Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 6 History Civics Chapter 14 Sources Of History

Keywords

1. History: History is a record of people, places and events of the past arranged in chronological order.
History works like a timeline that connects every major event that has happened to humans since we began keeping records. It allows us to learn from the mistakes and successes of those who lived before us.
Teacher's Tip: Think of history as a giant family photo album that covers thousands of years.
Exam Tip: Always mention that history is "arranged in chronological order" to get full marks.

2. Prehistory: Prehistory is the history of the period before writing was invented.
During this time, people relied on spoken stories or physical tools because they had no way to write down their thoughts. We learn about this era by looking at cave paintings and ancient stone weapons.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "Pre" means "Before," so it is the time before writing.
Exam Tip: Define prehistory specifically by the "absence of writing" to secure your marks.

3. Archaeology: Archaeology is the study of material remains of the distant past.
Archaeologists act like detectives who dig into the ground to find clues about how ancient people lived. They study everything from broken pottery to entire buried cities to reconstruct the past.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine archaeology as "digging for treasure" that tells a story.
Exam Tip: Use the term "material remains" to describe the physical objects archaeologists study.

4. Parchment: Parchment is the dried skin of goats and sheep used for writing.
Before paper was easily available, people had to prepare animal skins so they were smooth and durable enough to hold ink. This material was very tough and allowed many ancient documents to survive for centuries.
Teacher's Tip: Think of parchment as the ancient version of heavy-duty notebook paper.
Exam Tip: Be sure to name "goats and sheep" as the specific animals used for parchment.

5. Sources: Sources are clues from archaeology or literature which help historians to put together a period of history. Monuments are ancient buildings such as temples, palaces and forts, which are valuable sources of information of the life and times of people in the distant past.
Historians use these sources like pieces of a puzzle to create a complete picture of an ancient era. Without these physical and written proofs, we wouldn't know if our stories of the past were actually true.
Teacher's Tip: Think of sources as the "evidence" used in a history courtroom.
Exam Tip: List both "archaeological" and "literary" sources to show you understand both types.

6. Numismatics: It is a study of coins.
By studying ancient coins, we can learn about the wealth of a kingdom and which kings were in power. Coins also tell us about the trade routes used between different countries in the past.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "New-money-matics" to remember it's the study of money (coins).
Exam Tip: If a question asks about economic history, mention numismatics as a reliable source.

7. Inscriptions: Inscriptions are the engraving on solid objects such as metal surfaces, stone tablets, rocks, pillars, cave walls, etc.
Because these records were carved into hard surfaces, they could not be easily erased or destroyed by time. They often contain the laws of a king or records of important religious gifts.
Teacher's Tip: Inscriptions are like the permanent "tattoos" of history carved onto rocks.
Exam Tip: Mention at least three surfaces (rocks, pillars, metal) to provide a detailed definition.

8. Epigraphy: Epigraphy is the study of old inscriptions. Edicts are royal commands issued by the rulers. Manuscripts are the handwritten records of the past in the form of books.
Experts in epigraphy translate ancient carvings so we can understand the exact words of rulers from thousands of years ago. Edicts were like the ancient version of modern government notices posted in public places.
Teacher's Tip: "Epi" (upon) + "Graph" (writing) = writing upon a surface.
Exam Tip: Distinguish clearly between inscriptions (the carving) and epigraphy (the study of it).

9. Religious literature: It refers to literacy writing dealing with religion.
This type of writing includes holy books like the Vedas or the Bible that explain the beliefs of a society. These texts show us what ancient people valued spiritually and how they performed their rituals.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these as "God's Books" that guide how people live.
Exam Tip: Give examples like the Ramayana or Vedas when explaining religious literature.

10. Secular literature: Secular literature is non-religious literature such as plays, poems, accounts of foreign travellers and other works on politics, science, etc.
These books focus on daily life, government rules, and scientific discoveries rather than religious gods. They give us a realistic view of how people worked, played, and traded in the past.
Teacher's Tip: "Secular" means worldly or not related to religion.
Exam Tip: Mention "travellers' accounts" as a key part of secular literature to gain extra points.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

Question 1: History is record of people, places and events of the past, arranged in chronological order.
Answer: people, places, chronological.
History helps us understand the who, where, and when of our human journey. By keeping things in time-order, we can see exactly how one event led to another.
Teacher's Tip: Chronological order is like a numbered list where 1 always comes before 2.
Exam Tip: Ensure you include all three keywords (people, places, and chronological) for full marks.

