SCERT Kerala State Syllabus 6th Standard Social Science Textbooks English Medium Part 1 PDF

Social Science Part I Standard VI GOVERNMENT OF KERALA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT, Kerala) 2016  THE N...

Social Science Part I Standard VI GOVERNMENT OF KERALA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT, Kerala) 2016  THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he Bharata-bhagya-vidhata. Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha Dravida-Utkala-Banga Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga. Tava shubha name jage, Tava shubha asisa mage, Gahe tava jaya gatha, Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he Bharata-bhagya-vidhata. Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he! PLEDGE India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders respect, and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness. State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695012, Kerala Website : www.scertkerala.gov.in, e-mail : [email protected] First Edition: 2015, Reprint: 2016 Phone : 0471 - 2341883, Fax : 0471 - 2341869 Typesetting and Layout : SCERT, Printed at : KBPS, Kakkanad, Kochi-30 © Department of Education, Government of Kerala Dear Students, Social Science is a window to the world. It leads you towards immense possibilities in knowledge that informs and fascinates. Golden moments in history are preserved here as travelogues; tokens of the past; eternal symbols of our nation's culture; stories narrated by the land, soil, rain and man; economic activities and constitutional rights. Social Science presents such a world of diverse hues. It will guide you to imbibe history, love nature, understand diversities, and to become responsible citizens. May the discussions, debates, enquiries, and analyses make your classrooms lively. With warm regards, Dr. P.A. Fathima Director SCERT  Textbook Development Team Participants Abdul Azees V P Rajan P P HSST, VPKMM HSS, Puthoorpallikkal UPSA, GUPS Mundothuparamba, Malappuram Dr. Babukuttan P H A Salim Senior Lecturer, DIET, Kollam Headmaster, GUPS, Kumaramchira, Jayakrishnan O K Shasthamcotta HSA, KPCHSS, Pattannoor, Kannur Shanlal A B Nisha M S HSST, Govt. Model Boys HSS, Harippad UPSA, PHSS, Mezhuveli, Pathanamthitta Yusaf Kumar S M Nisanth Mohan M HSST, Govt. Model Boys HSS, Attingal HSST, Govt. Tamil HSS Chalai, Vijay Kumar C R Thiruvananthapuram HSST, Govt. Boys HSS, Mithirmala, Pradeepan T Thiruvananthapuram HSST, GHSS, Kallachi, Kozhikode English Version Alpha Manjooran Nisanth Mohan M Associate Professor of English (Rtd.), University College, HSST, Govt. Tamil HSS Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram I P Joseph Dr. Priyesh M Assistant Professor (Rtd.), SCERT, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Thiruvananthapuram University College, Thiruvananthapuram Meera Baby R Dr. Saidalavi C Assistant Professor of English, Govt. College, Asst. Professor, Department of Linguistics, Kanjiramkulam, Thiruvananthapuram Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Thirur Manoj K V Vijay Kumar C R Research Officer, SCERT HSST, Govt. Boys HSS, Mithirmala, Experts Dr. Abdul Razak P P Dr. Priyesh M Associate Professor, Department of Assistant Professor, Department of History, PSMO College, Economics, University College, Thirurangadi Thiruvananthapuram Dr. Ashok Alex P S Manoj Kumar Associate Professor, Department of Assistant Professor, Department of History, Economics, Womens College, KKTM College, Kodungalloor, Thiruvananthapuram Thrissur I P Joseph Manoj K V Assistant Professor (Rtd.), SCERT Research Officer, SCERT Academic Co-ordinator Chithra Madhavan, Research Officer, SCERT  Content 1. Medieval India: The Centres of Power 07 2. Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade 21 3. Kerala: The land, the Rain, and the People 31 4. Production Process 47 5. The Earth: Myth and Reality 59 6. World of Diversities 79  Certain icons are used in this textbook for convenience For further reading (Need not be subjected to assessment) Questions for assessing the progress Learning activities Summary Significant learning outcomes Let us assess Extended activities Self assessment Medieval India: The Centres of Power Fr ien ds, I am the River Yamuna. of the You might have heard of me. I am one river in India. I tributaries of the Ganga, the longest akh and. De lhi ori gin ate fro m the Ya mu not ri in Ut tar y. is one of the important cities on my wa hrauli, the The Qutb Minar, the Iron Pillar of Me Gate....Many Juma Masjid, the Red Fort, the India be found here. such majestic historical monuments can of several Delhi has witnesse d the rise and fall dyn ast ies. Haven't you listened to what the Yamuna spoke about Delhi? Shall we journey into the medieval history of Delhi? The period between CE 8th century and 18th century is generally known as the medieval period in Indian history.  Social Science Across the topography of Delhi… Observe the map (map 1.1) given below. What all information can you gather from it? Indo-Gangetic plain You have seen that Delhi is situated in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The fertility of the region has been favourable for agricultural progress. Observe the location of the Aravalli mountain ranges marked on the map. These mountain ranges helped Delhi to resist the invasions of enemies. The massive rocks of this mountain range supplied the stones for the construction Map 1.1 of forts and buildings. The river Yamuna facilitated water transportation and ensured enough water supply for Delhi. It was these geographical features that attracted the rulers to Delhi. What were the geographical features that motivated the rulers to opt Delhi as the centre of their power? Delhi as a seat of power It was under the Tomar kings, who were Rajputs, that Delhi first became a seat of power in CE 8th century. Back then, Delhi was known as 'Dhillika'. Following the Tomars, the Chauhan dynasty ruled Delhi. Prithviraj Chauhan was the last king of the Chauhan 8 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI dynasty. Muhammad of Ghor (in the present Afghanistan) defeated Prithviraj Chauhan and Rajputs established his domination over Delhi. The Rajputs were the kshatriyas Qutbuddin Aybak was his Commander-in-chief. After of the central and north-west India. The Tomars and the the death of Muhammad of Ghor, Qutbuddin Chauhans were prominent established his rule in CE 1206 with Delhi as the among them. seat of power. This dynasty is known as the Mamluk dynasty (Slave Dynasty). Four major dynasties ruled Delhi after the decline of the Mamluk dynasty and their rule lasted until CE 1526. The rulers of Delhi between CE 1206 and CE 1526 are known as Sultans and the period of their reign is known as the Sultanate period. Look at the flow chart given below. It chronologically lists the dynasties and the respective major rulers during the Sultanate period. Mamluk Dynasty (Slave Dynasty) Qutbuddin Aybak, Iltutmish, Balban  