CBSE Class 6

On this page, you will find NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 6 Notes Pdf free download. CBSE Class 6 Social Science Notes History Chapter 6 SST Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic will seemingly help them to revise the important concepts in less time.

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic Class 6 Notes Social Science History Chapter 6

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 6 Notes Understanding the Lesson

1. Earlier, the Raja was chosen by the jana, (the people). Around 3000 years ago, we find some changes in choosing the ‘rajas’. Some men became recognized as rajas by performing very big sacrifices.

2. This was the time, when ashvamedha or horse sacrifices was one such ritual for choosing the rajas. A horse was let loose to wander freely and it was guarded by the raja’s men. If the horse entered into the kingdoms of other rajas and they stopped it, they had to fight. If they allowed the horse to pass, it meant that they accepted that the raja who wanted to perform the sacrifice was stronger than them.

3. These rajas were then invited to the sacrifice, which was performed by specially trained priests. The raja who organized the sacrifice was recognized as being very powerful, and all those who came brought gifts for him.

4. In the rituals, the raja was a central figure. He had a special seat, a throne or a tiger skin. His charioteer, who was his companion in the battlefield and witnessed his adventures, chanted tale of his glory. On the occasion, wives and sons performed minor rituals, other kings participated as spectators, priest performed rituals, ordinary people and vaishya brought gifts.

5. In north India, many books composed in the area were drained by the Ganga and the Yamuna. These books are called later Vedic, because these were composed after the Rigveda. These were composed by priests. These books described how rituals were to be performed and rules about society.

6. There were several different groups in society at this time such as priests, warriors, farmers, herders, traders, craftspersons, labourers, fishing folk and forest people.

7. Some priests and warriors were rich as were some farmers and traders. Others, were poor.

8. The priests divided people into four groups, called Varnas’. These vamas are-Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. According to them, each varna had a different set of functions.

9. Brahmins were expected to study the Vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts.

10. Kshatriyas were the rulers. They were expected to fight battles and protect people.

11. Vaishyas were expected to be farmers, herders and traders.

12. Shudras were last who had to serve the other three groups and could not perform any sacrifice. Later, they were classified untouchables. The priests said that contact with these was polluting.

13. Both Shudras and women were not allowed to study the Vedas.

14. Rajas, who performed these big sacrifices, were now recognized as being rajas of janapadas rather them janas. The word Janapadas means jana+pada i.e. land where jana set its foot.

15. The old Janapadas are – Purana Quila (at Delhi), Hastinapur (near Meerut), Atrajikhera (near Etah, UP).

16. Archaeologists found that people lived in huts, and kept cattle as well as other animals. They also grew a variety of crops such as rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugar cane, seasame and mustard.

17. They also made earthen pots. Some of them were grey in colour, others were red. One special type of
pottery found at these sites is known as Painted Grey Ware. These gray pots had painted designs, usually simple lines in geometric patterns.

18. Some janapadas became more important than others, and were known as mahajanapadas. Most mahajanapadas had a capital city. Many of these were fortified. This means that huge walls of wood, brick or stone were built around them.

19. Forts were built because people were afraid of attacks from other kings and needed protection. Some kings also wanted to show how rich and powerful they are by building really large, tall and impressive walls around their cities. People were controlled easily by kings due to fortification.

20. The new rajas now began maintaining armies. Soldiers were paid regular salaries and maintained by the king throughout the year.

21. They also started collecting regular taxes. Tax on crops was begun, that was V₆^th part of what was produced. This tax was called ‘bhaga’. Taxes on craftspersons were in form of labour. They had to work for a day in every month for the king. Herders also paid taxes in the form of animals and animals produce. There were also tax on goods that were brought and sold through trade. Hunters and gatherers also had to provide forest produce to the raja as tax.

22. Major changes occurred in the agriculture. One was the use of iron ploughshares. Second, people begun transplanting paddy. Generally, slave and landless people and labourers had to do this work.

23. Magadha was the most important mahajanapada. The Ganga and the Son flowed through Magadha. This was important for transportation, water supplies, making the land fertile.

24. Part of the Magadha was forested. Elephants lived in forest and could be captured and trained for armies. Forest also provided wood for building houses, carts and chariots. In this region, there were iron ore mines, which were used to make the tools and weapons.

