What are the sources used to study the past?

The main sources are manuscripts (handwritten records), inscriptions (writing on hard surfaces like stone or metal), and the objects — tools, pottery, coins and bones — that archaeologists dig up.

What do BCE and CE mean?

BCE means Before Common Era and CE means Common Era. The birth of Christ is the starting point; dates before it are counted backwards as BCE and dates after it as CE.

Why did early people choose to live near rivers?

Rivers gave water for drinking and farming, fish to eat, fertile soil, and an easy way to travel and carry goods, so people settled along rivers like the Narmada and the Ganga.

CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 1 Notes — What, Where, How and When?

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What is History?

History is the study of our past. It tells us about:

the people who lived before us,
how they lived, what they ate and wore,
the houses they built and the tools they used,
the great events and ordinary daily life of earlier times.

How Do We Know About the Past?

Historians use different sources to learn about the past:

Source	What it is
Manuscripts	Handwritten records written on palm leaves or the bark of trees (birch)
Inscriptions	Writing carved on hard surfaces such as stone, metal or clay
Archaeological finds	Objects dug up by archaeologists — tools, weapons, pottery, coins, ornaments and bones

An archaeologist studies these remains to understand how people lived long ago. People who study and write history are called historians.

Where Did People Live?

People have lived along the banks of rivers for thousands of years.
About 8000 years ago, people lived along the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills (north-west) — herding animals.
The Garo Hills (north-east) and the Vindhyas had early farming.
The Narmada and Ganga river valleys were important early homes.
The Magadha kingdom (south of the Ganga) became powerful about 2000 years ago.

How Did People Live in the Past?

Some were hunters and gatherers who moved from place to place.
Some began farming and herding and settled in villages.
Some became craftspeople and traders in towns.
Kings, queens and ordinary farmers all form part of history.

Dates: BCE and CE

Historians count years from the birth of Christ.
Years after Christ's birth are counted AD (Anno Domini) or CE (Common Era).
Years before his birth are counted BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era), and they go backwards.

Example	Meaning
100 CE	100 years after Christ's birth
100 BCE	100 years before Christ's birth (older than 1 CE)

Tip: As BCE dates increase, the time becomes older (further back). So 200 BCE is older than 100 BCE.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Meaning
Manuscript	A handwritten record, often on palm leaf or bark
Inscription	Writing carved on stone, metal or clay
Archaeologist	A person who studies the remains of the past
Historian	A person who studies and writes about history
BCE	Before Common Era (counted backwards from Christ's birth)
CE	Common Era (after Christ's birth)
Source	Anything that gives information about the past

Exam Tips

The three sources — manuscripts, inscriptions, archaeological finds — is a standard 2-mark question.
BCE goes backwards: 500 BCE is older than 100 BCE — a common trick question.
Early people lived along rivers (Narmada, Ganga) — water, soil, food and travel were the reasons.
Archaeologists dig up objects; historians read and write — know the difference.
Manuscripts were written on palm leaves or birch bark before paper was used.

Frequently Asked Questions

History is the study of our past — the people who lived before us, how they lived, what they ate and wore, and the events that took place in earlier times.