Class 6 History – What Books and Burials Tell Us (Q&A)
Introduction: This chapter from NCERT Class 6 History takes us deep into the past, where ancient books and burial sites tell fascinating stories about the lives of early people. Below are carefully crafted questions and answers that cover every important detail of the chapter in depth, designed for exam preparation and understanding.
Q1: What is the main focus of the chapter “What Books and Burials Tell Us”?
Answer: The chapter focuses on understanding the past through two main sources — ancient books and burial sites. It highlights how the earliest written texts, such as the Rigveda, and archaeological findings from burial grounds, reveal details about the social life, beliefs, and practices of people who lived thousands of years ago. It also explains the rituals, wars, animals, food habits, and the social differences of that time.
Q2: What is the Rigveda and why is it important?
Answer: The Rigveda is one of the oldest religious texts in the world, composed around 3500 years ago. It is a collection of over 1,000 hymns dedicated to various deities, especially natural forces like fire (Agni), wind (Vayu), and water. It is important because it provides valuable insights into early Vedic society — their language (early Sanskrit), beliefs, lifestyle, and the way they organized themselves. Unlike modern books, it was composed orally and memorized for centuries before being written down.
Q3: How were Rigvedic hymns preserved before writing was introduced?
Answer: Rigvedic hymns were preserved through an oral tradition. Learned priests called hotris memorized the verses and passed them down orally from one generation to another. This method of preserving knowledge was highly accurate because the exact pronunciation and rhythm were maintained with great care. It shows the remarkable memory and discipline of early societies.
Q4: What do the hymns tell us about Rigvedic society?
Answer: The hymns reveal that Rigvedic society was primarily pastoral, meaning people raised cattle, horses, and sheep. Cows were highly valued and considered a measure of wealth. Horses were important in battles and for chariots. The hymns also indicate that there were frequent conflicts over land and cattle. Social divisions existed, but they were not as rigid as in later periods.
Q5: What were the main occupations of the people during the Rigvedic period?
Answer: The main occupations included cattle rearing, farming, making tools, chariot building, weaving, and trading. Men were often involved in warfare and cattle raids, while women were engaged in household work, weaving, and sometimes composing hymns. Some people worked as carpenters, potters, and metalworkers.
Q6: What were megaliths and why are they important?
Answer: Megaliths are large stone structures or arrangements built over graves to mark burial sites. They were common in the Deccan region, South India, Northeast India, and Kashmir from around 3000 years ago. Megaliths are important because they tell us about burial customs, social organization, and beliefs in life after death. Archaeologists have found that different members of the community were buried with pottery, tools, ornaments, and sometimes weapons, indicating their status and occupation.
Q7: How do burial practices reveal social differences?
Answer: In some megalithic burials, archaeologists found iron weapons, gold ornaments, and decorated pottery, while others contained simple clay pots and few belongings. This suggests that wealthier or more respected individuals were given more elaborate burials. Such differences show that society was divided into richer and poorer sections.
Q8: What is special about the site of Inamgaon?
Answer: Inamgaon, located in present-day Maharashtra, is an important archaeological site because it provides detailed evidence of settlement patterns, farming practices, and burial customs. Excavations reveal that people grew wheat, barley, rice, pulses, and cotton, and kept animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Some people were buried within the houses, showing a close connection between the living and the dead in their culture.
Q9: How do books and burials together help historians?
Answer: Books like the Rigveda provide the cultural, religious, and linguistic perspective, while burials give physical evidence of daily life, social structure, and technology. Together, they create a fuller picture of ancient life. For example, while the Rigveda talks about horses and chariots, burial sites have yielded actual horse bones and chariot parts.
Q10: Were women allowed to compose hymns in the Rigvedic period?
Answer: Yes, women in the Rigvedic period had more social participation than in later times. Some women, such as Lopamudra, Vishpala, and Ghosha, composed hymns. This shows that women could be respected scholars and poets in early Vedic society.
Q11: What do the Rigvedic hymns say about battles?
Answer: Many hymns describe battles fought for cattle, land, and water. These battles were usually between groups called tribes, led by chiefs or rulers. Victories were celebrated, and the spoils of war were often shared among the warriors. Horses and chariots played an important role in warfare.
Q12: How were burial goods chosen?
Answer: Burial goods were often related to the profession or status of the person. A warrior might be buried with weapons, a farmer with sickles or grinding stones, and a wealthy person with ornaments. This suggests people believed that the dead would need these items in the afterlife.
Q13: What do we learn about trade in the Rigvedic period?
Answer: The Rigveda hints at trade through mentions of exchange of goods like cattle, horses, and even metals. While there was no currency as we have today, barter was common. Long-distance trade might have been carried out through caravans and river routes.
Q14: Were all people equal in Rigvedic society?
Answer: No, society was divided. While the Rigveda mentions the four varnas in later hymns, during the early period the division was less rigid. However, there were still differences between chiefs, priests, common people, and slaves (dasa/dasi).
Q15: What role did animals play in Rigvedic life?
Answer: Animals were central to Rigvedic life. Cows were a symbol of wealth and often used in rituals. Horses were important for transport, war, and prestige. Sheep and goats provided wool and meat. Some hymns even describe the care of horses and cattle.
Exam Tip: When preparing answers for this chapter, remember to link details from both books (Rigveda) and archaeological evidence (burials) to show a complete understanding. Use examples like the site of Inamgaon or names of women poets to score extra marks.
Also Read: What, Where, How and When – Class 6 History Chapter 1 | From Gathering to Growing Food – Class 6 History Chapter 3
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