Lord Mahavira
(d) Lord Mahesh
Answer:
Lord Mahavira

Question 7.
What does upanishad literally mean?
(a) Approaching and sitting near
(b) Go far away
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Approaching and sitting near

Question 8.
Who went door to door to find out whether anybody died there?
(a) Kisagotami
(b) Rajula
(c) Sita
(d) Ahiliya
Answer:
Kisagotami

Question 9.
Who believed that the result of our action is karma?
(a) Mahavira
(b) Buddha
(c) Indera
(d) Ram Chandra
Answer:
Buddha

Question 10.
At what age did Mahavira leave his home and go to live in a forest?
(a) At 15 years
(b) At 30 years
(c) At 40 years
(d) At 45 years
Answer:
At 30 years

Question 11.
What was Mahavira’s teaching?
(a) Live and let live
(b) Neither live nor to be lived
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Live and let live

Question 12.
What was the term from where the word Jains came?
(a) Jina
(b) Tina
(c) Vika
(d) Dika
Answer:
Jina

Question 13.
What did bhikkhus mean?
(a) Beggar
(b) Achiever
(c) Gainer
(d) Loser
Answer:
Beggar

Question 14.
Where did nuns and monks live?
(a) In caves
(b) In houses
(c) In huts
(d) None of these
Answer:
In caves

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Write events against the following important dates:

1. about 3000 years ago.
2. about 2500 years ago.
3. about 2300 years ago.
4. about 1500 years ago.

Answer:

Question 2.
What is the most important power with the people in a democracy?
Answer:
The people can choose their own rulers in a democracy.

Question 3.
What process has made common of some men becoming rulers during the last fifty years or so?
Answer:
Choosing leaders or rulers by voting is something that has become common during the last fifty years or so.

Question 4.
Write in short the meaning of the following new words/terms related with the chapter:

1. Matrimonial alliance,
2. Kingdom,
3. Republic,
4. Oligarchy,
5. Ambassador,
6. Amatyas,
7. Barter system,
8. Gramika,
9. Monarchy.

Answer:

1. Matrimonial alliance: An alliance or relationship based on marriage.
2. Kingdom: State ruled by a king/ruler or emperor is called kingdom.
3. Republic: State whose head is elected directly or indirectly by the people (or their representatives) is called republic.
4. Oligarchy: A government chosen by a few is called oligarchy.
5. Ambassador: An official representing the government of his or her country in other (or foreign) country is called ambassador.
6. Amatyas: Ministers.
7. Barter system: Exchange of goods for goods is called barter system. Money is not used as medium of exchange.
8. Gramika (or Gramini): Chief or head of a village is called gramika.
9. Monarchy: A kingdom or an empire ruled by hereditary king.

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How did men become rulers in the past?
Answer:

• Some of the rajas (rulers) were probably chosen by the jana. the people.
• Around 3,000 years ago, we find some changes taking place in the ways in which rajas were chosen. Some men recognised as rajas, became rulers by performing very big sacrifices.

Question 2.
Make a list of all those who would be present at the sacrifice.
Answer:

• The raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice.
• Specially trained priests.
• A Charioteer, who was companion of the raja (who desires to perform the sacrifice).
• Some relatives of the raja, particularly his wives and sons.
• Other small rajas, who were simply spectators.
• The ordinary people, the Vish or Vaishyas, who brought gifts for the king.

Question 3.
Explain the term Hater Vedic’.
Answer:
We have many books that were composed in north India, especially in the areas watered by the Ganga and the Yamuna, during later Rigvedic age. As these books were composed after the Rigveda, they are generally called later Vedic (or later Vedic literature). These include the Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda, as well as other books. These were composed by priests and described how rituals were to be performed. They also contained rules about society.

Question 4.
Write a short note on composition of the society of the Later Vedic Period.
Answer:

• There were several different groups in society at this time—priests and warriors, farmers, herders, traders, crafts persons, labourers, fishing folk and forest people.
• Some priests and warriors were rich, as were some farmers and traders.
• Others including many herders, crafts persons, labourers, fishing folk and hunters and gatherers were poor.
  (See answer of next question also for more detail.)

Question 5.
Write a brief note on P.G.W. or Painted Grey Ware.
Answer:
P.G.W. or the Painted Grey Ware

• Plates and bowls are the most common vessels made out of Painted Grey Ware. These are extremely fine to touch, with a nice, smooth surface.
• Perhaps Painted Grey Wares were used on special occasions, for important people and to serve special types of food.

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Discuss the four Varnas of the later vedic period.
Answer:
The Four Varnas. The priests divided people of the ancient India (of Later Vedic Age) into four groups, called Varnas. According to them, each Varna had a different set of functions to perform.

1 The brahmins. The first Varna was that of the brahmin. Brahmins were expected to study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts.

2. The Kshatriyas. In the second place were the rulers, also known as Kshatriyas. They were expected to fight battles and protect people.

3. The Vish or the Vaishyas. Third were the Vishs or the Vaishyas. They were expected to be farmers, herders and traders. Both the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas could also perform sacrifices.

4. The Shudras. Last were the shudras, who had to serve the other three groups and could not perform any rituals. Generally, women were also grouped with the shudras. Both women and shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas.

Question 2.
What was the basis of the Varna system, according to the priests? Why did people oppose the system of Varnas?
Answer:
1. Basis of the Varnas

• The priests declared that four groups of the people were decided on the basis of birth. For instance, if one’s father and mother were brahmins one would automatically become a brahmin and so on.
• Later on, the priests classified some people as untouchable. These included some crafts persons, hunters and gatherers, as well as people who helped perform burials and cremations. The priests said that contact with these groups was polluting.

2. Causes of Passion of the system of Varnas. Many people did not accept the system of Varna laid down by the brahmins.

• Some kings thought they were superior to the priests.
• Other people felt that birth could not be a basis for deciding which varna people belonged to.
• Besides, some people felt that there should be no differences amongst people based on occupation.
• Other people favoured that everybody should be able to perform rituals.
• And some people condemned the practice of untouchability.
• There were many areas in the subcontinent, such as the north-east, where social and economic differences were not very sharp and where the influence of the priests was limited.

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
How did men become rulers around 3,000 years ago?
(a) By choosing rulers by voting
(b) By ashvamedha yajna
(c) None of these
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
By ashvamedha yajna

Question 2.
They allowed to pass ‘horse’. What did it mean?
(a) They accepted the raja was stronger
(b) They accepted the raja was weaker
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
They accepted the raja was stronger

Question 3.
Who guarded the horse?
(a) Janas
(b) Raja’s men
(c) Ordinary people
(d) All of these
Answer:
Raja’s men

Question 4.
Who brought gifts for rulers?
(a) Vaishyas
(b) Shudras
(c) Brahmins
(d) None of these
Answer:
Vaishyas

Question 5.
Where is Hastinapur located?
(a) Near Delhi
(b) Near Mumbai
(c) Near Meerut
(d) Near Agra
Answer:
Near Meerut

Question 6.
Where is Purana Qila situated?
(a) Delhi
(b) Agra
(c) Kolkata
(d) None of these
Answer:
Delhi

Question 7.
About 2,500 years ago what turned into Mahajanapadas?
(a) Ordinary janapadas
(b) Important janapadas
(c) Both (a) and (6)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Important janapadas

Question 8.
About 2,500 years ago where was Kaushambi situated?
(a) Kurukshetra in Haryana
(b) Allahabad in UP
(c) Chandigarh in Punjab
(d) None of these
Answer:
Allahabad in UP

Question 9.
In what mode were the payments made?
(a) Punch marked coins
(b) Paper notes
(c) Gold coins
(d) Silver coins
Answer:
Punch marked coins

Question 10.
Why did the rulers collect regular taxes?
(a) For building huge forts
(b) For maintaining big armies
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 11.
How did herders pay taxes?
(a) Forest products
(b) Animals and animal products
(c) By labouring
(d) None of these
Answer:
Animals and animal products

Question 12.
Why was the river Ganga important for people?
(a) For transport
(b) For water supply
(c) For making land fertile
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 13.
Who could not participate in the assemblies?
(a) Women
(b) Dasas
(c) Kammakaras
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
For which three things in Rigveda were the prayers performed especially?
Answer:
There are many prayers in the Rigveda for (a) Cattle, (b) Children (especially for sons), and (c) horses, which were yoked to Chariots. Chariots were used in battles.