Khalji Dynasty Alauddin Khalji  Tughluq Dynasty Muhammad Bin Tughluq, Firuz Shah Thughluq  Sayyid Dynasty Khizr Khan  Lodi Dynasty Ibrahim Lodi 9 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science Complete the table given below based on the flow chart Dynasties of the Major rulers Sultanate period Mamluk dynasty Qutbuddin Aybak, Iltutmish, Balban Let us discuss the expansion of power of the Delhi Sultans to other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Iltutmish was the ruler who assumed power after Qutbuddin. He conquered Multan, Lahore, Bengal, etc. He introduced a uniform monetary system in the regions under his control. Tanka and The coins of Iltutmish Jital were the newly introduced coins. Balban was the major ruler who rose to power after the reign of Iltutmish. Lahore Multan Sultana Raziyya Sultana Raziyya was the only Gujarat Bengal woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She was the daughter of Iltutmish. She lost her power owing to the protest from some nobles. The regions under Iltutmish Map 1.2 10 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI The expansion of the Sultanate The Khalji dynasty succeeded the Mamluk dynasty. Alauddin Khalji was the most prominent among the Khalji rulers. It was during his reign that the south and west regions of India came under the Delhi Sultanate. Gujarat was the first region that came under his control. Identify Gujarat in the given map 1.2. What are the geographical peculiarities of Gujarat? You can find that the long coastline is a peculiar feature of Gujarat. Therefore, several seaports exist here. With the conquest of Gujarat, these sea ports came under the control of Alauddin Khalji. He could import fine horses from Iraq through these ports. This strengthened his military power and he conquered the regions in the southern and western India. How did the domination over Gujarat strengthen the military of Alauddin Khalji? Daulatabad The region under the control of The region under the control Muhammad Bin of Alauddin Khalji. Arrow Tughluq marks denote the military movements Map 1.3 Map 1.4 11 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science The Khalji dynasty was succeeded by the Tughluq dynasty. Muhammad Bin Tughluq was an important ruler of the Tughluq dynasty. To rule more efficiently he shifted the capital from Delhi to Devagiri and renamed the latter as Daulatabad. Observe the location of Daulatabad in map 1.4. Daulatabad was situated almost at the centre of the expanded state. Muhammad Bin Tughluq thought that all the regions could be controlled effectively by shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. Later he found that shifting the capital was not practical and withdrew the decision. The rulers of the Sayyid and the Lodi dynasties who succeeded the Tughluq dynasty were weak. The Sultanate rule began to decline with the end of the Tughluq dynasty. Delhi under the Mughal rule 26th April 1526... The armies of Sultanate ruler Ibrahim Lodi and Babur, the ruler of Kabul (in Afghanistan) fought at Panipat near Delhi. Since the army of Babur made use of cannon and gunpowder, they could easily defeat the army of Ibrahim Lodi. Babur ended the Sultanate reign and established a new rule known as the Mughal rule with Delhi as the capital. Battlefield of Panipat - An illustration 12 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI Let us see the names of the major Mughal rulers with the help of the flow chart given below. Humayun Babur Akbar Jahangir Shah Jahan Aurangazeb 1530-1540, 1526-1530 1556-1605 1605-1627 1627-1658 1658-1707 1555 - 1556 The Mughal rule established by Babur was later Sher Shah Suri extended. Akbar played an important role in the Delhi was ruled by Sher Shah expansion of the Mughal empire. He formed a huge Suri of the Sur dynasty from CE army. To maintain it, he adopted a special system 1540 to CE 1545. He rose to known as Mansabdari. Under this system, every power by defeating the Mughal officer was liable to maintain a specific number of ruler Humayun. His successors were weak. Hence, Humayun soldiers. Raja Man Singh, Raja Todar Mal, Birbal, could recapture Delhi in CE Raja Jay Singh, etc. were the prominent Rajputs who 1555. held important office during the Mughal period. Observe the map 1.5 and complete the diagram. Kabul Kashmir Multan Khandesh Delhi Bihar The region under Malwa Bengal the Mughal Gujarat Khandesh empire India under Akbar Map 1.5 13 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science Akbar Nama and Ain-i-Akbari Akbar Nama is a work on history written by Abul Fazl, a courtier of Jats Akbar. The work is in three volumes. Rajputs The first volume deals with Akbar's ancestors, the second with the events during Akbar's reign, and the third with Akbar's administration. The third volume is also known as Ain-i-Akbari. Marathas India under Aurangazeb The Mughal empire expanded the most during the reign of Aurangazeb. (Observe map 1.6). He ruled for fifty years. Though the empire began to decline after Map 1.6 Aurangazeb, it lasted until 1857. Prepare a seminar paper on 'The expansion of the Sultanate- Mughal rule in medieval India'. Centres of power in southern and western India We have discussed the growth of Delhi as a seat of power in medieval India. The other important kingdoms that prevailed in southern and western India during the period are given below. Kingdom Region Chola Vijayanagara Southern India Bahmani Maratha Western India 14 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI Chola kingdom The Chola dynasty became powerful by CE 9th century. Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola were the prominent Chola rulers. The Cholas had a powerful navy. The influence of the Cholas was extended even to countries like Malaysia and the Indonesian islands. Observe the map 1.7 and locate the nations outside India that were under the dominion SriLanka Malaysia of the Chola rule. Indonesian Islands Map 1.7 Vijayanagara kingdom This prince has in three months his dominions three journey. The hundred ports, each country is for the of which is equal to most part well Calicut and on terra cultivated, very firma his territories fertile. The troops comprise a space of amount in number to eleven lakhs. Abdur Razzaq This is an extract from the description of the Persian traveller Abdur Razzaq. What information can you obtain from it? There were many ports in Vijayanagara. 