Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 6 History Civics Chapter 1 History An Introduction

Exercise

I. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: People who write history are known as Historians.
Answer: Historians.
These experts spend their lives researching artifacts and documents to tell us how our ancestors lived. They act as detectives of the past, piecing together evidence to build a narrative.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a Historian as a "History Detective."
Exam Tip: Always capitalize "Historians" if it is used as a formal title in your sentence.

Question 2: By Archaeology we mean the study of the remains of the ancient past.
Answer: Archaeology.
This field involves carefully digging up the earth to find physical evidence like pots, coins, and buildings. It is the primary way we learn about civilizations that did not have writing.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "Arch" means "ancient" or "beginning."
Exam Tip: Use the word "remains" to explain what archaeologists actually look for.

Question 3: The two Great epics tells us about the life and society in ancient past, besides being religious books.
Answer: Great epics.
These long poems, like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, provide vivid details about the kings, warriors, and values of ancient India. They are considered literary sources that blend cultural history with spiritual beliefs.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Epics" as "Extra-long heroic stories."
Exam Tip: Mention that epics serve both as religious and historical records for extra credit.

Question 4: Old buildings which are important historically are known as Monuments.
Answer: Monuments.
Structures like temples, palaces, and forts are standing evidence of the architectural skills and wealth of past rulers. They help us visualize the grandeur of different historical periods.
Teacher's Tip: Any old building that still stands today can be a monument.
Exam Tip: Name a specific example like the "Red Fort" if asked to explain monuments.

Question 5: Meghadoot was written by Kalidasa.
Answer: Kalidasa.
Kalidasa was one of the most famous Sanskrit poets and playwrights in ancient India. His work, Meghadoot, is a beautiful example of secular literature that uses nature as a central theme.
Teacher's Tip: Kalidasa is often called the "Shakespeare of India."
Exam Tip: Remember that Kalidasa wrote poems and plays, not history books.

II. Match Column A with Column B:

Question II: Match the following terms in Column A with their descriptions in Column B.
Column A
1. Archaeology
2. Historians
3. Histo
4. Inscriptions
5. Manuscript
Column B
(a) People who write history.
(b) know this
(c) Study of the remains of the past.
(d) An old book or document written by hand.
(e) Writings engraved either on stone surfaces or on metals or bricks.
Answer:
1. Archaeology - (c) Study of the remains of the past.
2. Historians - (a) People who write history.
3. Histo - (b) know this
4. Inscriptions - (e) Writings engraved either on stone surfaces or on metals or bricks.
5. Manuscript - (d) An old book or document written by hand.
These terms form the basic vocabulary for anyone beginning to study the past scientifically. Understanding the difference between writing on soft leaves (manuscript) and hard stone (inscription) is fundamental.
Teacher's Tip: "Manu" means "Hand," so Manuscript is hand-writing.
Exam Tip: Always write the full text of both matching items to avoid any confusion for the examiner.

III. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: What is history? What is the origin of the word ‘history’?
Answer: History is the study of our past, a record of the events that happened long ago. It tells us about the life of people during a particular period. The word ‘History’ comes from the Greek word ‘Histo’ which means ‘know this’.
It is not just about dates and kings, but about understanding the development of human culture over time. The Greek origin shows that history was always intended to be a search for truth and knowledge.
Teacher's Tip: Think of history as the "Memory" of the world.
Exam Tip: Make sure to include the Greek root "Histo" and its meaning to get full marks.

Question 2: Why do we study history? Give two reasons.
Answer:
1. History helps us to understand our society and culture.
2. History helps us to leam from our past mistakes so that we don’t repeat them.
Learning about our roots gives us a sense of identity and pride in our heritage. By analyzing past failures, modern leaders can make better choices for our future.
Teacher's Tip: Studying history is like looking in a rearview mirror while driving forward.
Exam Tip: Number your points 1 and 2 exactly as the textbook does for clarity.

Question 3: Which period in history is called prehistoric?
Answer: ‘Pre-history’ means ‘before history’. This period refers to the era when man had not developed the art of writing. Hence, there are no written records of this period. The life of people during this period is constructed through tools, weapons, bones, etc.
Because there are no books, we must rely on physical clues to imagine how early humans survived. This age lasted for millions of years, covering most of our human journey.
Teacher's Tip: No Writing = Prehistory.
Exam Tip: Use the words "no written records" to define this period accurately.

