OUR PAST 

WHAT IS HISTORY?

When we talk about history, we are referring to many stories of events that have taken place, which have shaped our present. Every incident, monument, temple, tomb and book has a story to tell. History tells us how civilizations grew, how man built and discovered thing and also how mankind has constantly tried to preserve the things that have been created.

Therefore, history is a study of past events, particularly about human beings and their beliefs. It is a written record of our past.

Have you ever wondered how our ancestors might have lived? What kind of houses did they stay in? Did they wear the same clothes as we today? Or does your favourite food have a story to tell, from many centuries ago? When we study history, we can find answers to these questions. Every culture leaves behind evidence such as pottery, utensils, paintings and other items that can be studied, and by doing that we can form a story of what life must have been like in that time period.

Human beings have existed for centuries, and the most important factor that has made survival easy for us, is our ability to make mistakes and learn from them.

Herodotus ·        Herodotus, a Greek historian from the 5 century BC, is known as the father of history. He was the first historian to collect historical evidence systematically, test its accuracy, and arrange it in order of occurrence. He was also the first historian to travel around the world in search of information. ·        Herodotus famously wrote about the Greek and Persian wars of 5 century BC and the pyramids of Egypt. His works also tell us about the nature of the world and the status of the sciences in his time.

Definition ·        Historians are scholars who study the past. They try to reconstruct the past by studying objects discovered during excavations and texts. ·        Excavation means digging up an area to search for buried remains.

 

The subject can be divided into three broad categories:

1.    Pre History- Study of a time period that has no written record.

2.    Proto History - The period between prehistory and history. This refers to the study of a culture that had not developed any written records of its own, but has been mentioned by other cultures/sources of that time.

PRE-HISTORY

Pre-history is the study of that period in our past for which there is no written record.

History deals with that part of our past which has been written about. But man did not always know how to read and write. How can we learn about man's life before he learnt to write?

We know that early man did not always lead a settled life. He wandered from place to place. Wherever he went, he left behind material evidence. like tools and weapons that tell us about his life.

Historians also form an idea about how early man lived by studying cave shelters and remains, like bones, found during excavations

Proto history

Sometimes historians use the term 'proto history to refer to a time period between pre-history and history. Proto history refers to the study of a culture:

Before its earliest recorded history when it has not yet developed writing, but other cultures have noted its existence in their records,

Whose script has not yet been deciphered. The Harappan Civilisation, about which we will study later, is one such example. We get to know about protohistoric cultures primarily through archaeological sources.

 

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

The study of history is important because it shows us how events of the past have shaped our present and influenced our past:

The study of history is important because it shows us how things that happened in the past have influenced our present and have the power to affect our future.

Studying about the past helps us understand our roots. It opens our eyes to different types of cultures and societies that formed our collective past. We also learn important skills and qualities. For example, we begin to realise how other people think and understand the reasons behind their actions.

History tells us about social evils, such as slavery, caste system, hunger, and poverty that were part of societies in the past. It also helps us understand why such evils need to be eradicated.

When we study history, we come to realise the mistakes committed by different people in the past. This is designed to help us avoid making the same mistakes.

We also form an idea about how human cultures and civilisations have changed and developed over time. Often the changes were so small that people living at the time did not realise when or how they began. It was only after historians studied these periods that these changes were identified.

HOW TO COUNT YEARS?

(The period before the year Christ is believed to have been born is known as BC, or 'Before Christ'.)  (The period after Christ's birth is called AD, or 'Anno Domini. Anno Domini is a Latin word which means 'in the year of our Lord'.)

The years are counted backward in the period before Christ. So, 100 BC comes after 200 BQ But in the period after the birth of Christ, the years

2 are counted forward. So, AD 100 comes before AD 200.)

Historians sometimes use CE (Common Era) in place of AD and BCE (Before Common Era) in place of BC. If the exact date of an event is not known, the word 'circa' is added before the date.