Question 2.
Write the names of three vish or jana, as mentioned in the Rigveda.
Answer:
Several vish or jana are mentioned by name in the Rigveda. The three names given in it are:

1. The Puru jana or vish,
2. The Bharata jana or vish, and
3. The Yadu jana or vish.

Question 3.
Write important historical events or development against the following dates/years:

1. About 3500 years ago.
2. About 3000 years ago.
3. Between 3600 and 2700 years ago.
4. About 2000 years ago.

Answer:

Question 4.
Mention one achievement of the Chinese around 3500 years ago.
Answer:
Around 3500 years ago, we find some of the first evidence of writing in China.

Question 5.
Write the meaning and use of oracle bones in China.
Answer:

• Animal bones were called oracle bones in ancient China.
• Oracle bones were used to predict the future.

Question 6.
List the names of rivers mentioned in Vedas.
Answer:

• Beas
• Sutlej
• Indus
• Sarasvati
• Ganga and
• Yamuna.

Question 7.
Write words used to describe the people in Vedic Age.
Answer:
Two words were used to describe the people or the community as a whole. These words were (1) Jana and (2) Vish.

Question 8.
Discuss in brief three vedic gods, considered especially important.
Answer:
Three gods which are considered especially important in the Vedas are:

1.  Agni,
2. Indra and
3. Soma.

1. Agni, the god of fire.
2. Indra, a warrior god.
3. Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared.

What Books and Burials Tell Us Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Name one of the oldest books in the world. Write a few sentences about this book.
Answer:

• The Rigveda is one of the oldest books in the world.
• It was composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or well said songs of praise.
• These are in praise of various gods and goddesses.
• These hymns were composed by sages (rishis).
• Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. Only a few were composed by women.
• The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit, which is different from the Sanskrit that students learn in school these days.

Question 2.
For which three things were battles fought by the Rigvedic age people?
Answer:

1. Battles were fought to capture cattle.
2. Battles were also fought for land, which was important for pasture, and for growing hardy crops that ripened quickly, such as barley.
3. Some battles were fought for water, and to capture people.

Question 3.
What was the fate of booty or looted wealth during the battle or war days?
Answer:

• Some of the looted wealth (or booty) obtained was kept by the leaders.
• Some portion of looted wealth was given to priests (brahmins).
• The rest of the looted wealth was distributed amongst the people.
• Some wealth (looted in the war or battles) was used for the performance of yajanas or sacrifices in which offerings were made into the fire. These were meant for gods and goddesses. Offerings could include ghee, grain and in some cases animals.

Question 4.
Write any three main common features of war of the Rigvedic age.
Answer:

1. Most men took part in wars during the Rigvedic age.
2. As there was no regular army, but there were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace.
3. The Assemblies also chose leaders, brave and skilful warriors.

Question 5.
Write main social differences as have been found out by the Archaeologists in megaliths.
Answer:
Finding out about Social Differences

1. Archaeologists think that objects found with a skeleton probably belonged to the dead person. Sometimes more objects were found in one grave than in another. For example, in Brahmagiri one skeleton was buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles, and one conch shel

2. Other skeletons found out from the graves had only a few pots. Perhaps there was some difference in status amongst the people who were buried. Perhaps some were rich while others poor, some chiefs while others followers.

Question 6.
Were some burial spots meant for certain families? If yes, give some facts about your answer. (NCERT Page 49)
Answer:
Yes, some burial spots were definitely meant for certain families. We can give the following facts to prove our answer:

1. Sometimes, megaliths, contained more than one skeleton. These indicated that people, perhaps belonging to the same family, were buried in the same place though not at the same time. The bodies of those who died later were brought into the grave through the port-holes.

2. Stone circles or boulders on the surface probably served as sign posts to find the burial site so that people could return to the same place whenever they wanted to.

Question 7.
Who was Charaka? What is the name of his work? Describe one of his contributions in regard of the human body.
Answer:

• Charaka was a famous ancient Indian Physician. He was related with about 2000 years ago time.
• Charaka wrote a book on medical science known as the Charaka Samhita.
• Charaka has stated in his book that the human body has 360 bones. This is a much larger number than the 200 bones that are recognized in modem anatomy. Charaka arrived at this figure by counting the teeth, joints and cartilage.

Question 8.
Discuss “Food at Inamgaon” as archaeologists have found different proofs from different sites.
Answer:
Food at Inamgaon:
1. Archaeologists have found seeds of wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, pea and sesame at Inamgaon.

2. Bones of a number of animals, bearing cut mark’s that show they may have been used as food, have also been found. These include buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, horse, ass, pig, sambhar, spotted deer, blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose, birds, crocodile, turtle, crab and fish.

3. There is evidence that fruits such as her, amla, jamun, dates and a variety of berries were collected.

Question 9.
How were the oracle bones used by the Kings in China?
Answer:
Kings of China got scribes to write questions on the bones of animals (called oracle bones).
For example:

• Would they (the kings) win battles?
• Would the harvest be good?
• Would they have sons? The bones were then put into the fire, and they – cracked because of the heat.

Fortune-tellers studied the cracks of oracle bones. They tried to predict the future. They sometimes made mistakes also.

Question 10.
Write some features of the kings of the ancient China.
Answer:

• The ancient kings of China lived in palaces in cities.
• The kings amassed vast quantities of wealth, including large, elaborately decorated bronze vessels.
• The ancient Chinese kings did not know the use of iron.

Question 11.
Describe the word Aryas and Dasas (or Dasyus) used for the people.
Answer:
1. Aryas. Sometimes, the people who composed the hymns described themselves as Aryas.

2. Dasas or Dasyus. Aryas called their Opponents, Dasas or Dasyus. These were people who did not perform yajana (sacrifices) and probably spoke different languages (other than Sanskrit).

Question 12.
Who were slaves in vedic society? Write a very short note about them.
Answer:
During later Vedic Age, the term dasa (and the feminine dasi) came to mean slave. Slaves were men and women who were generally captured in war. They were treated as the property of their owners (or masters) who could make them do whatever work they desired.

What Books and Burials Tell Us Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe different classes or categories of people as referred or described in Rigveda.
Answer:
Words of the Rigveda to describe different classes or categories of the people:

1. There are several ways of describing people—in the terms of the work they do, the language they speak, the place they belong to, their family, their communities and cultural practices.

2. Broadly speaking, we can confess that there are two groups (of people) who are described in terms of their work—the priests, sometimes called brahmins, who performed various rituals for the rajas. These rajas were not like the ones you will be learning about later (in coming chapters). They did not have capital cities or armies, nor did they collect taxes. Generally, sons did not succeed fathers automatically.

3. Two words were used (in the Rigveda) to describe people or the community as a whole. One was the word jana, which we still use in Hindi and other languages. The other was Vish. The word Vaishya comes from Vish.

Question 2.
How do we know who was buried?
Answer:
We know who was buried in the grave with the help of following clues:

1. It is easy to check out the skeleton of a child from its small size. However, there are no major skeletal differences between a girl and a boy.

2. We can check out whether a skeleton was that of a man or a woman also. We can decide this thing on the basis of what is found with the skeleton. For example, if a skeleton is found with jewellery, it is sometimes thought to be that of a woman. However, there are problems with this. Generally, men also wore ornaments.

3. A better (or more reliable) way of figuring out the sex of a skeleton as to look at the bone structure. The hip or the pelvic area of women is generally larger to enable child bearing.

Question 3.
Give a brief account of major features of a Special Burial found at Inamgaon.
Answer:
A Special Burial found at Inamgaon and its Major Features
1. At Inamgaon the scholars have found out a special burial. It is a site on the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima. It was occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago.