25. Bimbisara, Ajatasattu, Mahapadma Nanda were the very powerful rulers of Magadha. Rajgir in Bihar was the capital of Magadha for several years. Later, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra present day Patna.

26. Alexander, who lived in Macedonia in Europe about 2300 years ago, wanted to conquer the world. He reached upto the bank of the Beas. When he wanted to march the further, his soldiers refused because they heard about the Indian kings and their armies, chariots and elephants.

27. Vajji, whose capital was Vaishali (Bihar) was under a different form of government, known as gana or sangha.

28. In a gana or sangha, there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies and decisions were taken through discussions and debates. However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies. Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas.

29. Around 2500 years ago, the people of Athens set up a form of government, which was called a democracy which lasted for about 200 years.

30. All the men over the age of 30 years were recognized as full citizens of Athens.

31. All citizens of Athens could attend the meetings of assembly that met at least 40 times a year.

32. Citizens were expected to serve in the army and the navy.

33. However, women of Athens were not considered citizens. Foreigners, who lived and worked in Athens, did not have rights as citizens. There were several thousand slaves in Athens, who worked in mines, fields, households and workshops and they were not treated as citizens.

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic Class 6 CBSE Notes Important Terms

Raja: Raja was chosen by the Jana, later on, some men who performed very big sacrifices were recognized as rajas.

Ashvamedha: Around 3000 years ago, it was a ritual performed by the rajas. A horse was let loose to wander freely and it was guarded by the raja’s men. If the horse entered into other king’s kingdom and they allowed to pass the horse, it meant that the other raja accepted the raja, who wanted to perform the sacrifice, was stronger than them. And if horse was stopped by other rajas, they had to fight.

Varna: Varna’ is the group, described in Vedas. There are four groups of people that are – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. These varnas are based on the birth.

Janapada: The land where the jana set the foot.

Mahajanapadas: Some janapadas became more important than the others and were known as mahajanapadas. These had a capital and most of them were fortified.

Fortification: Most of the capitals of mahajanapadas were fortified. The fortification a huge wall was built around the capital.

Army: Mahajanapadas appointed army for the first time. Army was for the purpose of battle and the wars with other rajas. Army men were always ready for the battle and they were also paid.

Tax: For the purpose of collecting money, objects and man hours tax were imposed on the public by the janapadas and mahajanapadas.

Transplantation: Transplantation is a process in which the crop is grown by a process from which a huge production of crops could be obtained.

Gana or sangha: ‘Gana’ means a group that has many members. Sangha means organization or association. Both these names are still used such as Asam Gana Parisad (a party name), Chhatra Sangha or Adhyapak Sangha or Karmchari Sangha etc.

Democracy: A form of government in which all people have equal rights.

Notes of History Class 6 Chapter 6 Time Period

About 3000 years ago: New kind of Rajas.

About 2500 years ago: Creation of Mahajanapadas.
Set up of democracy in Athens.

About 2300 years ago: Alexander’s invasion.
Composition of the Digha Nikaya (famous Buddhist book)

About 1500: End of the ganas or sanghas.

On this page, you will find NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 5 Notes Pdf free download. CBSE Class 6 Social Science Notes History Chapter 5 SST What Books and Burials Tell Us will seemingly help them to revise the important concepts in less time.

What Books and Burials Tell Us Class 6 Notes Social Science History Chapter 5

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 5 Notes Understanding the Lesson

1. One of the oldest books in the world are the Vedas.

2. There are four Vedas:

• the Rigveda
• the Samaveda
• the Yajurveda and
• the Atharvaveda.

3. The oldest veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or ‘well-said’. These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.

4. Some hymns of Rigveda are in the form of dialogues between sage and rivers (Vishvamitra and two rivers Beas and Sutlej).

5. River Beas and Sutlej were worshipped as goddesses.

6. Three gods are especially important:

• Agni: the god of fire
• Indra: a warrior god and
• Soma: a plant from which a special drink was prepared.

7. The hymns were composed by sages (rishis).

8. Priests taught students to recite and memorize.

9. Most of the hymns were composed, taught and learnt by men. A few were composed by women.

10. The language of the Rigveda is in old or in Vedic Sanskrit which is different from the Sanskrit we learn these days.

11. There are three families of languages. One – Indo-European family; second – Tibeto-Burman family and third – Austro-Asiatic family.

