Class 6 Social Science Notes Chapter 4 Exploring Society India and Beyond

Timeline and Sources of History

The Earth’s Long History

• The Earth has an extensive history, with humans occupying only a small part, specifically the most recent segment.
• Various specialists study the Earth’s history to uncover its secrets and help us understand both the Earth’s and humanity’s past.

Specialists Who Study the Past

• Geologists: Focus on the Earth’s physical features, including soil, stones, hills, mountains, rivers, seas, and oceans.
• Palaeontologists: Study fossils, which are the remains of plants, animals, and humans from millions of years ago.
• Anthropologists: Examine human societies and cultures, tracing them from the oldest times to the present.
• Archaeologists: Investigate the past by digging up artifacts such as tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, bones, teeth, and other remnants left behind by humans, animals, and plants.

Understanding Timelines

• A timeline is a valuable tool to mark historical events in sequence, covering any given period.
• Structure of a Timeline:
  • Begins with the advent of humanity and continues to the present.
  • Includes significant landmarks.
  • May have dotted portions indicating skipped periods to make the timeline manageable.
• Importance of Timelines:
  • Helps in understanding the chronological order of events. For example, it visually represents that the birth of Buddha occurred before that of Jesus.
  • Offers a broader perspective on history by organizing events into a clear, sequential format.

Measuring Time in History

• Year: The basic unit of time measurement in history.
• Decade: A period of ten years.
• Century: A period of 100 years. Specific centuries are counted every 100 years starting from the year 1 CE. For example:
  • The 21st century CE runs from 2001 to 2100.
  • The 3rd century BCE includes the years 300 BCE to 201 BCE.
• Millennium: A period of 1,000 years. Specific millenniums are counted every 1,000 years from the year 1 CE. For example:
  • The 3rd millennium CE runs from 2001 CE to 3000 CE.
  • The 1st millennium BCE includes the years 1 BCE to 1000 BCE.

Marking Historical Periods

• In timelines, historical periods like the beginning of the 8th millennium BCE can be marked to provide a clear understanding of historical durations.
• Plural of Millennium: Both “millenniums” and “millennia” are correct.

Different Methods of Measuring Time

• Societies have used various methods to measure time, often based on significant events such as the birth of important figures or the beginning of a ruler’s reign.
• Calendars:
  • The Gregorian calendar is widely used globally, but other calendars, such as Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and Chinese, are also employed for specific cultural events.
• Common Era (CE) and Before Common Era (BCE):
  • The Gregorian calendar counts years forward from the conventionally accepted year of Jesus Christ’s birth, traditionally marked as AD (Anno Domini). Today, this is referred to as CE (Common Era).
  • Years before this date are counted backward and were traditionally marked as BC (Before Christ), now referred to as BCE (Before Common Era).
  • Example: The year 1947, when India gained independence, can be noted as 1947 AD or 1947 CE. Similarly, 560 BCE is an approximate year for the birth of Gautama Buddha.

Understanding Family History

• Details about a family’s past can be gathered through various sources such as:
  • Photographs: Visual records of past events and people.
  • Diaries: Personal accounts and reflections written by family members.
  • ID Cards: Official documents that provide information on identity and timelines.
  • Memories: Oral histories passed down from parents and relatives.

Historical Objects and Structures as Sources

• Every object or structure holds a story, acting as a piece in a larger jigsaw puzzle of history.
• The objects around a house can reveal the history of a family, just as various sources help piece together historical events.
• However, in history, not all pieces of the puzzle are always available, leading to gaps in our understanding.

Main Sources of History

• Historians use a variety of sources to reconstruct the past, especially when studying significant figures, events, or artifacts from long ago.
• Matching and Contradictory Sources:
  • Consistent Sources: When different sources confirm the same information, it’s like matching pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
  • Contradictory Sources: When sources provide conflicting information, historians must carefully evaluate and decide which source is more reliable.
• The goal is to re-create the history of the period by piecing together information from as many reliable sources as possible.

