Legacy IAS · NCERT Class 6 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Chapter 4
Timeline and Sources of History
Tapestry of the Past · Comprehensive Study Notes + MCQ Practice
"History is 'an unending dialogue between the present and the past … between the society of today and the society of yesterday. … We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.'"
— E.H. Carr
Content based on NCERT Class 6 — Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Chapter 4 (Reprint 2026–27). All credit to NCERT. Compiled & formatted by Legacy IAS, Bengaluru for UPSC / State PCS preparation.
01
Opening Quote & The Big Questions
📖 Opening Quote — NCERT Chapter 4
"History is 'an unending dialogue between the present and the past … between the society of today and the society of yesterday. … We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.'"
— E.H. Carr (British historian)
The chapter opens with a photograph of the National Museum, New Delhi — institutions that preserve statues, coins, and ornaments which help us understand our history.
🔍 The Big Questions (as stated in NCERT)
- How do we measure historical time?
- How can various sources help us understand history?
- How did early humans live?
02
How Do We Learn About the Past?
💡 Think About It (NCERT)
What is the earliest memory you can recollect? Those memories together are a part of your past. How does understanding the past help us understand the present world?
History is defined by NCERT as the study of the human past.
The Earth has a very, very long history, of which we humans occupy only a tiny part — the most recent one.
Fig. 4.1 — Timeline of a few important stages in the evolution of life on Earth (NCERT)
🌍 Fig. 4.1 — Evolution Timeline (Billion / Million / Years ago)
| 4.54 Billion years ago | Earth formed |
| ~4 Billion years ago | First cells |
| 2.33 Billion years ago | Atmospheric oxygen |
| ~1 Billion years ago | Bacteria established |
| 700 Million years ago | Sponges and fungi |
| 500 Million years ago | Corals appear |
| ~450 Million years ago | Fish & Vertebrates |
| ~400 Million years ago | Insects & Amphibians |
| 300 Million years ago | Reptiles & Dinosaurs |
| ~200 Million years ago | Birds; Mammals |
| 100 Million years ago | Flowers and bees |
| 10,000,000 years ago | Primates |
| 1,000,000 years ago | Fire (use of fire) |
| 300,000 years ago | Homo sapiens (Modern humans) |
| 6,500 years ago | Writing develops |
⚠️ Exam Note
The chart uses THREE colour-coded scales: Billion years ago (light blue), Million years ago (dark blue), Years ago (green). This distinction is frequently tested in MCQs.
03
Scholars Who Study the Past
NCERT introduces four key categories of scholars who help us uncover the Earth's and humanity's past:
| Geologists | Study the physical features of the Earth — soil, stones, hills, mountains, rivers, seas, and oceans. |
| Palaeontologists | Study the remains of plants, animals and humans from millions of years ago in the form of fossils. |
| Anthropologists | Study human societies and cultures from the oldest times to the present. |
| Archaeologists | Study the past by digging up remains — tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, bones, teeth, burnt grains, parts of houses or bricks. |
Fossils
Impressions of footprints, or parts of plants or animals that are found preserved within layers of soil or rocks.
Era
A distinct period of time.
History
The study of the human past.
04
How Is Time Measured in History?
Each society and culture has had its own ways of measuring time. Major events — such as the birth of an important person or the start of a ruler's reign — have often marked the beginning of a new era.
📌 The Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian calendar is now commonly used worldwide. It has 12 months adding up to 365 days, and a leap year every four years. However, century years (e.g., 1800, 1900, 2000) are leap years only if they are multiples of 400. So among 1800, 1900 and 2000 — only 2000 is a leap year.
Side by side, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Chinese and other calendars are also used for calculating dates of festivals and auspicious events.
🗓️ CE and BCE — The Standard Notation
| Old Notation | AD (Anno Domini — Latin, 'In the year of the Lord') and BC (Before Christ) |
| New Notation | CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era) — used globally now |
| Starting point | The conventional year of Jesus Christ's birth |
| CE — counted | Forward from the birth of Jesus. Example: 1947 CE = India's independence |
| BCE — counted | Backward from the birth of Jesus. Example: 560 BCE = approximate birth of Gautama Buddha |
| No Year Zero | In the Gregorian calendar, year 1 CE follows immediately after year 1 BCE. There is NO year zero. |
⚠️ Calculation Rule — Frequently Tested
To calculate years between a BCE date and a CE date: Add both numbers and subtract 1.
