UNIT-1 - WHAT IS HISTORY PDF

www.tntextbooks.in Unit 1 What is History? Learning Objectives To know what history is all about To understand the importance of history To learn about the lifestyle of the pre-historic man To know how paintings...

www.tntextbooks.in Unit 1 What is History? Learning Objectives To know what history is all about To understand the importance of history To learn about the lifestyle of the pre-historic man To know how paintings portray the daily activities of the pre-historic man To understand the importance of history and historical researches Tamilini enters her house from Mother: T  amilini, what subject did you school. Her mother, who was reading study today? a book, greets Tamilini with a hug. Tamilini: History, ma. She collects her school bag and asks Mother: O  h nice! Did you properly Tamilini to refresh herself. She gives understand what history is? Tamilini some snacks to eat. She then Tamilini: Y  eah! I understood something asks Tamilini about the school activities about history. Can you please of that day. tell me more about history? Info Bits Telling the Time in History Time in history is calculated in years using BC (BCE) Before Christ (Before Common Era) and AD(CE) Anno Domini (Common Era). 2500 2000 1500 1000  500 0 500  1000  1500 2000 2500 BC (BCE) AD (CE) 109  www.tntextbooks.in Mother: Y  es, Your great grandpa’s name is History is the study Mr. Ramasamy. OK. of past events in Often your father shows proudly a chronological order. very old wooden pen and used to tell us that it was his grandpa’s pen. Do you Mother : What is your name? remember it? Tamilini : Tamilini. Tamilini: Yes, amma! Normally he keeps Mother : Tell me your mother’s name. it in a beautiful wooden case on his table. Tamilini : Mrs. Sumathi. Is that the one? Mother : Father’s name? Mother: You are right, Tamilini. We cannot write with that pen now. But, father has kept Tamilini : Mr. Adhiyaman. it as a treasure. If you ask your father about Mother : Tell me the name of your that, he will show you the diary written by father’s father? your great grandpa with that old pen. From Tamilini : You mean grandpa? that diary, we come to know that your great Mr. Chidambaram. grandpa was a literate, while most of his Mother : Do you know the name villagers were illiterates. Further, we can of great grandpa. Mr. understand the lifestyle of that period and Chidambaram’s father? also about activities from his diary writings. Tamilini : Grandma always used to tell Tamilini: C  an this small diary record so me about one ‘great grandpa’. much of news, amma? You want that great grandpa’s Mother: Yes, Tamilini. We understand the name, amma? mmm… period and lifestyles of people of Old Stone Age from used stone Info Bits tools, like what you The term history has been derived understand about your grandpa and his time from the Greek word “Istoria” which from his diary writing. means ‘learning by enquiry’. In ancient period, the people lived in caves, used to draw paintings in rocks called Rock Painting. They might have wished to record their activities through these paintings. 110  www.tntextbooks.in SOME MAJOR INDIAN EXCAVATED SITES Tamilini: What are the other sources that Mother: Some would have stayed back, help us understand the lifestyles of Stone without joining the hunting team. So for Age people? their benefit, these pictures could have Mother: We came to know their hunting been drawn. They might have done it as style through their paintings on the rocks a part of their pastime. and the walls of the caves. Tamilini: Certainly amma. That’s how we Tamilini: Rock paintings? It sounds really identify their lifestyles. Isn’t it, amma? surprising. Why did they draw these paintings? Mother: Well said, Tamilini. The period between the use of first stone tools and Info Bits the invention of writing systems is pre- history. Stone tools, excavated materials Numismatics – The study of Coins and rock paintings are the major sources Epigraphy- The study of inscription of pre-history. 111 www.tntextbooks.in 112  www.tntextbooks.in A Mighty E ­ mperor Ashoka The most famous ruler of ancient India was Emperor Ashoka. It was during his period that Buddhism spread to different parts of Asia. Ashoka gave up war after seeing many people grieving death after the Kalinga war. He embraced Buddhism and then devoted his life to spread the message of peace and dharma. His service for the cause of public good was exemplary. He was the first ruler to give up war after victory. He was the first to build hospitals for animals. He was the first to lay roads. Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes in our national flag was taken from the Sarnath Pillar of Ashoka. Even though Emperor Ashoka was great, his greatness had been unknown until 19th century.The material evidence provided by William Jones, James Prinsep and Alexander Cunningham revealed the greatness of Emperor Ashoka. Based on these accounts, Charles Allen wrote a book titled The Search for the India’s Lost Emperor, which provided a comprehensive account of Ashoka. Many researches made thereafter brought Ashoka’s glorious rule to light. These inscriptions were observed on the rocks, Sanchi Stupa and Sarnath Pillar and helped to understand the greatness of Ashoka to the world. Sarnath Pillar Sanchi Stupa 113  www.tntextbooks.in Now one can understand the might have been chances of wild animals importance of historical research. But for entering their caves. But, they realised the efforts of scholars, the greatness of that dogs could help them to prevent Emperor Ashoka would not have come to the entry of such dangerous animals light. by its sniffing skill. Hence they started domesticating dogs for their protection Mother :  Do you know what proto and hunting activities. history is? From this, we also know how Tamilini : That is the period between inscriptions, monuments, copper plates, pre history and history. accounts of foreigners or foreign travellers and folk tales play a vital role in Mother : Exactly. The period for which constructing and reconstructing history. records in writing are available but not yet deciphered is called proto history. Tamilini : Now, I completely understand Today, we are leading a safe life with all what history is, amma. modern equipment. But our ancestors did not live in such a safe environment. There Thank you, amma. Summary  The life styles of pre historic people can be understood from the stone tools, rock paintings, fossils and other excavated materials.  