 

How did India get its name? The word 'India' comes from Indus, after the river of the same name. Greek invaders who came to the subcontinent referred to its northwest regions as Hindos or Indos. They called the regions lying east of the Indus river as India. 'Bharata' was the name used in Rig Veda to describe a group of people living in the northwest. Later on, it was used to describe the entire country.

 

HOW GEOGRAPHY SHAPES HISTORY?

The physical features of a land can greatly influence the lives of people. They can affect the food people eat, the houses they build, how well they defend their borders, and the trade they conduct.

 

The history of India, too, has been shaped by its geographical features. Let's take a look at them:

 

The Great Himalayas

Look at the map and see how these towering ranges stretch across the north of India, acting as barriers to invasions from the north. They, however, could not stop all invaders. Some managed to cross into India through passes along the north-western Himalayas and settle here. Besides invaders, many travelers and traders also entered the country through these passes, bringing about an exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

 

The Northern Plains

These vast plains were very fertile and as a result many large empires, such as the Mauryas, the Guptas, and the Mughals, flourished there.)

 

The Great Indian Desert

The harsh conditions in the Thar Desert kept people from settling there in large numbers. The difficult habitat also served as a barrier to outside influence.

 

Deccan Plateau

Cut off from the north of India by the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, the Deccan, Plateau served as a strong base for many kingdoms of the south, such as the Cholas and the Chalukyas. Even the mighty empires of the north could not bring this area under their control for long.

 

Coastal Plains

Besides acting as a natural barrier to invasions, India's long coastline helped the southern powers establish strong trade ties with many far-off countries like Egypt and Rome) Many kingdoms in south India set up strong navies and colonized parts of Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.

 

SOURCES OF HISTORY

Historians study two types of historical sources to find out about the past. They are archaeological sources and literary sources.

 

Tutankhamun In 1922, Howard Carter made the most sensational discovery in the history of archaeology. He found the tomb of Tutankhamun, an Egyptian ruler of the 14" century BC. The tomb's many treasures and artefacts included 50 clay pots bearing Tutankhamun's official seal. The pots probably contained money for the pharaoh's use in the afterlife. On November 4, 2007, 85 years after Carter discovered the tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the mummy was removed from its golden coffin so people could see its face. To prevent decomposition, the mummy was placed in a temperature-controlled glass case. And that's where it remains to this date.

 

1. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES

Archaeology involves the study of remains of past civilisations. In the course of excavation around the world, archaeologists often find many things, such as inscriptions, coins, monuments and artefacts. They analyse them scientifically to find out more about the civilisation the remains belong to.

There are many archaeological sources that help historians paint a picture of our past:)

 

Inscriptions

Inscriptions are writings or drawings found or stones, pillars, clay or copper tablets, and the walls of caves, temples, and monuments)

These engravings tell us about kings, the kingdoms they ruled over, their administration the orders they passed, the battles they won, etc. The Ashokan inscriptions on caves, pillars, and stones found all over India are well-known examples of such engravings.

 

 

·        The study of inscriptions is known as epigraphy. Inscriptions contain both scripts and languages used by a culture or civilisation. The process of understanding and interpreting what was written on them is known as decipherment. ·        Among the most famous inscriptions to be deciphered were those found written on a stone in the coastal town of Rosetta in Egypt. ·        The inscriptions were written in three different languages and scripts, one in Greek and two in Egyptian. ·        Scholars studying the inscriptions noticed that the names of kings and queens were enclosed within an oval circle,called a cartouche. This helped them figure out the sounds for which the different Egyptian signs stood and decipher the inscriptions.

 

Coins

Archaeologists have found a large number of old coins made of gold, silver, copper, and other metals during their excavations. They study them to find out more about the period they come from. The study of coins is known as numismatics.

By examining the engravings on coins, archaeologists can tell us the year some coins were issued. At times, they can even tell us about kings, languages, and life in the period the coins come from. For example, Samudragupta's coins tell us that he played the Veena.

 

Monuments

Our ancestors built many temples, forts, palaces and other structures, often for a special cause. All such structures are known as monuments, These monuments give an insight into the cultural and spiritual lives of ancient people.