12. Indo-European family includes: Sanskrit, Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri and Sindhi. Apart from these foreign languages are – Persian, English, French, German, Greek, Italian and Spanish

13. Tibeto-Burman family: The languages which are spoken in north-east states come under this family group.

14. Austro-Asiatic family: Languages spoken in Jharkhand and parts of central India belong to this family group.

15. A manuscript on birch bark of the Rigveda was found in Kashmir. About 150 years ago, it was used to prepare one of the earliest printed text of the Rigveda, as well as an English translation. It is now preserved in a library of Pune, Maharashtra.

16. There are many prayers in the Rigveda for cattle, children (especially sons) and horses.

17. Horses were yoked to chariots that were used in battles. Battles were also fought for land, water and to capture people.                                                                                      •

18. The obtained wealth was kept by the leaders, some was given to the priests and the rest was distributed amongst the people. Some wealth was used for the performance of sacrifices (yajnas) in which offerings were made to the fire. Offerings could include ghee, grain and in some cases animals.

19. In the Vedic age, there were no regular armies but there were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace. They also chose leaders, who were often brave and skillful warriors.

20. The people were described on the basis of work they did, the language they spoke, the place they belonged to, their family, their communities and cultural practices.

21. There are two groups who are classified in terms of their work – ‘the priests’, sometimes called Brahmins, who performed various rituals and ‘the rajas’.

22. Rajas were different from what we think in present time. They did not have capital cities, palaces or armies, nor did they collect taxes, sons did not automatically succeed fathers as rajas.

23. General people were called from two names -‘jana’ and Vish’. The word ‘jana’ is still used in Hindi and the word Vaishya’ comes from ‘vish’.

24. The people who composed the hymns described themselves as ‘Aryas’ and called their opponents ‘Dasas’ or ‘Dasyus’. These were people who did not perform sacrifices and probably spoke different languages. Later, Dasas and Dasyus were replaced with Dasa and Dasi meaning slave. Slaves were both men and women and they were often captured in war. They were treated as the property of the owner.

25. Stone boulders are known as megaliths and were used to mark burial sites. The practice of erecting megaliths began about 3000 ago years and was prevalent throughout the Deccan, south India, in north­east and Kashmir.

26. Some megaliths are found on earth surface whereas some are underground.

27. Sometimes, archaeologists find a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground. These are the only indications that there are burials beneath.

28. Generally, the dead were buried with distinctive pots, which were called black and red ware. There were also found tools and weapons of iron and sometimes, skeletons of horses, horse equipment and ornaments of stone and gold.

29. Different items were found in different burials. Some burials have more objects such as objects of gold, stone, copper, conch shell whereas some only have pots.

30. Sometimes, megaliths contain more than one skeleton. These indicate that people, perhaps belonging to the same family, were buried in the same place at different times through portholes.

31. The another burial site ‘Inamgaon’ was occupied between 3600-2700 years ago. It is a site on the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima. Here, the dead were buried in the ground, laid out straight, with the head towards the north. Sometimes, burials were also within the houses. The vessels, containing food and water were placed with the dead.

32. After seeing the skeleton, it can be found out whether the dead is child or young, men or women. But, there are some problems. How can we identify the found skeleton is of girl or boy? Likewise, how it can be identified that the skeleton is of men or women. It is not possible to find out on the basis of ornaments because often ornaments were worn by both men and women.

33. A better way of figuring out the sex of a skeleton is to look at the bone structure. The hip or the pelvic area of women is generally larger to enable child bearing.

34. About 2000 years ago, there a famous physician named Charaka who wrote a book on medicine known as the ‘Charaka Samhita’.

35. Found in Inamgaon site:

1. Grains: wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas and sesame.
2. Animals: cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, horse, ass, pig, sambhar, spotted deer, blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose.
3. Aqua: crocodile, turtle, crab and fish
4. Fruits: Ber, Amla, Jamun, dates and a variety of berries.

36. We find some of the first evidences of writing in China around 3500 years ago. These writings were on animal bones. These are called oracle bones, because these were used to predict the future.

37. The kings lived in palaces in cities, in China. They had vast quantities of wealth, including large, elaborately decorated bronze vessels. However, they did not know the use of iron.

