What is History — Exercise Solutions
Work through every question below, then compare your answers. Each section mirrors the Samacheer Kalvi textbook exercise.
I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQ)
Q1. What was the step taken by the early man to collect his food?
Answer
- (a) Farming
- (b) Hunting ✓
- (c) Trading
- (d) Cooking
Early humans survived by hunting animals and gathering fruits, roots, and other edible plants. Farming came much later.
Q2. Where are the objects used by ancient people preserved?
Answer
- (a) Temples
- (b) Palaces
- (c) Museum ✓
- (d) Libraries
Museums preserve and display artifacts, tools, and everyday objects used by ancient people for public education and research.
II. Match the Statement with the Reason
Q1. Statement: Pre-historic men went along with the dog for hunting. Reason: Dogs with their sniffing power would find out other animals.
- (a) Statement is correct, reason is wrong
- (b) Statement and reason are correct ✓
- (c) Statement is wrong, reason is correct
- (d) Both are wrong
Dogs were the first domesticated animals. Their keen sense of smell helped pre-historic men track and hunt wild animals.
Q2. Statement: The objects used by the early man are excavated. They are preserved to know the lifestyle of the people.
- (a) Museum ✓
- (b) Archive
- (c) Library
- (d) Laboratory
Excavated objects are preserved in museums so that people can study and understand the lifestyle of early humans.
Q3. Find out the wrong pair:
Answer
- (a) Rock paintings — To understand lifestyle
- (b) Written records — Copper plates
- (c) Ashoka — The most famous king
- (d) Cats — First domesticated ✓ (this is the WRONG pair)
The dog was the first domesticated animal, not cats. Cats were domesticated much later.
Q4. Find the odd one out:
Answer
- (a) Hunting
- (b) Painting
- (c) Gathering
- (d) The paintings were painted by using many colours ✓ (this is the ODD one)
Options (a), (b), and (c) are activities of early humans. Using many colours is not an activity but a description of how paintings were made.
III. Fill in the Blanks
1. The Old Stone Age man lived mostly in caves. 2. Herodotus is the father of history. 3. Dog was the first animal tamed by Old Stone Age man. 4. Inscriptions are archaeological sources. 5. Dharma Chakra has 24 spokes. 6. The word "History" is derived from the Greek word "Istoria". 7. BCE stands for Before Common Era. 8. CE stands for Common Era. 9. The study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy. 10. The study of coins is called Numismatics.
IV. State True or False
1. Stone tools belonging to Old Stone Age have been excavated at Athirampakkam near Chennai.
AnswerTrue ✓ — Athirampakkam is one of the important pre-historic sites in Tamil Nadu.
2. The materials used by the ancient people are preserved in the museums by the Archaeological Department.
AnswerTrue ✓ — The Archaeological Survey of India preserves ancient artifacts in museums across the country.
3. During the period of Ashoka, Buddhism spread across the country.
AnswerTrue ✓ — Emperor Ashoka played a major role in spreading Buddhism throughout India and beyond.
4. The earliest form of writing was developed by the Chinese.
AnswerFalse ✗ — The earliest form of writing (cuneiform) was developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, not the Chinese.
5. Pre-historic period had written records.
AnswerFalse ✗ — The pre-historic period is defined as the time before writing systems were invented, so there are no written records.
V. Match the Following
| Column A | | Column B |
|---|
| a. Rock paintings | → | (iv) To understand the lifestyle |
| b. Written records | → | (i) Copper plates |
| c. Ashoka | → | (ii) The most famous king |
| d. Religious Literature | → | (iii) Devaram |
Explanations: - Rock paintings depict daily life, hunting, and rituals, helping us understand lifestyle. - Written records include copper plate inscriptions that document grants and events. - Ashoka the Great is considered one of the most famous kings in Indian history. - Devaram is a collection of Tamil Saiva devotional hymns — an example of religious literature.
VI. Answer in One Word or Two
Q1. Two advantages of writing a diary: → (1) Source of information (2) Record of past events
Q2. How do we know the lifestyle of the Old Stone Age? → From stone tools, rock paintings, fossils, and other excavated materials.
Q3. Is inscription a written record? → Yes, inscription is a written record.
Q4. What is proto history? → The period between pre-history and history.
Q5. Name an epic: → Ramayana (or Mahabharata / Manimegalai)
Q6. Who is the father of history? → Herodotus
Q7. What does "Istoria" mean? → Learning by enquiry
Q8. Name two literary sources: → Religious literature (epics, Puranas) and Secular literature (court chronicles, travelogues)
VII. Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is history?
Answer
History is the study of past events in chronological order. The term "History" is derived from the Greek word "Istoria" meaning "learning by enquiry." History helps us understand how societies developed, what people did in the past, and how their actions shape our present.
Q2. What do you know about the pre-historic period?
Answer
The period between the use of the first stone tools and the invention of writing systems is called the pre-historic period. During this long era, humans lived as hunter-gatherers, used stone tools, painted on cave walls, and gradually learned to domesticate animals. Since there were no written records, we learn about this period mainly through archaeological evidence such as stone tools, fossils, and rock paintings.
Q3. What are the sources available to know about the pre-historic period?