Many monuments bear signs of repair, destruction, and alterations, giving us an insight into the history of their time.

Did you know the Sanchi Stupa of Madhya Pradesh was not originally made of stone? It also did not have the four entrances we see today. The stupa was originally made of brick during Ashoka's rule. But later, the bricks were replaced by stones and four gates were constructed around it by other rulers.

 

Artefacts

When archaeologists dig around areas where ancient civilisations flourished, they often find sculptures, paintings, pottery, jewellery and other man-made objects. Such objects are called artefacts.

 

They tell us about the religious and social customs, clothing, food habits, etc., of people of a particular period. For example, we can tell by the paintings of Shiva, Vishnu, Buddha, and Mahavira from the Gupta period that the Gupta rulers were secular.

Many cave paintings throw light on the life of early man. Man used burnt bones, wood, coloured sand and water, and even animal fat to draw on cave walls. Archaeologists have found jewellery made from metals which show the level of scientific advancement of some early civilisations.

 

 

 

Radiocarbon Dating ·        Radiocarbon dating, or carbon dating, helps determine the age of organic objects up to 60,000 years old. When archaeologists come across fossils, cloth, wood specimens, etc, during excavations, they measure the amount of Carbon 14 they contain. The lesser the amount of Carbon 14, the older the specimens are. ·        Carbon 14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon which plants absorb during photosynthesis. This Carbon 14 enters the bodies of men and animals when they eat plants. During their lifetime, all living organisms constantly absorb and release Carbon 14 from their bodies. But after they die, they lose Carbon 14 at a constant rate. So by checking the level of Carbon 14, archaeologists can find out how old an object is.

 

 

2. LITERARY SOURCES

Records written by hand are called manuscripts. People in ancient times did not use paper to write on. They kept a record of their life and times by writing on different surfaces, such as stones, dried barks of trees or bhojpatras, metal plates, and palm leaves.

A number of rare manuscripts can be found preserved in museums, temples, and archaeological libraries around the world. They tell us about the religious, political, and social practices of their time.

In India, hand-written records were written in Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit, or Tamil. Manuscripts from the north of India were written in Sanskrit, for example, the Ramayana. South Indian texts, like Silappadikaram, were written in Tamil.

 

Literary sources which shed light on Indian history can be divided into religious, secular, and foreigners' accounts:

 

(i) Religious Literature

Religious texts not only tell us about the religious beliefs of our ancestors, but also throw light on their political, economic, social, and cultural life. For example, the Vedas) tell us about how the Aryans came to India.

The religious texts of the Hindus, the Buddhists, and the Jains provide valuable information about India's history. The religious texts of the Hindus include the four Vedas (the Rig Veda, the Sam Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda), the Aranyakas, the Upanishads, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata.

The Tripitakas, Jatakas, Dipvamsa, and Mahavamsa are important Buddhist texts. The Angas are the religious texts of the Jains.

Upanishads

 

(ii) Secular Literature

Writings that deal with subjects other than religion, such as law, medicine, and politics, come under secular literature. For example, Kautilya's Arthashastra lays down the economic, political, and military philosophy of the Mauryas.

Poems, plays, memoirs and chronicles are grouped under secular literary sources. In the play Mudra Rakshasa, Vishakhadatta describes how the Mauryas defeated the Nandas.

A chronicle is a written record in which events are described in the order they happened. For example, Kalhan's Rajatarangini traces the history of Kashmir.

Abul Fazl recorded the rule of Akbar in Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama.

Kalidasa's Shakuntala, Meghaduta, and Malvikaghimitra are also examples of chronicles.

 

(iii) Accounts of foreigners

It tell us what people visiting India from other countries thought of it. During Chandragupta Maurya's rule. Megasthenes came to India as an ambassador from Greece. He wrote down his impressions about the political, social, and economic conditions under the Mauryas in his book Indika. Such books are an important source of information about our past.

 

Travelogues written by people who travelled. around India provide valuable information on Indian history, too. Chinese travellers Fa-Hien and Xuan Zang wrote in great detail about the kingdoms they passed through.

