Notes For All Chapters – History Class 6
Ancient India and the World
1. India and the Western Countries
- The people of the Harappan civilization traded with Western countries.
- Buddhism spread to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
- Greek historians wrote about India, making it famous in the West.
- Alexander the Great’s trade routes helped increase contact between India and the West.
2. Gandhara Art
- The Gandhara school of art developed during the Kushana period.
- This art style was influenced by Greek sculpture.
- Buddha’s images were carved in this style, mainly in Afghanistan.
- The statues had Greek-like facial features.
3. India and Rome
- Trade between India and Rome grew around the 1st-2nd century CE.
- Ports in South India were important trade centers.
- Roman goods (like bronze articles and coins) were found in places like Kolhapur and Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu).
- Alexandria (Egypt) was an important trade port for Indian goods.
4. India’s Contributions to the West
- Indian numbers and the concept of ‘zero’ were introduced to Europe by Arab traders.
- Indian science and philosophy also spread to Europe through Arabs.
5. India and Other Asian Countries
Sri Lanka
- King Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.
- The Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka is believed to have grown from a branch carried by Sanghamitra.
- Trade between India and Sri Lanka included pearls and precious stones.
- Sigiriya Caves in Sri Lanka have paintings like those in the Ajanta Caves in India.
China and the Silk Route
- India and China had strong trade and cultural relations.
- Chinese silk (Chinanshuka) was in great demand in India.
- The Silk Route was an important trade path that connected India and China.
- Buddhist monks like Fa-Hien and Yuan-Chwang came to India through this route.
- Indian Buddhist monks translated Buddhist texts into Chinese, spreading Buddhism in China.
Southeast Asia
- Indian culture spread to Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc.
- Indian trader Kaundinya established the kingdom of Funan (Cambodia) in the 1st century CE.
- Sanskrit was used in inscriptions in Funan.
- Ramayana and Mahabharata stories are still performed as dance dramas in Indonesia.
- Temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu were built in Southeast Asia.
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