Question 4: Name two sources of history. What do literary sources include?
Answer: Two sources of history are literary sources and archaeological sources. Literary sources include secular literature and religious literature. Writings related to a religion are called religious literature, for example, the Jatakas, the Ramayana. Secular literature is not related to a religion. It includes poems, plays, accounts by travelers, for example, the Indika of Megasthenes.
Archaeological sources are physical objects, while literary sources are anything that was written down. Using both together gives historians a complete picture of the ancient world.
Teacher's Tip: Literary = Letters (written); Archaeological = Artifacts (physical).
Exam Tip: Name both "religious" and "secular" when defining literary sources.

Question 5: Give one example each of religious and secular literature.
Answer: Example of religious literature - the Mahabharata. Example of secular literature - Abhigyan Shakuntalam.
The Mahabharata teaches moral and religious duties through a massive story of war and family. Abhigyan Shakuntalam is a world-famous play by Kalidasa that tells a story of love and romance.
Teacher's Tip: Religious = Soul/God; Secular = Stories/Daily Life.
Exam Tip: Ensure you can spell the titles correctly to get full marks on examples.

Question 6: What do we mean by culture?
Answer: Culture is the sum total of knowledge, beliefs, morals, art, customs and laws and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
It is the way we live, eat, talk, and celebrate our holidays passed down through generations. Culture defines who we are as a community and makes every society unique.
Teacher's Tip: Culture is the "Lifestyle" of a group of people.
Exam Tip: Use the word "acquired" to show that culture is something we learn, not something we are born with.

Question 7: Explain the term archaeology.
Answer: Archaeology means the study of the remains of the past such as inscriptions, monuments, tools, coins, potteiy, etc.
Archaeologists carefully dig up layers of earth to find hidden cities and forgotten treasures. Their work is essential for uncovering the history of people who lived thousands of years ago.
Teacher's Tip: Think of archaeologists as "detectives with shovels."
Exam Tip: Mention at least three examples (like coins, pottery, tools) to provide a complete definition.

IV. Distinguish between

Question 1: Archaeological sources and literary sources.
Answer: Archaeological sources include inscriptions, coins, tools, weapons, pottery, bones, etc. Literary sources include books related to a religion and poems, plays, travelogues, etc.
The difference lies in whether the evidence is a physical object or written text. While archaeological sources are tangible remains, literary sources provide direct written thoughts from the past.
Teacher's Tip: One you touch (archaeology), one you read (literary).
Exam Tip: Give two examples for each category to show a strong contrast.

Question 2: Monuments and inscriptions.
Answer: Monuments are old buildings such as caves, stupas, temples, forts and palaces. Inscriptions are writings engraved on rocks, pillars, buildings, metal plates, etc.
A monument is the whole structure, while an inscription is usually the writing found on or inside it. Both are important archaeological sources that help us understand ancient engineering and law.
Teacher's Tip: Monument = Building; Inscription = Engraved Text.
Exam Tip: Use the word "engraved" to describe inscriptions specifically.

Question 3: Religious and secular literature.
Answer: Religious literature is related to a religion, for example, the Puranas (Hindus), the Jatakas (Buddhists), the Angas (Jains). Secular literature has nothing to do with a religion, for example, the Arthashastra of Kautilya, the Indika of Megasthenes.
Religious texts focus on spirituality and rites, whereas secular texts deal with government, trade, and personal stories. Both are necessary to understand the complete life of a past society.
Teacher's Tip: Think: Sacred vs. Stories.
Exam Tip: Always provide examples from different religions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain) to show broad knowledge.

V. Given below are some drawings. Circle those which you think below to prehistory.
(Note: The textbook refers to a diagram where students must identify pre-historic items like rough stone tools and cave dwellers, which appear on page 3 of the PDF).
These items belong to prehistory because they represent life before the invention of writing. By looking at these simple drawings, we can see how early man used nature to survive.
Teacher's Tip: Look for the "Simplest" items with no writing on them.
Exam Tip: Prehistoric items are usually made of stone, bone, or raw natural materials.