 

Persian traveller Al-beruni gave an in depth account of 11 century India in his book Kitab-ul-Hind. All these sources are a great help to historians as they explore our past.

 

ONE PAST OR MANY?

Archaeological and literary sources provide information about different periods of time. The lives people led during different periods differed according to their status in society, the occupations they followed, their cultures, geographical locations, etc.

 

This means, all people did not share one common past. Instead, different groups of people experienced the past differently. That is why historians say we have not one, but many pasts.

 

The lives of kings and queens were different from the lives of ordinary people, the lives of traders were different from those of potters, the lives of people in villages were different from those in the cities, etc.

 

What's more, most of the records tell us about the lives and achievements of a small section of people like kings. Ordinary people often did not keep records of their lives. We can only form an idea about their lives through archaeological sources.

All Important MCQ

Our Pasts-Class Test

Lenard City Sunday Test

1. Q. Why is history considered a written record of our past?
a) Because it is constantly updated with new information
b) Because it includes stories of past events and how they shaped the present
c) Because it only focuses on current events
d) Because it is only concerned with technological advancements

Answer: b) Because it includes stories of past events and how they shaped the present

 

2. Q. Who is known as the father of history?
a) Thucydides
b) Pliny the Elder
c) Herodotus
d) Socrates

Answer: c) Herodotus

 

3.Q.  What was one of Herodotus’s major contributions to historical writing?
a) He invented the concept of democracy.
b) He was the first to systematically collect and test historical evidence.
c) He developed the first form of writing.
d) He discovered the Americas.

Answer: b) He was the first to systematically collect and test historical evidence.

 

4.Q. Herodotus traveled around the world in search of information primarily to write about:
a) The rise of Christianity
b) The Greek and Persian wars
c) The Roman Empire
d) The spread of Buddhism

Answer: b) The Greek and Persian wars

 

5.Q. What is the term used for digging up an area to search for buried remains?
a) Analysis
b) Excavation
c) Documentation
d) Preservation

Answer: b) Excavation

 

6.Q. What kind of objects do historians study to reconstruct the past?
a) Modern technology
b) Contemporary news articles
c) Objects discovered during excavations and texts
d) Personal diaries

Answer: c) Objects discovered during excavations and texts

 

7. Q. What is pre-history?
a) The study of periods with extensive written records
b) The study of periods for which there is no written record
c) The study of historical events from the medieval era
d) The study of future events

Answer: b) The study of periods for which there is no written record

 

8. Q. How can we learn about early man's life before writing was developed?
a) By analyzing contemporary documents
b) Through the study of material evidence like tools, weapons, and remains
c) By reading ancient manuscripts
d) Through oral history passed down by descendants

Answer: b) Through the study of material evidence like tools, weapons, and remains

 

9. Q. What does the term 'proto history' refer to?
a) A period after the development of writing
b) A time period between pre-history and history
c) A time before any form of human culture existed
d) The early stages of modern technology

Answer: b) A time period between pre-history and history

 

10. Q. How do historians primarily learn about protohistoric cultures?
a) Through contemporary historical records
b) Through written accounts from other cultures
c) Through archaeological sources
d) Through oral traditions

Answer: c) Through archaeological sources

 

11. Q. What is an example of a protohistoric culture mentioned in the passage?
a) Ancient Egypt
b) The Roman Empire
c) The Harappan Civilization
d) The Maya Civilization

Answer: c) The Harappan Civilization

 

12. Q. Why is the study of history important?
a) It only focuses on ancient civilizations
b) It shows how past events have shaped our present and can influence our future
c) It focuses solely on famous historical figures
d) It teaches us about current technology

Answer: b) It shows how past events have shaped our present and can influence our future

 

13.Q. How do historians identify changes in human cultures and civilizations over time?
a) By observing changes in modern technology
b) By studying periods of time to identify small and gradual changes
c) By focusing only on recent events
d) By ignoring long-term cultural developments

Answer: b) By studying periods of time to identify small and gradual changes

 

14.Q. What does AD stand for?
a) After Death
b) Anno Domini
c) Anno Domine
d) After Date