Question 2: The sources of history can be broadly classified into archaeological sources and literary sources.
Answer: archaeological, literary.
Archaeological sources are things we dig up, while literary sources are things we read. Together, they provide the foundation for everything we know about ancient civilizations.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as "Things you Dig" vs. "Things you Read."
Exam Tip: Spelling is key; make sure you can spell "archaeological" correctly.

Question 3: Inscriptions are engravings on solid objects.
Answer: engravings.
Engraving means carving words or pictures deeply into a hard surface like stone or metal. This technique ensured that the messages would last for thousands of years without fading.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a nameplate on a door; that is a modern engraving.
Exam Tip: Remember that inscriptions must be on "solid" or "hard" objects.

Question 4: Edicts are royal commands issued by kings.
Answer: royal commands.
Whenever a king wanted to make a new law or give an order, he would issue an edict to be carved on pillars. This made sure that everyone in the kingdom knew the official rules of the land.
Teacher's Tip: An edict is like a "Public Notice" from the boss of the country.
Exam Tip: Link the word "edict" directly with the word "king" or "ruler."

Question 5: Handwritten records of the past are known as Manuscripts.
Answer: Manuscripts.
Before the printing press was invented, every single book had to be written out by hand by a scribe. These documents are fragile and very valuable because each one is unique.
Teacher's Tip: "Manu" means hand, and "Script" means writing.
Exam Tip: Capitalize the 'M' in Manuscripts if it starts a sentence in your answer.

Question 6: Literary source material can be divided into religious literature and secular literature.
Answer: secular.
Religious literature tells us about faith, while secular literature tells us about the world around us. Using both types of books gives historians a balanced view of ancient life.
Teacher's Tip: If it's not about gods or prayer, it's probably secular.
Exam Tip: Secular literature includes science and law books, not just stories.

B. Match the following.

Question : Match the historical terms in Column A with their descriptions in Column B.
Column A
1. Monuments
2. Study of inscriptions
3. Manuscript
4. Arthashastra
5. Manusmriti
Column B
(a) politics
(b) Dried palm leaf
(c) Book on law
(d) Archaeological source
(e) Epigraphy
Answer:
1. Monuments - (d) Archaeological source
2. Study of inscriptions - (e) Epigraphy
3. Manuscript - (b) Dried palm leaf
4. Arthashastra - (a) politics
5. Manusmriti - (c) Book on law
This matching exercise connects physical remains and written texts to their specific categories. For example, knowing that Arthashastra is about politics helps us understand how ancient kings managed their government.
Teacher's Tip: Match the "What" to the "Subject" to find the correct pair.
Exam Tip: Always re-write the full paired sentences clearly to avoid confusion.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: Prehistory is the history of the period before writing/ wheel/paper was invented.
Answer: Prehistory is the history of the period before writing was invented.
Writing is the boundary line that separates the unknown past from the recorded history we study today. Before writing, we have to guess about life based purely on the physical objects people left behind.
Teacher's Tip: No letters = Prehistory.
Exam Tip: "Writing" is the only correct invention that marks the start of history.

Question 2: The study of coins is known as epigraphy/numismatics/ archaeology.
Answer: The study of coins is known as numismatics.
Coins are like tiny history books that tell us the name of the king and the year he ruled. Scientists who study them can even figure out which metals were common in ancient times.
Teacher's Tip: Numismatics sounds complicated, but it's just a fancy word for coin collecting.
Exam Tip: Don't confuse numismatics (coins) with epigraphy (inscriptions).

Question 3: Harshacharita/Indika/Manusmriti deals with the biography of a ruler.
Answer: Harshacharita deals with the biography of a ruler.
This book was written by Banabhatta and tells the story of the life and deeds of King Harshavardhana. Biographies are useful secular sources because they describe the real personality of a leader.
Teacher's Tip: "Charita" often means life story or biography in ancient titles.
Exam Tip: Identify Harshacharita as a "secular" source if asked about its category.

