Class 6 History Chapter 1 Notes

What, Where, How and When Class 6 History Chapter 1 Notes are available here. These notes has been created by the subject experts of our website CBSE Wale.

What, Where, How and When Class 6 History Chapter 1 Notes

What Can We Know About the Past?

1. Diet and Clothing: We can learn about what people ate and the types of clothes they wore.
2. Housing: Information about the houses people lived in during different periods.
3. Occupations and Social Roles: Insights into the lives of various groups including hunters, herders, farmers, rulers, merchants, priests, craftsmen, artists, musicians, and scientists.
4. Leisure Activities: Understanding the recreational activities of people, such as games, stories, plays, and songs enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Where did people live?

1. Long History of Settlement: Humans have inhabited the riverbanks for hundreds of thousands of years, indicating a deep connection to the region.
2. Early Gatherer Communities: Among the earliest inhabitants were skilled gatherers, who relied on gathering food rather than agriculture or domestication.
3. Knowledge of Local Resources: These early settlers possessed knowledge about the rich variety of plants in the nearby forests. They collected roots, fruits, and other forest resources as part of their diet.
4. Hunting Practices: In addition to gathering, they also hunted animals, indicating a diverse diet and a reliance on both plant and animal resources for sustenance.
5. Early Agriculture in Sulaiman and Kirthar Hills: Around 8000 years ago, people in the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills, located northwest, began cultivating crops like wheat and barley. They also started domesticating animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle, and settled in villages.
6. Other Regions of Agricultural Development:
   • Garo Hills (Northeast): Another area where agriculture developed, though specific crops are not mentioned.
   • Vindhyas (Central India): Agriculture also emerged in the Vindhyas region, contributing to the overall spread of farming practices.
   • Rice Cultivation: The areas north of the Vindhyas were among the places where rice cultivation began, marking an important development in agricultural history.
7. Indus River and Tributaries: The river Indus and its tributaries are traced, emphasizing the significance of these waterways. Around 4700 years ago, some of the earliest cities prospered along these riverbanks, indicating early urban settlements in the region.
8. Shift in Urban Centers: About 2500 years ago, there was a shift in urban development. Cities began to emerge on the banks of the Ganga River and its tributaries, as well as along coastal areas. This marks a transition in the location of urban centers, reflecting changes in settlement patterns and possibly economic activities.
9. Ganga River and its Tributary, Son: The Ganga River, along with its tributary, the Son River played significant roles in ancient Indian history.
10. Magadha Region in Bihar: In ancient times, the area to the south of the Ganga River, known as Magadha, was situated in what is now the state of Bihar. Magadha was renowned for its powerful rulers who established a large kingdom in the region.
11. Expansion of Kingdoms: Magadha was not the only region where kingdoms were established. Throughout ancient India, various regions saw the rise of kingdoms, indicating the political diversity and expansion during that period.
12. Diverse Terrain and Travel: Despite the challenges posed by various geographical features such as hills, mountains, deserts, rivers, and seas, people in the Indian subcontinent traveled extensively from one region to another.
13. Reasons for Travel: People embarked on journeys for various reasons, including seeking livelihood opportunities, escaping natural disasters like floods or droughts, participating in military campaigns to conquer new territories, engaging in trade as merchants, spreading religious teachings as wandering teachers, and satisfying a sense of adventure by discovering new places.
14. Sharing of Ideas: These travels facilitated the exchange of ideas among people from different regions, fostering cultural, intellectual, and religious exchanges that contributed to the richness and diversity of Indian civilization.
15. Reasons for Modern Travel: Today, people travel for various reasons including leisure, tourism, work opportunities, education, visiting family and friends, experiencing different cultures, adventure, and exploration.
16. Natural Frontiers of the Subcontinent: The map illustrates how hills, mountains, and seas act as natural boundaries of the Indian subcontinent. Despite the challenges, people historically traversed these frontiers, enriching cultural traditions through interactions with outsiders and settlers.
17. Enrichment of Cultural Traditions: Interactions across frontiers have led to the exchange of ideas and practices, contributing to the enrichment of cultural traditions. This includes sharing techniques like stone carving, music composition, and culinary methods over many centuries.

Names of the land

1. India and Bharat: The names “India” and “Bharat” are commonly used to refer to our country. The term “India” originates from the river Indus, known as “Sindhu” in Sanskrit. Ancient Iranians and Greeks, who came through the northwest region about 2500 years ago, referred to this river as “Hindos” or “Indos.” Consequently, the land to the east of the river came to be known as India.
2. Origin of “Bharata”: The name “Bharata” was initially used to denote a group of people who resided in the northwest region and are mentioned in the Rigveda, one of the oldest Sanskrit compositions dating back around 3500 years ago. Over time, “Bharata” came to be associated with the entire country.