Answer: b) Anno Domini

 

15. Q. How are the years counted in the period before Christ (BC)?
a) Forward from 0 BC

b) Backward from 0 BC
c) Forward from 1 BC
d) Backward from AD 1

Answer: b) Backward from 0 BC

 

16.Q. What terms do historians sometimes use in place of AD and BC?
a) CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era)
b) CE (Christian Era) and BCE (Before Christian Era)
c) AC (After Christ) and BC (Before Christ)
d) EC (Era of Christ) and BEC (Before Era of Christ)

Answer: a) CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era)

 

17.Q. What does the word 'circa' indicate when used with a date?
a) An exact date
b) A general or approximate date
c) A date in the future
d) A specific year

Answer: b) A general or approximate date

 

18Q.How did Greek invaders refer to the regions lying east of the Indus River?
a) Hindos or Indos
b) Bharat or Hindustan
c) Persia or Media
d) Scythia or Bactria

Answer: a) Hindos or Indos

 

19. Q. How did the Great Himalayas affect invasions into India?
a) They completely stopped all invasions
b) They acted as barriers but did not stop all invaders
c) They encouraged invasions from the north
d) They had no impact on invasions

Answer: b) They acted as barriers but did not stop all invaders

20.Q. What role did the passes along the north-western Himalayas play?
a) They were used only by invaders
b) They facilitated trade and cultural exchange
c) They were completely blocked by natural barriers
d) They were only used for military purposes

Answer: b) They facilitated trade and cultural exchange

 

21. Q. Why were the Northern Plains significant in Indian history?
a) They were known for their harsh conditions
b) They were highly fertile and supported large empires
c) They were a barrier to outside influence
d) They were mostly covered by deserts

Answer: b) They were highly fertile and supported large empires

 

22.Q. What was the impact of the Thar Desert on settlement and outside influence?
a) It encouraged settlement due to its resources
b) It made settlement difficult and acted as a barrier to outside influence
c) It had no impact on settlement or outside influence
d) It was easily crossed by invaders

Answer: b) It made settlement difficult and acted as a barrier to outside influence

 

23. Q. How did the Deccan Plateau contribute to the history of southern India?
a) It was easily controlled by northern empires
b) It was a strong base for many southern kingdoms and resistant to northern control
c) It was completely isolated from the rest of India
d) It had no significant historical impact

Answer: b) It was a strong base for many southern kingdoms and resistant to northern control

 

24.Q. What role did India's coastal plains play in its historical development?
a) They were a barrier to trade and exploration
b) They helped establish strong trade ties and naval power
c) They isolated India from other countries
d) They were mainly used for defensive purposes

Answer: b) They helped establish strong trade ties and naval power

 

25. Q. What does archaeology involve?
a) The study of written records
b) The study of remains of past civilizations
c) The study of modern technology
d) The study of natural phenomena

Answer: b) The study of remains of past civilizations

 

26.Q. What is the study of inscriptions called?
a) Numismatics
b) Epigraphy
c) Archaeology
d) Paleography

Answer: b) Epigraphy

 

27. Q. What is decipherment?
a) The process of translating modern languages
b) The process of understanding and interpreting what was written on inscriptions
c) The study of coins
d) The study of ancient manuscripts

Answer: b) The process of understanding and interpreting what was written on inscriptions

 

28.Q. What was significant about the inscriptions found in the coastal town of Rosetta in Egypt?
a) They were written in Greek only
b) They were written in three different languages and scripts
c) They were only in Egyptian languages
d) They were engraved on pottery

Answer: b) They were written in three different languages and scripts

 

29.Q. What does the study of coins involve?
a) Epigraphy
b) Numismatics
c) Archaeology
d) Paleography

Answer: b) Numismatics

 

30.Q. How can coins help archaeologists understand history?
a) By providing information about language only
b) By revealing the year of issuance and details about kings and life during that period
c) By detailing only religious practices
d) By showing only artistic styles

Answer: b) By revealing the year of issuance and details about kings and life during that period

 

