Class 6 History Ch 4 | CBSE Social Science Notes

Chapter 4: What Books and Burials Tell Us

Social Science - History (CBSE Class 6)

Chapter Summary

• The Oldest Books: The Vedas
  • There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
  • The Rigveda is the oldest Veda, composed about 3500 years ago.
  • It contains over a thousand hymns called 'suktas' or 'well-said'.
  • These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses, such as Agni (the god of fire), Indra (a warrior god), and Soma (a plant from which a special drink was prepared).
  • Most hymns were composed by sages (rishis) and taught by priests to students by reciting and memorising, not reading.
  • The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit.
• Sanskrit and Other Languages
  • Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European family of languages, which includes many Indian languages (Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Sindhi) and European languages (English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish).
  • Other language families in India include Tibeto-Burman (spoken in the north-east), Dravidian (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam in South India), and Austro-Asiatic (spoken in Jharkhand and parts of Central India).
• How Historians Study the Rigveda
  • Historians study the Rigveda to understand the past, treating it as a valuable source of information.
  • Some hymns are in the form of dialogues, like the one between sage Vishvamitra and the rivers Beas and Sutlej.
  • People were described in terms of their work, the groups they belonged to, or their language.
  • Two main groups were priests (Brahmins) and rajas. The rajas of this period were not like later kings; they did not have capital cities, armies, or collect taxes. They were leaders of the community (`jana` or `vish`).
  • People who did not perform sacrifices and spoke other languages were sometimes called `dasas` or `dasis` (slaves), often captives in war.
• Cattle, Horses, and Chariots
  • Many prayers in the Rigveda were for cattle, children (especially sons), and horses.
  • Horses were essential for chariots, which were used in battles.
  • Battles were fought for land (for pasture, growing crops), water, and people.
  • Wealth acquired in battles was distributed amongst the leaders, priests, and the ordinary people. Some of it was used for yajnas (sacrifices).
• Burials: A Silent Storyteller - Megaliths
  • 'Megalith' means large stone. These were used to mark burial sites, starting around 3000 years ago.
  • Megaliths are found in the Deccan, South India, North-east, and Kashmir.
  • Some megaliths are visible on the surface (like stone circles or boulders), while others are underground.
  • Sometimes, a large hole (port-hole) was carved in the stones, which might have been used for family members to visit the burial site later.
  • Common features of these burials include distinct pottery known as Black and Red Ware, tools and weapons made of iron, skeletons of horses, and ornaments of stone and gold.
  • The objects found with the skeletons suggest social differences. Some burials contain more valuable items than others, indicating variations in status.
• Special Burials at Inamgaon
  • Inamgaon is an archaeological site on the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima. It was occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago.
  • At Inamgaon, adults were generally buried in the ground, with their heads facing north. Sometimes, burials were within houses.
  • One remarkable discovery was a large, five-room house (one of the largest on the site) with a granary, where a man was found buried in a large clay jar in a cross-legged position.
  • Archaeologists have found evidence of various food items at Inamgaon, including wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, and sesame.
  • Animal bones found indicate cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, horse, pig, sambhar, spotted deer, blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose. Fruits like ber, amla, jamun, dates, and a variety of berries were also collected.

Questions and Answers

1. Match the columns:

Column A	Column B
Sukta	Chariots
Chariots	Sacrifice
Yajna	Well-said
Dasa	Slave
Megalith	Stone boulder

Answer:

Column A	Column B (Correct Match)
Sukta	Well-said
Chariots	Used in battles
Yajna	Sacrifice
Dasa	Slave
Megalith	Stone boulder

2. Complete the sentences:

• (a) Slaves were used for _____.
• (b) Megaliths are found in _____.
• (c) Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to _____.
• (d) Port-holes were used for _____.
• (e) People at Inamgaon ate _____.

Answer:

• (a) Slaves were used for work.
• (b) Megaliths are found in Deccan, South India, North-east India, and Kashmir.
• (c) Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to mark burial sites.
• (d) Port-holes were used for entering the burial pit by family members, possibly for offerings.
• (e) People at Inamgaon ate wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, and sesame.

3. In what ways are the books we use today different from the Rigveda?

Answer: The books we use today are different from the Rigveda in several ways:

• Method of Creation: The Rigveda was composed and transmitted orally for centuries, with hymns being recited and heard. It was written down much later, centuries after it was first composed. Modern books are primarily written documents from their inception.
• Language: The Rigveda is in old or Vedic Sanskrit, which is different from the Sanskrit taught in schools today. Modern books are written in various contemporary languages.
• Content and Purpose: The Rigveda consists mainly of hymns in praise of various gods, prayers, and historical accounts of early Vedic society. Modern books cover a vast array of subjects, from fiction to non-fiction, scientific research, and educational material.
• Format: The Rigveda was originally a collection of spoken hymns. The earliest written versions were manuscripts on bark or palm leaves. Modern books are printed on paper, often mass-produced.
• Accessibility: The Rigveda was primarily accessible to priests and specific groups who memorized it. Modern books are widely available and accessible to anyone who can read.

4. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst people buried?

Answer: Archaeologists use several kinds of evidence from burials to find out whether there were social differences amongst people buried:

• Quantity and Quality of Grave Goods: The most significant indicator is the objects buried with the dead. If some graves contain more valuable items (like gold ornaments, precious stones, specific types of pottery, or more tools and weapons) while others have fewer or simpler objects, it suggests social stratification.
• Type of Burial Structure: Some megalithic burials are elaborate, involving large, carefully arranged stones, suggesting a significant investment of labour and resources, possibly for a person of high status. Simpler burials might indicate lower status.
• Number of Skeletons: Sometimes multiple skeletons are found in one burial pit, while others have a single person. This could indicate family or communal burials, but variations might also reflect social practices.
• Location and Size of Burial: A larger, more prominent burial mound or a burial in a central location might signify the importance of the individual. For example, at Inamgaon, a man was found buried in a large, five-room house, which was the largest on the site, suggesting a prominent position.
• Specific Objects: Finding certain types of objects, such as copper mirrors, shell bangles, or particular weaponry, might be associated with specific social roles or statuses that varied among individuals.

5. In what ways do you think the life of a raja was different from that of a dasa or dasi?

Answer: The life of a raja (leader of the community during the Rigvedic period) was vastly different from that of a dasa or dasi (slave):

• Freedom and Autonomy: A raja was a free person, a leader chosen by the community, with significant autonomy over his life and decisions. A dasa or dasi was a slave, generally a captive of war, treated as the property of their owner, and had no freedom. They had to obey their masters.
• Work and Labour: Rajas participated in battles, led their people, and made important decisions for the community. Dasas and dasis were forced to do menial and demanding labour for their masters without pay.
• Social Status and Respect: Rajas held a high social status, were respected, and their opinions mattered. They received shares of wealth and offerings. Dasas and dasis had no social standing, were considered property, and were not respected.
• Wealth and Possessions: Rajas received a share of the wealth collected from battles and yajnas. They likely lived comfortably. Dasas and dasis owned nothing; whatever they possessed belonged to their masters.
• Family and Community Life: Rajas were integral parts of their community (`jana` or `vish`), and their families would have enjoyed privileges. Dasas and dasis might have been separated from their families and communities and had little to no say in their personal lives.

6. Find out if there are any megaliths in your state/union territory. If there are, visit one and try to find out more about it.

Answer: (This question requires personal research and exploration. An example answer is provided below.)

Megaliths are found in many parts of India, especially in the Deccan, South India, the North-east, and Kashmir. For example, in Kerala, there are numerous megalithic sites, including 'Kudakkallu' (umbrella stones) and 'Hat-stones' (topikkal). If I were in Kerala, I would visit the Kudakkallu Parishad at Cheramanangad in Thrissur district. I would observe the large granite slabs arranged to form a dome-like structure. From local historians or archaeological records, I would try to find out:

• When they were built (e.g., dating back to 1000 BCE - 500 CE).
• What kind of objects were found inside (pottery, iron tools, skeletal remains).
• What these megaliths tell us about the people who built them, their burial practices, and their beliefs about the afterlife.

7. List all the cereals that people at Inamgaon ate. Do you eat these cereals today?

Answer: The cereals that people at Inamgaon ate include:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Rice
• Millets (like jowar and bajra)

Yes, I eat most of these cereals today. Wheat and rice are staple foods in many parts of India and globally. Barley is consumed in various forms, and millets like jowar and bajra are also popular, especially in certain regions and as part of healthy diets.

8. Write a short essay on the life of the people of Inamgaon.

Answer:

Life at Inamgaon, an archaeological site occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago, offers a glimpse into early agricultural and pastoral communities. Located on the banks of the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima, the people of Inamgaon were primarily farmers and herders. Their diet was quite diverse, consisting of various cereals like wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, and sesame, suggesting a well-developed agricultural practice. They also supplemented their diet by collecting fruits such as ber, amla, jamun, dates, and a variety of berries.

Animal bones found at the site indicate that they raised cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, and horse. They also hunted wild animals like sambhar, spotted deer, blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose, which provided an additional source of food. Houses at Inamgaon were typically mud-houses, often with granaries, indicating the storage of surplus grains. Archaeologists have found evidence of both circular and rectangular houses.

Their burial practices reveal interesting insights into their beliefs and social structure. Adults were generally buried in the ground, with their heads facing north, sometimes within their houses. A remarkable discovery was a man buried in a large clay jar within a large, five-room house, suggesting a person of importance. The items found with burials, such as pottery and ornaments, also provide clues about their craft and social differences. Overall, the people of Inamgaon led a settled life, relying on a combination of agriculture, animal husbandry, hunting, and gathering for their sustenance.