Sources of History - Class VII

Archaeological evidence typically shows a progression from hunting wild animals (A) to the domestication of smaller animals like sheep and goats (C), and finally to larger cattle (B). This sequence reflects the development of early human agricultural societies.

This term means that older artifacts are usually found below younger items of the unexcavated balk reveals layering of subsequent settlements and activity. on top by that which is much older, hence reversing the strata layers.

The earliest coins which were in use were punch marked coins. They have been given this name because the designs were punched on to the metal — silver or copper.

Inscriptions are seen on rocks, pillars, stones, slabs, walls of buildings, and body of temples. Some convey monarchical orders regarding administrative, religious and major decisions to the public in general. Others are records of the followers of major religions. The most famous inscriptions are of Ashoka.

The Halmidi inscription is the oldest known Kannada language inscription in the Kannada script usually dated to 450 AD. It is the earliest evidence of the usage of Kannada as an administrative language. Halmidi is a small village in the Hassan district of Karnataka state.

Historians resort to oral descriptions to narrate the lives of ordinary people. The history created by such oral descriptions is called Oral History. 

 Edicts of Ashoka are the earliest deciphered epigraphic inscriptions made in the 3rd century BCE. They are written in forms of Prakrit in the Brahmi script. The inscriptions and edicts of Asoka refer to a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Asoka, as well as boulders and cave walls. They are spread over modern-day Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Numismatics is the study of the evolution, nature and development of coins. Coins provide information for trade, economy, social organisation, mythology, ideologies, etc. Numismatics also include the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the exchange of goods

The Halmidi inscription was written during the reign of King Kakutsavarma.

The earliest deciphered epigraphic inscriptions are the Edicts of Ashoka of the 3rd century BCE, written in forms of Prakrit in the Brahmi script. The inscriptions and edicts of Asoka refer to a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Asoka, as well as boulders and cave walls. They are spread over modern-day Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

After the Indian independence, the events, descriptions and writings of Indians paved way for a new history. Amidst all these, as historians all over the world believed, Indians too believed that supplementary evidence was necessary. Even today it is widely accepted that without documentary evidence and proofs, history cannot be blindly accepted. 

1. In the recent decades, historians have started debating about the ways to write the history of the common people which does not have documentary evidence. 

Viewing history in a cyclic manner is called Kalachakra because it refers to wheel of time or "time-cycles".

Historians have always considered the history of ordinary people equally important. They made attempts to stir the memories of common folks to unearth details about various incidents and events. They are also trying to write history based on the study if folk songs, social traditions etc.

History is narrated as Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga etc. The Indian system views time in a cyclic manner. It is also referred to as Kalachakra. On completion of one Kalchakra, another begins. The completion of one of its cycle is known as Yuga. Thus, history has Yugas such as Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga etc.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

The manner in which the Indian system views time is cyclic. It is also referred to as Kalachakra. When one chakra completes, another starts. The completion of one of its cycle is known as Yuga. In this way, history has Yugas such as Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga etc.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

Historians resort to oral descriptions to narrate the lives of ordinary people. The history created by such oral descriptions is called Oral History.

In a linear model or sequence, the second year follows the first year in chronological order. This is the most basic interpretation of 'follows the first' in a temporal sequence.

 This model of historical perception concluded that the Indians lacked chronology and historical sense.

Since there was no accepted history of this race, it was through the sensibility expressed by the various African communities that African history could be written from the African view point. 

There are many types of sources of history. These include oral sources which are passed down through oral storytelling. Moreover, it includes sources through scrolls, books etc. Furthermore, it includes material sources such as archives and manuscript material. Thus, the oral, written and material sources are all important types of sources of history.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Folk tales, Folk songs, and proverbs, all of them are the oral sources as they define the remains of the ancient history to the world and are considered to be the Treasure of that era.

Monuments and Inscription are two archaeological souces of information. Archaeological
sources include buildings, houses, pottery, seals , coins, monuments ,
writings and paintings on stones or walls , tools, jewellery, bones,
leftovers, pieces of metals and other artefacts.Monuments are old
buildings or other old structures which are important for their historic
connection or legacy and inscriptions are writings on seals,temple
walls,stones or pillars , wooden tablets, bricks and images.