Question 4: The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta Maurya’s court was Fa Hein/Hiuen Tsang/Megasthenes.
Answer: The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta Maurya’s court was Megasthenes.
Megasthenes was sent by the Greek ruler Seleucus Nicator to stay in the Indian capital of Pataliputra. His detailed observations are some of the most important foreign records of early Indian society.
Teacher's Tip: Megasthenes starts with "M" like Maurya, whom he visited.
Exam Tip: Remember Megasthenes was "Greek," while Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang were "Chinese."

Question 5: Kalidasa/Banabhatta/Kautilya wrote
Answer: Kalidasa wrote Meghaduta.
Kalidasa is considered one of the greatest poets and playwrights in the Sanskrit language. His work 'Meghaduta' is a beautiful poem that uses nature to tell a story of love and longing.
Teacher's Tip: Kalidasa is often called the "Shakespeare of India."
Exam Tip: Match Kalidasa with literary works rather than political books.

Question 6: Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang were the Greek/Chinese/ Japanese travellers who came to India.
Answer: Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang were the Chinese travellers who came to India.
These scholars traveled huge distances to study Buddhism and take sacred books back to their home country. Their diaries help historians understand how religion and culture spread across Asia.
Teacher's Tip: Their names sound very Chinese, which is a great clue!
Exam Tip: These travellers are reliable "literary sources" for information on Indian society.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

Question 1: History is only a record of great kings and queens.
Answer: False. History is a record of people, places and events of the past arranged in chronological order.
While kings and queens are important, history also tells us about the lives of ordinary farmers, traders, and artisans. It aims to capture the whole story of how everyone lived and worked together.
Teacher's Tip: History is for everyone, not just the people in crowns.
Exam Tip: When a statement is false, you must provide the correct definition to get full points.

Question 2: The study of old inscriptions is known as epigraphy.
Answer: True.
Epigraphy is a specialized branch of history that focuses on translating and dating carved records. It provides us with direct evidence of a ruler's thoughts and laws from his own time.
Teacher's Tip: This is the official scientific term for studying carvings.
Exam Tip: This is a very common "True" statement in exams; memorize it exactly.

Question 3: The Angas are the religious literature of the Buddhists.
Answer: False. The Angas are the religious literature of the Jain.
The Angas contain the fundamental teachings and rules for followers of the Jain faith. Buddhist literature, on the other hand, is contained in books known as Tripitakas.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Angas = Jain, Tripitakas = Buddhist.
Exam Tip: Correcting the religion from Buddhist to Jain is necessary here.

Question 4: Banabhatta wrote
Answer: True. (Note: The OCR appears to be incomplete here, but in history, Banabhatta wrote the Harshacharita).
Banabhatta was a famous court poet who documented the life of his king in great detail. His writings provide a rich look at the culture and administration of ancient India.
Teacher's Tip: Banabhatta is the "B" who wrote about "H" (Harsha).
Exam Tip: Always associate Banabhatta with the biography "Harshacharita."

Question 5: Panchatantra is a part of religious literature.
Answer: False. Panchatantra is a part of secular literature.
The Panchatantra is a collection of animal fables designed to teach wisdom and moral conduct to humans. Since it focuses on life lessons rather than worship or gods, it is classified as secular.
Teacher's Tip: If it's a story book with animals, it's usually secular literature.
Exam Tip: Use the word "secular" to describe storybooks and folk tales.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: What are that two groups in which the sources of history are broadly divided into?
Answer: The sources of history can be broadly divided into two groups.
1. Archaeological Sources.
2. Literary Sources
Archaeological sources include everything we can touch or see, like old buildings and coins. Literary sources include anything written down, like books and travelers' diaries.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as "Physical evidence" and "Written evidence."
Exam Tip: Capitalize both terms when listing them in your answer.

Question 2: What are monuments?
Answer: Monuments are ancient buildings such as temples, palaces and forts, which are valuable sources of information of the life and time of people in the distant past.
These structures show the architectural skills of ancient builders and the wealth of past rulers. They often tell us about the religious beliefs and military strength of a civilization.
Teacher's Tip: A monument is any old building that still stands today.
Exam Tip: Give examples like "temples and forts" when defining monuments.

