Class 6 Social Science - TAMILNADU
History: Timeline and Sources of History
The Class 6 Social Science chapter 'History: Timeline and Sources of History' from the Tamil Nadu Samacheer Kalvi syllabus introduces students to the fascinating world of the past. It explains how historians study history by dividing time into Pre-historic and Historic periods using the BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) timeline. Students learn about the vital sources of history, categorized into archaeological sources like inscriptions, coins, and monuments, and literary sources like secular and religious texts, as well as foreign accounts. This chapter forms the foundation for understanding all historical events in upcoming board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Pre-history and History
Pre-history refers to the period before the invention of writing, where we rely entirely on archaeological excavations. History is the period for which written records are available to study human past.
BCE and CE Timeline
History is measured using BCE (Before Common Era) which counts backwards to zero, and CE (Common Era) which counts forward from zero, replacing the older BC and AD systems.
Archaeological Sources
Inscriptions, rocks, pillars, metal plates, coins, and monuments left behind by our ancestors that provide direct physical evidence of past civilizations.
Literary Sources
Books, manuscripts, epics, and poems written on palm leaves or paper, categorized into religious literature (like epics) and secular literature.
Numismatics and Epigraphy
Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions engraved on hard surfaces, while numismatics is the scientific study of coins used to understand the economy and rulers of the past.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Tamil Nadu (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 6 Social Science examinations, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually include fill-in-the-blanks, matching the following, short answers distinguishing between archaeological and literary sources, and one or two-mark questions defining terms like BCE, CE, and Numismatics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BCE and CE?
BCE stands for Before Common Era and counts down to zero, while CE stands for Common Era and counts up from zero. They replace BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini).
Why are coins important sources of history?
Coins tell us about the economic condition of a kingdom, trade relations, the metals used, the reigns of various kings, and their dates through the images and symbols stamped on them.
What are the two main types of historical sources?
The two main types are Archaeological sources (physical remains like monuments and coins) and Literary sources (written records like books and palm leaf manuscripts).
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