Example from NCERT: Buddha born 560 BCE, current year 2024 CE → 560 + 2024 − 1 = 2,583 years ago.
Why subtract 1? Because there is no year zero — year 1 CE directly follows year 1 BCE.
05
Timeline — Concept & Landmark Events
A timeline is a convenient tool to mark events, showing a sequence of dates and events covering any particular period. It helps understand the order in which historical events take place — even without knowing exact dates.
NCERT Fig — Simple timeline: Birth of Buddha (560 BCE), Birth of Jesus, Present (2000 CE)
✅ Key Fact from Timeline
The timeline clearly shows that the birth of Buddha (560 BCE) occurs before the birth of Jesus, even without looking at dates.
NCERT notes: The dotted portion marks a skipped period; otherwise this timeline would have to be almost 3 metres long!
Fig. 4.3 — Timeline of some main events since 300,000 BCE (NCERT)
NCERT Timeline — 12,000 BCE to 2000 CE: Major events in human civilisation
| 12,000 BCE | End of last Ice Age |
| 10,000 BCE | (Marker on timeline) |
| 8,000 BCE | First settlements and beginning of agriculture |
| 6,000 BCE | Pottery technology in Indian Subcontinent; World's first cities in Mesopotamia |
| 4,000 BCE | Beginning of copper metallurgy; Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation |
| 2,000 BCE | (Marker — Indus-Sarasvati civilisation flourishes) |
| 560 BCE | Birth of Gautama Buddha (approximate) |
| ~268 BCE | Reign of Aśhoka |
| ~1 CE / BCE | Birth of Jesus |
| 2000 CE | "We are here" — present day |
🗺️ Prehistoric Timeline (Fig. 4.3 — since 300,000 BCE)
300,000 BCE
Homo sapiens begin; start of human existence
40,000 BCE
First examples of rock art in the world
14,000 BCE
Ice Age period (approaching end of last Ice Age)
12,000 BCE
End of last Ice Age; warming climate
06
Century and Millennium (DON'T MISS OUT)
📌 DON'T MISS OUT — NCERT Box (Frequently Asked in Exams)
Along with a year and a decade (10 years), two terms are important for history:
| Century | Any period of 100 years. Counted every 100 years starting from year 1 CE. Currently: 21st century CE (2001–2100). BCE centuries are counted backward from 1 BCE. Example: 3rd century BCE = 300 BCE to 201 BCE. |
| Millennium | Any period of 1,000 years. Currently: 3rd millennium CE (began 2001 CE, ends 3000 CE). BCE millenniums go backward from 1 BCE. Example: 1st millennium BCE = 1 BCE to 1000 BCE. Plural: millenniums or millennia (both correct). |
⚠️ Common Exam Traps
- The 21st century CE runs from 2001 to 2100, NOT from 2000 to 2099.
- The 3rd century BCE = 300 BCE to 201 BCE (going backwards).
- If Chandragupta II was born in 380 CE, he belongs to the 4th century CE (301–400 CE).
- Rani of Jhansi born in 1828 → belongs to 19th century CE; independence was in 1947 → 1947 − 1828 = 119 years before independence.
- "12,000 years ago" → subtract from approx current year (2024): = ~10,000 BCE.
07
Indian Calendars & Pañchānga (DON'T MISS OUT)
📌 DON'T MISS OUT — Indian Calendar Tradition (NCERT Sidebar)
Many Indian calendars rely on the positions of the sun and moon to define the months of the year.
A Pañchānga is a book of tables which lists the days of each month along with related astronomical data. It precisely predicts:
- Solar and lunar eclipses
- Times for sunrise and sunset
- Weather predictions for the year
- Dates and timings of festivals
Pañchāngas are still widely used in India.
⚠️ Exam Note
The word "auspicious" is defined in NCERT as: favourable or bringing luck (e.g., 'an auspicious beginning'). Indian calendars are used specifically for calculating dates of festivals and auspicious events.
08
Sources of History — All Categories
A source of history is defined by NCERT as: a place, person, text or an object from which we gather information about some past event or period.
Every object or structure tells a story and is like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. In the case of history, quite a few pieces of the puzzle may remain missing!