Proto history is the period between pre-history and history.  Early humans domesticated dogs for their protection and hunting activities.  Mighty Emperor Ashoka followed the path of peace and dharma.  Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes in our national flag was taken from Sarnath Pillar of Ashoka. 114  www.tntextbooks.in a place, person, text or object from which some data can be 1. Sources - obtained 2. Ancestor - a person related to you who lived a long time ago 3. Dharma - righteousness 4. Monument - a statue, building or other structure built by a notable person written records engraved on stones, pillars, clay or copper 5. Inscription - tablets, caves and walls of temples. 6. Historian - A person who excelled in history Exercises c. Statement is wrong, and reason is correct. I. Choose the correct d. Both statements and reasons are answer wrong. 1. What was the step taken by the early 2. Statement: The objects used by the man to collect his early man are excavated. They are food? preserved to know the lifestyle of the people. a. Trade b. Hunting Find out which of the following is c. Painting d. Rearing of animals related to the statement: a. Museum b. Burial materials II. Match the statement with the Reason. Tick the appropriate c. Stone tools d. Bones answer 3. Find out the wrong pair 1. Statement: Pre historic man went along with the dog for hunting. a. Old stone age - Stone tools Reason: Dogs with its sniffing power would find out other animals. b. Rock - Walls of the caves ­paintings a. Statement is true, but reason is wrong. c. Copper plates - A source of history b. Statement and reason are correct. d. Cats - First domesticated 115  www.tntextbooks.in 4. Find the odd one VI. Answer in one word 1. Can you say any two advantages of a. Paintings were drawn on rocks and writing diary? caves. 2. How do we know the people’s lifestyle b. There were paintings depicting of the Old Stone Age? hunting scenes. c. It was drawn to show his family 3. Is inscription a written record? members about hunting. 4. What is proto history? d. The paintings were painted by using 5. Name an epic. many colours. VII. Answer the following III. Fill in the blanks 1. What is history? 1. The Old Stone Age man lived mostly 2. What do you know about the in                . pre historic period? 2.        is the father of history. 3. What are the sources available to know about the pre-historic period? 3.          was the first animal 4. Mention the places from where we got tamed by Old Stone Age man. pre-historic tools. 4. Inscriptions are        sources. 5. What are the benefits of a museum? 5. Ashoka Chakra has      spokes. 6. Name some tools used by early man to hunt animals. IV. State True or False 7. Why were paintings drawn on rocks? 8. Name any two artefacts? 1. Stone tools belonging to Old Stone Age have been excavated at VIII. HOTS Athtirampakkam near Chennai. 1. How were dogs useful to pre historic men? 2. The materials used by the ancient people are preserved in the museums 2. Compare the lifestyle of Old Stone Age man with present day lifestyle. by the Archaeological Department. 3. During the period of Ashoka, Buddhism IX. Student Activity spread across the country. 1. Write down the important events of V. Match the following your family with years. Draw a timeline with the help of your teacher or with a. Rock paintings - copper plates your classmates. b. Written - the most famous 2. Early man used stones as a weapon. records king Make an album showing the various uses of stone. c. Ashoka - Devaram d. Religious - to understand the Literature lifestyle 116  www.tntextbooks.in 3. Identify the category of the following X. Life Skill sources of history. 1. Make some weapon models used by a. Urns excavated from Adhichanallur. the Old Stone Age man using clay. b. Copper plates of Velvikudi. 2. Discuss with your grandpa, grandma, c. Mahabharatha. neighbours and teachers and collect d. Sanchi Stupa. information about your street, village, e. Pattinappaalai. town or school. f. The earthernwares from Keezhadi. With that collected data, try to g. Toys of Indus Civilisation. write its history titling your writing as “I am a Historian”. h. Big Temple of Thanjavur. XI. Answer Grid Early men scribbled and Name any two Name the types of ­painted on me…Today they ­archaeological sources? ­literary ­sources? used me to build ­houses Ans: Ans: and lay roads. who am I? Ans: Expand BC(BCE). what is the meaning of the Expand AD(CE). Ans: Greek word ­“Istoria” ? Ans: Ans:     is the study of     is the study of I can help you to talk, inscriptions. coins. see, hear, write and read. There is no world Ans: Ans: without me. Who am I? Ans: XII. Map work Mark the following places in the Internet Resources political map of India. 1. What is History? www.community.dur. a. Delhi b. Chennai ac.uk c. Tamil Nadu d. Andhra Pradesh 2. Helping Your Child Learn History. www.ed.gov e. Kerala f. Karnataka 117