2. Here, adults were often buried in the ground, laid out straight, with the head towards the north.

3. Sometimes, burials were within houses. Vessels that probably contained food and water were placed with the dead.

4. One man was found buried in a large four legged clay jar in the courtyard of a five- roomed house (one of the largest houses at the site) in the centre of the settlement. This house also had a granary. The body was placed in a cross-legged position.

Question 4.
Write a short note on one of the oldest books in the world.
Answer:

• Vedas are known one of the oldest books in the world.
• There are four of them—the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.
• The oldest veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said’. These hymns are in praise of different gods and goddesses.
• These hymns were composed by sages (i.e., rishis).
• These vedas are written in Vedic Sanskrit. The Vedic or old Sanskrit is different from the Sanskrit that you learn in school these days.

Question 5.
Mention some of the important features of the Rigveda. (Most Imp.)
Answer:

• The oldest Veda is the Rigveda.
• It was composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit, which is different from the Sanskrit that you learn in school these days.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or well-said.
• These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.
• The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than written or read.
• The Rigveda was written down several centuries after it was first composed and printed less than 200 years ago.

Question 6.
Write a short note on the megaliths.
Answer:

• Silent sentinels or stone boulders are known as megaliths (literally meaning big stones).
• Megaliths were carefully arranged by people and were used to mark burial sites.
• The practice of erecting megaliths began about 3000 years ago, and was prevalent throughout the Deccan, South India, in the north-east and Kashmir.
• While some megaliths can be seen on the surface, other megalithic burials are
  underground.

What Books and Burials Tell Us Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
Which of the following is the oldest Veda?
(a) Samaveda
(b) Yajurveda
(c) Rigveda
(d) Atharvaveda
Answer:
Rigveda

Question 2.
Who is the ‘god of fire’ according to Rigveda?
(a) Agni
(b) Indra
(c) Soma
(d) None of these
Answer:
Agni

Question 3.
In which language is ‘The Rigveda’ written?
(a) Vedic Sanskrit
(b) Vedic Hindi
(c) Vedic Tamil
(d) None of these
Answer:
Vedic Sanskrit

Question 4.
Which of the two rivers are studied in the Rigveda?
(a) Ganga and Yamuna
(b) Beas and Sutlej
(c) Saraswati and Brahmaputra
(d) All of these
Answer:
Beas and Sutlej

Question 5.
When was the Rigveda written?
(a) About 3500 years ago
(b) About 1000 years ago
(c) About 500 years ago
(d) About 1500 years ago
Answer:
About 3500 years ago

Question 6.
On which bark was the Rigveda written?
(a) Neem Bark
(b) Cinkona Bark
(c) Tulsi Bark
(d) Birch Bark
Answer:
Birch Bark

Question 7.
Where is birch bark found? In.
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Pune
(c) Delhi
(d) Kashmir
Answer:
Kashmir

Question 8.
Who were the Priests in the ancient time?
(a) Brahmins
(b) Sikhs
(c) Muslims
(d) None of these
Answer:
Brahmins

Question 9.
Which were the two words used to describe the people or the community as a whole?
(a) Jana and Vish
(b) Aryas and Dasas
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Jana and Vish

Question 10.
In which region was the Rigveda composed?
(a) North-east
(b) North-west
(c) North-south
(d) Western-east
Answer:
North-west

Question 11.
When the dead body was buried with gold beads it means that the dead man was Fill in the blank with suitable word chosen from the following:
(a) rich man
(b) poor man
(c) chief
(d) follower
Answer:
rich man

Question 12.
The evidence of which fruits were found?
(a) Ber, Amla, Jamun
(b) Mango
(c) Apple
(d) All of these
Answer:
Ber, Amla, Jamun

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Write important historical events against the following dates:
(a) About 7000 years ago
(b) About 4700 years ago
(c) About 3900 years ago
(d) About 2500 years ago.
Answer:

Question 2.
Do you have covered drains in your locality? What are the advantages of
having covered drains?
Answer: Yes, we have covered drains in our locality.
Followings are the advantages of having covered drains:

• Under this system each drain generally had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.
• Very often drains in houses are connected to those on the streets and smaller drains led into bigger ones. It helps people in keeping clean their houses and buildings in a modern systematic manner.
• As the streets and lanes drained are covered, inspection holes are provided at intervals to clean them from time to time. Covered drains protect people from foul smell and help them to keep good health.
• Covered drains are proof of more advanced civilised life.

Question 3.
Write the names of the cities related with the earliest civilisation of the Indian subcontinent.
Answer:

1. Mohenjodaro
2. Harappa
3. Rakhigarhi
4. Dholavira
5. Kalibangan
6. Lothal
7. Ropar and

Question 4.
Which was the earliest city discovered in Indian-subcontinent? Where is it situated nowadays?
Answer:
Mohenjodaro in Sindh. It is in Pakistan nowadays.

Question 5.
When were the earliest cities of the Harappan civilisation built?
Answer:
The earliest cities of Harappan civilisation were built about 4700 years ago.

Question 6.
Write one major, impressive and unique feature of the earliest cities of India.
Answer:
Covered Drains was one major, impressive and unique feature of the earliest cities of India.

Question 7.
By what name is the Indus Valley Civilisation now called?
Answer:
The Harappan Culture.

Question 8.
Write the name of another important city <other than Mohenjodaro) related with the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Answer:
Harappa.

Question 9.
Into how many parts were the cities of the Mohenjodaro and Harappa divided?
Answer:
Both cities were divided into two main parts:

1. Upper part and
2. Lower part.

Question 10.
What was the width of the main road of Mohenjodaro?
Answer:
10 metres.

Question 11.
Write two main characteristics of houses in the Harappan city.
Answer:

1. Generally, houses were either one or two storeys high with a single room built around a courtyard.
2. Most houses had a separate bathing area and some had wells to supply water.

Question 12.
Name the people with whom the Harappans had trade-relations.
Answer:
Sumerians (modern Iraq’s people).

Question 13.
Which was considered the main foreign trade centre in India during the time of Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer:
Lothal (Gujarat).

Question 14.
Write the names of two means of transport generally used by the HarappAnswer:
Answer:

1. Cart and
2. Boat.

Question 15.
On an outline map of India (and its neighbours) show the area?extent of the Harappan culture and important following sites (cities) with their names.

1. Harappa
2. Mohenjodaro
3. Lothal
4. Kalibangan
5. Ropar.

Answer:
Consult map at page 33 of your textbook.

 In the Earliest Cities Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe the drain-system of the Harappans.
Answer:

• In cities related with the Harappan civilisation, each drain had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.
• Very often, drains in houses were connected to those in streets and smaller drains led to bigger ones.
• As the drains were covered, inspection holes were provided at intervals to clean them. All three (i.e., drains, houses and streets) were probably planned and built at the same time.

Question 2.
Where do we find early cities of the Indian subcontinent? What unique objects have been found by Archaeologists in these cities?
Answer:
1. The early cities of the Indian subcontinent are found in present-day Pakistan, and in India. In India these are found in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Western parts of U.P. and Punjab.

2. Archaeologists have found a set of unique objects in almost all these cities:

• Red pottery painted with designs in black,
• Stone Weights,
• Seals with writing,
• Special beads,
• Copper tools, and
• Long stone blades.

Question 3.
Write a short note on ‘The Cattle Rearing of the HarappAnswer:’
Answer:
The Cattle Rearing

• The Harappans reared cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo.
• Water and pasture was available around settlements,
• In the dry summer months, large herds of animals were probably taken to greater
  distances in search of grass and water.

Question 4.
Give one word for each of the following terms or sentences:

1. Stage when the culture of a country or region is developed and advanced.
2. Clay tablets and idols.
3. A place where surplus grains were stored.
4. A place where ships were loaded, unloaded and repaired.