VI. Picture study - This picture shows a valuable source of history.
(Note: The picture is of an ancient coin on page 3).

Question 1: Identify the source
Answer: The source is coin.
Coins are some of the most durable archaeological artifacts ever made by humans. They are small but contain a large amount of official information from the government of that time.
Teacher's Tip: If it's round, metal, and has a king's face, it's a coin!
Exam Tip: Identify this specifically as an "archaeological" source.

Question 2: How do you think these are useful?
Answer: Coins give us information about use of a metal during a particular period and the economic conditions of the people.
They also reveal the name of the king who was ruling and the dates of his reign. Furthermore, the symbols on coins tell us about the religion and language of the empire.
Teacher's Tip: A gold coin means a rich kingdom; a copper coin might mean a poorer one.
Exam Tip: Mention "economic conditions" as a key utility of studying coins.

Question 3: What do you understand by the term ‘numismatics’?
Answer: Numismatics is the study of coins.
This scientific branch of history looks at the weight, metal content, and markings of coins to track trade routes and kingdom power. Experts in this field help date other archaeological discoveries found near the coins.
Teacher's Tip: Numismatics sounds hard, but it's just "Coin-Science."
Exam Tip: Memorize the spelling N-U-M-I-S-M-A-T-I-C-S carefully.

Textbook Keywords

1. History: is a record of people, places and events of the past arranged in chronological order.
It is the systematic narrative of the human journey through the ages. By studying it, we can see the patterns of human behavior over thousands of years.
Teacher's Tip: Think of History as the "True Story" of everyone.
Exam Tip: Include "people, places, and events" in your definition for full credit.

2. Prehistory: is the history of the period before writing was invented.
This era makes up 99% of human existence on Earth. Since there are no diaries, we learn everything from the things people left behind in the soil.
Teacher's Tip: "Pre" = Before writing.
Exam Tip: Always state that prehistory has "no written records."

3. Archaeology: is the study of material remains of the distant past.
It is the science of uncovering the past through physical artifacts. Archaeologists use specialized tools to recover and preserve these delicate pieces of history.
Teacher's Tip: Archaeology is the "Detectives work" of history.
Exam Tip: Use the term "material remains" as it is the most academic way to define this field.

4. Parchment: is the dried skin of goats and sheep used for writing.
Parchment was much stronger than early paper and allowed documents to be rolled up into scrolls. It was a primary surface for making manuscripts before the widespread use of paper.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as "Ancient Leather Paper."
Exam Tip: Mention both "goats and sheep" as the source material.

5. Sources: Sources are clues from archaeology or literature which help historians to put together a period of history.
Just like a puzzle, sources provide the evidence needed to prove that an event really happened. They are the building blocks that historians use to write books about the past.
Teacher's Tip: No sources = No history.
Exam Tip: Define sources as "clues" or "evidence" used by historians.

6. Monuments: 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. Numismatics It is a study of coins.
Buildings reflect the culture, religion, and military power of the time they were built. Numismatics complements this by giving us details on trade and the economy of that same culture.
Teacher's Tip: Monument = Big source; Coin = Small source.
Exam Tip: Distinguish between the building (monument) and the study of money (numismatics).

7. Inscriptions: are the engraving on solid objects such as metal surfaces, stone tablets, rocks, pillars, cave walls, etc. Epigraphy Epigraphy is the study of old inscriptions. Edicts Edicts are royal commands issued by the rulers. Manuscripts Manuscripts are the handwritten records of the past in the form of books.
Inscriptions are nearly permanent records because they are carved into hard materials. Epigraphy is the science of reading them, while edicts are the actual laws found within those writings.
Teacher's Tip: Engraved = Inscription; Handwritten = Manuscript.
Exam Tip: Group these terms together as they all deal with various forms of ancient writing.

8. Religious literature: It refers to literacy writing dealing with religion.
These are the sacred texts that explain how different ancient groups viewed their gods and the afterlife. They often include prayers, rules for behavior, and myths.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these as "Faith Books."
Exam Tip: Provide a specific example like the Vedas to show you understand the concept.