Sources of History — NCERT Mind Map (Fig. from Chapter 4)
🏛️ Archaeological Sources
- Inscriptions: Manuscripts, copper plates, coins
- Structures: Monuments, mounds
- Excavations: Human/animal/plant remains, tools & weapons, figurines & ornaments, pottery & toys, habitations & burials
📚 Literary Sources
- Indian Literature: Vedas & Itihasas, poems & plays, historical texts, collection of stories, scientific & technological texts
- Foreign Accounts: Travelogues, historical chronicles
- Oral Sources: Genealogical, folklore
🎨 Artistic Sources
- Paintings
- Sculptures
- Panels
🗣️ Modern / Scientific Sources
- Studies of ancient climates
- Chemical studies of excavated materials
- Genetics of ancient people
- Newspapers (for recent history)
- Electronic media (TV, internet) — last few decades
✅ Who Contributes to Sources of History?
- Historians — study and write about the past
- Archaeologists — excavate remains
- Epigraphists — study ancient inscriptions
- Anthropologists — study human societies and cultures
- Experts in literature and languages
In the last 50 years, scientific studies have increasingly contributed to reconstruction of the past.
🧩 How Historians Use Sources
When sources confirm each other — the jigsaw pieces match. When sources give contradictory information — historians must decide which source to trust more. This is how they re-create the history of the period they are studying.
09
Archaeological Sources in Detail
| Inscriptions | Written records engraved on hard surfaces. Include manuscripts (hand-written texts), copper plates, and coins. |
| Structures | Monuments (temples, forts, tombs) and mounds (raised land formed by accumulated debris of past settlements). |
| Excavations — Organic remains | Human, animal, and plant remains (bones, teeth, burnt grains, seeds). |
| Excavations — Artefacts | Tools and weapons; figurines and ornaments; pottery and toys. |
| Excavations — Settlement evidence | Habitations (floors, walls, bricks) and burials (graves, burial goods). |
Epigraphist
A scholar who studies ancient inscriptions carved on stone, metal, or other hard surfaces.
Historian
A person who studies and writes about the past.
Genetics
The branch of biology that studies how, in plants, animals or humans, certain features and characteristics get passed down from one generation to the next.
10
Literary Sources in Detail
| Vedas & Itihasas | Ancient Indian religious and epic literature. Itihasas = epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana. |
| Poems & Plays | Literary works that reflect the society, culture, and events of their time. |
| Historical Texts | Chronicles, biographies of rulers (e.g., Harshacharita), accounts of battles and kingdoms. |
| Collection of Stories | E.g., Panchatantra, Jataka tales — reflect social conditions of their era. |
| Scientific & Technological Texts | Works on medicine (Charaka Samhita), mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy. |
| Foreign Accounts | Travelogues (travel accounts by foreign visitors like Fa Hien, Ibn Battuta) and Historical Chronicles written by foreign scholars. |
| Oral Sources | Genealogical accounts (family lineages passed down orally) and Folklore (folk songs, legends, stories passed through generations). |
11
Oral & Artistic Sources
| Paintings | Cave paintings (e.g., Bhimbetka) and murals on temple/palace walls provide evidence of social life, activities, and beliefs. |
| Sculptures | Stone, metal, or terracotta figures reveal artistic traditions, religious beliefs, and the appearance of rulers and deities. |
| Panels | Narrative relief panels on stupas, temples (e.g., Sanchi Stupa panels) depict historical events and daily life. |
| Genealogical (Oral) | Family tree / lineage information preserved orally — important for reconstructing royal succession and social history. |
| Folklore (Oral) | Folk tales, songs, legends passed down generations; reflect popular memory of historical events. |
12
The Beginnings of Human History — Early Humans
Modern humans (Homo sapiens) have walked the planet for about 300,000 (three lakh) years. This is only a tiny fraction of the Earth's history.
🏕️ How Early Humans Lived — Key Facts (NCERT)
- Lived in bands or groups to help each other; faced many challenges from nature.
- Were mainly hunters and gatherers — relied on hunting animals and collecting edible plants and fruits.
- Lived in temporary camps, rock shelters or caves.
- Communicated using languages that are now lost.
- Used fire; made improved stone axes, blades, arrowheads, and other tools.
- Had certain beliefs about natural elements and possibly a notion of afterlife.
- Created rock paintings in hundreds of caves all over the world — some show simple figures or symbols; others depict scenes with animals or humans.
- Made simple ornaments — stone or shell beads, pendants made of animal teeth — and sometimes exchanged them with other groups.