15 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science The Vijayanagara kingdom was established by Harihara and Bukka in CE 14th century. Krishnadeva Raya was the major ruler of Vijayanagara. Bahmani kingdom Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah was the founder of the Bahmani kingdom. The Raichur region located between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna rivers was fertile. It was known as 'the rise bowl of South India'. The rulers of Bahmani and Vijayanagara frequently engaged in wars to gain control over the Raichur region. With the help of a map, locate the present Indian states where the Raichur region is situated. What are the factors that motivated the Vijayanagara and Bahmani rulers to engage in battles for the Raichur region? Maratha kingdom It was in CE 17th century that the Marathas Pune became a prominent power. The geographical features of the region helped the growth of the Region under the Marathas. The Vindhya- Satpura mountain ranges Maratha kingdom and the Narmada-Tapti rivers separated the Maratha region from the nearby regions. These geographical features offered natural protection to it. The Marathi language and literature Map 1.8 instilled a sense of unity among the Marathas. 16 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI What were the factors that helped the growth of the Marathas? Shivaji was the major ruler of the Maratha kingdom. He adopted the title 'Chatrapati'. The Marathas had strong army and navy. It helped them to be a major political power. Pune was the capital of the Maratha kingdom. In addition to Delhi, various centres of power existed in different parts of India during the medieval period. Prepare a note on them. It was the geographical features that inspired the rulers to opt Delhi as a centre of power. It was under the Tomar kings that Delhi first became the centre of power. The Sultanate rule was established with Delhi as its capital. The Sultanate rule expanded further during the reign of Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad Bin Tughluq. Babur who defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat in 1526 established the Mughal rule. Akbar and Aurangazeb played an important role in the expansion of the Mughal empire. Different centres of power existed in western and southern India during the medieval period. 17 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science Medieval India Tomar Dynasty (Delhi) Cholas (South India) Chauhan Dynasty (Delhi) Vijayanagara (South India) Sultanate Rule (Delhi) Bahmani (South India) Maratha (Western India) Mughal Dynasty (Delhi) The learner : explains the topographical features that helped Delhi to become a centre of power. analyses the growth and expansion of the Sultanate and Mughal dynasties. analyses the influence of the topographical features in the growth of the dynasties. explains the various centres of power that existed in southern and western India. 18 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Standard VI Which are the geographical factors that contributed to Delhi becoming a centre of power? The battle of Panipat was crucial in the history of India. Substantiate. Analyse the policy adopted by Akbar in the expansion of the Mughal empire. The rulers of Vijayanagara and Bahmani frequently engaged in wars for the possession of the Raichur region. Based on this statement, examine the features of the Raichur region. Which are the geographical factors that helped in the rise of the Maratha kingdom? Match column 'A' with 'B' A B Iltutmish The battle of Panipat Krishnadeva Raya Mansabdari system Muhammad Bin Tughluq Jital coin Babur Vijayanagara Akbar Shifting of capital Collect the proof for the cultural relations between southeast Asian countries and India. 19 Medieval India: The Centres of Power  Social Science Prepare an Atlas incorporating the maps of the regions under the control of the different dynasties in the medieval period. The southeast Asian countries are the major releasing centres for Tamil films. Find out the reason. Self assessment Need Completely Partially imporvement Can identify the geographical features of Delhi Can identify the dynasties that made Delhi their capital Can analyze the expansion of the Sultanate rule Can identify the regions under the control of the Sultanate rulers Can identify and explain the importance of the battle of Panipat Can analyze the policies of Akbar in the expansion of the Mughal empire Can explain the different centres of power that originated in various parts of medieval India 20 Medieval India: The Centres of Power Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade Hindustan is a wonderful land. Compared to other countries, it is entirely different. The mountains, rivers, forests, and deserts here are unique. The animals, plants, people, languages, rain, and wind are all diverse… a[y-Ime C¥y : A[n-Im-ct- I-{μ-߃ Babur Nama The description given above is taken from Babur Nama, the memoir of the Mughal emperor Babur. What information can you gather about India from it? Babur speaks about the diversity and resources of India. It is this diversity and prosperity that attracted the foreign travellers to India during the medieval period. Their travelogues help us to comprehend the socio-economic conditions of that period.  Social Science Agriculture and artisanship For farming cereals and grazing cattle, land revenue and grazing tax were to be paid to the rulers. Similarly, tax was to be paid on income from trade. One sixth of the income was to be spent for the protection of the country. Al-Biruni Given above is an extract from the travelogue of Al-Biruni, a traveller who reached India from Central Asia. What are the occupations and taxes mentioned in this description? Agriculture was the chief occupation of the people of medieval India. Cotton, cereals, pulses, indigo, sugarcane, etc. were the major crops. In this period, there was plenty of cultivable land in India that was kept uncultivated. Those who first cultivated in such land were granted its ownership right. The hardworking farmers tried to win the ownership of such lands in this way. Let us see the steps taken by the rulers for the progress of agriculture. Arranged irrigation facilities Supplied seeds Granted tax relaxation In the medieval period the officers were given land as wages. This system was known as Iqta during the Sultanate period and Jagirdari during the Mughal period. What were the factors that promoted the progress of agriculture during the Sultanate and the Mughal periods? Discuss. 