9. Secular literature: is non-religious literature such as plays, poems, accounts of foreign travelers and other works on politics, science, etc.
This provides a broad view of society, focusing on education, entertainment, and everyday challenges. It is vital for understanding the human side of history without the lens of worship.
Teacher's Tip: Secular = Non-Religious.
Exam Tip: Mention "foreign travelers" as they are a key part of secular literary sources.

Additional Questions

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.
Knowing who did what and where they did it is only part of history; we must also know exactly when it happened. Chronological order allows us to see the cause and effect of major human decisions.
Teacher's Tip: "Chronos" is the Greek word for time.
Exam Tip: List all three words to get the full mark on this specific blank.

Question 2: Prehistory is the history of the period before writings was invented.
Answer: writings.
The invention of writing is the most important milestone in the story of humanity. Once people could record their thoughts, we moved from the age of prehistory into recorded history.
Teacher's Tip: No alphabet = No history books.
Exam Tip: Be sure to pluralize it to "writings" as per the textbook's specific wording.

Question 3: The sources of history can be broadly classified into archaeological sources and literary.
Answer: archaeological, literary.
Historians use these two main branches to verify their facts and build a reliable timeline. While archaeological sources are physical remains, literary sources are written accounts.
Teacher's Tip: Digging = Archaeological; Reading = Literary.
Exam Tip: Ensure you know the definitions of both to explain the classification.

Question 4: The study of coins is known as numismatics.
Answer: numismatics.
This science helps us understand how ancient kingdoms used money to trade with their neighbors. Coins are often the best-preserved items found at archaeological dig sites.
Teacher's Tip: Numismatics sounds like "new money."
Exam Tip: Spelling is very important for this technical term.

Question 5: Edicts are royal commands issued by kings.
Answer: royal commands.
Ancient kings, like Ashoka, used edicts to communicate their laws directly to their subjects across a huge empire. They were carved in stone so that they could never be changed or ignored.
Teacher's Tip: Edicts are like "carved laws" for the public.
Exam Tip: Link the term specifically to "kings" or "monarchs."

Question 6: Inscriptions are engravings on solid objects.
Answer: engravings.
By carving deep into stone or metal, ancient people ensured that their words would last for thousands of years. These engravings provide some of the most accurate dates and facts in history.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a "carving" to remember "engraving."
Exam Tip: Mention that the objects must be "solid" for the engraving to be considered an inscription.

Question 7: Handwritten records of the past are known as Manuscripts.
Answer: Manuscripts.
These were often written on delicate materials like palm leaves or bark, making them very fragile. Many have been lost over time, but those that remain are historical treasures.
Teacher's Tip: Manual = Hand; Script = Writing.
Exam Tip: Capitalize the term "Manuscripts" in your answer sheet.

Question 8: Literary source material can be divided into religious literature and secular literature.
Answer: religious, secular.
Religious literature tells us about faith, while secular literature covers subjects like law, science, and travel. Using both types of books gives us a complete view of an ancient civilization.
Teacher's Tip: Divine vs. Daily life.
Exam Tip: Provide both categories whenever you are asked to divide literary sources.

Question 9: The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta Maurya’s court was Magasthenes.
Answer: Magasthenes.
He was an official from Greece who spent many years in the capital of Pataliputra. His book 'Indika' is one of the most famous foreign accounts of ancient India.
Teacher's Tip: "M" for Maurya and "M" for Megasthenes (spelled Magasthenes in textbook).
Exam Tip: Be careful with the spelling provided in your textbook (M-a-g-a-s-t-h-e-n-e-s).

Question 10: The Chinese travelers who came to India were Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang.
Answer: Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang.
These two scholars traveled to India specifically to study Buddhism and take sacred texts back to China. Their diaries describe Indian society, festivals, and the high standard of living during those times.
Teacher's Tip: These were the most famous "Buddhist tourists" of the ancient world.
Exam Tip: List both names together to show a complete understanding of Chinese literary sources.