Afterlife
A life that begins after death. Early humans possibly had some notion of afterlife, evidenced by burial practices.
Hunters & Gatherers
People who rely on hunting animals and collecting edible plants and fruits for survival, rather than growing food.
⚠️ Important — Rock Art
According to Fig. 4.3 (NCERT Timeline), the first examples of rock art in the world date to 40,000 BCE. The Ice Age lasted from over 100,000 years ago to around 12,000 years ago.
13
The First Crops & Agricultural Communities
Over long ages, the Earth's climate went through many changes. During Ice Ages, much of the Earth was covered with ice. The last Ice Age lasted from over 100,000 (one lakh) years ago to around 12,000 years ago.
🌾 After the Ice Age — Human Progress
- Climate warmed up; ice partly melted → waters swelled existing rivers and drained into oceans.
- Humans started settling down and cultivating cereals and grains.
- Also domesticated animals — cattle, goats, etc.
- Communities grew in size and settled near rivers (water availability + fertile soil → easier crop growth).
- Social complexity increased — leaders / 'chieftains' emerged, responsible for the people's welfare.
- Initially, no individual ownership — lands collectively sowed and harvested.
🏘️ Growth of Villages and Towns
- Hamlets grew into sizeable villages that exchanged goods — mostly food, clothing, and tools.
- Networks of communication and exchange were established.
- Some villages grew into small towns.
- New technologies: Pottery (pots and clay objects); use of metal (copper first, iron later) → durable tools, ornaments.
- This stage prepared for the emergence of 'civilisation' (discussed in Chapter 6).
Welfare
Health, prosperity and well-being of a community.
Hamlet
A small settlement or small village.
Ice Age
A period when much of the Earth was covered with ice due to cold climate. The last Ice Age ended around 12,000 years ago.
💡 Think About It — Gender Roles (NCERT)
NCERT notes that in pictures of early humans in rock shelters and agricultural communities, men and women are given certain roles. While they may appear to be 'natural', they are not necessarily accurate and do not cover all situations.
For instance, women may have helped prepare colours for rock painting, or may have done some of the painting. Men may have done some cooking or helped take care of children.
Key lesson: We have only limited information about early human societies — we must be careful about assumptions.
14
Complete Glossary of Key Terms (Exam Critical)
| History | The study of the human past. |
| Era | A distinct period of time. |
| Gregorian Calendar | The calendar now used worldwide; 12 months, 365 days, leap year every 4 years. Century years are leap years only if multiples of 400. |
| CE (Common Era) | Years counted forward from the conventional birth of Jesus; replaces 'AD'. |
| BCE (Before Common Era) | Years counted backward from the birth of Jesus; replaces 'BC'. |
| Decade | A period of ten years. |
| Century | A period of 100 years. 21st century CE = 2001–2100. |
| Millennium | A period of 1,000 years. 3rd millennium CE = 2001–3000. Plural: millenniums / millennia. |
| Auspicious | Favourable or bringing luck (e.g., 'an auspicious beginning'). |
| Timeline | A tool showing a sequence of dates and events covering a particular period. |
| Source of History | A place, person, text or an object from which we gather information about a past event or period. |
| Fossils | Impressions of footprints, or parts of plants or animals preserved within layers of soil or rocks. |
| Geologist | Studies physical features of the Earth — soil, stones, hills, mountains, rivers, seas, oceans. |
| Palaeontologist | Studies remains of plants, animals, and humans from millions of years ago (fossils). |
| Anthropologist | Studies human societies and cultures from oldest times to present. |
| Archaeologist | Studies the past by digging up remains — tools, pots, beads, bones, etc. |
| Epigraphist | Scholars who study ancient inscriptions. |
| Historian | A person who studies and writes about the past. |
| Genetics | Branch of biology studying how features/characteristics pass from one generation to the next. |
| Pañchānga | A book of tables listing days of each month with astronomical data — predicts eclipses, sunrise/sunset, festivals, weather. |
| Afterlife | A life that begins after death. |
| Hunters & Gatherers | People who hunt animals and collect edible plants/fruits for survival (not agriculturalists). |
| Ice Age | Period when much of Earth was covered with ice. Last Ice Age: ~100,000 years ago to ~12,000 years ago. |
| Hamlet | A small settlement or small village. |
| Welfare | Health, prosperity and well-being. |
| Homo sapiens | Modern humans; have existed for approximately 300,000 years. |
| Itihasas | Indian epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana) — a literary source of history. |
| Travelogue | An account of travels written by a visitor — an important foreign account as source of history. |
15
Key Takeaways — Before We Move On (NCERT)
📋 NCERT Summary Points
- We have explored some ways to learn more about our pasts. The concept of a timeline helps us understand the sequence of historical events at different times.