What Books and Burials Tell Us Class 6 CBSE Notes Important Terms

Veda: One of the oldest books in the world are the Vedas. There are four Vedas:

• Rigveda
• Samaveda
• Yajurveda and
• Atharvaveda.

The first Veda was composed about 3500 years ago.

Language: Language is the means of communication. This may be in the vocal or written form.

Hymn: Religious poem (mantra) in praise of gods and goddesses.

Chariot: A cart which was drawn by two bullocks or horses.

Sacrifice: Sacrifice is a process in which offerings are made to the fire meant for gods and goddesses. In Rigveda, the word ‘yagna’ has been used for sacrifice.

Raja: Raja was the ruler of state. They did not have capital cities, armies and they did not collect taxes from the people.

Slave: Slaves are those men or women who are captured in the war. Slaves were treated as the property of their owners. They worked as per the directions of their owners only.

Megalith: Stone boulders are known as Megaliths. These megaliths were used at burial sites. These were also used to mark the burial sites.

Burial: Burial was the grave where dead bodies were kept alongwith some articles and edibles.

Skeletal: A study pertaining to skeleton. When a dead body is kept beneath the earth, after some times all organs are dissolved and ruined and thus only body bones structure remains.

Iron: Iron is a metal which was used for making tools and weapons.

Notes of History Class 6 Chapter 5 Time Period

About 3500 years ago: Beginning of the composition of the Vedas.

About 3000 years ago: Beginning of the building of megaliths.

About 2700 years ago: Settlement at Inamgaon.

About 2000 years ago: Charaka

On this page, you will find NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 4 Notes Pdf free download. CBSE Class 6 Social Science Notes History Chapter 4 SST In the Earliest Cities will seemingly help them to revise the important concepts in less time.

In the Earliest Cities Class 6 Notes Social Science History Chapter 4

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 4 Notes Understanding The Lesson

1. In Punjab, about 150 years ago, when first-time railway lines were laid down, engineers stumbled upon the site of Harappa which is presently situated in Pakistan.

2. Harappa seemed like a mound and that was a rich source of ready-made high quality bricks. Archaeologists realized that this was one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent.

3. All similar buildings are described as Harappan cities, which developed about 4700 years ago. These Harappan cities were found in the Punjab and Sind in Pakistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and in Punjab (India).

4. Archaeologists found a set of unique objects in almost all these cities that is red pottery painted with designs in black, stone-weights, seals, special beads, copper tools and long stone-blades.

5. Many of these cities were divided into two or more parts. First, west part which was smaller but higher. Archaeologists described this as the ‘citadel’. Second, east part which was larger but lower.

6. Around each part of the cities, baked bricks were used. Bricks were so well-made that they have lasted for thousands of years. The bricks were laid in an interlocking pattern that made the walls strong.

7. In some cities, special buildings were constructed on the citadel, as in Mohenjodaro, a very special tank is found which is called the Great Bath. This Great Bath was lined with bricks, coated with plaster and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar. Stairs were used for bathing. Water in tank was probably brought in from well and water was drained out after use. Perhaps, important people took a dip in this tank on special occasions.

8. Apart from Harappa and Mohenjodaro, other cities were Kalibangan, Rakhi Garhi, Ganweriwala, Chanhudaro, Dholavira, Surkotada and Lothal etc.

9. Lothal and Kalibangan had altars, where sacrifices might have been performed.

10. Some cities like Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Lothal had elaborate storehouses.

11. Generally, houses were either one or two-storeyed high with rooms built around courtyard. Most houses had separate bathing area and some had wells to supply water and drains were covered. Houses, drains and streets were well-planned.

12. Harappan city was a very busy place. Probably, cities were planned by the rulers. Rulers sent the people to distant places to get metal, precious stones and other things that they wanted. Rulers kept the most valuable objects such as ornaments of gold and silver or beautiful beads for themselves.

13. There were people who knew the writing and helped to prepare the seals and likely wrote on other materials. These people are known as ‘scribes’.

14. In Harappan cities, the things which were found were made up of stone, shell and metal. The most precious metals were copper and bronze, gold and silver. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, vessels etc. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels etc.

15. In Harappan civilization, beads, weights and blades were also in use.

16. Harappan made seals on stone. These are generally rectangular and usually have an animal carved on them.

17. Harappans also made pots with beautiful black designs.

18. At Mehrgarh, cotton was probably grown about 7000 years ago.

19. Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro.