B. Match the following.

Question : Match the historical terms in Column A with their descriptions in Column B.
Column A
1. Paintings
2. Monuments
3. Coins
4. Inscriptions
5. Harshacharita
6. Manusmriti
7. Arthashastra
8. Fa Hien
Column B
- politics
- epigraphy
- ancient law
- biography of a ruler
- cultural achievements
- numismatics
- Chinese traveller
- architectural achievements
Answer:
1. Paintings - cultural achievements
2. Monuments - architectural achievements
3. Coins - numismatics
4. Inscriptions - epigraphy
5. Harshacharita - biography of a ruler
6. Manusmriti - ancient law
7. Arthashastra - politics
8. Fa Hien - Chinese traveller
This exercise connects physical and written sources to their specific scientific fields and subjects. For example, knowing that numismatics is the study of coins helps historians track the economic strength of ancient empires.
Teacher's Tip: Match the easiest ones first, like the "Traveller" or "Paintings."
Exam Tip: Re-write the full matched pair in a clear list to get full marks.

C. Answer the following questions.

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.
History serves as a vast laboratory where we can observe how human choices led to specific results over time. It helps us build a better world by taking inspiration from the great successes of those who came before us.
Teacher's Tip: History is the "Story" of "Humanity."
Exam Tip: Define history and then give the "Why" to provide a complete two-part answer.

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.
In history, we can read actual diaries, laws, and letters, but in prehistory, we have to "listen" to silent stones and bones. The boundary between them is the moment humans first invented a system of writing.
Teacher's Tip: History = Words; Prehistory = Work-tools.
Exam Tip: State the presence or absence of "written records" as the primary difference.

Question 3: How many groups can the sources of history be broadly divided into? Name them.
Answer: The sources of history can be broadly divided into two groups.
1. Archaeological Sources.
2. Literary Sources.
Archaeological sources are tangible things like ruins, while literary sources are intangible thoughts preserved through writing. Using both groups ensures that historians are telling the most accurate version of the past possible.
Teacher's Tip: Think: Dig it or Read it.
Exam Tip: Always list both groups and capitalize their names.

Question 4: 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, jewelry and figures are very helpful in the study of past.
Without archaeology, the entire era of prehistory would remain a total mystery to us forever. It provides the physical proof needed to show how early humans hunted, farmed, and built their societies.
Teacher's Tip: Archaeology "speaks" for those who couldn't write.
Exam Tip: List a few materials (like tools or pottery) to show how they help in prehistoric study.

Question 5: 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.
They reveal the artistic tastes, engineering capabilities, and religious devotion of ancient cultures. By studying the size and strength of a fort, we can also learn about the military power of that kingdom.
Teacher's Tip: A monument is a "Big Building" that carries history.
Exam Tip: Give three examples of monument types (temple, palace, fort) to get full points.

Question 6: Name five 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 show us how they worked, pottery shows how they stored food, and coins show how they traded. Each of these objects acts like a piece of evidence in the story of our past.
Teacher's Tip: Any physical thing from the ground is a clue.
Exam Tip: Number your five objects clearly to show you have fulfilled the question's count.

Question 7: Why is the study of coins considered an important source of ancient history?
Answer: 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. So the coins are considered an important source of ancient history.
Coins provide the names and dates of kings, making them vital for constructing an accurate historical timeline. The metal used in a coin also tells us if a kingdom was very rich or was struggling financially.
Teacher's Tip: Coins are "History in your Pocket."
Exam Tip: Mention that coins tell us about "economic conditions" and "reign of kings."

Question 8: What information do we get from inscriptions?
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.
They often record the exact words of a king, giving us an unfiltered look into his laws and personal achievements. Because they were meant for the public, they reflect the official values of the entire society.
Teacher's Tip: Inscriptions are "Written on Hard things" like stone.
Exam Tip: Note that inscriptions are a "reliable" source because they are permanent carvings.

Question 9: Why are inscriptions a reliable source of information?
Answer: Inscriptions are reliable source of information because they were written during the reign of great king., and are still intact in their original form.
Unlike paper books that can be rewritten or changed by later writers, stone and metal carvings remain exactly as they were first made. They provide a direct, unedited message from thousands of years ago.
Teacher's Tip: It is hard to "edit" or change a rock carving!
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "still intact in their original form" to explain their reliability.

