CBSE Class 6 Social Science Timeline and Sources of History Worksheet Set 03

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The absence of a year zero in the Gregorian calendar means that between 4 BCE and 4 CE, only __________ years have elapsed.
Answer: 7
Explanation: Because the calendar jumps directly from 1 BCE to 1 CE without a year 0, we count 4 + 4 - 1 = 7 years.

Question. The birth of Jesus Christ is used as its beginning point by the Gregorian calendar.
Answer: Jesus Christ
Explanation: The years on our modern calendar started being counted from the estimated time Jesus was born.

Question. The 3rd millennium CE started in __________ and will go up to 3000.
Answer: 2001, 3000
Explanation: The third block of 1,000 years began on January 1, 2001, and will finish at the end of the year 3000.

Question. Century is a period of 100 years.
Answer: Century
Explanation: A century is simply the special name for a time period lasting 100 years.

Question. Early humans were mainly hunters and gatherers for their survival.
Answer: hunters, gatherers
Explanation: Before farming was invented, people survived by hunting wild animals and collecting fruits, roots, and nuts.

Question. __________ enabled early humans to settle down and grow communities.
Answer: Agriculture
Explanation: Once people discovered how to grow crops, they didn't need to wander around looking for food, so they built permanent villages.

True or False

Question. Archaeologists study the physical aspects of the Earth, like the soil, stones, hills, mountains, rivers, seas, oceans and other such parts of the Earth.
Answer: False
Explanation: Geographers and geologists study the Earth's natural landforms; archaeologists search for human-made things.

Question. Anthropologists study human communities and cultures of both the past and the present.
Answer: True
Explanation: Anthropologists look at human traditions, habits, and ways of living across both ancient and modern times.

Question. The activity of creating a family tree, as suggested in the chapter, is a useful way to understand how personal history is built from various sources.
Answer: True
Explanation: Making a family tree by interviewing grandparents and checking old photos teaches us how historians collect clues.

Question. The Gregorian calendar has a year zero in its chronology.
Answer: False
Explanation: When the calendar was made, the number zero was not used, so it goes straight from 1 BCE to 1 CE.

Question. Historians rely exclusively on written records to study the past.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historians also use old buildings, pottery, coins, skeletons, and ancient paintings.

Question. The types of oral sources of history are paintings and sculptures.
Answer: False
Explanation: Oral sources are spoken words, like tales, songs, and interviews. Paintings and statues are visual artifacts.

Question. The last Ice Age continued from over 100,000 years ago to approximately 12,000 years ago.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Earth stayed very cold and icy until warming up about 12,000 years ago.

Question. Early humans were mostly hunters and gatherers, living in permanent, well-established villages.
Answer: False
Explanation: Hunter-gatherers moved constantly following animal herds and seasonal wild plants.

Question. The Gregorian calendar includes a ‘year zero’ to divide BCE and CE dates.
Answer: False
Explanation: There is no zero year separating BCE and CE dates.

Question. Historians rely exclusively on written texts, as archaeological findings are generally considered untrustworthy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Archaeological discoveries like ancient tools and pottery are extremely reliable physical clues.

Questions / Assertion / Reason

Question. Assertion (A): Archaeologists study the past by excavating remains that people, plants and animals left behind, such as tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, bones and teeth of animals and humans.
Reason (R): Inscriptions provide direct evidence of past human activities and beliefs.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Digging up ancient buried objects and reading old stone carvings are both great ways to learn history, but one does not explain the other.

Question. Assertion (A): The Gregorian calendar is commonly used today.
Reason (R): The Gregorian calendar is based on the Western understanding of time, with the birth of Jesus Christ as its starting point.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Explanation: While both facts are true, the calendar is popular worldwide because it is used for international business and travel, not simply because of where its starting point was chosen.

Question. Assertion (A): Understanding family history can involve looking at old photographs and hearing relatives’ memories.
Reason (R): These are considered valid sources for reconstructing personal or familial pasts for all individuals.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: Looking at old pictures and listening to grandparents' stories are valid, real clues that help us build our family tree.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Sources of history are like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, and sometimes pieces may be missing. Elaborate on this comparison, discussing the challenges historians face.
Answer: Historians piece together the past using various sources (archaeological, literary, oral). Like a jigsaw, each source provides a part of the picture. However, many sources may be lost, damaged, biased, or contradictory, leaving gaps. Historians must critically analyze available pieces to create the most plausible interpretation.
Explanation: Imagine doing a giant puzzle when some pieces are lost under the sofa; you have to look carefully at the rest to guess what the full picture looks like!