Answer:

1. Civilisation,
2. Terracotta,
3. Grainaries,
4. Dockyard.

 In the Earliest Cities Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
What was Special about the Harappan-Civilisation cities?
Answer:

• Many of the Harappan cities were divided into two or more parts.
• Usually, the part to the west was smaller but higher. Archaeologists describe this as the citadel.
• And the part to the east was larger but lower. This is called the lower town.
• Very often walls of baked brick were built around each part. The bricks were so well made that they lasted for thousands of years. The interlocking of bricks made the
  walls strong.
• In some cities of this civilisation, special buildings were constructed on the citadel. For example, we can see a special tank in Mohenjodaro. It is popularly known as the Great Bath.
• Other cities, such as Kalibangan and Lothal, had fire altars, where sacrifices might have been performed. And some cities like Harappa, Mohenjodaro and Lothal had elaborated store houses (or Granaries).

Question 2.
Describe the main features of the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro.
Answer:
The Great Bath

• In Mohenjodaro, a very special tank, which archaeologists called the Great Bath, was built in its Citadel Area.
• This special tank was made of bricks, coated with plaster and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar.
• There were steps leading down to it from two sides, while there were rooms on all sides.
• Water was probably brought in from a well, and drained out after use.
• Perhaps important people took a dip in this tank on special occasions.

Question 3.
Write in brief the story of Harappa’s finding.
Answer:
The story of Harappa

• About 152 years ago (1855 A.D.), when railway lines were being laid down for the first time in west Punjab. Engineers stumbled upon the site of Harappa in present-day Pakistan. To them, it appeared like a mount which was a rich source of ready-made, high quality bricks.
• The labourers (working on railway-line) carried off thousands of bricks from the walls of the old building of the city (later on named as Harappa) to construct railway lines. Many buildings were completely destroyed.
• Then, nearly eighty five years ago (1920 A.D.), archaeologists found the site, and realized that this was one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent. As this was the first city to be discovered.

Question 4.
Discuss in brief the life in Harappa City.
Answer: Life in Harappa City

• Probably Harappa was a busy place. There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city. These were probably the rulers.
• Most probably the rulers of the Harappan city sent people to distant lands to get metal, precious stones and other things that they desired or required.
• The rulers may have kept the most valuable objects, such as ornaments of gold and silver or beautiful beads for themselves.
• And there were scribes, people who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals and perhaps wrote (or engraved) on other materials.

Question 5.
Write a short note on the Script of the Harappan people.
Answer:

• Historians believe that the people of the Indus-Valley civilisation were literate. Many seals have been discovered. We can note lines (or symbols) of signs on the top of several seals of the Harappan people. These are parts of what historians call a script. This is the earliest form of writing known in the subcontinent.
• Scholars have made many efforts to read these signs (or decipher the Harappan script), but we still do not know exactly what they mean.

Question 6.
Describe in short different objects made and found in different Harappan cities or sites.
Answer:

• Metals used by the people of Harappan cities are made of stone, metal including copper, tin, bronze, gold, silver and shell.
• Vessels and Ornaments. Copper and bronze were used to make vessels and ornaments.
• Beads. Perhaps the most striking finds are those of beads. Many of these were made out of carnelian, a beautiful red stone. The stone was cut, shaped, polished and finally a hole was bored through the centre so that a string could be passed through it.
• Weights. Stones were used to make weights. Very carefully and precisely some chart weights were shaped by the people of the Harappan culture. These were probably used to weigh precious stones or metals. Chart was also used to make distinctive long blades.
• Seals. The Harappans also made seals out of stone. These are generally rectangular and usually have an animal (e.g. a Bull or a Rhinoceros) carved on them.
• Faience. Unlike stone or shell, that are found naturally, faience is artificially produced. A gum was used to shape sand or powdered quartz into an object. The object then glazed remitting in a shiny, glassy surface. The glaze colour was generally sea green or blue. Faience was used to make beads, bangles, earrings and tiny vessels.
• Pottery. The Harappans also made pottery with beautiful black designs.

Question 7.
“There are many evidences that cloth was worn by the Harappans.” Explain in brief.
Answer:

• The Harappans prepared and used cloth. Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7,000 years ago.
• Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro.
• Archaeologists have also found Spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread.
• We also have indirect evidence to show how cloth was decorated. For instance, a stone statue of an important man found at Mohenjodaro shows him wearing an embroidered garment.

Question 8.
Discuss the work of specialists in the Harappans’ society.
Answer:
1. Meaning
A specialist is a person who is trained to do only one type of work, for instance, cutting stone or polishing beads or carving seats.

2. Specialists as Producers

• Many of the things that were produced were probably the work of specialists.
• We find a figure of a man bearing beard.
• If we look at the statue or figure we see how well the face is carved and how carefully the beard is shown.
• According to scholars this must have been the work of an expert crafts
  person.

Question 9.
What are raw materials? How did the Harappans make their provision?
Answer:
1. Meaning

• Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally (such as wood, or ores of metals) or produced by farmers or herders.
• These are generally processed to produce finishing goods.
• For instance cotton, produced by farmers, is a raw material that is processed to make cloth.

2. Provision or Search of Raw Materials

• While some of the raw materials that the Harappans used were available locally many items such as copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones had to be brought from distant places.
• The Harappans probably got copper from Rajasthan and even from Oman.
• Tin, which was mixed with copper to produce bronze, may have been brought from Afghanistan and Iran.
• Gold could have come all the way from Karnataka and
• Precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

Question 10.
Discuss ‘agriculture’ as an important occupation of the Harappans.
Or
How was food provided for people in the Harappan cities?
Answer:
Agriculture of the Harappans or Food for People in the Cities

• While many people lived in the cities, others grew crops and reared animals.
• We know from remains of plants that the Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard.
• A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds. While real ploughs, which were probably made of wood, have not survived, toy models have been found.
• As this region does not receive heavy rainfall, some form of irrigation may have been used. This means that water was stored and supplied to the fields when the plants were growing.
• Different types of cattle were also used for food supply. They also collected fruits like ber (Vt), caught fish and hunted wild animals like the antelope.

Question 11.
What were the causes of the end of the Harappan culture?
Or
Discuss the mystery of the end of the Harappan civilization.
Answer:
The Mystery of the end of the Harappans or the Probable causes of downfall of the Harappan Civilisation. Nearly 3900 years ago we find the beginning of a major change in Harappan cities or sites

• People stopped living in many of the cities
• Writing, seals and weights were no longer used
• Raw Materials brought from long distances became rare
• In Mohenjodaro, we find that garbage piled upon the streets, the drainage system broke down, and new, less impressive houses that were built encroached on to the streets.

Causes. The following causes were possibly responsible for the end of the Harappan
culture –

• Some scholars suggest that the rivers dried up.
• Others suggest that there was deforestation. This could have happened because fuel was required for baking bricks and for melting copper ores. Besides, grazing by large herds of cattle, sheep and goat may have destroyed the green cover.
• In some areas there were floods.
• Perhaps the rulers lost control but none of these reasons can explain the end of all the cities.
• In short we can say that we are not same about the end of the Harappan culture. However, flooding or a river drying up would have had an effect in only some areas.

In the Earliest Cities Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
When did Harappan cities develop?
(a) About 4,700 years ago
(b) About 3,700 years ago
(c) About 2,700 years ago
(d) About 1,700 years ago
Answer:
About 4,700 years ago

Question 2.
How many storeys of houses were generally found in Harappan cities?
(a) One or two storeys
(b) Four to five storeys
(c) Multi storeys
(d) None of these
Answer:
One or two storeys

Question 3.
Where did the crafts persons make the things in the earliest cities?
(a) In their own homes
(b) In special workshops
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 4.
Which metal were the most of things found by the archaeologists made of?
(a) Stone
(b) Copper and gold
(c) Silver
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 5.
What was the thing used to shape sand or powdered quartz into an object?
(a) Gum
(b) Ink
(c) Nails
(d) Rubber
Answer:
Gum

Question 6.
Which colours were used for glazed material resulting in a shiny object?
(a) Black and white
(b) Red and yellow
(c) Blue or sea green
(d) Pink or brown
Answer:
Blue or sea green

Question 7.
From where did the Harappans get copper?
(a) Mumbai
(b) Delhi
(c) Kerala
(d) Rajasthan
Answer:
Rajasthan

Question 8.
Who supplied food to craft persons, scribes and rulers in the cities?
(a) Local citizens
(b) Farmers and herders
(c) Post men
(d) All of these
Answer:
Farmers and herders

Question 9.
How did the Harappans irrigate their fields and grow plants? Through
(a) rainfall
(b) stored water
(c) streams
(d) rivers
Answer:
stored water

Question 10.
From where did the boats and ships come into the sea and rivers?
(a) Ports
(b) Dockyards
(c) None of these
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
Dockyards

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was the favourite food of Neinuo Yano?
Answer:
Favourite food of Neinuo Yano was rice, squash, pumpkins, beans and boiled meat.

