NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 1 - What, Where, How and When?

Chapter 1 - What, Where, How and When?

Question 1: Match the following:

Answer:

Question 2: List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.
Answer:
• Manuscripts - These were written by hand (this comes from the Latin word ‘manu’, meaning hand). These were usually written on palm leaf, or on the specially prepared bark of a tree known as the birch, which grows in the Himalayas.
• Inscriptions - These are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Sometimes, kings got their orders inscribed so that people could see, read and obey them. There are other kinds of inscriptions as well, where men and women (including kings and queens) recorded what they did.

Question 3: Return to Rasheeda’s question. Can you think of some answers to it?
Answer: We can know what had happened so many years ago through manuscripts, inscriptions etc.

Question 4: Make a list of all the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?
Answer: Few of the objects that archaeologists may find are bones, pots, weapons, tools, few remains of buildings, old manuscripts, inscriptions etc. The things which were made of stone are remains of buildings, weapons, tools, surface used for inscription.

Question 5: Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?
Answer: We think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did:
• They did not know the art of writing in the beginning.
• Even some of them were not literate even after the knowledge of the script.
• They were not having an interest in such works.
• They did not know the importance of keeping records of the events. The lack of historical sense was mainly responsible for it.

Question 6: Describe at least two ways in which you think the lives of kings would have been different from those of farmers.
Answer:
• The kings used to live in palaces or big houses. The farmers used to live in huts or in very small houses.
• The kings were dependent for their food on farmers. Farmers used to produce food for themselves and other people also.