Question 10: What are manuscripts? On what surfaces were they; written?
Answer: Manuscripts are the handwritten records of the past in the form of books. These records 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.
Because they were written by hand, manuscripts often feature beautiful calligraphy and unique illustrations that make them works of art. They were expensive to produce and were usually kept in libraries or temples.
Teacher's Tip: Manuscript = Handwritten document.
Exam Tip: Name "palm leaf" and "birch bark" as they were the most common surfaces in India.

Question 11: How many categories can you divide literary sources into? Name them.
Answer: Literary source can be divided into two categories:
1. religious literature
2. secular literature
Religious literature deals with gods and rites, while secular literature covers medicine, law, and drama. This division helps historians organize the vast amount of written evidence from the past.
Teacher's Tip: Religion (God) vs. Secular (World).
Exam Tip: List both categories and number them for a clear answer.

Question 12: What do you understand by secular literature? Give two examples.
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.
These books describe the laws, the political systems, and the everyday social lives of ancient people. They are essential because they show the part of history that doesn't involve religion or worship.
Teacher's Tip: If it's a story book or a science book, it is secular.
Exam Tip: Provide both an author and a book name (e.g., Banabhatta for Harshacharita) to get higher marks.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

Question 1: History is only a record of great kings and queens.
Answer: False.
History also documents the lives of farmers, traders, and ordinary families to show a complete picture of society. It includes the progress of art, science, and common cultures over thousands of years.
Teacher's Tip: History is the story of "EVERYONE," not just royals.
Exam Tip: Always mark this "False" as history is a record of all people and events.

Question 2: The study of old inscriptions is known as epigraphy.
Answer: True.
Epigraphy allows us to translate and understand the messages carved into stone pillars and temple walls. It is a vital branch of historical research that provides solid facts about the past.
Teacher's Tip: "Epi" (upon) + "graphy" (writing) = writing on a surface.
Exam Tip: This is a very common factual question; memorize it as "True."

Question 3: Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita.
Answer: True.
This book is a major secular source because it is a detailed biography of King Harshavardhana. It provides information about the administration and culture of 7th-century India.
Teacher's Tip: Associate "Banabhatta" with the King "Harsha."
Exam Tip: Identify Harshacharita as a "biography" in your written descriptions.

Question 4: Panchatantra is a part of religious literature.
Answer: False.
The Panchatantra is a collection of fables and moral stories meant to teach wisdom to children and adults. Since it does not deal with worship or spiritual rites, it is classified as secular literature.
Teacher's Tip: Storybooks with animals are usually secular, not religious.
Exam Tip: Use the word "secular" to correct the statement in an exam.

Question 5: The Angas are the religious literature of the Buddhists.
Answer: False.
The Angas are actually the sacred texts of the Jain religion. Buddhist literature is primarily contained in books known as the Tripitakas.
Teacher's Tip: Angas = Jain; Tripitakas = Buddhist.
Exam Tip: Don't mix up the religious texts of different ancient faiths.

E. Picture study.

The picture below is a painting from a manuscript of the Rig Veda showing the various gods and goddesses worshiped.

Question 1: What kind of source of history is this?
Answer: It is a Literary source of history.
Manuscripts are written records that fall into the literary category of evidence. Even though this specific one has a painting, it is part of a handwritten book.
Teacher's Tip: If it's part of a book, it's a literary source.
Exam Tip: Specify "Literary" as it comes from the Rig Veda text.

Question 2: Is this religious or secular in nature?
Answer: This is religious in nature.
The Rig Veda is the oldest and most sacred text in Hinduism, containing hymns dedicated to the gods of nature. Any document or art based on the Vedas is purely religious.
Teacher's Tip: Vedas = Holy = Religious.
Exam Tip: Note that "gods and goddesses" are the subject, confirming it is religious.

Question 3: What kind of information does this source of history 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 artistic styles, the religious beliefs, and even the type of clothing worn in ancient times. It also helps historians understand the spiritual traditions that have survived for thousands of years.
Teacher's Tip: It shows "What" and "Who" people worshiped.
Exam Tip: Use the word "reconstruct" to explain how historians use these pictures to understand the past.