CBSE Class 6 Social Science India That Is Bharat Assignments Set 01

Fill in the Blanks

Question. Emperor Ashoka used the term ‘___’ in his edicts around 250 BCE to describe India.
Answer: Jambudvipa
Explanation: King Ashoka carved messages on rocks and pillars using the name Jambudvipa for the empire.

Question. Xuanzang stayed about ___ years in India, studying and collecting Buddhist texts.
Answer: 17
Explanation: He spent 17 years traveling and studying in famous Indian universities like Nalanda.

Question. The term '__________' refers to the land of India as described in the Mahabharata.
Answer: Bharatavarsha
Explanation: In the grand epic story Mahabharata, our entire subcontinent was called Bharatavarsha, meaning the country of King Bharata's people.

Question. The name '__________' is still spoken today in North India.
Answer: Bharat
Explanation: 'Bharat' is the traditional name for India that people still use today in everyday speech and in our national anthem.

Question. The __________ Veda is considered India's earliest text.
Answer: Rig
Explanation: The Rig Veda was composed thousands of years ago, making it the oldest holy book and collection of hymns in India.

Question. The ancient Chinese referred to the territory as '__________' or 'Yindu.'
Answer: Yintu
Explanation: Long ago, travelers and scholars coming from China pronounced the name of India as Yintu or Yindu.

Question. The __________ uses the expression ‘India, that is Bharat’ right at the beginning.
Answer: Indian Constitution
Explanation: Article 1 of India's rule book opens with this unifying line.

Question. Xuanzang went back to China from India after __________ years.
Answer: 17
Explanation: After seventeen years of learning, he packed his books and returned home to China.

True or False

Question. 'Hindustan' was first used in a Greek carving.
Answer: False
Explanation: The name Hindustan first appeared in a Persian stone carving created nearly 1,800 years ago.

Question. Emperor Ashoka used the term 'Sapta Sindhava' in his inscriptions to define his empire.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ashoka used the name 'Jambudvipa' on his rock edicts, while 'Sapta Sindhava' comes from the much older Rig Veda.

Question. The early Greeks referred to India as 'Indoi' or 'Indike', based on Persian sources.
Answer: True
Explanation: The ancient Greeks learned about India from Persian accounts and changed the word Hindu to Indoi and Indike.

Question. Xuanzang, a Chinese traveller, translated Indian Buddhist texts from Chinese into Sanskrit during his visit in India.
Answer: False
Explanation: Xuanzang took original Sanskrit texts back home to China and spent years translating them into Chinese.

Question. Xuanzang journeyed from China to India in the 6th century CE.
Answer: False
Explanation: Xuanzang made his famous trek in the 7th century CE (in the 630s CE).

Question. The Mahabharata names many regions, including Kashmir, Kutch and Kerala.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Mahabharata mentions places from the cold north all the way to southern India.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Briefly explain how the name 'India' became the widely recognized international name.
Answer: The name 'India' evolved primarily from the Greek 'Indoi' and Latin 'India', which themselves were derived from the Persian 'Hindu' (from Sindhu). European usage solidified this.
Explanation: The river name Sindhu became Hindu in Persia, then Indoi in Greece, India in Latin, and soon the whole world started using it.

Question. Describe the origin and meaning of the name 'Bharatavarsha'.
Answer: 'Bharatavarsha' means 'the country of the Bharatas,' a prominent Vedic group. The name, found in texts like the Mahabharata, extended to the entire Subcontinent.
Explanation: Bharatavarsha means the land of the Bharata tribe, a famous group of people mentioned in ancient stories.

Question. What do the two terms ‘Bharatavarsha’ and “Jambudvipa” signify?
Answer: The term “Bharatavarsha” means country of the “Bharatas”. The name “Bharata” first appears in the Rig Veda referring to one of the main Vedic groups of people. The term ‘Jambudvipa’ ‘means’ the Island of the fruit of the jamun tree. The Jamun tree native to India is also called ‘jambul tree’ and ‘Malabar’ ‘plum tree’.
Explanation: Bharatavarsha means the land of the Bharata people, while Jambudvipa means the island full of purple jamun fruit trees!

Question. How is the Chinese name 'Yintu' for India linked to the river Sindhu?
Answer: The Chinese name 'Yintu' also originated from 'Sindhu,' likely through intermediate linguistic transformations similar to those seen in Persian and Greek.
Explanation: Just like the Greeks and Persians changed the sound of 'Sindhu', the Chinese language gently changed it into 'Yintu'.

Question. Why might a place have different names given by its inhabitants versus foreigners?
Answer: Inhabitants of ten use names rooted in their own language, culture, or significant local features/ tribes. Foreigners might adapt these names or create new ones based on their linguistic understanding or prominent features they first encounter.
Explanation: People living in a place name it after their own heroes and language, while visitors name it after the first river or hill they see!

Question. Who were the first outsiders to mention India? What were the three names they gave India and why?
Answer: The first foreigners who mentioned India were the Persians. In 535 BCE the Persian emperor Cyrus invaded India and control over the northwest region of India known as ‘Sindhu’ after the Indus River. Therefore, the Persians referred to India as ‘Hind’, Hidu, or Hindu which are adaptations in their language of the word ‘Sindhu’.
Explanation: Ancient Persians were the first visitors to write about India, calling it Hind, Hidu, or Hindu after the Sindhu River.