Question 3: What are inscriptions?
Answer: Inscriptions are the engravings on solid objects such as metal surface, stone tablets, rocks, pillars, cave walls, etc.
They act as permanent records that were meant to be read by everyone in public places. Historians trust them because they were usually written at the exact time the events happened.
Teacher's Tip: Inscriptions are like the "hard drive" of the ancient world.
Exam Tip: Mention that they are carved on "solid objects" to distinguish them from paper books.

Question 4: Name any two archaeological objects that provide important clues to the history of humans in the Ancient Period.
Answer: Stones, metal tools, pottery, monuments, coins and figures are archaeological objects, that provide important clues to the history of humans in the Ancient Period.
Tools tell us about how ancient people hunted or farmed, while pottery shows us their artistic talent. Each of these physical objects helps fill in a gap in our historical knowledge.
Teacher's Tip: Any object from the ground is an archaeological clue.
Exam Tip: Picking "coins" and "monuments" are the two easiest examples to remember.

Question 5: What is the only source of information of the Harappan Civilization?
Answer: Archaeological remains are the only sources of information for this period. The discovery of the Harappan sites in 1921 brought to light a highly advanced Indian civilization that flourished more than 4,500 years ago.
Since we haven't been able to read the Harappan script yet, we have no written books from them. This means we rely entirely on their buried buildings and objects to understand their culture.
Teacher's Tip: Harappa is a "silent" civilization because we can't read their writing yet.
Exam Tip: Mention the year "1921" to show you know when the discovery began.

Question 6: Name any one important source of information about the Mauryan period.
Answer: Indika, written by Megasthenes gives valuable information about the Mauryan administration and society.
Megasthenes described the city life, the king's palace, and how the army was organized in Pataliputra. His book is a primary literary source that historians use to understand early Indian government.
Teacher's Tip: Associate "Indika" with the "Indus" or India.
Exam Tip: Mention both the book name and the author (Megasthenes).

Question 7: What are manuscripts?
Answer: Manuscripts are the hand written records of the past in the form of books.
These records were often written by scholars who spent their lives copying down religious or scientific knowledge. Because they are handwritten, they often contain beautiful calligraphy and illustrations.
Teacher's Tip: Manuscript = Handwritten Book.
Exam Tip: Mention that they are "handwritten" to get full marks.

Question 8: What were the surface on which the manuscripts were written?
Answer: Manuscripts were written on a variety of surfaces such as dried sheep or goat skin, dried palm leaf, the bark of birch trees and much later, on paper.
Early writers used what they found in nature, like leaves and tree bark, to record their thoughts. In the northern mountains, birch tree bark was popular, while palm leaves were used mostly in the south.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the ancient world as having "Nature's Paper" from trees and animals.
Exam Tip: List "palm leaf" and "birch bark" as they are the two most famous examples.

Question 9: What do you understand by secular literature? Give an example.
Answer: Non-religious literature is known as secular literature, it includes biographies of important historical characters. For example Harshacharita by Banabhatta, dramas and poems by famous writers Kalidasa, folk tales such as Panchatantra.
This literature covers worldly subjects like medicine, law, and politics that are not directly about worship. These works are vital because they show the non-spiritual side of ancient people's lives.
Teacher's Tip: Secular = "Stories and Science" rather than "Spirituality."
Exam Tip: Use 'Panchatantra' as your go-to example for secular literature.

F. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1: What is history? Why do we study history?
Answer: History is a record of people, places and events of the past, arranged in chronological order. We study history because it tells us about the problems of our ancestors, their aspirations as well as their achievements.
Studying history is like having a roadmap of the past that helps us navigate our future more wisely. It connects us to our roots and explains why our world looks and acts the way it does today.
Teacher's Tip: We study history to "avoid repeating the mistakes" of the past.
Exam Tip: Mention "aspirations and achievements" to explain the human side of history study.

Question 2: What is the difference between prehistory and history?
Answer: The main difference between prehistory and history is that we have written records in history and have no written records in prehistory.
History begins the moment a civilization starts writing down its story on paper or stone. Prehistory is much longer and is understood only through artifacts like tools and bones found in the earth.
Teacher's Tip: History = Writing; Prehistory = No writing.
Exam Tip: State the "lack of written records" as the primary distinguishing factor.

