NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 4 – What Books and Burials Tell Us (Notes)

Chapter 4 – What Books and Burials Tell Us

These NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 4 notes explain how historians use books and burials to understand the past. The chapter focuses on manuscripts, the Rigveda, burial practices at sites like Inamgaon, and social differences in early societies. It is important for school exams and BPSC foundation preparation.

1. Meaning of the Chapter Title

This chapter explains how historians learn about the past from books and burials.
Books refer to ancient written records, while burials refer to graves and skeletons.
These sources help us understand beliefs, society, and daily life of people.
They give information about how people lived and what they believed in.
Just like family diaries and rituals tell us about ancestors, these sources tell us about the past.

2. Books: Sources of History

Manuscripts are handwritten books used as sources of history.
They were written on palm leaves and birch bark (Bhojpatra).
These manuscripts were carefully preserved and passed down generations.
They provide valuable information about ancient times.
Manuscripts were written in different languages.

3. Important religious texts

The Vedas are the oldest religious texts of ancient India.
They were written in Sanskrit.
The Vedas were composed between c. 1500 BCE and 1000 BCE.
They describe the lives of kings, priests, and warriors.
They give information about sacrifices, gods, and social life.

4. The Rigveda

The Rigveda is one of the four Vedas.
It contains hymns composed in Sanskrit.
It provides information about battles and cattle raids.
Society is described based on the work people did.
It also tells us about the languages spoken by people.

5. Burials: Another important source

Burials are another important source of history.
They give information about beliefs related to life after death.
Burials help historians understand social differences.
Objects buried with the dead show their social status.
Archaeologists carefully study burial remains.

6. Burial site: Inamgaon

Inamgaon is an important burial site.
It is located in Maharashtra.
The site dates back to 3600–2700 years ago.
Adults were buried in rectangular pits.
Children were buried in urns or pots.

7. Social differences from burials

Some graves contained pots and ornaments.
Other graves had very few or no objects.
This difference shows variation in social status.
Richer people were buried with more items.
This indicates inequality in society.

8. Megalithic burials

Megaliths mean large stones.
They were used to mark burial sites.
Megalithic burials are found in the Deccan region.
These burials were made using huge stone structures.
They show special burial practices.

9. Food habits from burials

Archaeologists found remains of rice in burial sites.
Evidence of wheat, jowar, and bajra was also found.
These findings show that people practiced farming.
People were mainly food producers.
Agriculture was an important part of life.

10. Important dates (NCERT focus)

The Rigveda was composed between c. 1500–1000 BCE.
Megalith building began around 3000 years ago.
Settlement at Inamgaon existed during 3600–2700 years ago.
These dates help understand early society.
Dating helps place events in correct historical order.

11. Important keywords

Manuscript refers to handwritten books of the past.
Rigveda is the oldest Vedic text.
Burial means placing the dead in graves.
Inamgaon is an important archaeological site.
Megalith refers to large stone burial markers.

12. Why this chapter is important

This chapter explains how books reveal ideas and beliefs.
It shows how burials provide material evidence.
It helps us understand early society.
It explains the existence of social inequality.
It forms the foundation for religious and social history.

This chapter helps students understand how written texts and archaeological evidence together reveal ancient beliefs, social structure, and daily life. Topics like megalithic burials and early religious texts are essential for understanding India’s early history.

Continue reading Class 6 History Chapter 5 – Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic to learn about the rise of kingdoms, mahajanapadas, and early forms of governance.

FAQs

Q1. What does Class 6 History Chapter 4 explain?
It explains how books and burial sites help historians understand early society and beliefs.

Q2. Why are burials important sources of history?
Burials provide information about social differences and beliefs about life after death.