20. Archaeologists have also found spindle whorls made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread.

21. Many of the things such as cutting stone or polishing beads or curving seals that were produced by the specialists, is proved from the objects found at sites. All the objects such as seals, terracotta toys, stone- weights, beads, stone-blades, embroidered cloth are the evidences of specialists that how sharply the things have been made.

22. The stone weights were shaped carefully and precisely. These were made of chert which is a kind of stone.

23. The stone-weights were probably used to weigh precious stone or metals.

24. Beads were made of carnelian a beautiful red stone. The stone was cut, shaped, polished and finally a hole was bored through the centre so that string could be passed through it.

25. Faience is a material that is artificially produced. A gum was used to shape sand or powdered quartz into an object. The object was then grazed with shiny and glassy surface. The colour of glaze was blue or sea green.

26. Faience was used to make beads, bangles, earrings and small vessels etc.

27. Spindle whorls was made of Terracota and Faience.

28. In Harappan Civilization, there were specialists of the work such as cutting stone or polishing beads or carving seals etc.

29. Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally or produced by farmers or herders.

30. At present, there are so many natural raw materials-wood, ores of metals, coal, gases etc.

31. At present, natural raw materials produced by farmers are-cotton, sugar cane, bamboo, tea-leave, soya bean, palm oil etc.

32. Some raw materials used by Harappans such as copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones had to be brought from distant places.

33. The Harappans probably got copper from Rajasthan, bronze might have been brought from Afghanistan and iron, gold from Karnataka and precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan. (All places are stated as per present location)

34. In the Harappan cities, a plough was found, archaeologists believed that plough was used for turning the soil and planting the seeds.

35. The Harappans reared cattle-like, sheeps, goats and buffaloes. Water and pasture were available around settlement.

36. In the dry summer months, large herds of animals were probably taken to greater distances in search of grass and water.

37. Seals may have been used to stamp bags or packets containing goods that were sent from one place to another. If the sealing was intact, one could be sure that the goods had arrived safely.

38. Around 3900 years ago, Harappan Civilization suddenly seems to have ended up. People stopped living in many of the cities. Writing, seals and weights were no longer used. Raw materials brought from long distances became rare. In Mohenjodaro, we find that garbage piled up on the streets, the drainage system broke down.

39. There might be reasons behind the end up of Harappan Civilization. Some suggest that the rivers dried up; some suggest that there was deforestation; in some areas, there were floods. In any case, rulers lost control, the effects of the change are quite clear; the people moved into newer, smaller settlements etc. But none of these reasons can explain the end of all the cities. Flooding or a river drying up would have had an effect in only some areas.

40. New cities emerged about 1400 years later.

41. Around 5000 years ago, kings ruled over Egypt. They had armies and these were used to collect precious metals and stones. They also built huge tombs, known as pyramids. When king died, the bodies were preserved and buried in these pyramids. These carefully preserved bodies are known as ‘mummies’. A large number of objects were also buried with them.

In the Earliest Cities Class 6 CBSE Notes Important Terms

City: Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Chanhudaro etc., were the earliest cities that were built about 4700 years ago. The livelihood of these cities were dependent upon the grain production and rearing of animals. Whereas, literally cities are those that have modern amenities alongwith a certain population.

Citadel: Citadels are places from where protection of city or town took place.

Ruler: Kings and emperors are called rulers. In Harappan cities, rulers decided the work of people and they planned the construction of special buildings in the city. In contrast to present, they were not taking any tax from its population.

Scribe: People who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals, and perhaps wrote on other materials.

Craftsperson: Artisans or handicrafts persons are called crafts persons.

Metal: Metals are those substances which are found naturally and metals are produced from its ore. Seal: Seal is a tool which is used for certification since very long, as it was also used in Harappan Civilization. If the sealing was intact, one could be sure that the goods arrived safely.

Specialist: An expert or trained person in a particular task is called specialist.

Raw material: Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally or produced by farmers or herders.

Plough: Plough is an instrument which used for digging and turning the earth.

Irrigation: Supply of water to the fields for growing grain from the soil.

