CBSE Class 6 Social Science: What Books and Burials Tell Us - NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

This chapter, 'What Books and Burials Tell Us,' from the CBSE Class 6 Social Science curriculum, delves into the fascinating ways historians reconstruct the past. It explores the significance of the Rigveda as one of the oldest surviving texts and contrasts its oral tradition with modern written books. The solutions also shed light on archaeological evidence, particularly from burials like megaliths, to understand social differences, daily life, and diet in ancient India, including settlements like Inamgaon. Students will learn how different types of evidence, from ancient manuscripts to burial sites, help us piece together the lives of people from thousands of years ago, including the roles of 'rajas' and 'dasas'. These solutions are designed to help students grasp these historical concepts and prepare effectively for their exams.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 6
SubjectSocial Science
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterHistory - Chapter 5 What Books and Burials Tell Us

Chapter summary

Chapter 5, 'What Books and Burials Tell Us,' focuses on understanding the past through textual and archaeological evidence. It highlights the Rigveda's importance and its oral transmission, contrasting it with contemporary books. The chapter also examines burial practices, such as megaliths, and their role in revealing social hierarchies and the lives of ancient communities like those at Inamgaon. The NCERT Solutions provide clear explanations for matching terms, completing sentences, and answering questions about historical evidence.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the significance of the Rigveda as an ancient text.
  • Differentiate between the oral tradition of the Rigveda and modern written books.
  • Explain how archaeologists use burial sites (megaliths) to infer social differences.
  • Identify the types of food consumed by people in ancient settlements like Inamgaon.
  • Describe the roles and differences between 'rajas' and 'dasas' in early Indian society.
  • Recognize the methods used by historians to reconstruct the past.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The Rigveda
  • Oral tradition vs. Written books
  • Archaeological evidence
  • Burial practices
  • Megaliths
  • Social differences in ancient India
  • The role of 'rajas' and 'dasas'
  • Ancient settlements (Inamgaon)
  • Ancient diet
  • Historical reconstruction

Important topics

  • Rigveda and its transmission
  • Interpreting burial sites for social status
  • Differences between 'rajas' and 'dasas'
  • Megaliths as burial markers
  • Methods of historical study

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Match the columns:

'Sukta' Stone-boulder Chariots Sacrifice 'Yajna' Well-said 'Dasa' Used in battles Megalith Slave

Solution: The correct matches are:

'Sukta' means 'Well-said'. Chariots were 'Used in battles'. 'Yajna' refers to a 'Sacrifice'. 'Dasa' referred to a 'Slave'. Megalith is a 'Stone-boulder' structure, often marking a burial site.

Question 2

Complete the sentences:

(a) Slaves were used for.....

(b) Megaliths are found in.....

(c) Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to.....

(d) Port-holes were used for.....

(e) People at Inamgaon ate.....

Solution:

(a) Slaves were used for work, often performing tasks for their owners.

(b) Megaliths are found in regions like South India, north-east India, and Kashmir.

(c) Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to indicate the exact place of burial, serving as markers for graves.

(d) Port-holes, which were openings in some megaliths, were used to allow burying other members of the same family at the same place in a multi-burial grave.

(e) People at Inamgaon ate a variety of food, including wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, and sesame.

Question 3

In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?
Solution: The books we read today are fundamentally different from the Rigveda in their creation and transmission. Modern books are written down using scripts and printing, making them accessible for reading and widespread distribution. In contrast, the Rigveda, one of the oldest surviving texts, was composed much earlier and was primarily transmitted orally. Students memorized its hymns and verses, and this knowledge was passed down from generation to generation through listening and recitation, rather than reading from a written text, for a very long period.

Question 4

What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?
Solution: Archaeologists examine the contents of the graves to understand social differences among the buried individuals. They observe that the objects found with the skeletons can vary significantly. For instance, some individuals were buried with a large number of valuable pots and other possessions, while others were interred with only a few or none. This disparity in grave goods suggests that people belonged to different social strata, with those of higher status receiving richer burials.

Question 5

In what ways do you think that the life of a 'raja' was different from that of a 'dasa' or 'dasi'?
Solution: The life of a 'raja' was vastly different from that of a 'dasa' or 'dasi'. A 'raja' was typically a leader or chief, holding a position of authority and respect within the community, often responsible for leading battles and performing important rituals. In contrast, 'dasas' and 'dasis' occupied the lowest rung of society. They were often individuals captured during wars and were treated as property by their owners, forced to perform various kinds of work without personal freedom or rights.

Question 6

Find out whether your school library has a collection of books on religion, and list the names of five books from this collection.
Solution: This is an activity to be completed by the student with the help of their teacher and librarian. A sample list of five books on religion could include:
  1. The Mahabharata
  2. The Ramayana
  3. The Bible
  4. The Bhagwad Gita
  5. The Quran
Students should check their school library for available religious texts.