Question. How does the Gregorian calendar manage leap years, especially for century years?
Answer: The Gregorian calendar has a leap year every four years. However, century years (e.g., 1800, 1900) are only leap years if divisible by 400.
Explanation: Every four years we get an extra day in February, but special century years only get that bonus day if they can divide cleanly by 400!

Question. Discuss the steady development of social complexity in early human communities, from small bands to the emergence of small towns.
Answer: Initially, humans lived in small hunter-gatherer bands. With agriculture, settled hamlets formed, led by chieftains focusing on community welfare. These grew into villages with exchange of goods. Eventually, with new technologies like pottery and metalwork, some villages evolved into small towns with more complex social organization.
Explanation: Humans started out as wandering family groups, then built small farming villages, and finally created big towns where people had many different jobs.

Question. How have scientific studies helped in the reconstruction of the past in recent decades?
Answer: Scientific studies like analysis of ancient climates, chemical studies of artefacts, and DNA analysis of ancient human remains provide new data and insights supplementing traditional sources.
Explanation: Scientists use high-tech lab tools like DNA tests to discover where ancient people traveled and what food was cooked in old pots.

Question. Examine the role of technology in the development of early human societies. How did advancements shape their relationships?
Answer: Technology played a crucial role in the development of early human societies by facilitating more efficient food production and enhancing daily life. The invention of tools, such as stone axes and later metal implements, allowed for better hunting, gathering and farming practices. As communities became more adept at producing food, they could support larger populations and engage in trade. This technological advancement led to increased interactions between different groups, as surplus goods were exchanged. Furthermore, innovations like pottery and weaving contributed to cultural exchanges and the establishment of social hierarchies, shaping the dynamics of early societies. Ultimately, technology was a driving force in the evolution of human interactions and societal structures.
Explanation: Better tools let farmers grow extra food, allowing different villages to meet up, make friends, and trade goods with each other.

Question. What does afterlife relate to in the context of early human beliefs?
Answer: Afterlife refers to a belief held by some early humans that life continues in some form after physical death, possibly in another world or state.
Explanation: It is the belief that when someone’s journey on Earth ends, their spirit travels to live happily in another world.

Question. Describe the major types of historical sources (Archaeological, Literary, Oral, Artistic) and give one specific example for each, explaining what it might reveal.
Answer: Archaeological : e.g., Harappan seals reveal script, trade, religious beliefs. Literary : e.g., Arthashastra tells about Mauryan administration. Oral : e.g., folk tales reflect cultural values and historical memory. Artistic : e.g., Ajanta cave paintings show aspects of contemporary life, dress, and beliefs.
Explanation: Clues from long ago come from four places: dug-up objects, written books, bedtime folk stories, and beautiful wall paintings.

Question. Oral histories and inscriptions on monuments improve our understanding of ancient civilisations. Justify the statement?
Answer: Oral histories and inscriptions on monuments both play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of ancient civilisations by preserving cultural narratives and official records. Oral histories capture traditions, stories and experiences passed down through generations, offering personal and communal perspectives on historical events. Inscriptions on monuments provide formal and often official records, such as decrees, commemorations and dedications, that offer direct evidence of significant events and figures. Combining these sources allows historians to validate oral traditions with physical evidence and understand the broader socio-political context of ancient societies.
Explanation: Writings carved on stone give us real news from kings, while spoken songs tell us what normal families cared about!

Question. Analyse the challenges faced by early humans in adapting to changing environmental conditions and the methods they employed to ensure their survival. How did these adaptations contribute to the development of more complex societies over time?
Answer: Early humans lived in a constantly changing environment, facing challenges such as fluctuating climates, limited resources and threats from predators. To cope with these challenges, they developed strategies such as forming small, mobile groups for mutual support and protection, and relying on a diverse range of food sources through hunting and gathering. As the climate warmed after the last ice age, many communities began to settle in fertile areas and adopt agriculture, leading to more stable food supplies and population growth. This transition allowed for the development of more complex social structures, as communities grew in size and individuals began to specialise in different tasks. Leaders emerged to manage resources and communal activities, while the establishment of trade networks facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas between different societies. As these communities became more prosperous and technologically advanced, they laid the foundations for the rise of early civilisations, with the development of writing, cities, and more sophisticated social and political institutions.
Explanation: Early humans worked together, learned to farm, built warm shelters, and traded goods, which eventually turned wild camps into busy cities!

Question. What kind of information can be learned from rock paintings made by early humans?
Answer: Rock paintings can provide insights into early humans’ daily activities (like hunting), the animals they encountered, their beliefs, artistic skills, and symbolic communication.
Explanation: Rock art shows us what dangerous animals lived nearby and how hunters worked together as a team.