Contributors to Historical Sources

• A range of experts contribute to the sources of history, including:
  • Historians: Primary researchers who compile and analyze historical data.
  • Archaeologists: Study material remains from the past, such as artifacts and structures.
  • Epigraphists: Specialize in the study of ancient inscriptions, which provide valuable historical records.
  • Anthropologists: Focus on human societies and cultures, offering insights into historical ways of life.
  • Experts in Literature and Languages: Provide understanding through the study of ancient texts, languages, and literary works.

Scientific Contributions to Historical Studies

• Over the last 50 years, scientific methods have increasingly contributed to the understanding of history.
• Examples of Scientific Contributions:
  • Studies of Ancient Climates: Help to understand environmental conditions of the past.
  • Chemical Analysis of Excavated Materials: Reveals information about the composition and usage of historical artifacts.
  • Genetic Studies: Offer insights into the ancestry and migration patterns of ancient peoples.

Sources for Recent History

• For more recent history, especially the last two or three centuries, additional sources include:
  • Newspapers: Provide a record of daily events, opinions, and cultural trends.
  • Electronic Media: Television, the internet, and other forms of electronic communication offer contemporary records and perspectives.

The Beginnings of Human History

Introduction to Human History

• Modern Humans (Homo sapiens):
  • Have existed for about 300,000 years.
  • This duration, though long in human terms, is only a tiny fraction of Earth’s extensive history.

Early Human Life

• Challenges and Survival:
  • Early humans faced numerous challenges from nature and lived in small groups or bands to support each other.
  • They were primarily hunters and gatherers, relying on hunting animals and gathering edible plants and fruits for survival.
• Shelter and Communication:
  • Early humans lived in temporary camps, rock shelters, or caves.
  • They communicated using languages that are now lost to history.
• Use of Tools and Fire:
  • They used fire and created tools like improved stone axes, blades, and arrowheads to make their lives easier.
• Cultural Aspects:
  • Early humans had certain beliefs about natural elements and possibly some ideas about the afterlife.
  • Rock Paintings:
    • Found in hundreds of caves worldwide, these paintings depicted simple figures, symbols, animals, and humans, reflecting aspects of their lives.
  • Ornaments and Trade:
    • They made simple ornaments such as stone or shell beads and pendants made of animal teeth, sometimes exchanging these items with other groups.

The Development of Agriculture

• Climate Changes and the Ice Age:
  • The Earth has experienced many climate changes, including periods of extreme cold known as Ice Ages.
  • The last Ice Age lasted from over 100,000 years ago to around 12,000 years ago.
• Post-Ice Age Developments:
  • After the Ice Age, the climate warmed up, and living conditions improved for humans.
  • In various parts of the world, humans began to settle down and cultivate cereals and grains.
  • They also domesticated animals like cattle and goats.
• Impact of Agriculture:
  • With more food available, communities grew in size and number, often settling near rivers due to the availability of water and fertile soil.
  • Social Complexity:
    • As communities expanded, social structures became more complex, with leaders or chieftains responsible for the community’s welfare.
    • Land was collectively sowed and harvested, with no sense of individual ownership.

Growth of Villages and Towns

• Formation of Villages:
  • Over time, small hamlets evolved into larger villages that engaged in the exchange of goods such as food, clothing, and tools.
• Emergence of Towns:
  • Networks of communication and trade were established among villages, some of which eventually grew into small towns.
• Technological Advancements:
  • New technologies emerged, including:
    • Pottery: For making pots and other clay objects.
    • Metalworking: The use of copper and later iron, leading to the creation of durable tools, everyday objects, and ornaments.

The Path to Civilization

• Preparation for Civilization:
  • This early stage of human development laid the groundwork for what would later be known as “civilization.”
  • Challenges and Survival: Early humanity faced numerous challenges, and there were critical moments when human survival was threatened.
• Legacy of Early Humans:
  • The courage and persistence of early humans are crucial to our existence today, although many aspects of their lives remain unknown.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Timeline: Understanding the sequence of historical events.
• Measuring Time: Different units like years, decades, centuries, and millenniums help track history.
• Sources of History: Various sources are essential for reconstructing and interpreting historical events.
• Growth of Human Societies: Early human societies gradually grew more complex, leading to the formation of villages, towns, and eventually civilizations.