CBSE Class 6 Social Science: History Chapter 1 - What, Where, How and When? NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

This chapter, 'What, Where, How and When?', for CBSE Class 6 Social Science, delves into the fundamental questions of history. It introduces students to the earliest human settlements, the development of agriculture, the rise of early kingdoms like Magadha, and the significance of the Indus and Ganga river valleys. The solutions explain how historians and archaeologists use various sources like manuscripts, inscriptions, and excavated objects to reconstruct the past. Understanding these methods helps students grasp how we learn about ancient civilizations, their lifestyles, and the evolution of society. These NCERT Solutions provide clear, step-by-step explanations to help students understand the concepts and prepare effectively for their exams by clarifying the methods used to study history.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 6
Subject	Social Science
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	History - Chapter 1 What, Where, How and When

Chapter summary

Chapter 1 of Class 6 Social Science History, 'What, Where, How and When?', focuses on the origins of human civilization. It covers early human activities like hunting and gathering, the advent of agriculture, the emergence of the first cities and kingdoms, and the importance of geographical locations. The solutions also detail the primary sources used to study history, such as manuscripts and inscriptions, and the role of archaeologists in uncovering the past. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding historical inquiry and the methods used to interpret historical evidence.

Learning outcomes

Understand the meaning of history and how it is studied.
Identify early human settlements and their activities.
Differentiate between manuscripts and inscriptions as historical sources.
Recognize the significance of river valleys in the development of early civilizations.
Explain the role of archaeologists in reconstructing the past.
Identify early kingdoms and their geographical locations.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Early Human Settlements
Hunting and Gathering
Early Agriculture
First Cities
Early Kingdoms (Magadha)
River Valleys (Indus, Ganga)
Manuscripts
Inscriptions
Archaeology
Historical Sources
Timeline of History
Geographical Influences on History

Important topics

Understanding Historical Sources (Manuscripts and Inscriptions)
Early Settlements and Agriculture
Significance of River Valleys
The Kingdom of Magadha
Role of Archaeologists

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Match the following:

Narmada Valley

Magadha

Garo hills

Indus and its tributaries

Ganga Valley

The first big Kingdom

Hunting and gathering

Cities about 2500 years ago

Early agriculture

The first cities

Solution: Let's match the geographical locations with the historical descriptions based on early human activities and settlements:

Narmada Valley: This region is associated with early humans who were hunting and gathering.
Magadha: This was the location of The first big Kingdom, which later became a powerful empire.
Garo hills: These hills are significant as they are one of the places where early agriculture started.
Indus and its tributaries: The cities that developed along the Indus River and its tributaries were The first cities, dating back about 4700 years ago.
Ganga Valley: The areas along the Ganga and its tributaries saw the development of Cities about 2500 years ago, and the rise of kingdoms like Magadha.

Question 2

List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.

Solution: A major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions lies in their form and the material on which they were written:

Manuscripts: These are old books that contain handwritten accounts. They were typically written on materials like palm leaves or the bark of trees, making them relatively fragile.
Inscriptions: These are writings engraved or carved onto hard surfaces such as stone, metal, or pottery. They were used for various purposes, including recording royal orders, achievements, or religious teachings, and are generally more durable than manuscripts.

Question 3

Return to Rasheeda's question. Can you think of some answers to it?

Solution: Rasheeda's question was about how we can know what happened so many years ago. We can learn about the past through several ways:

Manuscripts: These old handwritten books provide details about the lives, beliefs, and events of people in the past.
Inscriptions: Engraved records on stones or metal give us information about rulers, their victories, and important historical events.
Old objects recovered from excavations: Archaeologists dig up and study ancient objects like pottery, tools, weapons, ornaments, and remains of buildings. These artifacts offer clues about the daily life, technology, and culture of people from different historical periods.

By studying these various sources, historians and archaeologists piece together the story of the past.

Question 4

Make a list of all the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?

Solution: Archaeologists can find a wide variety of objects from ancient times. Here is a list of some common findings:

Bones
Coins
Ornaments
Inscriptions
Pots and Pans
Plant remains
Weapons
Tools
Remains of buildings
Old manuscripts (though these are rare and fragile)

Out of these, the objects that could be made of stone include:

Surfaces used for writing inscriptions (like stone slabs or pillars)
Remains of buildings (made from stone blocks)
Objects like tools and weapons (e.g., stone axes, arrowheads)

Question 5

Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?

Solution: Ordinary men and women likely did not keep records of their daily activities for several reasons:

Lack of Necessity: Their lives were often focused on survival, farming, and daily chores. They may not have felt the need to document their activities as they were not considered historically significant at the time.
Limited Literacy and Resources: Writing and record-keeping required literacy and access to writing materials, which were not as widespread among ordinary people as they were among royalty, priests, or scribes.
Focus on Rulers' Deeds: Historically, records were more commonly kept by those in power to document their achievements, battles, and administration, rather than the everyday lives of commoners.

Question 6

Describe at least two ways in which you think the lives of kings would have been different from those of farmers.