- There are different ways of measuring time: years, decades, centuries, millenniums.
- Sources of history are many; they help us reconstruct and interpret historical events.
- We have also had a brief look into the lives of early humans and how human societies grew more complex in time.
🌟 End-Chapter Questions — Answer Pointers
- Q1: Write the history of your family using sources of history at your disposal.
- Q2: Can we compare historians to detectives? Yes — both gather evidence, cross-check sources, and try to reconstruct a complete picture from incomplete clues.
- Q3 Dates chronologically: 1900 BCE → 323 BCE → 100 BCE → 100 CE → 323 CE → 1090 CE → 2024 CE.
- Q3 King Chandragupta born 320 CE: Belongs to 4th century CE (301–400 CE). Years after Buddha's birth: 320 + 560 − 1 = 879 years.
- Q3 Rani of Jhansi born 1828: 19th century CE. Years before independence (1947): 1947 − 1828 = 119 years.
- Q3 "12,000 years ago" as a date: 2024 − 12,000 = approx 10,000 BCE (or 9,976 BCE precisely using the rule).
MCQ Practice — Chapter 4
30 Questions · Timeline & Sources of History · UPSC / State PCS Level
0 of 30 revealed
Instructions: Click "Show Answer & Explanation" under each question to reveal the correct option (highlighted in green) and the explanation. Use "Reveal All" to expand everything at once.
Q1History is defined by NCERT as the study of:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AAncient monuments and fossils
- BThe human past✓
- CThe physical features of the Earth
- DHuman societies and their culture only in modern times
Explanation: NCERT defines History as "the study of the human past" — a precise, simple definition that is directly quoted in the textbook.
Q2Which scholar studies the remains of plants, animals and humans from millions of years ago in the form of fossils?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AGeologist
- BAnthropologist
- CPalaeontologist✓
- DEpigraphist
Explanation: Palaeontologists study fossils — preserved remains of plants, animals, and humans from millions of years ago. Geologists study Earth's physical features; Anthropologists study human societies; Epigraphists study ancient inscriptions.
Q3According to NCERT, in the Gregorian calendar, which of the following century years is a leap year?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A1800
- B1900
- C2000✓
- D2100
Explanation: NCERT explicitly states: "century years are leap years only if they are multiples of 400." Among 1800, 1900, 2000 — only 2000 ÷ 400 = 5 (exact), so only 2000 is a leap year.
Q4CE and BCE in modern historical notation stand for:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AChristian Era and Before Christian Era
- BCommon Era and Before Common Era✓
- CCurrent Epoch and Before Current Epoch
- DCalculated Era and Before Calculated Era
Explanation: NCERT states CE = Common Era (replaces AD) and BCE = Before Common Era (replaces BC). These are now used globally.
Q5If Gautama Buddha was born in 560 BCE and the current year is 2024 CE, how many years ago was he born?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A2,584 years ago
- B2,583 years ago✓
- C1,464 years ago
- D2,582 years ago
Explanation: NCERT formula: add BCE and CE dates, subtract 1 (because there is no year zero). 560 + 2024 − 1 = 2,583 years. This exact example and answer is given in NCERT.
Q6The 21st century CE runs from:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A2000 CE to 2099 CE
- B2001 CE to 2100 CE✓
- C2000 CE to 2100 CE
- D2001 CE to 2099 CE
Explanation: NCERT states: "we are currently in the 21st century CE, which runs from 2001 to 2100." Centuries start from x001 and end at x100.
Q7The 3rd century BCE would include which years?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A300 BCE to 201 BCE✓
- B301 BCE to 200 BCE
- C300 BCE to 200 BCE
- D299 BCE to 200 BCE
Explanation: NCERT directly states: "the 3rd century BCE would include the years 300 BCE to 201 BCE." BCE centuries count backward — starting from the large number and going to the smaller one.
Q8We are currently in which millennium CE?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A1st millennium CE
- B2nd millennium CE
- C3rd millennium CE✓
- D4th millennium CE
Explanation: NCERT states: "we are currently in the 3rd millennium CE, which began in 2001 CE and will go up to 3000 CE."