Finding out about the past

1. Sources of Historical Information: There are various methods for uncovering information about the past. One common approach is to explore and study ancient texts or books that were written in earlier periods.
2. Manuscripts: These ancient books, often called manuscripts, were handwritten copies of texts. The term “manuscript” originates from the Latin word “manu,” meaning hand, reflecting the fact that they were written by hand rather than printed.
3. Materials Used: Manuscripts were typically inscribed on materials such as palm leaves or specially prepared bark from trees like the birch, which is found in the Himalayan region. These materials provided a durable surface for writing in ancient times.
4. Preservation of Manuscripts: Over time, many manuscripts faced deterioration due to insect damage and destruction, but a significant number survived, often safeguarded in temples and monasteries. These manuscripts covered a wide range of topics including religious beliefs, royal lives, medicine, science, epics, poems, and plays. They were written in languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit (used by common people), and Tamil.
5. Study of Inscriptions: Apart from manuscripts, historians also study inscriptions, which are writings engraved on hard surfaces like stone or metal. Kings often had their orders inscribed for public visibility and obedience. Additionally, individuals, including kings and queens, recorded their actions in inscriptions. For example, kings documented their victories in battle, providing valuable historical insights.
6. Advantages of Writing on a Hard Surface: Writing on a hard surface, such as stone or metal, offers durability and longevity to the inscriptions. These writings can withstand the test of time, ensuring that the information remains preserved for future generations. Additionally, the visibility of inscriptions on hard surfaces allows for widespread dissemination of messages or orders, contributing to effective communication in ancient societies.
7. Difficulties of Writing on a Hard Surface: While hard surfaces provide longevity, they also pose challenges in terms of labor and resources required for inscription. Engraving on stone or metal necessitates specialized tools and skilled craftsmen, making the process time-consuming and potentially costly. Moreover, corrections or alterations to inscriptions on hard surfaces are difficult compared to writing on more malleable materials like parchment or paper.
8. Archaeological Study of Objects: Archaeologists study various artifacts and remains from the past to understand ancient civilizations. They examine structures like stone and brick buildings, as well as artifacts such as tools, weapons, pottery, ornaments, and coins. These objects, made from materials like stone, bone, baked clay, or metal, provide valuable insights into past cultures, technology, and daily life.
9. Survival of Objects: Objects crafted from hard, durable materials tend to survive longer over time, compared to perishable items. Their resilience ensures that they remain intact for archaeologists to discover and analyze, contributing significantly to our understanding of history.
10. Archaeological Analysis of Bones and Plant Remains: Archaeologists examine bones of animals, birds, and fish to understand dietary habits of past civilizations. While bones provide insights into food consumption, plant remains are less common due to their perishable nature. However, charred seeds of grain or wood, resulting from burning, occasionally survive and offer clues about past plant usage.
11. Frequency of Cloth Discoveries: Cloth findings are relatively rare for archaeologists. Cloth tends to decay rapidly over time, especially in comparison to more durable materials like stone or metal. However, in certain conditions like dry climates or waterlogged environments, cloth preservation is possible, albeit uncommon.
12. Historians and Sources: Historians use various sources, including manuscripts, inscriptions, and archaeological findings, to reconstruct the past. These sources are akin to clues for detectives, guiding historians in piecing together narratives about ancient civilizations. The process of historical inquiry becomes an adventure as scholars delve into these sources to uncover the mysteries of the past.

One past or many?

1. Title Significance: The title “Our Pasts” emphasizes the plural form of “pasts” to highlight the diverse and multifaceted nature of history. It acknowledges that the past was not uniform but varied significantly for different groups of people.
2. Diverse Experiences: Various societal groups, such as herders, farmers, kings, queens, merchants, and craftspeople, experienced life differently in the past. Their occupations, social statuses, and roles within society shaped their experiences and perspectives on historical events.
3. Acknowledging Diversity: By using the plural form of “pasts,” the title underscores the importance of recognizing and understanding the diverse experiences and perspectives of different social groups throughout history. This approach enriches our understanding of the complexities and nuances of the past.
4. Regional Practices and Customs: Similar to today, people in different parts of the country followed diverse practices and customs in the past. For instance, inhabitants of the Andaman Islands traditionally obtained food through fishing, hunting, and collecting forest resources, while city dwellers relied on others for food supplies. These regional differences in livelihood and lifestyle existed in ancient times as well.
5. Records of Kings vs. Ordinary People: Historical records often focus on the actions of kings and queens, including their battles and victories, as they maintained detailed accounts of their exploits. Conversely, ordinary people such as hunters, fishermen, gatherers, farmers, or herders typically did not keep written records of their activities. While archaeology provides insights into the lives of these ordinary people, much of their history remains unknown due to the lack of written documentation.

What do dates mean?

1. Meaning of Dates: When someone asks for the date, they typically want to know the day, month, and year, such as “2000-something.” These years are counted from a significant event in history: the generally accepted birth year of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Therefore, the year 2000 represents 2000 years after the birth of Christ.
2. BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini): Dates before the birth of Christ are counted backwards and often marked with the letters “BC” (Before Christ). Conversely, dates after the birth of Christ are designated with “AD,” derived from the Latin phrase “Anno Domini,” meaning “in the year of our Lord.”
3. Dating Conventions in the Book: In this book, dates are referred to in relation to the present, with 2000 serving as the starting point. This approach allows for a chronological framework in discussing historical events and developments.

Letters with dates

1. BC and AD: BC stands for “Before Christ,” indicating years before the generally accepted birth year of Jesus Christ. Conversely, AD stands for “Anno Domini,” a Latin phrase meaning “in the year of the Lord” (i.e., Christ). Therefore, years after the birth of Christ are designated with AD.
2. CE and BCE: CE stands for “Common Era,” which is an alternative term for AD, while BCE stands for “Before Common Era,” an alternative to BC. These terms are used to provide a neutral dating system that does not explicitly reference Christianity. They are widely adopted globally, including in India for about the past two centuries.
3. BP: Sometimes, the term BP, meaning “Before Present,” is used. This term is commonly employed in archaeological and scientific contexts to denote years before the current era, with the “present” typically referring to a standard reference year, often the year 1950.