CBSE Class 6 Social Science India That Is Bharat Worksheet Set 03

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The French name for India is ___, derived from the same origins as the English word ‘India’.
Answer: Inde
Explanation: People in France call India 'Inde', which also comes from the old name of the river Indus.

Question. The Mahabharata identifies India as ___, meaning the country of the Bharatas.
Answer: Bharatavarsha
Explanation: Bharatavarsha means the kingdom or home of the ancient Bharata tribe and its great leaders.

Question. The Hindi translation of the Constitution uses the phrase “___ arthath India.”
Answer: Bharata
Explanation: 'Arthath' means 'that is', so the Hindi text says 'Bharat, that is India'.

Question. The term ‘Sindhu’ in Sanskrit means ___.
Answer: river
Explanation: In the ancient Sanskrit language, any big flowing river or the Indus river was called 'Sindhu'.

Question. The phrase “India, that is Bharat” indicates one nation known by ___ names.
Answer: two
Explanation: This sentence shows that our single, beautiful country has two official names: India and Bharat.

Question. Sangam poems, about 2,000 years old, describe a king whose fame extended from Cape Kumari in the south to the great ___ in the north.
Answer: mountain (Himalayas)
Explanation: Ancient Tamil poems showed how grand India was by measuring it from Kanyakumari all the way to the Himalayan mountains.

Question. The Persians, in the 6th century BCE, named India by names such as ___ or ___.
Answer: Hind, Hidu (or Hindu)
Explanation: The Persians pronounced the 'S' of Sindhu as an 'H', creating names like Hind and Hindu..

True or False

Question. Emperor Ashoka used the term ‘Jambudvipa’ in his inscriptions around 250 BCE.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ashoka's stone edicts clearly mention the word Jambudvipa.

Question. Sangam poems written about 2,000 years ago describe a king whose glory extended from Cape Kumari to the Himalayas.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ancient Tamil poets wrote songs celebrating kings whose fame reached across the entire subcontinent.

Question. The term 'Hind' was used by the Persians to name India.
Answer: True
Explanation: When the ancient Persians tried to say the river name 'Sindhu', they pronounced the 'S' sound as 'H', calling the land 'Hind'.

Question. 'Hindustan' was first found in a Greek inscription.
Answer: False
Explanation: The name 'Hindustan' comes from Persian origins, not from ancient Greek writing on stones.

Question. Persians mention India as ‘Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’ in numerous texts.
Answer: False
Explanation: Yintu and Yindu were Chinese names for India, whereas Persian records used names like Hind, Hidu, and Hindu.

Question. ‘Bharata’ in the Rig Veda refers to one of the major Vedic groups of people.
Answer: True
Explanation: In the Rig Veda, the Bharatas were an important and powerful clan of people living in ancient northern India.

Question. 'Bharatavarsha', meaning 'country of the Bharatas', is a name for the subcontinent recorded in the Mahabharata.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Mahabharata calls our vast homeland Bharatavarsha to honor the ancient Bharata tribe and its great kings.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. What are some of the main rivers that define the plains of the Indian Subcontinent?
Answer: Major rivers like the Indus, Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra have formed the vast and fertile plains of the Indian Subcontinent, supporting civilizations.
Explanation: Big rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna carry fresh water and rich soil, helping our farmers grow lots of food.

Question. What is the importance of the Mahabharata in Indian history? What is the impact of this significance?
Answer: The Mahabharata holds immense significance in Indian history, providing profound insights into ancient Indian geography, culture and society. This epic text mentions various regions, shaping India’s cultural and religious heritage. Its influence extends beyond literature, impacting art, philosophy and ethics. The Mahabharata’s exploration of human nature, morality, and duty continues to resonate with Indians, making it a cornerstone of Indian identity. The Mahabharata’s significance extends to its impact on Indian art, architecture and performing arts. Its stories and characters have inspired countless works of art, literature and popular culture. The epic’s themes and values continue to shape Indian thought and society.
Explanation: The Mahabharata is a grand story full of lessons about bravery, duty, and goodness that inspires Indian art, plays, and values.

Question. How did the ancient Greeks refer to the land of India?
Answer: Indoi or Indike.
Explanation: Ancient Greeks used names like Indoi or Indike, which slowly turned into the word 'India'.

Question. How did the ancient Chinese show their respect for Indian culture and spirituality through their naming conventions?
Answer: The ancient Chinese exhibited profound reverence for Indian culture and spirituality through their naming conventions, reflecting a deep admiration for India’s spiritual and philosophical heritage. By calling India ‘Tianzhu’, meaning ‘heavenly master’, they acknowledged India as the land of Buddha and a spiritual hub. The use of ‘Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’, derived from ‘Sindhu’, further demonstrated their respect. Chinese scholar Xuanzang’s 17-year exploration of India, collection of Buddhist texts, and translations from Sanskrit to Chinese solidified cultural ties. This reverence reflects the significant impact of Indian spirituality and culture on ancient Chinese thought and society, underscoring the enduring legacy of Indo-Chinese cultural exchange.
Explanation: The Chinese called India 'Tianzhu' (meaning Heavenly Master) because they had great respect for Lord Buddha and India's holy teachings.