Q9A Pañchānga is best described as:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AAn ancient Indian epic
- AAn ancient Indian epic
- BA book of tables listing days of each month with astronomical data✓
- CA type of inscription on copper plates
- DA tool used by archaeologists for excavation
Explanation: NCERT defines Pañchānga as "a book of tables which lists the days of each month along with related astronomical data" — predicting eclipses, sunrise/sunset, festivals, and weather. Still widely used in India.
Q10Which of these is NOT listed as an archaeological source of history in NCERT?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AMounds
- BCopper plates
- CTravelogues✓
- DHabitations and burials
Explanation: Travelogues are a Foreign Account under Literary Sources. Mounds and habitations/burials are under Archaeological → Structures/Excavations. Copper plates are under Archaeological → Inscriptions.
Q11According to NCERT, what do scholars who study ancient inscriptions called?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AArchaeologists
- BEpigraphists✓
- CNumismatists
- DPalaeographers
Explanation: NCERT specifically uses the term "epigraphists (who study ancient inscriptions)" as one of the contributors to sources of history.
Q12Modern humans (Homo sapiens) have existed for approximately:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A1 million years
- B300,000 years (three lakh years)✓
- C10,000 years
- D4.54 billion years
Explanation: NCERT states: "Modern humans (Homo sapiens) have walked the planet for about 300,000 (three lakh) years." This is only a tiny fraction of the Earth's 4.54-billion-year history.
Q13The first examples of rock art in the world, according to the NCERT timeline (Fig. 4.3), date to approximately:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A300,000 BCE
- B14,000 BCE
- C40,000 BCE✓
- D8,000 BCE
Explanation: NCERT Fig. 4.3 (Timeline since 300,000 BCE) marks the "First examples of rock art in the world" at 40,000 BCE.
Q14The last Ice Age lasted from approximately:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A300,000 years ago to 40,000 years ago
- BOver 100,000 years ago to around 12,000 years ago✓
- C50,000 years ago to 8,000 years ago
- D200,000 years ago to 20,000 years ago
Explanation: NCERT states: "The last Ice Age lasted from over 100,000 (one lakh) years ago to around 12,000 years ago." After it ended, humans began settling and farming.
Q15Which of the following was the PRIMARY livelihood of early humans before they started agriculture?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AMetalworking and trading
- BPottery making and weaving
- CHunting and gathering✓
- DPastoralism and nomadism only
Explanation: NCERT states early humans "were mainly hunters and gatherers; this means that they relied on hunting and collecting edible plants and fruits for their survival."
Q16According to NCERT's Fig. 4.1, writing developed approximately how many years ago?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A10,000 years ago
- B300,000 years ago
- C6,500 years ago✓
- D1 million years ago
Explanation: The NCERT evolution timeline (Fig. 4.1) places "Writing" at 6,500 years ago in the green (Years ago) section of the chart.
Q17In the context of sources of history, 'genealogical' accounts are categorised under:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AArchaeological Sources
- BArtistic Sources
- COral Sources (under Literary Sources)✓
- DForeign Accounts
Explanation: In NCERT's mind-map (Fig. from Ch. 4), Genealogical and Folklore both fall under Oral Sources, which is part of Literary Sources.
Q18NCERT states that the first metal to be used (in metalworking) was:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AIron
- BBronze
- CCopper✓
- DGold
Explanation: NCERT states: "the use of metal (copper first, iron later), which helped make durable tools, objects of daily use and ornaments." The timeline also marks "Beginning of copper metallurgy" at around 4,000 BCE.
Q19Which of the following is the CORRECT definition of a 'source of history' as given in NCERT?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AOnly written records from which we gather information
- BPhysical remains of past civilisations
- CA place, person, text or an object from which we gather information about some past event or period✓
- DGovernment records and official documents only
Explanation: This is the verbatim NCERT definition: "A place, person, text or an object from which we gather information about some past event or period." Note it includes ALL four categories — place, person, text, object.
Q20Which of the following is NOT listed as an Artistic Source of History in NCERT's mind-map?
Show Answer & Explanation
- APaintings
- BSculptures
- CPanels
- DTravelogues✓
Explanation: NCERT lists Paintings, Sculptures, and Panels under Artistic Sources. Travelogues fall under Foreign Accounts → Literary Sources.