Question 2.
From where does the most of our food come?
Answer:
Today, most of our food comes from plants that are grown and animals that are reared.

Question 3.
Write the meaning of word/term domestication of animal in brief.
Answer:
Domestication of animals means to tame animals.

Question 4.
Name the first domesticated animals by the early man.
Answer:
Most probably “dog” was the first animal to be domesticated by the early man.

Question 5.
Write names of five ways in which grain was used?
Answer:

1. As seed
2. As food
3. As gifts
4. As means of exchange and
5. Stored for food.

Question 6.
Write one of the characteristics of a village-life.
Answer:
One of the distinctive features (or characteristics) of a village-life is that most people who live there are engaged in food production (or farming).

Question 7.
Write important historical events against the following dates:
(a) About 12,000 years ago
(b) About 8,000 years ago
Answer:

From Gathering to Growing Food Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
“Environment affects greatly the farming of cereals and rearing of animals.” Make clear the statement.
Answer:

• Each different plant thrives in certain conditions—for example, rice requires more water than wheat and barley. This explains why people grow some plants in some areas and not in others.
• Different animals prefer different environments—for example, sheep and goats can survive more easily than cattle in dry, hilly environments.

Question 2.
Discuss in short ‘the Beginning of Farming’.
Answer:
The climate of the world was changing and so were plants that people used as food.
People probably noticed several things:

• where edible plants were found.
• how seeds broke off stalks.
• fell on the ground and new plants sprouted from them, and so on.

Perhaps they started looking after plants-protecting them from birds and animals so that they could grow and seeds ripen.

Question 3.
When did domestication start? Write the names of the earliest domesticated plants and animals.
Answer:

• Domestication began about 12,000 years ago. It was a gradual process that took place in many parts of the world.
• Some of the earliest plants to be domesticated were wheat and barley. The earliest domesticated animals include sheep and goat.

Question 4.
How did cultivation give a new way of life to the people?
Answer:
A New Way of Life and Process of Farming (Or Cultivation).

• When people began growing plants it meant that they had to stay in the same place for a long time looking after the plants, watering, weeding, driving away animals and birds—till the grain ripened. And then, the grain had to be used carefully.
• As grain had to be stored for both food and seed, people had to think of ways of storing it. In many years, they began making large clay pots, or woven baskets, or dug pits into the ground.

Question 5.
Discuss in brief the settled life of the earliest people of Burzahom (Kashmir) in New Stone Age.
Or
Write a short note on “Towards a Settled Life in Burzahom”.
Answer:
Towards a settled Life in Burzahom (Kashmir).

• Archaeologists have found traces of huts or houses at some sites. For example in Burzahom (Kashmir) people built pit-houses, which were dug into the ground, with steps leading into them. These may have provided shelter in cold weather.
• Archaeologists have also found fire places both inside and outside the huts which suggests that, depending on the weather people could cook food either indoors or outdoors.

From Gathering to Growing Food Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Discuss in brief ‘the Beginning of Herding’.
Answer:
The Beginning of Herding:
1. The climate of the world was changing and so were animals that people used as food.

• People could also attract and tame animals (after beginning of the farming) by leaving food for them near their shelters.

2. The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog.

3. Latter, people encouraged animals that were relatively gentle, lived in herds, and ate grass, such as sheep, goat, cattle and also the pig, to come near the camps where they lived.

• Often, they protected these animals from attacks by other wild animals.

Question 2.
What do you understand by the term domestication? What is generally effect of this process on plants and animals? What points are kept in mind before/ during this process?
Answer:
1. Meaning of Domestication:

• Domestication is the name given to the process in which people grow plants and look after animals.

2. Effect:

• Very often, plants and animals that are tended by people become different from wild plants and animals.
• This is because people select plants and animals for domestication.

3. Precautions or Points kept in Mind for Domestication

• People select those plants and animals that are not prone to diseases.
• They also select plants that yield large-size grain and have strong stalks, capable of bearing the weight of the ripe grain.
• Seeds from selected plants are preserved and sown to ensure that new plants (and seeds) will have the same qualities.
• Amongst animals, those that were relatively gentle were selected for breeding.

4. Results of Domestication:

• As a result of domestication, gradually domesticated animals and plants became different from wild animals and plants.
• For instance, the teeth and horns of wild animals are usually much larger than those of domesticated animals.

Question 3.
Discuss in brief stone tools used by the people in Neolithic.
Answer:
Stone Tools of New Stone Age

• Stones have been found from many sites related with the New Stone Age. Many of these are different from the earlier Palaeolithic tools (that is why, they are called Neolithic).
• Stone tools of this stage of stone age include tools that were polished to give a fine cutting
  edge, and mortars and pestles used for grinding grain and other plant produce.
• At the same time, tools of the Palaeolithic types continued to be made and used. Some
  tools were also made of bone.

From Gathering to Growing Food Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
What type of food do we get from plants?
(a) Milk
(b) Meat
(c) Fruits, vegetable and grains
(d) None of these
Answer:
Fruits, vegetable and grains

Question 2.
Name the animal who gives us milk.
(a) Cow
(c) Sheep
(b) Goat
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 3.
Select the animal for domestication.
(a) Lion
(b) Bear
(c) Dog
(d) Elephant
Answer:
Dog

Question 4.
Why did people store grains?
(a) For food
(b) As seeds
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 5.
Where is the evidence of wheat, barley, sheep, goat, cattle found?
(a) Koldihwa (UP)
(b) Gufkral (Kashmir)
(c) Mehrgarh (Pakistan)
(d) Hallur (Andhra Pradesh)
Answer:
Mehrgarh (Pakistan)

Question 6.
Who have found the evidence of ancient farmers and herders?
(a) Archaeologists
(b) Astrologists
(c) Biologists
(d) Historians
Answer:
Archaeologists

Question 7.
Which of the following is an important source of milk and meat?
(a) Tiger
(b) Dog
(c) Goat
(d) Cat
Answer:
Goat

Question 8.
Who have studied the customs and practices of present day farmers and herders?
(a) Archaeologists
(b) Scholars
(c) Astrologists
(d) None of these
Answer:
Scholars

Question 9.
Where is Mehrgarh located today?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Pakistan
(d) China
Answer:
Pakistan

Question 10.
In the ancient time dead person was
(a) to serve as food in next life
(b) to serve as food in present life
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these
Answer:
to serve as food in next life

Question 11.
When did the domestication begin?
(a) About 12,000 years ago
(b) About 8,000 years ago
(c) About 6,000 years ago
(d) About 4,000 years ago
Answer:
About 12,000 years ago

Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was Tushar doing?
Answer:
Tushar was going from Delhi to Chennai.

Question 2.
How was Tushar going and why was he going?
Answer:
Tushar was going by train to attend his cousin’s wedding.

Question 3.
Do you know when trains were used first of all?
Answer:
Yes, I know that trains were first of all used about 150 years ago.

Question 4.
When were the buses used first of all?
Answer:
The buses were used by the people about 150 years after the trains were introduced.

Question 5.
Write the name given to pre-historic age.
Answer:
Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic Age or Earnest Stone Age.

Question 6.
What is Stone Age?
Or
Define Stone Age.
Answer:
In the pre-historic age or period when mainly tools, weapons and implements made of stone were used, that period is known as Stone Age.