Question. E.H. Carr remarked, History is an unending dialogue between the present and the past. Explain what this statement means and why studying history is important.
Answer: This means our understanding of the past is constantly re-evaluated from present perspectives, and simultaneously, the past informs our understanding of present issues. Studying history is important as it helps us comprehend societal evolution, learn from past mistakes, and make informed decisions for the future.
Explanation: Learning about the past teaches us why our world is the way it is today, helping us avoid mistakes and make wise choices.

Question. What is the importance of structures like monuments as archaeological sources?
Answer: Structures like monuments provide information about past societies’ architectural skills, religious beliefs, political power, artistic styles, and important historical events or figures.
Explanation: Big monuments like forts and temples show us how creative ancient builders were and how powerful their kings were.

Question. Imagine you are an archaeologist who has just excavated an ancient human village. What types of artefacts would you look for, and what might they tell you about the people who lived there?
Answer: I would look for pottery (to understand daily life, storage, art), tools (technology, occupation), food remains (diet), house structures (settlement patterns, social organization), ornaments (culture, status), and burial sites (beliefs about afterlife, social hierarchy). These reveal their lifestyle, technology, and culture.
Explanation: Uncovering old pots, colorful beads, and grain seeds shows us what foods ancient people cooked, what jewelry they loved, and how they built their homes.

Question. What is the difference between a millennium and a century in terms of their length and how do these time periods help us understand historical events?
Answer: A millennium refers to a period of 1,000 years, while a century is a period of 100 years. This distinction is significant in historical studies as it allows us to categorise and analyse events over different time scales. For example, the 21st century spans from the year 2001 to 2100, while the 3rd millennium covers the years from 2001 to 3000. Understanding these time frames helps historians contextualise major developments, such as the rise and fall of civilisations, technological advancements, and significant cultural shifts. By examining events within a millennium, historians can identify broader trends and patterns that may not be apparent when looking at shorter periods like a century. This long-term perspective is crucial for understanding the complexities of human history and how different eras influence one another over time.
Explanation: A century is 100 years, while a millennium is a giant block of 1,000 years—just like comparing a minute to a whole hour!

Question. What role did climate change, particularly the end of the last Ice Age, play in the growth of early human agriculture and settlement?
Answer: The end of the last Ice Age brought warmer, more stable climates and increased availability of water from melting ice. This made conditions more favorable for plant growth, enabling humans to observe, cultivate, and eventually domesticate certain grains, leading to settled agriculture.
Explanation: When the icy snow melted, the ground became warm and sunny, which helped wild seeds grow into fields of grain that people could farm.

Question. Analyse the impact of the finding of fire on early human societies. Write a brief essay discussing how fire influenced the diet, safety and social structure of early humans.
Answer: Analysing the impact of fire on early human societies involves understanding how this discovery transformed daily life. Fire provided warmth and protection from predators, allowing humans to inhabit colder regions. It also enabled the cooking of food, which made it easier to digest and unlocked more nutrients, contributing to physical and cognitive development. Furthermore, the control of fire likely fostered social bonds as groups gathered around campfires, leading to more complex social structures.
Explanation: Finding fire gave people delicious cooked food, kept them safe from dark shadows, and gave them a warm place to sit together and talk.

Question. What are the methods used to track historical time, and why is it important?
Answer: Historical time is measured using different calendars and timelines. Different calendars are based on marking significant events like the birth of important figures or the beginning of eras. The Gregorian calendar, widely used today, counts years from the birth of Jesus Christ. Other calendars, like the Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish ones, are also used. Importance of Timeline Timelines help us understand the sequence of events, such as the birth of Buddha before Jesus. This chronological understanding is crucial for understanding the chronology and context of historical events, helping us learn from the past to understand the present better.
Explanation: Timelines put dates in a straight line from oldest to newest, so we know exactly which event happened first, second, and third.

Question. Reflect on the importance of timelines in historical study. How do they assist in understanding the sequence and significance of events?
Answer: Timelines are essential tools in historical study, providing a visual representation of the sequence and duration of events over time. They help historians and students organise information chronologically, making it easier to understand how events relate to one another. By placing significant occurrences in order, timelines reveal patterns and connections that might otherwise be overlooked. For example, a timeline can illustrate how the birth of influential figures or the occurrence of major events influenced subsequent developments in society. Additionally, timelines can highlight the relative scale of events, showing which were pivotal in shaping human history. Overall, they serve as a framework for contextualising historical narratives, allowing for a clearer understanding of the complexities of the past and its impact on the present.
Explanation: A timeline is like a storybook comic strip that keeps events in order, showing us how one event led to the next exciting chapter in history!