Class 6 History

What the Books and Burials Tell Us: NCERT Exercise Solution

Fill in the blanks:

  1. Slaves were used for ————————
  2. Megaliths are found in ————————
  3. Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to ————————
  4. Port-holes were used for ————————
  5. People at Inamgaon ate ————————

Answer: (a)manual work, (b) burial sites, (c) serve as signposts, (d) entrance, (e) grains, fruits and meat

Match Columns

Column IColumn II
(a) Sukta(1) Stone boulder
(b) Chariot(2) Sacrifice
(c) Yajna(3) Well said
(d) Dasa(4) Used in battles
(e) Megalith(5) Slave

Answer: (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 5, (e) 1

Question 1: In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?

Answer: Rigveda was composed in an ancient form of Sanskrit, while most of the modern books are either in English or in any other modern languages. The Rigveda contains hymns in praise of gods and goddesses. The modern books can be on any topic. Rigveda was initially not in written form but all modern books are in written form.

Question 2: What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?

Answer: The variety of personal belongings buried with the dead gives important clue about the social status of the dead person. The size of the burial space also gives clue about the social status of the buried people.

Extra Questions:

Question 1: In what ways do you think that the life of a raja was different from that of a dasa or dasi?

Answer: A raja was an independent person while a slave was not. A raja commanded respect because of his powerful position. But a slave must have been the subject of ridicule and pity; in most of the cases.

Question 2: The Aryans came from which part of the world?

Answer: Central Asia

Question 3: Which two rivers have been mentioned only a few times in the Rigveda?

Answer: The Ganges and the Yamuna

Question 4: Black and red wares were found from which site?

Answer: Inamgaon

Question 5: Inamgaon is in which modern day state of India?

Answer: Maharashtra

Question 6: The Aryans initially settled around which river?

Answer: Indus

Question 7: Inamgaon is in which modern day state of India?

Answer: Maharashtra

Question 8: The Aryans initially settled around which river?

Answer: Indus

Question 9: What is the total number of Vedas? Write their names.

Answer: There are four Vedas, viz. Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvveda

Question 10: Which was the first Veda to be composed?

Answer: Rigveda

Question 11: People who composed the Vedas, called themselves by which name?

Answer: Arya

Question 12: Who were called as the dasa or dasyu; during the Vedic Age?

Answer: The slaves

Question 13: What is a megalith?

Answer: Megalith is a stone structure found on the burial sites.