Question 7.
What do you mean by “Neolithic Age”?
Answer:
The word Neo means new and Lithic means stone. We can say the meaning of “Neolithic Age” is New Stone Age.

Question 8.
What is flint?
Answer:
A flint is a hard grey stone that can produce a spark, whenever it is rubbed.

Question 9.
Mention important historical events against the following dates:
(1) 12,000-10,000 years ago
(2) 10,000 years ago
Answer:

Question 10.
Match the contents of the following columns correctly:

Answer:
1. – (b)
2. – (e)
3. – (a)
4. – (c)
5. – (d).

Question 11.
Take an outline map of the Indian subcontinent and show the following important archaeological sites (with names):
(1) Burzahom
(2) Mehrgarh
(3) Bhimbetka
(4) Mumbai
(5) Inamgaon
(6) Kolkata. (Anythree)
Answer:

On The Trial of the Earliest People Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Explain the term “Palaeolithic Age”.
Answer:

• The word “Palaeolithic” is derived from two Greek (language) words—Palaeo and Lithic.
• The literary meaning of Palaeo is old one, the literary meaning of Lithic is Stone.
• In short we can say that the term “Palaeolithic Age” stands for old Stone Age or the earliest Stone Age.

Question 2.
Who were the earliest people of the Indian subcontinent? Write a few lines about them.
Answer:

• The earliest people lived in Indian subcontinent as early as two million years ago. Today they are called hunter-gatherers.
• The name comes from the way in which they got their food, by wild animals, caught fish and birds and by gathering fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

Question 3.
Discuss in short the art of Rock Paintings done by the people of the early stone age.
Answer:

• Many of the caves in which the early people lived in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods have painting on the walls.
• Some of the best examples are from Madhya Pradesh and Southern Uttar Pradesh.
  These paintings show wild animals, drawn, with great accuracy and skill.

On The Trial of the Earliest People Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
How do we know about hunter-gatherers? Write also about their tools.
Answer:

• Archaeologists have found some of the things people made and used. It is likely that
  people made and used tools of stone and bone, of which stone tools have survived
  best.
• Some of stone tools were used for cutting wood, which was used as firewood. Wood was also used to make huts and tools.
• Other stone tools were used to cut meat and bone, scrape barks and hides, chop fruit and roots. Some may have been attached to handle bone or wood, to make spears and arrows for hunting.

Question 2.
Discuss living places or sites of hunter-gatherers of the subcontinent.
Answer:

• Some sites known as habitation sites, are places where people of the subcontinent lived. These include caves and rock shelters.
• Many living places or sites of the hunter-gatherers are located near sources of water (rivers, lakes, springs etc.)
• People choose natural caves because they provided shelter from the rain, heat and wind.
• Natural rock shelters were close to the Narmada Valley, while natural caves were found in the Vindhyas and the Deccan Plateau.

Question 3.
What do you mean by “Factory Sites” and “Habitation-cum-factory”?
Answer:

1. As in Stone Age, stone tools and implements were important. Therefore, the people
(hunter-gatherers) tried to find places where good quality stone was easily available.

• Places where natural stone was found and where people made tools are known as factory sites.

2. Usually, we find blocks of stone, tools that were made and perhaps discarded
because they were not perfect and chips of waste stone left behind at these sites (i.efactory sites).

• Sometimes, people lived here for longer spells of time.
• These sites are called habitation-cum-factory sites.

Question 4.
Discuss “Making Stone Tools” by the people of Stone Age.
Answer:
Making Stone Tools. Stone tools were probably made using two different techniques:
1. The first is called stone on stone. Here,

• the pebble from which the tool was to be made (also called the core) was held in one hand.
• Another stone, which was used as a hammer was held in the other hand.
• The second stone was used to strike off flakes from the first, till the required shape was obtained.

2. Pressure flaking:

• Here the core was placed on a firm surface.
• The hammer stone was used on a piece of bone or stone that was placed on the core, to remove flakes that could be shaped into tools.

Question 5.
What were the main effects of changing environment on rearing of animals and other activities?
Answer:

1. Around 12,000 years ago, there were major climatic changes with a shift to relatively warm conditions.

• In many areas, this led to the development of grass lands, and animals that depended on grass, such as deer, antelope, goat, sheep and cattle, flourished.

2. Those who hunted animals now followed them, learning about their food habits and
their breeding seasons.

• It is likely that this helped people to start thinking about herding and rearing some animals themselves.

3. Fishing also became an important activity of the people.

4. This was also a time when several grain bearing grasses, including wheat, barley and rice grew naturally in different parts of the subcontinent.

• Men, women and children probably collected these grains as food, and learnt where they grew, and when they ripened.
• This may have led them to think about growing plants on their own.

Question 6.
Explain the following words:
(a) Palaeolithic
(b) Mesolithic and
(c) Neolithic
Answer:

(a) Palaeolithic

• The earliest period of the Stone Age is called the Palaeolithic.
• This comes from two Greek words, ‘Palaeo’ meaning old, and ‘lithos’ meaning stone.
• The name points to the importance of finds of stone tools.
• The Palaeolithic period extends from 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago.
• This long stretch of time is divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic.

(b) Mesolithic

• The period when we find environmental changes, beginning about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago is called the Mesolithic (middle stone).
• Stone tools found during this period are generally tiny and are often called
  microliths.
• Microliths were probably stuck on to handles of bone or wood to make tools such as saws and sickles.
• Older varieties of tools continued to be in use.

(C) Neolithic

• The next age (i.e., from the Mesolithic) from about 10,000 years ago, is known as the Neolithic.
• In this Stage farming and herding began and the people started leading a settled life.

On The Trial of the Earliest People Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
When were the trains used first?
(a) 200 years ago
(b) 250 years ago
(c) 150 years ago
(d) 300 years ago
Answer:
150 years ago

Question 2.
Why did hunter-gatherers move from place to place?
(a) In search of food
(b) In search of shelters
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 3.
Where is water found?
(a) In lakes
(b) In streams
(c) In rivers
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 4.
How did the ancient people travel?
(a) By buses
(b) By trains
(c) By ships
(d) On foot
Answer:
On foot

Question 5.
Who had found the things which were made and used by the hunters?
(a) Astrologists
(b) Archaeologists
(c) Psychologists
(d) None of these
Answer:
Archaeologists

Question 6.
In the ancient times tools were made up of which material?
(a) Stone
(b) Wood
(c) Bone
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 7.
For what purpose were the stone tools used?
(a) To cut meat and bone
(b) To chop fruits and roots
(c) To make spears and arrows
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 8.
Places where the people made tools are known as
(a) factory sites
(b) residence sites
(c) habitation site
(d) none of these
Answer:
factory sites

Question 9.
By which techniques were the stone tools made?
(a) Stone on stone technique
(b) Pressure flaking
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 10.
What did indicate the finding of ash?
(a) Water
(b) Ice
(c) Fire
(d) All of these
Answer:
Fire

Question 11.
For what purpose did the men, women and children collect the grains?
(a) For food
(b) For growing crops
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 12.
In which state were the eggs of Ostrich found?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Delhi
(d) Noida
Answer:
Maharashtra

Question 13.
In which site were a large number of tools used for all sorts of activity, found?
(a) Habitation site
(b) Factory site
(c) Habitation cum factory site
(d) None of these
Answer:
Habitation cum factory site

Question 14.
When was the Mesolithic period?
(a) 6000-7000 years ago
(b) 7000-8000 years ago
(c) 8000-9000 years ago
(d) 12,000-10,000 years ago
Answer:
12,000-10,000 years ago

What, Where, How and When? Class 6 Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How can we know about the past?
Answer:
We can know about the past by studying history.

Question 2.
Where did the early people live?
Answer:
Early people lived along the banks of River Narmada.

Question 3.
Write the name of the region where rice was first of all grown in India?
Answer:
The region where rice was first of all grown in India is the North of the Vindhyas.