31. Q. What do monuments like temples, forts, and palaces provide insight into?
a) The technological advancements of a civilization
b) The cultural and spiritual lives of ancient people
c) The dietary habits of ancient civilizations
d) The modern architecture styles

Answer: b) The cultural and spiritual lives of ancient people

 

32. Q. What was unique about the Sanchi Stupa?
a) It was initially made of gold
b) It originally did not have stone or gates and was made of brick during Ashoka's rule
c) It was constructed entirely by one ruler
d) It was made of metal and did not have any bricks

Answer: b) It originally did not have stone or gates and was made of brick during Ashoka's rule

 

33.Q. What are artefacts?
a) Ancient writings
b) Natural formations
c) Man-made objects like sculptures, paintings, and pottery
d) Fossils

Answer: c) Man-made objects like sculptures, paintings, and pottery

 

34.Q. How do artefacts help us understand ancient civilizations?
a) By showing technological advancements only
b) By revealing religious and social customs, clothing, and food habits
c) By providing information about modern political systems
d) By documenting current events

Answer: b) By revealing religious and social customs, clothing, and food habits

 

35.Q. What does radiocarbon dating help determine?
a) The age of inorganic objects
b) The age of organic objects up to 60,000 years old
c) The temperature of ancient environments
d) The geographic location of ancient civilizations

Answer: b) The age of organic objects up to 60,000 years old

 

36. Q. Which isotope is used in radiocarbon dating?
a) Carbon 12
b) Carbon 13
c) Carbon 14
d) Carbon 15

Answer: c) Carbon 14

 

37.Q. How do archaeologists use Carbon 14 to determine the age of a specimen?
a) By measuring its chemical composition
b) By measuring the amount of Carbon 14 it contains; less Carbon 14 indicates an older specimen
c) By analyzing its physical features
d) By comparing it with other specimens

Answer: b) By measuring the amount of Carbon 14 it contains; less Carbon 14 indicates an older specimen

 

38. Q. How does Carbon 14 enter the bodies of living organisms?
a) Through respiration
b) Through digestion
c) Through photosynthesis by plants
d) Through direct contact with soil

Answer: c) Through photosynthesis by plants

 

39. Q. What happens to Carbon 14 after an organism dies?
a) It increases in quantity
b) It remains constant
c) It decreases at a constant rate
d) It turns into a different isotope

Answer: c) It decreases at a constant rate

 

40.Q. What types of objects can be dated using radiocarbon dating?
a) Metal artifacts only
b) Organic objects like fossils, cloth, and wood
c) Stone tools
d) Pottery and ceramics

Answer: b) Organic objects like fossils, cloth, and wood

 

41. Q. What are records written by hand called?
a) Documents
b) Manuscripts
c) Tablets
d) Epics

Answer: b) Manuscripts

 

42. Q. On what surfaces did people in ancient times write their records?
a) Only paper
b) Stones, dried barks, metal plates, and palm leaves
c) Wood and parchment
d) Modern paper and ink

Answer: b) Stones, dried barks, metal plates, and palm leaves

 

43.Q. Where can a number of rare manuscripts be found preserved?
a) Only in private collections
b) Museums, temples, and archaeological libraries
c) Digital archives
d) Public libraries

Answer: b) Museums, temples, and archaeological libraries

 

44.Q. In which languages were hand-written records in India often written?
a) Hindi and Urdu
b) English and Latin
c) Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit, and Tamil
d) French and German

Answer: c) Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit, and Tamil

 

45. Q. Which language were manuscripts from northern India typically written in?
a) Tamil
b) Prakrit
c) Pali
d) Sanskrit

Answer: d) Sanskrit

 

46. Q. What language were South Indian texts, like Silappadikaram, written in?
a) Sanskrit
b) Prakrit
c) Tamil
d) Pali

Answer: c) Tamil

 

47. Q. How can literary sources that shed light on Indian history be categorized?
a) By geographic regions
b) By periods of history
c) By religious, secular, and foreigners' accounts
d) By language and script

Answer: c) By religious, secular, and foreigners' accounts

 