Question 3: What is archaeology? Why is it so important for the study of prehistory?
Answer: Archaeology is the study of material remains of distant past. Archaeology is so important for the study of prehistory because we have no written records, only the materials like stones, metal tools, pottery, images, coins, monuments, jewellery and figures are very helpful in the study of past.
Since pre-historic people didn't leave books, archaeology is our only way to see what they ate, what they wore, and how they built their homes. It provides physical proof that lets historians tell the story of the ancient world.
Teacher's Tip: Archaeology is the "Voice" for people who couldn't write.
Exam Tip: List a few materials like "tools and pottery" to explain how archaeology helps us learn.

Question 4: What information do we get from inscriptions? Why are inscriptions a reliable source of information?
Answer: The Inscriptions provide us the information about rulers, the extent of their empires, important events and also about the religious and cultural life of people in a particular period. Inscriptions are reliable source of information because they were written during the reign of great kings and are still intact in their original form.
Because they are carved in stone, they cannot be accidentally changed or misprinted like paper books can be. They give us a first-hand look at the official laws and achievements of a kingdom from the exact time it existed.
Teacher's Tip: "Reliable" means you can trust it because it's hard to change stone.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "still intact in their original form" to explain their reliability.

Question 5: What is the study of coins known as? Why are coins considered an important part of ancient history?
Answer: The study of coins is known as numismatics. Numerous gold, silver, copper and lead coins have been found. The coins are an important source of information about the reign of kings the extent of their empires, economic conditions, trade, art and religion of that era. The metal or alloy used also indicates the level of scientific advancement and prosperity during that age.
The metal of the coin shows how rich a king was, and the symbols on it reveal what kind of gods they worshipped. If a king's coins are found in a distant country, it proves that his merchants were traveling there to trade.
Teacher's Tip: Coins are like "Ancient Wallets" that tell a story of wealth.
Exam Tip: Mention "scientific advancement" to show that coin metals indicate the technology of the time.

Question 6: Explain the two categories of literary sources. Give two examples of each category
Answer: Literary source can be divided into two categories
1. Religious literature : Ancient Indian literature is right and varied. Books and manuscripts dealing with religion are referred to as religious literature. For example the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
2. Secular literature: Non-religious literature is known as secular literature, it includes biographies of important historical characters. For example Harshacharita by Banabhatta, dramas and poems by famous writers Kalidasa, folk tales such as Panchatantra.
By reading both religious and secular books, we can see what ancient people believed and how they behaved in their everyday lives. This dual approach ensures that we don't miss out on any part of human history.
Teacher's Tip: Religious = Soul; Secular = Society.
Exam Tip: Use a numbered list for the categories to make your answer easy for the teacher to grade.

G Picture study.

The picture below is a painting depicting a scene from the Mahabharata.

Question 1: What kind of source of history is this?
Answer: It is a Literary source of history.
Although it is a painting, it represents a scene from a written book, making it part of our literary heritage. It helps visualize the events and characters described in ancient texts.
Teacher's Tip: Pictures of book scenes are linked to literary sources.
Exam Tip: Identify it as a "Literary source" to show its connection to the epic poem.

Question 2: Is this religious or secular in nature?
Answer: This is religious in nature.
The Mahabharata is one of the most sacred epics of ancient India and deals with spiritual duties and gods. Therefore, any art based on it is classified as religious.
Teacher's Tip: Anything linked to holy books is "religious" in nature.
Exam Tip: Briefly explain that it comes from a "sacred epic" to justify the religious label.

Question 3: What information does this kind of source reveal?
Answer: This sources of history have helped historians to reconstruct the distant past and give a fairly accurate picture of ancient India.
It shows us the clothing, weapons, and chariots used by ancient Indians during that era. It also reveals the complex social rules and spiritual beliefs that guided their actions.
Teacher's Tip: Paintings show you the "visual details" that books only describe.
Exam Tip: Use the word "reconstruct" to show how historians use these clues to build history.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1: Who are Historians?
Answer: Historians are people who study and tell us about the past. They gather information from many sources and help us to understand how people lived and worked form the earliest times to the present day.
They act like scientific storytellers who use evidence to explain our human journey. Their job is to find the truth by comparing different sources and checking their facts.
Teacher's Tip: Historians are the "Engineers of Time."
Exam Tip: Define them by their action: they "gather information" from "many sources."