Q21Why did early agricultural communities prefer to settle near rivers, according to NCERT?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AFor fishing and boat transport only
- BFor water availability and fertile soil that made crop growing easier✓
- CFor defence against enemies
- DBecause rivers provided metal ores
Explanation: NCERT states settlements were near rivers "not only because of the availability of water, but also because the soil would be more fertile there. It made the process of growing crops easier."
Q22The term 'genetics' as used in NCERT Chapter 4 refers to:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AThe branch of biology that studies how features pass from one generation to the next✓
- BThe study of ancient languages
- CThe study of fossils
- DThe study of ancient climates
Explanation: NCERT defines Genetics as "the branch of biology that studies how, in plants, animals or humans, certain features and characteristics get passed down from one generation to the next." Studies of ancient people's genetics now contribute to historical reconstruction.
Q23According to NCERT's timeline, the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation flourished around:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A8,000 BCE
- B4,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE✓
- C560 BCE
- D2,000 CE
Explanation: NCERT's major historical events timeline marks "Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation" in the 4,000–2,000 BCE range. It is placed near 4,000 BCE in the lower section of the timeline.
Q24Early humans lived in bands or groups primarily because:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AThey had developed agriculture and needed cooperative farming
- BTo help each other face many challenges from nature✓
- CThey were forced to by chieftains
- DTo engage in trade with each other
Explanation: NCERT states: "Early humans faced many challenges from nature and lived in bands or groups to help each other."
Q25Which of the following accurately describes what a 'timeline' is, as defined in NCERT?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AA tool that shows a sequence of dates and events covering any particular period✓
- BA list of all historical rulers with their dates
- CA chart showing only BCE dates
- DA type of inscription found in archaeological excavations
Explanation: NCERT defines: "A timeline is a convenient tool to mark such events, as it shows a sequence of dates and events covering any particular period."
Q26Which of the following correctly pairs the scholar with their area of study?
Show Answer & Explanation
- AGeologist — studies fossils
- BPalaeontologist — studies physical features of Earth
- CAnthropologist — studies human societies and cultures✓
- DArchaeologist — studies genetic lineages of ancient people
Explanation: NCERT: Anthropologists "study human societies and cultures from the oldest times to the present." Geologists study Earth's physical features; Palaeontologists study fossils; Archaeologists study past through dug-up remains.
Q27In early agricultural communities, according to NCERT, land ownership was:
Show Answer & Explanation
- AOwned by the chieftain alone
- BDivided equally among all families
- CCollective — no sense of individual ownership; lands collectively sowed and harvested✓
- DSold and purchased freely in markets
Explanation: NCERT states: "there was no sense of individual ownership; the lands were collectively sowed and harvested." Leaders / chieftains were responsible for the community's welfare.
Q28In the Gregorian calendar, there is no 'year zero'. This means that when calculating years between 2 BCE and 2 CE, the total number of years elapsed is:
Show Answer & Explanation
- A4 years
- B3 years✓
- C2 years
- D5 years
Explanation: NCERT explicitly uses this example: "Draw a simple timeline marking every year from 2 BCE to 2 CE; you will see that because of the absence of a year zero, only 3 years have passed between those two dates." Formula: 2 + 2 − 1 = 3.
Q29The 1st millennium BCE would include which years?
Show Answer & Explanation
- A1,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE
- B1 BCE to 1,000 BCE✓
- C1 CE to 1,000 CE
- D500 BCE to 1,500 BCE
Explanation: NCERT states: "the 1st millennium BCE would include the years 1 BCE to 1000 BCE" — BCE millenniums go backward starting from 1 BCE.
Q30Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence from earliest to most recent, based on NCERT's historical timeline?
Show Answer & Explanation
- ABirth of Jesus → Birth of Buddha → End of last Ice Age → Homo sapiens appear
- BHomo sapiens appear → End of last Ice Age → Birth of Buddha → Birth of Jesus✓
- CEnd of last Ice Age → Homo sapiens appear → Birth of Jesus → Birth of Buddha
- DBirth of Buddha → Homo sapiens → Birth of Jesus → End of last Ice Age
Explanation: Correct order: Homo sapiens (300,000 years ago) → End of last Ice Age (12,000 BCE) → Birth of Buddha (560 BCE) → Birth of Jesus (~1 CE). NCERT timelines clearly show this sequence.