Question 7

Write down a short poem or song that you have memorised. Did you hear or read the poem or song? How did you learn it by heart?
Solution: This is a personal reflection activity for the student. Students are encouraged to recall a poem or song they have memorized and describe whether they learned it by hearing it (e.g., from a teacher, parent, or recording) or by reading it, and the process they followed to learn it by heart, which often involves repetition and practice.

Question 8

In the Rigveda, people were described in terms of the work they did and the languages they spoke. In the table below, fill in the names of six people you know, choosing three men and three women. For each of them, mention the work they do and the language they speak. Would you like to add anything else to the description?

Name Work Language Anything Else

Solution: This is a practical exercise designed to help students relate the ancient practice of describing people by their work and language to modern individuals. Students need to fill in the table with information about six people they know (three men and three women), noting their occupation and the language(s) they speak. They can also add other descriptive details if they wish. For example:

Name | Work | Language | Anything Else

Rohan | Software Engineer | Hindi, English | Likes to play cricket

Priya | Doctor | Marathi, English | Volunteers at a clinic

Amit | Teacher | Bengali, English | Enjoys reading

Sunita | Homemaker | Gujarati, Hindi | Active in community events

Vikram | Farmer | Punjabi, Hindi | Passionate about organic farming

Anjali | Artist | English, French | Specializes in landscape painting

The purpose is to observe how occupation and language are key identifiers, similar to how people were described in the Rigveda.

Question 9

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:
  1. The Ghoda is a tributary of the .....

(a) Ganga (b) Narmada

  1. Krishna (d) Bhima.
  2. Brahmagiri is a site in modem .....
  1. Andhra Pradesh (b) Kerala (d) Bihar.
  1. Which of these was not a category of people in the society?
Solution:

1. The Ghoda is a tributary of the ..... (a) Ganga (b) Narmada (c) Krishna (d) Bhima.

Answer: The provided text does not contain information to answer this specific multiple-choice question about the Ghoda river. This question seems unrelated to the chapter's content on books and burials.

2. Brahmagiri is a site in modem ..... (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Kerala (c) Karnataka (d) Bihar.

Answer: The provided text does not contain information to answer this specific multiple-choice question about Brahmagiri. This question seems unrelated to the chapter's content on books and burials.

3. Which of these was not a category of people in the society?

Answer: The provided text does not list options for this question, making it impossible to answer. Based on the chapter's content, categories like 'raja', 'dasa', 'dasi', priests, warriors, and common people were discussed, but without options, a definitive answer cannot be given.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the oral transmission of the Rigveda with modern writing methods.
  • Misinterpreting the purpose and significance of megalithic burials.
  • Underestimating the value of archaeological evidence in understanding social structures.
  • Failing to connect burial goods with the social status of the deceased.

Revision tips

  • Focus on the key differences between the Rigveda and modern books.
  • Pay close attention to how burial sites reveal social distinctions.
  • Memorize the definitions of key terms like 'Sukta', 'Yajna', 'Dasa', and 'Megalith'.
  • Understand the types of evidence historians use to study ancient life.
  • Review the examples of food and settlements mentioned in the chapter.

Practice MCQs

Q1. The Rigveda was primarily transmitted through which method before being written down?

Q2. What do archaeologists infer from the varying number of pots and objects found in burials?

Q3. The term 'Dasa' in the Rigvedic period often referred to:

Q4. Megaliths are significant archaeological findings primarily because they:

Q5. Which of the following was NOT a food item commonly eaten by people at Inamgaon, according to the text?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main focus of the 'What Books and Burials Tell Us' chapter?

This chapter focuses on how historians use different types of evidence, such as ancient books like the Rigveda and archaeological findings from burials (megaliths), to understand the lives, societies, and beliefs of people in the past.

How was the Rigveda different from books we read today?

The Rigveda was initially memorized and passed down orally through generations, whereas modern books are written and read. This oral tradition was crucial for preserving the Rigveda for a long time before it was written.

What can archaeologists learn from burial sites?

Archaeologists can learn about social differences by examining the grave goods. For example, if some skeletons are buried with many valuable items and others with very few, it suggests a difference in social status.

What were 'megaliths' and why are they important?

Megaliths are large stone structures used to mark burial sites. They are important because they help archaeologists locate ancient graves and provide clues about the people buried there and the practices associated with their death.

Who were the 'rajas' and 'dasas' mentioned in the chapter?

In the Rigvedic society, 'rajas' were leaders or chiefs, often involved in battles and rituals. 'Dasas' (and 'dasis' for females) were people, often captured in war, who were made slaves and performed work for others.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all chapter questions, helping students understand complex historical concepts, revise key information, and prepare effectively for their exams by clarifying the methods used to study the past.

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