22 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Standard VI In addition to agriculture, many occupations for making agricultural tools existed in villages. What might be they? Discuss. Metal work Weaving and other handicrafts were the major occupations in towns. The cotton, indigo, and silk produced by the rural folks enriched the textile industry. The Indian weavers produced garments of A water wheel different colours and quality. The garments made used for irrigation of silk, cotton, and wool were important among them. New tools like spinning wheel and looms were used for weaving. Indigo and colour mixtures were used for dyeing the textile. Indian textile won world acclaim. Spinning wheel Discuss how the agricultural sector promoted the growth of the textile industry. Towns and trade The great town Vijayanagara is situated near steep mountain ranges. There are attractive gardens and groves in this town. The markets of this prosperous town are full of costly goods. Nicolo Conti Nicolo Conti 23 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Social Science Have you read the description about Vijayanagra by Nicolo Conti, the Italian traveller who visited India? The agricultural progress created favourable conditions for the prosperity of trade and commerce. Indian spices, textiles, leather, gems, sandal, metals, pearl, ivory, etc. were in great demand in foreign countries. These commodities Calico and Calicut attracted traders to India. Several traders from Cotton textiles were different parts of the world reached India in the exported from Calicut. These medieval period. textiles were known as Calico The foreigners who engaged in trade with India. in the European market. Kozhikode was called Calicut Chinese by the Europeans. Arabs Portuguese Dutch English French Haven't you listened to the descriptions of Indian towns by Ibn The towns in India are Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and highly populous and Ahmedabad are bigger wealthy. The streets of the cities were flooded than London, the biggest with diverse goods. Delhi city in the world. Delhi is and Daulatabad are a big and wealthy city. colourful cities. Ibn Battutah Ralph Fitch Ralph Fitch 24 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Standard VI Haven't you listened to the descriptions of Indian towns by Ibn Battutah, the Moroccan traveller, who visited during the Sultanate period and Ralph Fitch, the English traveller, who visited during the Mughal period? What information can you gather from them about the Indian towns of that period? Discuss. Towns developed around the production centres and markets. Dacca, Paithan, Kanchipuram, Urayur, Madurai, etc. were the towns that developed this way. Artisans, traders, officers, servants, slaves, and so on constituted the urban population. Delhi Agra Murshidabad Ahmedabad Dacca Calcutta Surat Paithan Hampi n sea Kanchipuram Mahabalipuram Arabia al Urayur eng Kozhikode Thanchavoor of B Kochi Madurai Bay Kollam The major trade centres in medieval India Find out the major trade centres of medieval India from the given map. Discuss the common geographical features that helped the progress of the South Indian trade centres. 25 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Social Science Workshops Big rooms where Karkhanas function are found in many places. Embroiderers working under a supervisor are found in one room. Goldsmiths in another… Dyers and cobblers work in different rooms... Bernier Bernier Given above is the description by Bernier, the French traveller, about the workshops and the occupational groups. Karkhana in the Red Fort: A painting Karkhanas were the centres that produced and supplied goods for the palaces of the Mughal kings and nobles. Which occupational groups could be found in the Karkhanas? 26 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Standard VI Social life Listen to the description about the social life in India by Tavernier, the French traveller, who visited India during the Mughal period. The lifestyle, dressing, and food habits are extensively varied across India. Extravagantly colourfully dressed people and those sparsely clad were also found here. Tavernier Tavernier What information about the social life of the period can be obtained from this description? Social and economic inequalities existed among the people back then. Let us see what they were. Social status was determined on the basis of caste, occupation, and wealth. Kings, lords, priests, officers, etc. enjoyed higher social status. Those who engaged in agriculture and handicraft belonged to lower social strata. Each caste had its own customs and rituals. Evil customs like the sati and child marriage prevailed. India, the abode of knowledge We, the Indians can speak any language. But it is difficult for others to master our language. Indians do not go abroad in search of knowledge. It is the people from other countries who come to India. Chess, the Panchatantra stories, and Mathematics are the contributions of India to the world. Amir Khusrau 27 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Social Science These are the words of Amir Khusrau, the poet who lived during the Sultanate period. What can you comprehend from this description about the advancement in learning in India? We have discussed Nalanda University in the previous class. Several educational centres existed in medieval India as well. Students from different parts of the world flocked to these centres in search of knowledge. The educational centres in Banaras, Agra, Lahore, Kanchi, Mathura, and Delhi were remarkable among them. Astronomy and Mathematics advanced during the period. Lilavati by Bhaskaracharya was a famous work in Mathematics. Observatories were established in Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, and Banaras. Several texts were translated into Persian. Organize a seminar on the topic 'The socio economic conditions and the advancement of learning during the medieval period'. The travelogues of the foreigners provide information about medieval India. During the medieval period several foreigners came to India for trade. The rulers facilitated the progress of agriculture and trade. Handicrafts and trade centres developed during the medieval period. Karkhanas were the centres that produced and supplied goods for the palaces of the Mughal kings and nobles. 28 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Standard VI Social and economic inequalities existed during the medieval period. India attained economic progress along with advancement in learning. The learner : recognizes the importance of travelogues as a source of history. analyses the social and economic life in medieval India. evaluates different kinds of economic activities that favoured the growth of towns. explains the advancement in the field of learning in medieval India. The agricultural activities in medieval India were admirable. Explain. How did the spread of weaving and trade facilitate the growth of towns? What were the factors that attracted the travellers and traders to medieval India? Examine the progress attained by medieval India in the field of learning. 29 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade  Social Science Prepare a travelogue based on your study tour. List the major trade centres in medieval India and the present states where they are located. Read various travelogues and prepare notes. List the names of the travellers and their works that you have familiarised in this unit. Self assessment Need Completely Partially imporvement Can recognize the travellers who came to India during the medieval period Can analyze the social life in the medieval period from travelogues Can recognize the socio-economic conditions of medieval India Can comprehend that agriculture was the foundation of prosperity of medieval India Can recognize that weaving and trade were the foundation for the growth of towns. Can recognize the progress in the field of learning during the medieval period 30 Medieval India:Society, Resource, and Trade Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People "Way… way please…" The porters weighed down by goods from the lorries were shouting. In my journeys to the town with my father, this is the first time that I have come across such a big market. Pumpkins and cucumbers are heaped. Snake gourd, carrot, cabbage, banana, lady's finger, bitter gourd… How diverse are the vegetables!  