Notes of History Class 6 Chapter 4 Time Period

7000 year ago: Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh

4700 year ago: Beginning of cities

3900 years ago: Beginning of the end of these cities

2500 years ago: The emergence of other cities.

On this page, you will find NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3 Notes Pdf free download. CBSE Class 6 Social Science Notes History Chapter 3 SST From Gathering to Growing Food will seemingly help them to revise the important concepts in less time.

From Gathering to Growing Food Class 6 Notes Social Science History Chapter 3

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 3 Notes Understanding the Lesson

1. At present, most of our foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and meat comes from plants and animals. Thus, source of our food is plants and animals.

2. Different plants grow in different conditions and similarly different types of animal can survive in different climates.

3. Domestication begun about 12,000 years ago.

4. All the plants and animals that we use today as food are result of domestication.

5. Earliest domesticated plants were wheat and barley.

6. The earliest domesticated animals were sheep, goat and pigs.

7. Domestication also led to staying long at the same place because people noted that some plants take several days, weeks, months and in some cases years. It means that they had to stay in the same place for a long time for looking after, watering, weeding till the grain ripened.

8. People also started storing food and seeds and they had to think of ways of storing it.

9. In many areas, they begun making large clay pots or wove baskets and dug pits into the ground.

10. Pots were used to store the grains and seeds.

11. They begun digging pits as a shelter which is called Tit House’.

12. Pit houses with steps and huts were found in Burzahom.

13. Animals were used as important sources of milk and food.

14. Archaeologists have found evidence of early farmers and herders. The places where evidence of farmers and herders were found are Burzahom (Kashmir), Mahagara (UP), Koldihwa (UP), Chirand (Bihar), Mehrgarh (presently in Pakistan), Hallur (Andhra Pradesh), Paiyampalli (Andhra Pradesh).

15. Scientists found remains of plants and animals. Scientists have also identified and found remains which indicated that people grew crops and reared animals.

16. Number of crops were grown and animals were reared in different parts of subcontinent.

17. Stone tools have been found from many sites and these were different from the Palaeolithic tools and are called Neolithic.

18. Stone tools of Neolithic were polished to give a fine cutting edge.

19. Mortars and pestles were used for grinding the grains and other plant produce.

20. Many kinds of earthen (mud) pots were also found which were used for storing the things such as grains etc.

21. Many farmers and herders lived in groups called tribes. They followed certain customs and practices.

22. Tribes have rich and unique cultural traditions. They had their own language, music, stories and painting.

23. They also had their own Gods and Goddesses.

24. Members of Tribes followed occupations such as hunting, gathering, farming, herding and fishing etc.

25. ‘Tribes’ women did most of agricultural work such as preparing ground, sowing seeds and grains, looking after the growing plants and harvesting grain. Women also threshed, husked and ground the grain.

26. ‘Tribes’ children often looked after plants, driving away animals and birds etc.

27. Tribes’ men usually led large herds of animals in search of pasture. Usually men were regarded as leaders. They may be old and experienced or brave warriors or priests.

28. The work done by both men and women were: cleaning of animals and milking, making pots, tools, huts and baskets.

29. Old women were respected for their wisdom and experience.

30. Mehrgarh was probably one of the places where women and men learnt to grow barley and wheat and rear sheep and goats for the first time in the subcontinent.

31. Mehrgarh is one of the earliest villages that we know about.

32. Rectangular and square houses were found in Mehrgarh. Each house had four or more compartments.

33. Several burial sites have also been found. Evidences also found that the dead person was buried with goats, which were probably meant to serve as food in the next world.

34. By digging the mount, archaeologists studied about the levels. The upper layer is considered earlier level and below the upper layer is considered older. This way, archaeologists, gathering the objects or remains layer by layer, analyzed the found during excavation.

35. Daojali Hading is a site on the hills near the Brahmaputra valley, close to routes leading into China and Myanmar.

36. In Daojali Hading, stone tools, including mortars and pestles, have been found. These tools were used for the grinding of grains.

37. Other finds include ‘Jadeite’, a stone that may have been brought from China. Fossils of wood and pottery also are found here.

From Gathering to Growing Food Class 6 CBSE Notes Important Terms

Domestication: Domestication is the name given to the process in which people started growing plants and rearing animals.

Farmers: Many people started to grow the grains and reared cattle. They are called farmers. Their whole livelihood was dependent upon grains and animals.