48. Q. What do religious texts reveal about ancient societies besides their religious beliefs?
a) Their economic, social, and cultural life
b) Their technological advancements
c) Their modern political systems
d) Their geographical discoveries

Answer: a) Their economic, social, and cultural life

 

49.Q. Which texts provide valuable information about India's history from the Hindu tradition?
a) The Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata
b) The Tripitakas and Jatakas
c) The Angas
d) The Arthashastra and Mudra Rakshasa

Answer: a) The Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata

 

50. Q. What are the Tripitakas and Jatakas associated with?
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhism
c) Jainism
d) Secular literature

Answer: b) Buddhism

51. Q. What type of literature does Kautilya's Arthashastra represent?
a) Religious literature
b) Secular literature
c) Foreign accounts
d) Chronicles

Answer: b) Secular literature

 

52. Q. What is a chronicle?
a) A religious text
b) A written record describing events in the order they happened
c) A poetic work
d) A travelogue

Answer: b) A written record describing events in the order they happened

 

53. Q. Which of the following is a famous chronicle written by Kalhan?
a) Indika
b) Rajatarangini
c) Kitab-ul-Hind
d) Ain-i-Akbari

Answer: b) Rajatarangini

 

54.Q. Who recorded the rule of Akbar in his works?
a) Fa-Hien
b) Xuan Zang
c) Abul Fazl
d) Al-Biruni

Answer: c) Abul Fazl

 

55. Q. What valuable information do travelogues provide?
a) Details about modern technology
b) Impressions and descriptions of the regions visited by travelers
c) Religious doctrines
d) Economic theories

Answer: b) Impressions and descriptions of the regions visited by travelers

 

56.Q. Which Chinese travelers wrote about their experiences in India?
a) Al-Biruni and Megasthenes
b) Fa-Hien and Xuan Zang
c) Kalhan and Vishakhadatta
d) Kautilya and Abul Fazl

Answer: b) Fa-Hien and Xuan Zang

 

57.Q. What is the main focus of Al-Biruni's book Kitab-ul-Hind?
a) The political conditions under the Mauryas
b) The 11th-century history of India
c) The economic theories of the Mauryas
d) The religious texts of the Jains

Answer: b) The 11th-century history of India

 

58. Q. Why do historians say we have not one, but many pasts?
a) Because records are often incomplete
b) Because different groups of people experienced the past differently
c) Because historical events are often exaggerated
d) Because archaeological sources are unreliable

Answer: b) Because different groups of people experienced the past differently

 

59.Q. What is a common characteristic of most historical records?
a) They focus on the lives of ordinary people
b) They cover the achievements of a small section of people, like kings
c) They provide detailed information about every societal group
d) They are primarily written by historians

Answer: b) They cover the achievements of a small section of people, like kings

 

61. Q. How do historians form an idea about the lives of ordinary people?
a) Through literary texts
b) Through records kept by kings
c) Through archaeological sources
d) Through personal diaries

Answer: c) Through archaeological sources

 

62. Q. What does "numismatics" refer to?
a) The study of ancient manuscripts
b) The study of coins
c) The process of deciphering inscriptions
d) The study of historical structures

Answer: b) The study of coins

 

63. Q. How are "monuments" defined?
a) Texts written by hand
b) Old historical structures
c) Accounts written by travelers
d) Man-made objects found at archaeological sites

Answer: b) Old historical structures

 

64. Q. What are "artefacts"?
a) Written records of historical events
b) Man-made objects found at archaeological sites
c) Ancient coins
d) Accounts written by travelers

Answer: b) Man-made objects found at archaeological sites

 

65. Q. What are "manuscripts"?
a) Written records describing events in chronological order
b) Texts written by hand
c) Accounts of travelers’ journeys
d) Ancient historical structures

Answer: b) Texts written by hand

 

66. Q. What is a "chronicle"?
a) A man-made object found at an archaeological site
b) A written record in which events are described in the order they happened
c) The study of ancient coins
d) A historical structure

Answer: b) A written record in which events are described in the order they happened