Question. Comment on the importance of the Rigveda. How its significance impacted the Indian philosophy, spirituality and culture?
Answer: The Rigveda’s significance lies in its status as India’s most ancient text, providing invaluable insights into ancient Indian geography, culture and society. Mentioning ‘Sapta Sindhava’, it highlights the region’s early naming conventions. As a foundational text, the Rigveda shapes India’s cultural and religious heritage, influencing subsequent literary and philosophical works. Its ancient wisdom continues to inspire and inform Indian thought and identity, demonstrating the enduring relevance of this sacred text. The Rigveda’s significance extends to its impact on Indian philosophy, spirituality and culture. Its hymns and verses have inspired countless generations of Indians, shaping their worldview and values. The text’s exploration of human existence, nature, and the divine continues to resonate with Indians, making it a cornerstone of Indian civilisation.
Explanation: The Rigveda is our oldest book of wisdom and hymns, teaching us to love nature and think deeply about life.

Question. How did ancient Persians affect the naming of India?
Answer: (i) Ancient Persians controlled the region of the Indus river, which was earlier known as ‘Sindhu’.
(ii) Therefore, they referred to India as ‘Hind’, ‘Hidu’ or ‘Hindu’, which are derived from the word ‘Sindhu’.
(iii) This Persian adaptation later led to the names used by the Greeks and even influenced the term ‘Hindustan’.
Explanation: The Persians pronounced the river 'Sindhu' as 'Hindu', which gave rise to names like Hind, Hindustan, and India!

Question. The Chinese term 'Tianzhu' could mean 'heavenly master'. What does this interpretation show about the ancient Chinese perception of India?
Answer: This interpretation suggests that ancient Chinese held India in high regard, possibly viewing it as a land of profound spiritual wisdom and enlightenment, primarily because India was the birthplace of Buddhism, which greatly influenced China.
Explanation: The ancient Chinese respected India so much as the home of Lord Buddha that they called it 'heavenly master', just like a wise and sacred teacher.

Question. How did the Greeks create the word 'Indoi' for India?
Answer: The Greeks borrowed the Persian word 'Hindu,' itself derived from 'Sindhu,' but dropped the initial 'h' sound since it did not exist in Greek. Thus, they called the region 'Indoi'.
Explanation: The Greek language did not have an 'H' sound, so when they tried to say 'Hind', they dropped the 'H' and it became 'Indoi'!

Question. What is the definition of Bharata according to Vishnu Purana? Mention the significance of this definition.
Answer: Vishnu Purana defines Bharata as the region bounded by the ocean in the south and the Himalayas in the north. This definition highlights the importance of natural features in shaping India's identity. Bharata refers to the entire Indian sub-continent, encompassing present-day India. The Purana's definition emphasises the significance of Bharata's geographical boundaries, demonstrating the ancient Indian understanding of their country's physical and cultural landscape.
Explanation: An ancient book called Vishnu Purana says India is the land between the snowy Himalaya mountains in the north and the big ocean in the south.

Question. Explain the significance of physical geographical features like the Himalayas and the surrounding oceans in shaping the idea and boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent.
Answer: The Himalayas in the north and the oceans to the east, west, and south form distinct natural barriers. These features have historically isolated the Subcontinent to some extent, fostering a unique civilization development and contributing to a geographical and cultural definition of 'India' or 'Bharata'.
Explanation: Huge mountains and deep oceans acted like natural protective walls around India, helping all the people inside grow together with a shared culture.

Question. What does the term 'Bhāratavarṣha' mean, and how did it begin?
Answer: 'Bhāratavarṣha' means "the country of the Bharatas." It first appears in the Rig Veda as the name of a Vedic people and later came to represent the entire subcontinent.
Explanation: In ancient days, a brave group of people called the 'Bharatas' lived here, so people named the entire country after them.

Question. Why did people travel to India from various parts of the world in ancient times? What could be their motivations in making such long journeys? (Hint: There could be at least four or five motivations)
Answer: People traveled to ancient India for various reasons: (i) Trade: To exchange goods like spices, textiles, and precious stones; (ii) Spirituality: To explore India's rich spiritual heritage and visit sacred sites; (iii) Knowledge: To study subjects like mathematics, astronomy, and medicine at esteemed universities like Nalanda and Takshashila; (iv) Conquest: To expand empires and gain riches; (v) Cultural Exchange: To foster diplomatic relations and learn from India's culture.
Explanation: Travelers came from far away to buy tasty spices and colorful clothes, study at great universities, visit holy temples, or seek adventure.

Question. Why is it important to understand that names like 'Hindu' in ancient times were geographical and not religious designators?
Answer: Understanding this distinction is crucial for accurate historical interpretation. It prevents anachronistically projecting later religious connotations onto early geographical terms, ensuring clarity about how identities and terms evolved over time.
Explanation: Long ago, the word 'Hindu' simply meant anyone living near or across the Sindhu River, not what religion a person practiced.