Answer
The main sources are: 1. Stone tools — used for hunting, cutting, and digging 2. Excavated materials — pottery, ornaments, and everyday objects 3. Rock paintings — depicting hunting scenes, animals, and daily life 4. Fossils — remains of plants, animals, and humans 5. Potteries, toys, coins, and ornaments — revealing craftsmanship and trade
Q4. Mention the places from where we got pre-historic tools:
Answer
1. Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu) 2. Athirampakkam (near Chennai, Tamil Nadu) 3. Brahmagiri (Karnataka) 4. Hallur (Karnataka) 5. Lothal (Gujarat) 6. Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)
Q5. What are the benefits of a museum?
Answer
1. Objects used by early humans are preserved in museums for future generations. 2. They help us understand the lifestyle and culture of past peoples. 3. Museums expose students to new ideas and stimulate curiosity. 4. They serve as caretakers of history, protecting artifacts from damage and loss. 5. They provide visual learning experiences that textbooks alone cannot offer.
Q6. Name some tools used by early man to hunt animals:
Answer
1. Weapons made of stones 2. Bones of animals 3. Horns of animals 4. Weapons made from branches of trees 5. Flint tools (chikki-mukki kal)
Q7. Why were paintings drawn on rocks?
Answer
1. Early humans wished to record their activities — hunting, dancing, gathering — through rock paintings. 2. Painting was also a part of their pastime and creative expression. 3. These paintings served as a form of communication before writing was invented. 4. They help modern historians understand the daily life, beliefs, and artistic skills of pre-historic people.
Q8. Name any two artifacts:
Answer
1. Toys 2. Ornaments 3. Pottery 4. Coins
VIII. Detailed Answer Questions (HOTS)
Q1. How were dogs useful to pre-historic men?
Answer
- Dogs helped prevent the entry of wild animals into their caves by barking and alerting the group.
- With their keen sniffing power, dogs helped in tracking and hunting wild animals.
- Dogs provided companionship and a sense of security for early humans.
- They helped in guarding the settlement and herding other domesticated animals.
Q2. Compare the lifestyle of Old Stone Age man with present-day lifestyle:
Answer
| Aspect | Old Stone Age | Present Day |
|---|
| Shelter | Lived in caves and open spaces | Live in well-built houses and apartments |
| Food | Hunted animals and gathered fruits | Buy food from shops; cook with modern appliances |
| Safety | Unsafe environment; threat from wild animals | Safe and secure environment |
| Clothing | Wore hides of animals, barks, and leaves | Wear clothes made of cotton, silk, and synthetic fabrics |
| Communication | Rock paintings and gestures | Language, writing, phones, and the internet |
| Tools | Stone tools, bones, and horns | Advanced machines and technology |
| Transport | Walked or used animals | Cars, trains, aeroplanes |
| Health | No medical facilities | Advanced hospitals and medicines |
IX. Student Activity — Identify the Category of Sources
1. Urns excavated from Adichanallur → Artifact (Archaeological source) 2. Copper plates of Velvikudi → Inscriptions (Archaeological source) 3. Mahabharata → Religious Literature (Literary source) 4. Sanchi Stupa → Monument (Archaeological source) 5. Pattinappaalai → Literary source (Secular literature) 6. Earthenwares from Keezhadi → Artifact (Archaeological source) 7. Toys of Indus Civilisation → Artifact (Archaeological source) 8. Big Temple of Thanjavur → Monument (Archaeological source)
XI. Answer Grid
| Clue | Answer |
|---|
| Early men scribbled and painted on ___ | Rock |
| Two archaeological sources | Inscriptions, Monuments |
| Types of literary sources | Religious literature and Secular literature |
| BCE stands for | Before Common Era |
| "Istoria" means | Learning by enquiry |
| CE stands for | Common Era |
| Study of inscriptions is called | Epigraphy |
| Study of coins is called | Numismatics |
| I can help you talk, see, hear, write, and read | Language |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing "history" with "pre-history" — Pre-history is the period BEFORE writing was invented; history begins with written records. 2. Saying "cats" were the first domesticated animal — The dog was the first animal domesticated by early humans. 3. Thinking archaeological sources are only coins and monuments — Artifacts, pottery, tools, toys, urns, and bones are also archaeological sources. 4. Confusing literary and archaeological sources — Literary sources include epics, chronicles, and religious texts; archaeological sources include inscriptions, coins, monuments, and excavated objects. 5. Writing "Istoria" means "history" — It actually means "learning by enquiry." 6. Confusing BCE/CE with BC/AD — BCE = Before Common Era (replaces BC); CE = Common Era (replaces AD). The meaning is the same but the terms are more inclusive. 7. Forgetting that rock paintings are archaeological sources — Even though they depict scenes, they are classified as archaeological, not literary sources.
Exam Checklist
- [ ] Can define history and explain the meaning of "Istoria"
- [ ] Can list and classify sources of history (literary vs. archaeological)
- [ ] Know the difference between pre-history, proto history, and history
- [ ] Can explain why Herodotus is called the "father of history"
- [ ] Can name key pre-historic sites (Athirampakkam, Adichanallur, Bhimbetka, Lothal, etc.)
- [ ] Understand the significance of rock paintings as sources
- [ ] Can explain the role of museums in preserving history
- [ ] Know what epigraphy and numismatics study
- [ ] Can compare Old Stone Age life with modern life
- [ ] Can identify source categories (archaeological vs. literary) for given examples
- [ ] Remember: Dharma Chakra has 24 spokes; Dog was first domesticated animal
