Learn how historical timelines, sources, and the work of historians help reconstruct the past, uncovering
key events and developments.
Chapter 4 Timeline and Sources of History
Class 6 NCERT Social
Science Exploring Society India
and Beyond
New
Syllabus | Easy to remember solutions
Theme B: Tapestry of the Past (अतीत की बुनाई)
Concept
Map:
Chapter 4: Timeline and Sources of History (कालक्रम और इतिहास के स्रोत)
Historical Timelines (ऐतिहासिक कालक्रम)
Archaeological and Literary Sources (पुरातात्त्विक और साहित्यिक स्रोत)
Family/Village History Project (परिवार/गाँव का इतिहास परियोजना)
Q. No. 1 As a
project, write the history of your family (or village if you live in one),
using sources of history at your disposal. Ask your teacher to guide you.
Ans. This question asks about your family
or village. To complete this project, you can use sources like photographs,
diaries, ID cards, or memories from your family members to learn about your
family history.
Q. No. 2 Can we
compare historians to detectives? Give reasons for your answers.
Ans. Yes, historians can be compared to
detectives.
- Gathering Clues: Like detectives who collect
evidence from a crime scene, historians gather information from various
sources to understand the past. These sources can include: - Archaeological Sources: Excavated materials like tools,
pottery, and structures. - Literary Sources: Written accounts like
manuscripts, inscriptions, and travelogues. - Oral Sources: Stories, songs, and folklore
passed down through generations. - Analysing Evidence: Both historians and detectives
critically analyse the collected evidence. They look for inconsistencies,
corroboration with other sources, and try to understand the context
surrounding the evidence. - Reconstructing the Past: Just as detectives piece together
clues to solve a case, historians use their collected information to
create a narrative of the past. They try to understand the sequence of
events, the motivations of people involved and the broader historical
context. - Dealing with Missing Information: Both professions often deal with
incomplete information. A detective might not find all the evidence
related to a crime, and similarly, historians may not have access to all
the sources related to a historical event. Despite this, both try to draw
the most accurate conclusions possible with the available information.
Q. No. 3 A few
exercises with dates:
(a) Place these
dates chronologically on the timeline: 323 CE, 323 BCE, 100 CE, 100 BCE, 1900
BCE, 1090 CE, 2024 CE.
Ans. A timeline helps us visualise
historical events in chronological order. Here are the dates arranged
chronologically:
- 1900 BCE
- 100 BCE
- 100 CE
- 323 CE
- 1090 CE
- 2024 CE
(b) If King
Chandragupta was born in 320 CE, which century did he belong to? And how many
years was that after the Buddha’s birth?
Ans. King Chandragupta, born in 320 CE,
belonged to the 4th century CE. The years 301-400 CE constitute the 4th
century.
The Buddha was
born in approximately 560 BCE. To calculate the number of years between a BCE
date and a CE date, add the dates and subtract 1 to account for the lack of a
year zero. Therefore, King Chandragupta was born 560 + 320 – 1 = 879 years
after the Buddha.
(c) Rani of
Jhansi was born in 1828. Which century did she belong to? How many years was
that before India’s Independence?
Ans. Rani of Jhansi, born in 1828, belonged
to the 19th century CE.
India achieved
independence in 1947. To calculate the number of years between Rani of Jhansi’s
birth and India’s independence, subtract the earlier date from the later date.
So, Rani of Jhansi was born 1947 – 1828 = 119 years before India’s
independence.
(d) Turn
‘12,000 years ago’ into a date.
Ans. The year 1 CE immediately follows the
year 1 BCE, with no year zero. To determine the BCE date that corresponds to
12,000 years ago from the present year (2024 CE), perform the following
calculation:
12,000 years
ago – 2024 years (to reach 1 CE) + 1 year (to account for there being no year
zero) = 9977 BCE.
Therefore,
12,000 years ago corresponds to approximately 9977 BCE.
Q. No. 4 Plan a
visit to a nearby museum: the visit should be prepared with some prior research
on the kind of exhibits the museum holds. Keep notes during the visit. Write a
brief report afterwards, highlighting what was unexpected / interesting / fun
about the visit and the exhibits.
Ans.. Museums are excellent places to learn
about history. They preserve objects from the past, including statues, coins,
and ornaments, offering insights into our history.
Q. No. 5 Invite
to your school an archaeologist or a historian and ask them to speak on the
history of your region and why it’s important to know it.
Ans. Experts, such as archaeologists and
historians, can provide valuable insights into the past.