Social Science As it was the day after a holiday, the market was busy. Where do these vegetables come from? My father mentioned the names of a few places such as Mysuru, Ooty, Mettupalayam, Cumbum, Theni, Oddenchatram, and Nagercoil. The lion's share of our staple food, rice, comes from far off places like Seemandhra and Odisha. I realized that most items like chilly, coriander, and pulses come from other states. What about flowers? Flowers like jasmine, chrysanthemum, marigold, and lotus that are sold in Kerala also come from beyond the border. Why do we have to bring most of the vegetables, flowers and cereals that we need from other states? Previously, such a trend was confined to the towns alone. But now, it has become common in rural areas as well. Can't we cultivate these vegetables, flowers and cereals? What are the essential factors required for their cultivation? Fertile soil Favourable climate Availability of water Manpower You may add more to this list. 32 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI A comparison with our neighbouring state Tamil Nadu is one of the lead supplier of vegetables, flowers, and groceries to Kerala. Shall we compare the agricultural situations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu? The comparison may be done based on the factors that we have identified earlier. Look at the following tables. Major soil types Availability of water Kerala Tamil Nadu Kerala Tamil Nadu Annual rainfall Annual rainfall 300 cm 95.9 cm Alluvial soil Red soil 44 rivers 14 rivers As rainfall is As rainfall is scanty, Laterite soil Black soil sufficient, irrigation irrigation is essential. Forest soil Laterite soil is not necessary in most places. Red soil Coastal alluvium Kerala and Tamil Nadu have almost the same soil types. But alluvial soil, which is ideal for agriculture, exists in Kerala. In the amount of rainfall received as well, Kerala is far ahead of Tamil Nadu. What other inferences can be made? 33 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Aren't you convinced that Kerala is suitable for agricultural practices? We used to utilize these favourable conditions well. In Kerala the conditions are favourable for the growth of not only coconut, paddy, tapioca, yam, and elephant foot yam, but also spice crops like pepper, ginger, and cardamom. Let us examine the physiographic characteristics and the resultant agricultural diversity of Kerala. The physiographic diversity and agriculture in Kerala You have learned in the previous classes that Kerala can be physiographically divided into highland, midland, and lowland based on the altitude. The crops cultivated in each of these physiographic units have Kerala certain peculiar features. Our physiography is Karnataka suitable for the cultivation of a variety of crops. Lak Tamil Nadu shad wee Seap k.m Fig 3.1 34 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI Highland Fig 3.2 Rain, mist, and cool weather prevail in our eastern highlands. This region is part of the Sahyadri ranges, John Joseph Murphy lying well above the sea level. The picture (Fig 3.2) This Irish shows cardamom and tea, the crops cultivated here. man is The following are the geographical factors required considered as the father of for the cultivation of these crops r u b b e r Temperature below 30O Celsius cultivation in (1872 -1957) Abundant rainfall India. Along Well drained soil with some friends, he started cultivating rubber on the banks of the Periyar near Identify the location of the highland from the given Aluva in 1902. Later he map (Fig.3.1). Here the climate is favourable for the began cultivating rubber on a commercial scale at growth of tea, coffee, and spice crops like cardamom, Yendayar near Mundakkayam pepper, ginger, and turmeric. History tells us that it in Kottayam district. Mr. is the fame of these spice crops that made Kerala the Murphy was not merely a favourite destination of foreigners. But the changes planter. Apart from arranging in climate of Kerala and land use have affected the pensionary benefits for the labourers, he built places of agricultural production in this region. worship, and schools for the villagers. 35 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Which are the crops that the highland region is suitable for? Make a list. Why can these crops be cultivated in the highland? Midland The midland is sandwiched between the lowland and the highland. This region in Kerala is characterised by the most diverse crops. Cereals, vegetables, tuber crops, etc. are part of this diversity. Observe the figure (Fig.3.3) and identify the other prominent crops of the midland. Fig. 3.3 Abundant rainfall, moderately thick layers of alluvial soil in the river basins, and laterite soil along the hilly tracts are the favourable geographical factors for the crop diversity in the midland region. This region is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, which is a chief commercial crop of Kerala. Extensive cultivation of rubber in this region began in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Till then, the region was largely devoted to the cultivation of tubers like tapioca, yam, elephant foot yam, and vegetables. Plantain cultivation was also prominent. But the crop diversity in the midland is fast giving way to rubber. Even small landholdings are now used for rubber cultivation. Once planted, the rubber crop has the merit of long-lasting yield. 36 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI Farmers are turning to rubber cultivation instead of traditional crops.What could be the reason? What changes could this have brought in their lifestyle? Discuss. Lowland Fig. 3.4 The lowland lies close to sea level. What are the major crops of lowland? Observe the above picture (Fig.3.4). The deposits of alluvial soil in the lowlands are ideal for paddy cultivation and the saline alluvial soil along the coastal stretches, for coconut trees. Such regions where these crops were once widely cultivated gradually got transformed into settlements. This led to a significant reduction in agricultural land. The hike in the price of seeds, fertilizers, and the cost of labour made agriculture less profitable. As a result the farmers were forced to switch to other sectors of employment. Haven't you understood that the physiography, climate, availability of water, and fertility of soil in Kerala are ideal for the cultivation of a variety of crops? Still our agriculture faces set backs. Discuss the situation that led to this. 37 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science A land that embraced agriculture Kerala was the centre of an agrarian culture. You have learned in the previous classes about the different festivals and customs that prove this. Listen to these proverbs. 