Solution: The lives of kings and farmers would have been vastly different in several aspects. Here are two key differences:

Scope of Life and Responsibility: Kings ruled over large kingdoms and were responsible for administration, warfare, and the welfare of their subjects. Their lives involved governance, diplomacy, and often living in palaces. Farmers, on the other hand, lived a simpler life, focused on cultivating land to produce food for themselves and others, facing the challenges of weather and seasons.
Record Keeping and Legacy: Kings often kept detailed records of their reigns, battles, victories, and administrative decisions, which were inscribed on monuments or written in manuscripts. This helped in building their legacy. Ordinary farmers, as discussed earlier, typically did not keep such records, and their lives were less documented, making their individual stories harder to trace in history.

Question 7

Find the word 'crafts persons' on page of textbook. In list at least five different crafts that you know about today. Are the crafts persons—(a) men (b) women (c) both men and women?

Solution: The term 'crafts persons' refers to people who are skilled in making things by hand or using tools. Today, there are many different crafts. Here are five examples:

Pottery: Making pots, vases, and other items from clay.
Weaving: Creating textiles and fabrics from threads.
Sculpture: Creating three-dimensional art forms from materials like stone, metal, or wood.
Jewellery Making: Designing and crafting ornaments from precious metals and stones.
Woodworking: Creating furniture, decorative items, or tools from wood.

Regarding who practices these crafts, the crafts persons today are both men and women. While historically some crafts might have been dominated by one gender, modern society sees men and women participating equally in a wide range of crafts.

Question 8

What were the subjects on which books were written in the past? Which of these would you like to read?

Solution: In the past, books (manuscripts) were written on a variety of subjects, reflecting the interests and knowledge of the time. These included:

Religious beliefs and practices: Texts explaining rituals, prayers, and the philosophies of different religions.
Lives of kings and rulers: Biographies, chronicles of their achievements, and accounts of battles and administration.
Medicine: Treatises on health, diseases, and remedies.
Science: Early explorations into subjects like astronomy, mathematics, and natural sciences.
Poetry and Drama: Literary works including poems, plays, and stories.
Epics: Long narrative poems recounting heroic tales and significant historical or mythological events, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

It would be particularly interesting to read the epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as they offer insights into ancient Indian culture, values, mythology, and heroic narratives. Studying the lives of kings and religious texts would also provide valuable historical and cultural understanding.

Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

People who gathered their food are called......
(a) hunters (b) skilled gatherers (c) farmers (d) merchants.
The places where rice was first grown are located in ......
(a) north of the Vindhyas (b) on the banks of the Ganga (c) in the south of the Vindhyas (d) in the Garo hills region.
..... was not used in the old books.
(a) Prakrit (b) Hindi (c) Sanskrit (d) Tamil
The kingdom of Magadha was located ......
(a) on the banks of the Indus (b) in the south of the Vindhyas (c) in the area along Ganga's tributaries in the south of Ganga (d) in the Garo hills region.

Solution: Here are the correct options for the multiple-choice questions:

The correct option is (b) skilled gatherers. People who collected food from their environment were primarily gatherers, and those who were successful at this were skilled in it.
The correct option is (c) in the south of the Vindhyas. Archaeological evidence suggests that rice cultivation first began in the regions south of the Vindhya mountains.
The correct option is (b) Hindi. Hindi as a language evolved much later. Ancient books were written in languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil.
The correct option is (c) in the area along Ganga's tributaries in the south of Ganga. Magadha was a powerful ancient kingdom located in the fertile plains south of the Ganga river.

Common mistakes

Confusing the locations of early settlements and kingdoms.
Not understanding the difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.
Difficulty in identifying various sources used by historians.
Overlooking the importance of geographical factors in history.

Revision tips

Focus on matching locations with early human activities and kingdoms.
Clearly distinguish between manuscripts and inscriptions, noting their writing materials and methods.
Understand the role of archaeologists and the types of objects they find.
Pay attention to the timeline of events and the development of early civilizations.
Review the significance of river valleys like the Indus and Ganga.

Practice MCQs

Q1. People who gathered their food are called:

Q2. The places where rice was first grown are located in:

Q3. Which of the following was NOT used for writing in old books?

Q4. The kingdom of Magadha was located:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main focus of the Class 6 History Chapter 1, 'What, Where, How and When?'

This chapter introduces students to the fundamental questions of history, exploring how we learn about the past, where early humans lived, how they survived, and the emergence of early kingdoms and cities.

What are the primary sources used to study history mentioned in this chapter?

The chapter highlights manuscripts (handwritten documents) and inscriptions (writings on hard surfaces like stone or metal) as key sources for understanding the past.

Why is the Narmada Valley significant in early history?

The Narmada Valley is significant because it was one of the earliest places where people lived, likely engaging in hunting and gathering activities.

How do archaeologists help us understand the past?

Archaeologists find and study old objects, remains of buildings, bones, tools, weapons, and pottery to reconstruct the lives of people who lived long ago.

What is the difference between manuscripts and inscriptions?

Manuscripts are handwritten, often on fragile materials like palm leaves or bark, while inscriptions are carved or engraved onto durable surfaces like stone or metal.

Where was the kingdom of Magadha located?

The kingdom of Magadha was located in the area along the Ganga's tributaries, south of the Ganga river, and became one of the earliest significant kingdoms.

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