04. What Books and Burials Tell Us class 6 NCERT Notes Chapter 4 History pdf download Estimated reading: 5 minutes 77 views What Books and Burials Tell Us NCERT Exam notes class 6 chapter 4 are as follows Vedas: Ancient Texts and Hymns Introduction to Vedas – What Books and Burials Tell Us Vedas are some of the oldest written books. There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. The oldest among them is the Rigveda, composed around 3500 years ago. Content of Rigveda The Rigveda contains over a thousand hymns called “sukta” praising various gods and goddesses. Notable deities: Agni, Indra, Soma (plant used for a special drink). These hymns were composed by sages (rishis), mostly men but some women too. Composed in old Vedic Sanskrit, different from present-day Sanskrit. Initially recited and heard, not read. Written down centuries later, printed recently. Languages and Sanskrit’s Family Sanskrit and Indo-European Languages Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European language family. Languages like Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Persian, English, etc., belong to this family. They shared common words, e.g., ‘matr’ (Sanskrit), ‘ma’ (Hindi), ‘mother’ (English). Other Language Families Northeast Indian languages are Tibeto-Burman. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam belong to the Dravidian family. Jharkhand and central India languages are Austro-Asiatic. Historians’ Approach to Rigveda Historians and Sources Historians study past through materials and written sources. Rigveda has hymns in dialogue form, providing insights. Importance of Cattle, Horses, and Chariots Rigveda’s Prayers Rigveda has prayers for cattle, children, and horses. Horses pulled chariots used in battles, fought for cattle, land, water, people. Wealth acquired shared with leaders, priests, for sacrifices. Society and Assemblies No regular army, but assemblies decided war and peace. Leaders chosen for bravery and skill. Describing People and Social Differences Priests and Rajas Priests (brahmins) and rajas (leaders) described by work. Different from later rajas; no cities, palaces, taxes. Community Description “Jana” and “vish” described communities. “Vaishya” derived from “vish”. Aryas and Dasas Rigvedic people described as Aryas, opponents as Dasas. Later, “dasa” meant slave, often war captives. Megaliths and Burials Megaliths Introduction Megaliths are big stones used for burial markers. Practiced for around 3000 years in Deccan, south India, northeast, and Kashmir. Features and Commonalities Burials with distinctive pots (Black and Red Ware). Iron tools, weapons, horse equipment, gold and stone ornaments. Social Differences in Burials Objects near skeletons suggest status differences. Rich, poor, chiefs, and followers buried differently. Family Burial Spots Some megaliths with multiple skeletons. Family burials; stone circles as markers. Unique Burial at Inamgaon Inamgaon Site Site near river Ghod, existed 3600-2700 years ago. Adults buried in ground, heads north. Burial Details Some burials within houses. Food containers near the dead. Special case: man buried in large clay jar in courtyard. Occupations and Subsistence at Inamgaon Archaeological Discoveries Found seeds of various grains. Animal bones (cattle, buffalo, etc.), cut marks indicate food use. Fruits collected: ber, amla, jamun, dates, berries. Keywords and Definitions Veda: Collection of ancient written books. Language: Method of human communication with words. Hymn: Religious song or poem praising deities. Chariot: Two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle. Sacrifice: Offering to a deity, including animals. Raja: Leader or king of a community. Slave: Person owned by another, forced to obey. Megalith: Large stone used in structures or monuments. Burial: Act of interring a dead body. Skeletal: Relating to a skeleton. Iron: Hard magnetic silvery-grey metal. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: What are the Vedas, and how old is the oldest one? A: The Vedas are ancient written books. The oldest Veda, the Rigveda, is around 3500 years old. Q2: What is the significance of horses and chariots in the Rigveda? A: Horses were yoked to chariots for battles and cattle capturing. Q3: How did megaliths mark burial sites, and where were they found? A: Megaliths are large stones carefully arranged to mark burial sites. They were found in Deccan, south India, northeast, and Kashmir. Q4: Who were described as Aryas and Dasas in the Rigveda? A: The people who composed the hymns referred to themselves as Aryas and their opponents as Dasas. Q5: What objects were commonly found with the dead in megalithic burials? A: Distinctive pots, tools, weapons, and sometimes horse equipment and ornaments were found. Q6: How did Rigvedic society decide matters of war and peace? A: Rigvedic society had assemblies where people met to decide war, peace, and choose leaders. Q7: What was the purpose of megaliths in burial sites? A: Megaliths marked burial sites and possibly served as signposts to find them. Q8: How did social differences manifest in megalithic burials? A: Objects near skeletons indicated differences in status among the buried individuals. Q9: What types of languages are related to Sanskrit in terms of language families? A: Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European language family, which includes languages like Hindi, Persian, and English. Q10: What was the role of priests and rajas in Rigvedic society? A: Priests performed rituals, and rajas were leaders. However, these rajas were different from later kings. This was the end of NCERT Notes on What Books and Burials Tell Us class 6 chapter 4 For more information, refer to NCERT SOLUTIONS, NCERT NOTES, and NCERT BOOKS.