'Kumbhathil mazha peythal kuppayilum manikyam'; Kumbhathil nattaal kudatholam chena, meenathil nattaalo meenkanninolam'; 'Thirimuriyaathe thiruvathiranjattuvela'. These proverbs give evidence to the profound influence of agriculture and climate on our culture. Collect proverbs related to agriculture and prepare notes on them. Changing landuse... changing lifestyle The following table shows the variations in the land area of some important crops in Kerala over the past 50 years. Year Crop 1961 1987 2011 (Area in lakh hectares) Paddy 7.5 6.04 2.08 Tapioca 2.37 1.72 0.75 Coconut 5.05 7.75 8.21 Rubber 1.33 3.59 5.40 Source: Farm Guide, Dept. of Economics and Statistics 38 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI Identify the crops that recorded a reduction in land area. Identify the crop whose land area decreased the most. Identify the crops whose land area increased. What conclusion do you arrive at by analyzing the table based on the above questions? Rubber cultivation increased while that of paddy and tapioca declined. The general landuse of the state has also undergone drastic changes nowadays. Reclamation of paddy fields and ponds for other uses, destruction of hills, unscientific agricultural practices along the hill slopes, etc. have now become widespread in Kerala. How does the reduction in cultivable land area affect the agricultural sector? Discuss. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Changing lifestyle 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Our elder generations worked hard in farms and fields. As new employment arenas developed, the new generation's affinity towards agriculture declined. As these sectors offered better returns, agriculture got neglected. Keralites slowly shifted from agriculture which generally demands more physical exertion. This caused many changes in healthcare and lifestyle of the people. 39 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Changes in lifestyle are said to be the chief cause of many new generation diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, etc. These are collectively known as lifestyle diseases. List the changes that occurred in the lifestyle of Keralites who shifted from the agro-based culture. Today waste disposal is one of the major problems faced by the Keralites who shifted from the rural life to an urban one. Even in villages the waste disposal measures are insufficient. It is high time we prepared and executed plans to transform the bio-degradable waste generated at home, into organic manure. This can be used in our vegetable gardens and farms. Today there are many ways to treat waste without the stench. The bio-degradable waste generated at home can be used for making vermicompost. Consult with the nearby Krishibhavan for more details on this. Making biogas from bio-degradable waste is another method. The government provides subsidy for constructing biogas plants. Let us find alternatives You might have seen that Kerala gave up its agro-based culture instead of making use of the potentials of its geographical peculiarities. Is a complete reversal possible? Never. But we can have some alternatives. Here are a few models (Fig.3.5, 3.6). 40 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI Fig. 3.5 41 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Alternatives and possibilites Why cry for land! I would like to cultivate… but no land. This is one of the frequent complaints among urban dwellers. Hydroponics is a solution. Here the required nutrients are dissolved in water and given to the plants. Husk, gravel, etc. can be given for the spread of roots. Vertical net farming is helpful for people with very little space available. In this method low-cost nets are vertically tied to poles or bamboo. As the pulses and bitter gourd grow vertically, space won't be a problem. From file to field Fig 3.6 Bumper yield from ecofriendly farming Mr. P J Thomas is a pioneer eco-friendly farmer in the Kuttanadu region. His agricultural experiments were on paddy cultivation. Don't you want to know more? Listen. Cow dung, cow's urine, soil from the paddy field, etc. are mixed in a particular proportion and kept enclosed for a few days. This mixture is sprayed in the paddy field. As it is an organic mixture, it won't do any harm. The process was repeated three times at an interval of 15 days. The healthy rice plants gave a good yield. While other fields yielded 2.5 tons of rice per acre, Mr. Thomas harvested 3 tons of rice! 42 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI Can't we adopt some of these? Such actions would be helpful in sustaining soil. It would be benificial if we could retain the moisture of the soil and coolness of nature. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Government incentives 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 The government has designed various programmes and schemes to reclaim Kerala's agricultural heritage. Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, Kerala (V.F.P.C.K.) is one such endeavour. Modern agricultural techniques The State Horticulture Mission Greenhouse farming functions with the aim of promoting In severely cold regions, crops are grown in glass- the cultivation of different varieties roofed rooms in order to protect them. This method of fruits, vegetables, spice crops, is known as greenhouse farming. mushroom, and medicinal plants. Precision farming Promotion of beekeeping is also an This is the method of giving adequate care (water, aim of this Mission. manure, etc.) for each crop and soil type precisely at The agriculture department, different stages. Any region having ample sunlight and well-drained soil is suitable for precision farming. Kudumbasree mission, and several other agencies help the government Fertigation in promoting agriculture. Fertigation is the method of giving water and manure drop by drop. As the chemical fertilizers used are completely soluble in water, the plants can fast absorb them. 43 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Farmer's Day Chingam 1 is the Farmer's Day. How do you plan to celebrate Farmer's Day in your school this year? Discuss. Green Kerala The physiography, soil, and climate of Kerala are favourable for agriculture. We Keralites have to change our lifestyle into one that utilizes these. Each family cultivating vegetables in their courtyard for their need... The vegetables required for the noon meal programme in the school are grown in the school compound itself... Poison- free cereals and vegetables everywhere... As the people work hard in the fields and farms they don't have lifestyle diseases… We need such a tomorrow. We can achieve this with ease, if we all work together. Let us join our hands to revive the agro-based culture of our land whose physiography, soil, climate, rain, and rivers provide ideal conditions for agriculture. 