What, Where, How and When? | Class 6 History Chapter 1 Notes, Summary & Explanation

🧭 What, Where, How and When? - Class 6 History

History is not just about dates and kings — it is about people like us who lived thousands of years ago, how they lived, where they lived, how we know about them, and when different things happened. This first chapter, “What, Where, How and When?” from Class 6 History, helps us step into the fascinating world of the past.

📌 What is History?

History is the study of the past. But it is more than just stories — it is about real people, real events, and real places. History helps us understand how societies were formed, how cultures developed, and how humans evolved over time. It tells us how ancient people hunted, gathered, farmed, traded, fought wars, built kingdoms, and laid the foundations of what we see today.

Without history, we would never know how languages, scripts, religions, cities, and civilizations emerged. It is like a mirror that shows us who we were, so we can understand who we are today and how we may shape tomorrow.

🌍 Where Did People Live?

People did not live everywhere equally — they chose places near rivers, forests, hills, and fertile lands. Some of the earliest settlements in India developed around rivers like:

• Indus River: The Harappan Civilization, one of the oldest, flourished here over 4700 years ago.
• Ganga River: Later civilizations settled near the Ganga and its tributaries. This fertile plain supported crops and cities.
• Hills & Plateau: People also lived in the Vindhyas and Deccan Plateau. Stone tools found here show how hunter-gatherers survived thousands of years ago.

Besides rivers and hills, the coastal regions and deserts like the Thar also attracted early settlers due to trade routes and animal grazing.

🔍 How Do We Know About The Past?

This is the most exciting part: how do we know about things that happened thousands of years ago? We have no videos, photos, or recordings — so how?

Historians and archaeologists use clues, called sources, which help us piece together the past. These are:

🗿 Archaeological Sources

Archaeology is the study of ancient remains. People left behind tools, weapons, ornaments, coins, and pottery. Buried in the soil, these objects tell us about their life. Sometimes even buildings, forts, palaces, and cities like Harappa are discovered!

📜 Written Records

People wrote on various surfaces — bark of birch trees (bhojpatra), palm leaves, stone pillars, copper plates, and clay tablets. Scripts like Brahmi and Kharosthi were used. The Ashokan inscriptions on pillars and rocks are famous examples — they tell us about Mauryan kings, their laws, and teachings.

🧬 Other Clues

Old books like the Rigveda, Upanishads, Jatakas, and stories from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana help historians too. Sometimes, old coins, seals, and carvings reveal trade links with faraway places like Rome and China.

⏳ When Did It All Happen?

We measure history in years. We use BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini). For example, the birth of Christ is the point of division. So 2000 BC means 2000 years before Christ was born. Historians also use BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) — a more neutral form.

For example:

• Indus Valley Civilization: Around 4700 years ago.
• Rigveda written: About 3500 years ago.
• Mahajanapadas: 2500 years ago.
• Mauryan Empire: 2300 years ago.

By comparing dates, events, and places, we create a timeline that helps us understand how life changed step by step.

👣 Who Were Historians & Archaeologists?

Historians study old books, inscriptions, and records to write about kings, wars, kingdoms, and culture. Archaeologists dig the ground at excavation sites to find buried cities, tools, or even human skeletons!

They work like detectives — carefully cleaning, recording, and preserving objects to tell the story of the past.

🗺️ Travelling and Trade

People have always travelled — some in search of grasslands for cattle, some as traders carrying spices, silk, gold, and precious stones, and some as conquerors expanding kingdoms. They brought new ideas, customs, languages, and religions, helping cultures to mix.

This is why India is called a land of diversity — so many languages, foods, dresses, festivals — all influenced by centuries of travellers, traders, and settlers.

💡 Why Should We Learn This?

Learning “What, Where, How and When?” builds the foundation of history. It makes us curious about our roots. It also helps us respect ancient knowledge and the hardships our ancestors faced. By understanding their mistakes and achievements, we can make wiser choices for our future.

As you move ahead in Class 6 History, you will read about kingdoms, empires, religions, wars, art, and life of ordinary people — farmers, traders, priests, kings, and queens. Every chapter will take you deeper into India’s glorious past.

✨ Keep Exploring, Keep Learning!

So next time you see an old fort, temple, or inscription, remember — every stone has a story to tell. History is not dead; it lives with us — in our traditions, festivals, and languages. Let’s keep asking questions — what, where, how, and when — and keep the spark of history alive!