Question 2: What are Edicts?
Answer: Edicts are royal commands issued by the rulers for example. The Ashokan edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars.
These were the official laws that citizens had to follow to keep the kingdom peaceful and organized. They are valuable because they represent the actual voice of the king speaking to his people.
Teacher's Tip: An edict is a "Must-Follow" rule from a ruler.
Exam Tip: Always use Ashoka's edicts as your primary example for this term.

Question 3: How did Ashokan edicts help modern historians?
Answer: The Ashokan edicts helped modem historians to reconstruct important facts about the Mauryan period.
They provided details about the size of the empire, the king's religious conversion, and his plans for public welfare. Because they were scattered across India, they helped define the exact borders of the Mauryan kingdom.
Teacher's Tip: Edicts are like "carved GPS markers" for ancient borders.
Exam Tip: Mention the "Mauryan period" to show you know the specific time these edicts were from.

Question 4: Name some Religious Literature?
Answer: Religious Literature are following:-
1. The Vedas
2. Ramayana and Mahabharata
3. The Gita and Puranas
4. The Jain Angas and Buddist Tripitakas
These texts are the pillars of ancient spiritual thought and provide insight into the soul of India. They describe everything from the creation of the world to the duties of a good person.
Teacher's Tip: These are the "Holy Foundations" of various Indian faiths.
Exam Tip: List at least three examples to show you have studied multiple religious groups.

Question 5: Write the Secular Literature?
Answer:
1. Harashacharita by Banabhatta
2. Dramas and Poems by Kalidasa
3. Folk ta’es such as Panchatantra
4. Works on politics such as Kautilya’s Arthanshatra
5. Books of law such as Manusmriti
Secular books give us the "earthly" details of how people managed their money, laws, and health. They are essential for understanding the non-spiritual side of ancient civilizations.
Teacher's Tip: Secular literature is about "Everyday life and Worldly knowledge."
Exam Tip: Name both the book and the author (like Kautilya for Arthashastra) for better marks.

Question 6: Name the foreign travellers who visited India?
Answer:
1. Megasthenes (The Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya)
2. Fa Hien (The Chinese travellers)
3. HiuenTsang
These travelers came from different parts of the world and wrote down what they saw in India. Their accounts are important because they offer an "outside view" of Indian culture.
Teacher's Tip: Megasthenes is Greek; Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang are Chinese.
Exam Tip: Mention the specific king (Chandragupta Maurya) to link the traveler to his time.

Question 7: Who wrote Indika and what type of information it provides us.
Answer: Indika is written by Megasthenes which gives valuable information about the Mauryan administration and society.
It explains how the city of Pataliputra was governed and what the king's daily routine was like. It also describes the different social classes and occupations found in ancient India.
Teacher's Tip: Indika = India as seen by a Greek eye.
Exam Tip: Use the words "administration and society" to describe the book's content.

Question 8: Distinguish between Manuscripts and Inscriptions.
Answer:
Manuscripts
These manuscrips were prepared by a few learned men of these age in different languages and scripts.
Inscriptions
These writings are engraved on stones rocks and pillars or on metal as pricks
Manuscripts were flexible and could be moved easily but were often fragile and could rot. Inscriptions were heavy and immovable but were practically permanent once they were carved into stone.
Teacher's Tip: Manuscripts = Paper/Skin (Written); Inscriptions = Rock/Metal (Carved).
Exam Tip: Focus on the "material" used (bark/skin vs stone/metal) to explain the difference.

Question 9: Distinguish between Archaeological sources and literary sources.
Answer:
1. Archaeological Sources- These sources provides no written records. Historians depend on archeological evidence such as the remains of monuments or ancients buildings, coins, pottery, tool, paintings and images etc.
2. Literary Sources- Literaiy sources provides written records not on paper but found on various objects like dried sheep or goat skin, copper, pillars and stones but later on paper.
Archaeological sources are physical remains that must be interpreted through science and digging. Literary sources are direct messages that tell us exactly what someone was thinking or what laws were in place.
Teacher's Tip: Think: Archaeologists "Dig it up" and Historians "Read it out."
Exam Tip: Mention that literary sources can be on "skin or pillars" before paper was common.