Question. How has the concept of India changed over millennia in terms of its borders?
Answer: Millennia ago, India or the Indian Subcontinent had fluid boundaries and different names, unlike the modern nation with clearly defined borders and states today.
Explanation: In ancient times, kingdoms grew and shifted without fences, but today India has clear and exact borders on a map.

Question. Name one word used by the ancient Chinese to refer to India.
Answer: Yintu (or Yindu, or Tianzhu).
Explanation: Ancient Chinese travelers called India by names like Yintu or Tianzhu.

Question. How did foreign accounts contribute to the naming of India?
Answer: Accounts from foreign travellers, invaders, and chroniclers (Persians, Greeks, Chinese) recorded names like Hind, Indoi, and Yintu, which eventually led to the name 'India'.
Explanation: Foreign visitors wrote down names they could pronounce in their travel diaries, which spread names like 'India' across the world.

Question. ‘Hindustan’ is a popular term used for India today. What is the origin of the term ‘Hindustan’?
Answer: The term ‘Hindustan’ originated with the Persians around 1,800 years ago. Initially, it referred to the Indian sub-continent, encompassing present-day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Later, invaders adopted the term to describe the region. ‘Hindustan’ is a relatively recent name compared to other foreign designations for India, such as ‘Hind’ or ‘Indoi’.
Explanation: Persian people created the name 'Hindustan' about 1,800 years ago to describe the big land around the Indus River.

Question. Why did the ancient Greeks name India 'Indoi' or 'Indike'?
Answer: The Greeks derived 'Indoi' or 'Indike' from the Persian term 'Hindu,' dropping the initial 'h' as that sound was absent in their language.
Explanation: The Greeks borrowed the Persian word 'Hindu' but dropped the 'H' because they did not have that letter sound.

Question. The many different names which the foreigners have used for India have been derived from the word ‘Sindhu’. Examine the above statement.
Answer: The Persian emperor Cyrus conquered the northwest part of India which was known as ‘Sindhu’ at that time. The Persian equivalent to the word Sindhu was ‘Hind’, ‘Hidu’ or Hindu. This was how India was referred to in the earliest Persian records and stone inscriptions. The Greeks dropped the letter ‘h’ of the Persian words as this letter does not exist in the Greek language. Therefore the Greeks came to call India ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’. The Chinese interactions with India led them to refer to India as Yintu, or Yindu also derivatives from the word Sindhu. In recent times, the term Hindustan is being used to refer to India. But this term was first mentioned 1800 years in a Persian Inscription. Later invaders began commonly to use this term to describe India.
Explanation: Because visitors first met people near the Sindhu River, they turned that river's name into Hind, Indoi, Yintu, and Hindustan.

Question. In ancient Persian usage, did the term 'Hindu' refer to a religion or a geographical region?
Answer: A geographical area.
Explanation: Long ago, the word 'Hindu' simply meant the land and people living around the Indus River, not a specific religion.

Question. What role do ancient texts play as records for understanding the historical names of India?
Answer: Ancient texts like the Rig Veda, Mahabharata, and Puranas provide the earliest recorded names such as Sapta Sindhava, Bharatavarsha, and Jambudvipa used by inhabitants.
Explanation: Very old books help us like time machines to learn what names people gave our country thousands of years ago.

Question. Who was Xuanzang, and what made him notable in the context of Indian history?
Answer: Xuanzang was a Chinese scholar who travelled to India in the 7th century CE, studied Buddhist texts and returned to China after 17 years. He is significant because he translated many Sanskrit texts into Chinese after his return, contributing to cultural exchange between India and China, and even influenced other scholars to do the same.
Explanation: Xuanzang was a brave Chinese monk who walked to India, studied for 17 years, and brought back lots of books to share.

Question. How did the name 'Hindustan' come into use for the Indian Subcontinent?
Answer: Hindustan' first appeared in a Persian inscription around 1,800 years ago and was later adopted by many invaders to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
Explanation: It was first written in Persia 1,800 years ago and later used by rulers who came to India.

Question. How did the idea of ‘Jambudvipa’ emerge? How it has been interpreted?
Answer: The concept of ‘Jambudvipa’ emerged gradually, initially referring to a specific region. Later, it came to represent the Indian subcontinent, symbolising the country’s geographical and cultural identity. Ashoka’s inscriptions mention ‘Jambudvipa’, highlighting its significance in ancient Indian thought. The term’s evolution reflects India’s diverse cultural and historical heritage, influenced by various literary and philosophical works. ‘Jambudvipa’ became synonymous with India, representing its unique blend of geography, culture and history. The concept of ‘Jambudvipa’ has been interpreted in various ways, including geographical, cultural and spiritual perspectives. Its evolution demonstrates the dynamic nature of Indian thought, shaped by diverse influences and historical developments.
Explanation: At first, Jambudvipa meant a small area, but over time it grew to mean the whole Indian subcontinent and its rich culture.