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Chapter 5:
Chronology and Records
C6 History
Meaning and Importance
 History is the study of the past, which tells us the story of
people and the events that occurred in a distant time.
 History is a systematic record of events that have been
placed chronologically. (number wise)
Importance
 It is a window into the past.
 It helps us learn how things evolved and transformed over
time
 It gives us an understanding of the present
 It leads us to make better choices for the future.
 Example- nothing good happens because of war;
democracy is a better choice of government than
dictatorship
Time periods in History
Dates in History
 Dates help in maintaining proper records of the past.
 The term circa or ca, in short, is generally used in historical
writings when the dates of events are not known for sure and have
been approximately mentioned.
 We follow the Georgian calendar (US state), which comes from
Europe, followed by Christianity.
 The birth of Jesus Christ is considered the most important event in
history.
 The Indian national calendar is based on the Saka Era. Chaitra is
the first month of this calendar.
CE and BCE
 The first year after the birth of Christ will be year 1, and therefore, we
are in the year 2026.
 A period of 100 years is known as a century. A period of 1000 years
millennium
 We use CE and BCE to show the difference in time between the events,
such as after the birth of Christ and before the birth of Christ.
 CE stands for common era, BCE stands for before the birth of Christ.
 In earlier years, after the birth of Christ were referred to as AD Anno
Domini, which means “in the year of our Lord” in Latin.
Timeline
A timeline arranges various events of the past according to the
order of their occurrence.
Sources of History
 Broadly divided into 1)Archaeological and 2)Literary
sources.
1)Archaeological Sources
 Archaeology is the study of material remains of the past,
like monuments, tools, pots, etc.
 The place where these remains are dug out is known as an
excavation or archaeological site.
1.1)Monuments and building ruins
 They provide a standing testimony of the period of study,
like temples, stupas, forts and palaces.
 They inform us about the period in which they were built
and the scientific knowledge of the people of that period.
 They are like treasure and symbol of pride of their
civilization.
 They act as evidences of history and enhance tourism.
Example: Ajanta caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra are full
of sculptures and paintings.
1.2)Inscriptions
 They were written on rocks, pillars, walls of important buildings and
even metal sheets.
 The study of Inscriptions is called Epigraphy.
 It is an important source of Indian history which can’t be altered or
manipulated.
 Ashokan inscriptions were issued in different languages making them
accessible to a large audience.
1.3)Coins
 The study of coins is known as Numismatics.
 Coins of Indian origin were made of gold, silver and copper.
 Coins were sometimes issued to celebrate an important event.
Historical Artefacts
 Artefacts are objects made by human
beings used in the past. Ex: Tools and
pots, bones, toys, clothes etc.
 They show the sign of human existence
and modification with time.
Literary Sources
 Divided into religious and secular texts.
 Religious Test – based on religious culture and themes.
 Example: Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and great epics like Ramayana,
Mahabharata.
Secular Literature:
Tells us about the social and economic lives of the kings and people.
Ex: Plays and poems of Kalidasa.
Oral history:
Stories we have heard from our elders, passed through generations in the form of
stories, fables, ballads (long poem/song), and common folklore.
The Earliest Societies
 Human evolution from ape-like ancestors to modern
humans.
 Homo sapiens lived millions of years ago.
 Earliest evidence from Africa, where fossils date back to 6
to 2 million years ago.
Stone Age
Meaning
 The prehistoric period, when
humans mainly used stone tools, is
called the Stone Age.
Divisions of the Stone Age
 Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
 Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
 Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
1)Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
 Time Period - Around 5,00,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
Features
 Humans were hunter-gatherers.
 Lived in caves and under trees.
 Moved from place to place in search of food.
 Used crude stone tools.
Discovery of Fire
 Fire was discovered accidentally.
 Sparks from rubbing stones caused fire.
 Uses of fire: Light, Warmth, Cooking food, Protection from wild animals
Early Cave Paintings
Features
 Found in caves from the Stone Age.
 Show hunting, dancing, and rituals.
 Used to express ideas and experiences.
Bhimbetka Cave Paintings
 Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are the oldest cave paintings in India. They
are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They have around 243 rock
shelters.
Materials Used
 Natural colours from rocks, plants, and charcoal.
2) Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
 Time Period - 10,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE
Features
 Transition period between the Old and
New Stone Age.
 Tools became smaller and sharper.
 Tiny tools called Microliths were used.
 Tools were attached to sticks and
bones.
Uses of Microliths - Hunting animals,
Digging the ground
3)Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
 Time Period - 8,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE
Features
 Beginning of agriculture.
 Domestication of animals.
 Permanent settlements developed.
 Humans changed from food gatherers to food
producers.
Neolithic Revolution
 The term used by Gordon Childe refers to the shift
from hunting and gathering to farming and settled
life.
Importance - Growth of villages, Storage of surplus
grains and Beginning of civilizations.
The beginning of crop production
 From hunter-gatherers to food producers
 The climate became warmer compared to the Stone Age. It
created an ideal environment for crops to grow.
 Because of an increase in population, hunting and food
gathering were not enough.
 The growing demand for food was fulfilled by farming.
 People were required to have permanent structures to live in,
resulting in the growth of civilization.
Neolithic Sites
Mehrgarh
 Earliest evidence of farming and herding.
 Wheat, barley, and cotton were grown.
 Mud-brick houses.
 Domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats.
 Pottery, bead-making, and metalwork developed.
Burzahom
 First Neolithic site discovered in Kashmir.
 Dates back to about 3000 BCE.