Question 4.
What do you mean by the term ‘tributaries’?
Answer:
Tributaries are rivers that join a larger river.

Question 5.
Match the contents of the following columns:

Answer:
(i) – (b)
(ii) – (a)
(iii) – (d)
(iv) – (c)
(v) – (f)
(vi) – (e)

Question 6.
Name the countries that form South Asia. (Imp.)
Answer:
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, China and Myanmar, etc. form South Asia.

Question 7.
Why is South Asia called a subcontinent?
Answer:
South Asia is called a subcontinent because, although it is smaller than a continent, it is very large and is separated from the rest of Asia by seas, hills and mountains.

Question 8.
Write important historical events against the following important dates:
(1) 8,000 years ago
(2) 4,700 years ago
(3) 2,500 years ago
(4) 2,000 AD/CE
Answer:

Question 9.
Distinguish between historical and pre-historical periods.
Answer:
The period for which we have written records is called historical age or period, while the period for which we have no written records is called pre-historical age or period.

Question 10.
Define in brief the word ‘Epigraphy’.
Answer:
Study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy.

Question 11.
Name two main groups (or categories) of historical sources.
Answer:

1. Archaeological sources (for example: physical remains inscriptions, coins, etc.).
2. Literary sources (such as religious books, manuscripts, foreign, travellers’ accounts etc.).

Question 12.
Write True or False against the following sentences:
(a) History will help you understand how this present evolved. It will tell you about the past of the present. ( )
(b) We can live easily without use of fire. ( )
(c) History in a sense is an adventure. It is a journey across time and space. ( )
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) True.

What, Where, How and When? Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What can we know about the past?
Answer:
We can know about the past by knowing several things. For example,

• We can find out—what people ate, the kinds of clothes they wore, the houses in which they lived.
• We can find out about hunters, herdsmen, farmers, rulers, merchants, priests, crafts persons, artists, musicians and scientists.
• We can also find out the games children played, the stories they heard, the dramas (or plays) they saw or enjoyed, the songs they sang.

Question 2.
How did the people live in Stone Age?
Answer:
The Way of Life of the People in Stone Age

• Some of the earliest people lived along the banks of rivers. They were skilled gatherers. They knew about the vast wealth of plants in the surrounding forests, and collected roots, fruits and other forest produces for their food.
• The people in Stone Age also hunted animals and birds. They used to catch fish also.
• Some of the areas where the people first began to grow crops such as wheat and barley about 8000 years ago are located in river-valley areas. They also began rearing animals like sheep, goat, dog, cow and other cattle.

Question 3.
When did the early cities develop in India?
Answer:

• About 4700 years ago some of the earliest cities (Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Lothal, Chun-hu-daro, Rupar, Banwali, Kalibangam, Surkotada etc.) flourished on the banks of the Indus and its tributaries. ‘
• And other early cities developed on the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries and along the coasts, about 2500 years ago.

Question 4.
What do you know about Magadha? (Imp.)
Or
Name the first largest Indian empire. Write two-three sentences about it.
Answer:

• Magadha was the first largest empire of India.
• The area along some of the important rivers of the Northern India and to the south of the Ganga was known as Magadha.
• Its rulers were very powerful (Bimbisara, Ajatashatru and Udaibhadra).
• They set up a large kingdom. (Some smaller kingdoms were set up in other parts of the country as well).

Question 5.
Explain the following things or terms in short.
(a) BC
(b)AD
(c) CE
(cl) BCE
(e) Script
(f) Language
(g) Decipherment
Answer:
(а) BC

• The letters BC means Before Christ.
• Dates are generally counted (i.e., the day, the month and the years) or assigned to the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity.
• So 2000 BC means 2000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
• All dates before the birth of Jesus Christ are counted backwards and generally have the letter BC (Before Christ) added on.

(b) AD:

• We sometimes find AD before dates. This stands for two Latin words, “Anno Domini”, and mean in the year of the lord (i.e., Jesus Christ).
• For example 2005 can also be written as AD 2005.

(c) CE:
Sometimes, CE is used instead of AD. The letters CE stand for ‘Common Era’.

(d) BCE

• Sometimes BCE is used instead of BC. The letters BCE stand for ‘Before Common Era’.
• We use these terms because the Christian Era is now used in the most countries of the world.

(e) Script

• Way or style of writing of a language is called a script. It consists of letters or signs.
• For example, ‘Devnagri’ is script of Hindi.

(f) Language:
When we read what is written, or speak, we use a language. It is a media of expression through speech or through writing.

(g) Decipherment:
Languages which are used, as well as ways of writing (scripts) have changed since then. So how do scholars understand what was written? This can be done through a process known as decipherment.

What, Where, How and When? Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
“The people of India shared their ideas since the earliest days”. Explain in brief.
Answer:

• The people of India travelled from one part of the subcontinent to another. The hills and high mountains including the Himalayas, deserts, rivers and seas made journeys dangerous at time, but never impossible.
• The people of the Indian subcontinent moved in search of livelihood, as also to escape from natural calamities (such as flood, drought, earthquake, epidemic).
• Sometimes men marched in armies, conquering others’ land.
• Merchants travelled with caravans or ships carrying valuable goods from place to place.
• Religious teachers walked from village to village, town to town, stopping to offer instruction and advice on the way.
• Finally some people perhaps travelled, driven by a spirit of adventure.
  All these led to the sharing of ideas among the Indians.

Question 2.
How did our country get its names?
Answer:
Names of our country

• Two of the words we generally use for our country are India and Bharat. The word India comes from the Indus called Sindhu in Sanskrit.
• The Iranians and the Greeks who came through the northwest about 2500 years ago, were familiar with the Indus, called it the Hindos or the Indos. The land to the east of the river (i.e., the Indus) was called India.
• The name Bharat was used by a group of people who lived in the northwest, and who are mentioned in the Rigveda, the earliest composition in Sanskrit (dated to about 3500 years ago). Later, it was used for the country.

What, Where, How and When? Class 6 Extra Questions Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
Which river’s bank did the people live along in the ancient time?
(a) Ganga
(b) Narmada
(c) Satluj
(d) None of these
Answer:
Narmada

Question 2.
On which river’s bank were the cities developed about 2500 years ago?
(a) Ganga
(b) Yamuna
(c) Narmada
(d) All of these
Answer:
Ganga

Question 3.
Which city was established on the banks of Ganga?
(a) Magadha
(b) Vindhyas
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Magadha

Question 4.
How did merchants travel1?
(a) With Caravans
(b) Ships
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Both (a) and (b)

Question 5.
From where did the Iranians and the Greek come?
(a) North west
(b) North east
(e) North south
(d) None of these
Answer:
North west

Question 6.
Where were the manuscripts written?
(a) On palm leaf
(b) On peepal leaf
(c) On banana leaf
(d) On tulsi leaf
Answer:
On palm leaf

Question 7.
Where did the manuscripts keep safe?
(a) In temples and monastaries
(b) In museums
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
In temples and monastaries

Question 8.
Who are historians?
(a) Who study past
(b) Who study present
(c) Who study future
(d) None of these
Answer:
Who study past

Question 9.
How did the people of Andaman Islands get their food?
(a) By fishing
(b) By hunting
(c) By collecting the forest products
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 10.
What helps us ’ to find out the records of hunters, fishing folk etc. ?
(a) Archaeology
(b) Astrology
(c) Biology
(d) All of these
Answer:
Archaeology

Question 11.
When did agriculture start?
(a) 4700 years ago
(b) 2500 years ago
(c) 8000 years ago
(d) 5500 years ago
Answer:
8000 years ago

Question 12.
In what ways was the ancient coin different from the ones we use
(a) Made of stones
(b) Made of baked clay
(c) Made of bones
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

Question 13.
In which language were the manuscripts written?
(a) Sanskrit
(b) English
(c) Hindi
(d) None of these
Answer:
Sanskrit

अतिलघु उत्तरीय प्रश्न: (1 अंक)

1. विभीषण ने राम से क्या अनुरोध किया? 