44 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Standard VI The physiographic diversity of Kerala provides favourable conditions for agricultural diversity. Changes in landuse have occurred in Kerala. This has influenced the extent of agricultural land. Use of bio-fertilizers is a truly eco-friendly method of cultivation. We have to chalk out plans to reclaim our agro-based culture. There are several government programmes to encourage agriculture. The learner : identifies and present the fact that Kerala depends on the neighbouring states for food. identifies and presents the idea that the geographical factors in Kerala are favourable for agriculture. recognizes and explains that the diversities in Kerala's physiography, climate, and soil types are the reason for its agricultural diversity. is able to explain the changes in Kerala's agricultural landuse. develops an attitude to involve in measures for self-sufficiency in food. 45 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Social Science Do the diversities in Kerala's physiography, climate, and soil types influence its agricultural diversity? Explain with suitable examples. Each one has to work for self-sufficiency in food. As a student what measures can you adopt for this? Encourage farmers to engage in joint cultivation in the fallow lands. Discuss in the class the merits of joint labour in irrigating, weeding, and manuring. Collect information on new farming techniques by interviewing the Agricultural Officer. 46 Kerala: The Land, the Rain, and the People  Production Process You may remember that in ancient times our ancestors lived in caves, gathered fruits, and hunted animals. Can we imagine such a life today? Now we produce goods ranging from paper pins to artificial satellite. List the names of the goods you frequently use in a day. Pen Book What is meant by goods? Those things which are visible and tangible and can satisfy human wants are regarded as goods. See whether the products you listed above have these features.  Social Science We use the service of a large number of people for the production and distribution of the goods you listed. What is meant by service? Let's see an example. The books you use might have been printed in a distant press. This book reaches you as the result of the involvement of many people. Who could they be? Labourers Transporters Book distributors All these people provide services. Services are invisible and intangible but can be experienced. Teaching is such a service. We also receive services from doctors, bank officers, etc. If we prepare a list of the goods and services we use daily, it will be a long one. All these goods and services are used to satisfy our wants. So we have to produce them. What is production? Production is the process of creating goods and services to satisfy human wants. Product is the result of the production process. Find out the stages involved in producing paddy from figure - 4.1 Ploughing Sowing seeds/planting seedlings Weeding Manuring 48 Production Process  Standard VI Fig. 4.1 Harvesting Threshing Collecting rice grains What are the factors involved in the process of paddy production? Labourers Natural resources (land, water,...) Man-made goods (fertilizers, seeds, agricultural equipments,...) Haven't you understood that the production process can be completed only with the involvement of many factors? Such factors involved in the production process are called factors of production. Factors of production Fig. 4.2 49 Production Process  Social Science The given collage (Fig 4.2) includes the picture of a shoe factory. Which are the factors involved in the production of shoes? Buildings Machinery Workers Electricity Entrepreneur Discuss how these factors help in the manufacturing of shoes. The factors of production can be classified into four: Land Labour Capital Organization Let us examine the features of each. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Land 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 The term land as a factor of production is used in a broad sense. All natural resources used in the production process are implied in the term land. All resources on earth are regarded as land. Fig. 4.3 50 Production Process  Standard VI What all natural resources are included in 'land' as a factor of production? Try to list them. Soil Water Forest Air Coal Discuss the features of land as a factor of production based on the indicators given below. Which are the natural resources included in land as a factor of production? Can we increase the area of land in accordance with our requirements? Can we enhance the fertility of land? If so, how? Can we shift land from one place to another? All the factors involved in the production process get rewards. Land as a factor of production gets rent as its reward. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Labour 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Labour is an active factor in the production of a product. The labourers use their manpower in the production process. We can see how the laborers use their manpower if we visit a coir production unit. (Fig 4.4) 51 Production Process  Social Science Fig. 4.4 To make coconut fibre suitable for coir manufacturing To dye suitably To operate the machinery For product distribution We can see that the physical, mental, and intellectual skills of the workers are used here. If the use of these skills to produce goods and services is rewarded, it is called labour. Since family members engaged in household activities do not generate rewards, it is not regarded as labour. Wage is the reward for labour. This is mostly paid in cash. Sometimes, instead of cash, goods are given as rewards. For example, occasionally coconuts are given as reward for plucking them. 52 Production Process  Standard VI Fig. 4.5 Manpower is used for any labour. The manpower wasted today will be lost. It cannot be saved for tomorrow. The manpower of the laboures can be enhanced through education or training. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Capital 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Capital is essential for the production of a product and for providing the basic facilities for the same. It is necessary for establishing a factory, buying equipments, paying wages to labourers, buying raw materials for production and the like. Tangible and visible man-made things used for production are called capital. Computers, vehicles, and machines which can be used in production are also considered as capital. Knowledge Capital Today we live in a knowledge society. Information technology and knowledge play a very important role in production. The effort to acquire knowledge capital is now prevalent in the world. 