Four factors are very important from the viewpoint of history. They are- Individuals, Society, Place and time. History must be based on authentic evidence or proofs. These proofs are known as the source of history.

Bakhar is a type of chronicle that originated in Maharashtra. Chronicles help in understanding aspects like the contemporary political happenings, linguistic transactions, cultural life, social conditions etc.

The following sources are included among the physical sources:-

Buildings include palaces, ministerial mansions, Queens's palaces and also house of common people. They all provide insights about that period looking at them, we come to know about the development of architecture, the economic conditions, the quality of art, style of the building construction and people's standard of living in that particular period.

Fossils are impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age that has been preserved in Earth’s crust. The oldest fossils in the fossil record date from 3.5 billion years ago. They are great sources for learning about how animals and plants lived and behaved millions of years ago.

A person who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of the remains is called an archaeologist. They examine the cultures, languages, archaeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.

Petrographs are the inscriptions or carvings which are engraved on stones. Petrographic analysis helps to study the mineralogical or chemical composition of stones on the monuments. Petrographic is a form of rock arts.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

The first metallic coin was used in the BIhar and Easter Uttar Pradesh region by the Indo-Greeks.

Inscriptions are written records engraved on the stones, pillars or walls of caves. The earliest deciphered epigraphic inscriptions of significant length are the Edicts of Ashoka of the 3rd century BCE, written in forms of Prakrit in the Brahmi script. The vast majority of Indian inscriptions are found in South India, written on plates of copper, the stone walls of temples, or stone monuments.

The
iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, is a remarkable example of the skill of
Indian crafts persons. It is made of iron, 7.2 m high and weighs over 3
tonnes. It was made about 1500 years ago. It has a inscription which mentions the term "chandra". Therefore, there is a dispute ether it belongs to the Mauryan king Chandragupta or the Gupta king Chandragupta II.

Due to the absence of proper maintaining of records in the past, a single reliable source of information is not present. Therefore, to determine the reliability of the information, material sources, written sources and oral sources of history are collected and thoroughly examined.

Ashoka was born to Mauryan King Bindusara and his queen Devi Dharma in 304 B.C. Ashoka was the third ruler of the illustrious Maurya dynasty and was one of the most powerful kings of the Indian subcontinent in ancient times. His reign between 273 BC and 232 B.C. was one of the most prosperous periods in the history of India.

A
famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named
Ilango, around 1800 years ago. It is the story of a merchant named
Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named
Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi

The study of written historical records is known as Epigraphy. Inscriptions can be seen on rocks, pillars, stones, slabs, walls, temples, coins and copper plates. Based on the written messages the Epigraphy experts divide them into various categories, like social, political and religious. Experts analyze the meaning after deciphering (reading) the script. The Asokan edicts, Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta, Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin II, etc. are some major inscriptions of India.   

The Vedas, Puranas, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and other literature besides foreign accounts together with the archaeological sources like epigraphic, numismatic and architectural remains besides archaeological explorations and excavations help in restructuring Ancient Indian History.

The Taxila and the Kalawan copper-plate inscriptions (c. 1st century CE or earlier) are among the earliest known instances of copper plates being used for writing in the Indian subcontinent.

• Coins made of metal first appeared in India, during the age of Gautama Buddha. 
• The earliest were made largely of silver though a few copper coins also appeared.

Ajanta caves are the oldest monuments located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. These caves belong to second century BCE. These caves were discovered on 28 April 1819 by a British officer named John Smith. These consists of a stretch of caves. These caves have monasteries, worship and meeting halls.

Brihat Samhita, written by Varahamihira, is a classic encyclopedic work in Sanskrit covering diverse subjects like astronomy, architecture, weather, and plants. The other options are specialized texts: Mamarakosa is a lexicon, Siddhantasiromani is mathematical astronomy, and Ashtangahridaya is a medical treatise.