उत्तर: विभीषण ने राम से अनुरोध किया कि वे  कुछ दिन तक लंका में ही विश्राम करे और बाद में  आराम से  जाएँ।

2. राम कौन से विमान से अयोध्या को वापस गये थे? 

उत्तर: राम “पुष्पक विमान” से अयोध्या वापस गये थे।

3. विमान कौन-सी दिशा में उड़ान भर रहा था? 

उत्तर: विमान लंका के  उत्तर दिशा में  उड़ान भर रहा  था।

4. ऋषि भरद्वाज का आश्रम कहाँ था? 

उत्तर: ऋषि भरद्वाज का आश्रम गंगा-यमुना के संगम स्थान पर था।

5. राम का विमान कहाँ उतरा था? 

उत्तर: राम का विमान नंदीग्राम में उतरा था।

लघु उत्तरीय प्रश्न: (2 अंक)

6. भरत ने राम को कब राज्य लौटा दिया था? 

उत्तर: भरत ने राम को उनका राज्य अयोध्या पहुचने से पहले ही लौटा दिया था।जब राम नंदीग्राम तक ही पहुचे थे तो वही पर भरत ने राम को उनका राज्य  लौटा दिया था।

7. राम ने लंका-नगरी में कदम क्यों नहीं रखा? 

उत्तर: राम ने लंका नगरी में कदम नही रखा क्योकि राम जानते थे कि भरत ,अपने बड़े भाई प्रभु राम का बेसब्री से इंतजार कर रहे थे। वे उन्हें और इंतजार नही  कराना चाहते थे।

8. विभीषण ने राम के सामने क्या प्रस्ताव रखा? 

उत्तर: अयोध्या लौटने पर प्रभु राम का भव्य स्वागत होने के साथ साथ  राम का राज्यभिषेक भी होने वाला था।इसी बात को लेकर विभीषण ने राम के सामने प्रस्ताव रखा कि वे  उनको अपने राज्याभिषेक में अयोध्या अवश्य  बुलाये।

9. निषादराज गुह ने हनुमान को क्या बताया? 

उत्तर: जब हनुमान ने निषादराज गुह से भेंट किया। तब निषादराज ने उन्हें अयोध्या के बारे में सभी जानकारिया देते हुए वहा का हाल बताया।

10. सीता किष्किंधा क्यों गयीं? 

उत्तर: सीता विमान में विराजमान थी और विमान किष्किंधा से होता हुआ निकल रहा था। तब विमान वहा सुग्रीव,तारा और रूपा को लेने के लिए उतरा था।

लघु उत्तरीय प्रश्न: (3 अंक) 

11. राम के आने की सुचना पाकर भरत ने क्या किया?

उत्तर: राम के आने की सुचना पाकर भरत अतीव प्रसन्न हुए। भरत राम को याद करने लगे और उनके आँखों में आंसू आ गये और वो अयोध्या में उत्सव की तैयारी में जुट गये। उन्होंने प्रभु राम के आने की जानकारी सभी को बताई। 

12. जिस विमान में राम अयोध्या लौट कर आए, उसका क्या नाम था? उस विमान को किसने किसको दिया था?

उत्तर: जिस विमान में राम अयोध्या लौट कर आए, उसका नाम पुष्पक था। जब भगवान राम लंका से अयोध्या अनेक वर्षो बाद जा रहे थे। तब लंका से अयोध्या लौटते समय ये विमान विभीषण ने राम को दिया। 

13. राम ने राजसी वस्त्र कहाँ धारण किया?

उत्तर: अनेक वर्षो के बाद  राम लंका-विजय करके अयोध्या वापस लौट रहे थे। जब वे नंदीग्राम तक ही पहुचे थे।तब  अयोध्या पहुचने से पहले ही राम ने नंदीग्राम के पास ही  राजसी वस्त्र धारण किया था।

14. राम के  राजतिलक के बारे में बताईये? 

उत्तर: राम के अयोध्या पहुचने से पहले ही राजतिलक की पूरी तैयारी कर ली गई थी। जब राम राजमहल पहुंचे तो अगले दिन सुबह मुनि वशिष्ठ ने राम और सीता का राजतिलक किया।पूरी प्रजा अत्यंत प्रसन्न थी।

15. विभीषण क्या चाहते थे? 

उत्तर: विभीषण राम को कुछ दिन लंका में रोकना चाहते थे ताकि वे वहा रहकर थोडा विश्राम कर सके।साथ ही विभीषण राम को लंका की खूबसूरती दिखाना भी चाहते थे। वो राम से रीतिनीति का भी पाठ पढना चाहते थे। 

दीर्घ उत्तरीय प्रश्न: (5 अंक) 

16. हनुमान को पहले अयोध्या क्यों भेजा गया?

उत्तर: राम ने हनुमान को सबसे पहले अयोध्या भेजा ताकि वे सबसे पहले ये जान सके कि भरत को उनके आने की ख़ुशी है या नहीं। इसीलिए वे सीधा अयोध्या नहीं जाना चाहते थे। उनके मन में यह भी  संदेह था कि कहीं भरत को सत्ता का मोह तो नहीं आ गया है। उन्होंने हनुमान को कहा  की ध्यान से देखना  कि यह समाचार सुनकर भरत को  प्रसन्नता हुई की नही।अगर नहीं हुयी तो मैं अयोध्या नहीं जाऊंगा। 

17. राम के शासन-काल में व्याप्त खुशहाली पर प्रकाश डालिए। 

उत्तर: राम जब अनेक वर्षो बाद अयोध्या लौटे और जब उन्होंने राजकाज सम्भाला तो पूरी प्रजा बोहोत प्रसन्न और उत्साहित थी।लोग उनके शासन काल को रामराज्य कहने लगे। उनके शासन काल  में किसी से  किसी भी तरीके का भेद-भाव नहीं होता था। पूरी प्रजा का हर प्रकार से ध्यान रखा जाता था।हर किसी के साथ न्याय होता था। चारो ओर खुशिया व्याप्त थी।

18. विमान कौनसे रास्ते से होकर अयोध्या को पंहुचा?

उत्तर: विमान ने सबसे पहले लंका की उत्तर दिशा में  उड़ान भरी। विमान उसी रास्ते से वापस लौट रहा था जिस रास्ते से रावण सीता को हरण करके ले गया था। विमान किष्किंधा से होता हुआ गया।जहा से सुग्रीव और तारा को लेकर विमान पर्वत को लांघते हुए पंपा सरोवर किनार पंहुचा। इसके बाद गोदावरी नदी को पार करते हुए पंचवटी पहचा। अंत में ऋषि भरद्वाज के आश्रम में उनसे भेंट करते हुए अंततःविमान अयोध्या पंहुचा।

19. राम के आने की सूचना पाकर भरत की मनोदशा का वर्णन करिये। 

उत्तर: राम के आने की सुचना पाकर भरत अत्यंत प्रसन्न हुए और  राम को देखने के लिए व्याकुल हो उठे। भरत अपने बड़े भाई राम को याद करते हुए भावुक हो गए और रोने लगे। उन्होंने बिना किसी देरी के अपने प्रभु  राम के आने की खबर पुरे नगरी में फैला दी। उन्होंने अयोध्या में उत्सव की तैयारिया शुरू कर दी।सभी राम से  मिलने निकल पड़े इसमें भी भरत उत्साह और प्रसन्नता से भरपूर  सबसे आगे चल रहे थे। 

20. राम के राज्याभिषेक के बाद कौन कहाँ-कहाँ लौटा? 

उत्तर:राम का अयोध्या लौटने पर भव्य स्वागत हुआ और उनका राज्य अभिषेक भी किया गया।इस उत्सव में दूर दूर से लोग आये थे। राम के राज्याभिषेक के समाप्त होने के बाद सभी अपने निवास स्थल को रवाना हुए। विभीषण अपने राज्य लंका को लौट गये। सुग्रीव किष्किंधा की ओर निकल पड़े। ऋषि-मुनि अपने आश्रम चले गये। लेकिन  हनुमान जीवन भर राम दरबार में ही रहे।