53 Production Process  Social Science 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Features of capital 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Capital helps the other factors of production. Capital enhances the production skills of the labourers. Capital has mobility. Like other factors of production, capital also gets reward. Interest is the reward for capital. Fig. 4.6 Organization Organization implies the co-ordination of various factors of production like land, labour, and capital. The person who co-ordinates is called an organizer or entrepreneur. Land labour Capital Organization Production Product You have seen the chart depicting the role of an organizer in the production process. Do you now realize that the organizer plays a very vital role in the production process? 54 Production Process  Standard VI Profit is the reward for the organizer. Find out the features of the organizer based on the indicators given below. What is the objective of an organizer? What are the responsibilities of an organizer in the production process? What are the factors that the organizer should co-ordinate? How can the skill of a co-ordinator be enhanced? The co-ordinated functioning of the factors of production leads to production, which is an economic activity and results in products. To satisfy human wants, products are essential. This makes production a continuous process. Let us see how it becomes a continuous process. Circular flow of economic activities See the figure (Fig 4.7) given below depicting the circular flow of economic activities. Here the production unit produces goods and services and the household unit consumes them. We have seen that the products are consumed to satisfy human wants. Fig. 4.7 55 Production Process  Social Science Human wants are many. When we satisfy one want, another emerges. With change in wants, goods and services also change correspondingly and they need to be produced. Hence, this process is continuous. What all can be found out from the figure above? (Fig 4.7) The household unit supplies the land, labour, capital, and organization to the production unit. The household unit is given rent, wages, interest, profit, etc as reward by the production unit. The production unit supplies goods and services to the household unit. In exchange for the goods and services received, the household unit pays price to the production unit. Since production and consumption are continuous, the economic activities follow a circular pattern. Visit any production unit in your locality and prepare a note on how each factor of production helps in the production process. Goods are things that are tangible and visible and are used to satisfy human wants. Services also satisfy human wants but are intangible and invisible. To consume goods and services in accordance with our requirements, we need to produce them. Land, labour, capital, and organization are the factors of production. The characteristics of each factor of production are different. Rent, wage/salary, interest, and profit are the rewards for the factors of production land, labour, capital, and organization respectively 56 Production Process  Standard VI The continous process of production and consumption results in the circular flow of economic activities. Factors of Production Land Labour Capital Organization Production Process Product The learner : categorises the features of goods and services which are used to satisfy human wants. presents through different means the features of the factors of production land, labour, capital, and organization recognizes and describes the rewards for the factors of production. explains the circular flow of economic activities. 57 Production Process  Social Science Goods and services are used to satisfy human wants. How do they differ from each other? The responsibility of an organizer is to co-ordinate the other factors of production. Substantiate. Prepare brief notes on the following factors of production. Labour Capital Explain the circular flow of economic activities with the help of a diagram. Self assessment Need Completely Partially imporvement Can differentiate between the goods and services which are used to satisfy human wants. Can explain the production process with examples. Can explain the circular flow of economic activities with the help of a diagram. 58 Production Process  The Earth: Myth and Reality An ancient town in the 2nd Century BC: The people are celebrating the day of the marriage procession of their prince, who got married to the beautiful princess of the neighbouring country. People crowded on either side of the royal path to welcome the prince. Rather than seeing the princess, all of them were curiously viewing the prince's wedding gift, a huge golden statue with human head on a horse's body. But the joyful days didn't last long. The town was struck by a severe drought. To know the reason for the drought and to prescribe remedy, the king assembled all the great astrologers of the land. Their finding was that the drought was brought about by the prince's wedding gift, the golden statue. To remedy the situation, they recommended the golden statue to be thrown from the edge of the Earth.  Social Science Haven't you read the story? Do you think they could throw the statue from the edge of the Earth? For a long time the Earth was believed to be flat. The concepts related to the shape of the Earth were confusing right from the ancient times. Quite often, the stories then prevalent about the Thales shape of the Earth were highly imaginative and interesting. Shape of the Earth: Beliefs to reality Pythagoras The concept of a spherical Earth was first put forward by the Greek philosopher Thales in the 7th century BCE. However, he believed that this sphere floated on water. The Greek philosophers Pythagoras and Aristotle Aristotle established that the Earth is spherical in shape. The period saw numerous oppositions against this view. Later Copernicus strongly supported this concept. Aryabhata, the Indian astronomer strongly believed the shape of the Earth to be spherical and that it spins on its Aryabhata own imaginary axis. Years later Magellan's voyage round the world proved that the Earth is spherical. Sir Issac Newton proved that the Earth is not truly spherical Magellan in shape, but slightly flattened at the poles and bulged in the middle. The spherical shape of the Earth which is slightly flattened at the poles and bulged at the Equator is known as Geoid. The word Copernicus Geoid means 'earth-shaped'. Issac Newton 60 The Earth: Myth and Reality  Standard VI Nowadays the shape of the Earth is quite evident from the satellite images. How big the Earth is! How far is your school from home? How long will it take to cover this distance on foot? Do you know how long it took Jean Beliveau, the Canadian explorer to trek and sail round the world? About 11 years! Now can't you imagine how big the Earth is? The circumference of this sphere on which we live is about 40000 km. Where on Earth am I? Have you ever thought about your position on the Earth? Your answer may Do you k