Herders: The people who reared animals and fed them in the groups are called herders.

Neolithic: The period from about 10,000 years ago is known as the Neolithic. This is a Latin word which means ‘new stone’. During this period, the stone tools used by the people were polished as well-sharpened.

Pots: The things used to keep grain and other items were called Pots. These pots were made of mud.

Tribes: Many farmers and herders lived in groups called tribes. They followed certain customs and practices. Tribes’ had rich and unique cultural traditions. They had their own language, music, stories and painting. They also had their own Gods and Goddesses.

Village: Most people lived together and engaged in food production at this place.

Houses: Houses are the shelter of people. Shelter provided safety from rain, storm, sun, heat, wind etc. Early people used caves of mountains and hills as a shelter. Later, huts have been used for shelter.

Burials: A burial is the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave in the ground. When people died, their relatives and friends generally paid respect to the dead person. They believed that another life started after death and hence, they put reared animals along with dead body. Several burials have been found at Mehrgarh.

Notes of History Class 6 Chapter 3 Time Period

About 12,000 year ago: Beginning of domestication.

About 8,000 year ago: Beginning of settlement at Mehrgarh

On this page, you will find NCERT Class 7 History Chapter 2 Notes Pdf free download. CBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes History Chapter 2 SST On The Trial of the Earliest People will seemingly help them to revise the important concepts in less time.

On the Trial of the Earliest People Class 6 Notes Social Science History Chapter 2

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 2 Notes Understanding the Lesson

1. The early people lived in the subcontinent about two million years ago.

2. They hunted wild animals, caught fishes and birds and used fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs for their food.

3. They were very sensible and alert and had lots of presence of mind which was reflected in their activities. (Many birds and wild animals ran faster than them but they hunted them, plants and its products were useful and harmful both, but selecting the right products which were edible shows their sensibility and presence of mind.)

4. There were atleast four reasons that early people moved from one place to other place:

5. Lack of plants and animals For following the movements of cattle.

6. Lack of seasonal fruit In search of water.

7. Archaeologists found that early people used tools. Tool was made up of stone, wood and bone. Out of which stone tools have survived best.

8. Tools made of stones were used to: cut meat and bone,

9. scrape trees’ bark and animal skin,

10. Chop fruits and roots.

11. Sometimes handles of tools like spears and arrows were made up of bones or wood.

12. Wood was also used for fire and to make huts.

13. Found some places where stone of good quality was easily available.

14. Factory sites are places where stones were found and where people made tools .

15. Early man lived in caves and rock shelters.

16. Found habitation sites, where the people lived like in Bhimbetka (presently in Madhya Pradesh).

17. In the Kurnool caves, ash was found, this indicates that people were familiar with the use of fire.

18. Around 12,000 years ago, major changes came up in the climate of the world. Due to the shifting, the warm conditions developed grasslands and this condition led to an increase in the cattle which survived on grass.

19. Around 12,000 years ago, several grain bearing grasses like wheat, barley and rice grew naturally. This also led them to think about growing plants on their own.

20. In Madhya Pradesh and Southern Uttar Pradesh, archaeologists found many caves with paintings on walls. These paintings showed animals.

21. Ostriches were found in India during the Palaeolithic period. Eggs were found at Patne (Maharashtra).

22. In Hunsgi, a number of early Palaeolithic sites have been found. The tools found here are made up of limestone.

On The Trial of the Earliest People Class 6 CBSE Notes Important Terms

Hunter-gatherers: The name hunter-gatherers arrived from the way in which the early people collected their food.They hunted in groups.

Site: This word is used for those places which are associated with the activities of hunter-gatherers like habitat sites, factory sites and habitat-cum-factory sites.

Habitation Factory: The place where earlier people lived.

Palaeolithic: The earliest period is called Palaeolithic. This period falls between two million years ago to 12,000 years ago.

Mesolithic: This is middle stone age. This age falls about 12,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago.

Microliths: Stone tools found during Mesolithic period (middle stone age) are called microliths. In this age, the tools used by people were tiny in size

Notes of History Class 6 Chapter 1 Time Period

2 million years ago to around 12,000 years ago: Called Palaeolithic. During this tenure, major changes occurred in the climate of the world.

12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago: Called Mesolithic.

10,000 years ago: Called Neolithic.