Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 5

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 5 India, That Is Bharat from the new NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond explores the many names by which India has been known through history. Students learn where the names Bharata, Bharatavarsha and Jambudvipa come from, how the river Sindhu gave rise to names like Hind and India, and what ancient texts and inscriptions tell us about how people saw the land.

These CBSE important questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 5 cover the origin of Bharatavarsha and Indoi, foreign names for India, India's geography in ancient literature, Ashoka's inscriptions, Sapta Sindhava and the Vishnu Purana, along with assertion-reason questions. Every question has a clear answer in simple English for practice and revision.

CBSE Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Chapter 5 – India, That Is Bharat

Q1. Explain the historical origin and significance of the name 'Bharatavarsha' for the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: The name 'Bharatavarsha' was used for the entire Indian subcontinent. It comes from a group of people called the Bharatas, who lived in the north-west and are mentioned in the Rig Veda. The land was named after them, so Bharatavarsha means 'the land of the Bharatas'.

Q2. Explain the origin of the term 'Indoi' used by the ancient Greeks to refer to the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: The term 'Indoi' comes from the river Sindhu (Indus). The Persians pronounced 'Sindhu' as 'Hindu' and used it for the land east of the river. The Greeks took this name from the Persians, and since their language did not use the 'h' sound, 'Hindu' became 'Indoi'.

Name change from Sindhu to Hindu in Persian, Indoi in Greek, and later India

Q3. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
Persians, Greeks, and Chinese visitors named India based on their interactions with the land. For example, the Persians called it "Hind," while the Greeks referred to it as "Indoi." These names often came from the Sindhu River.
1. How did foreign visitors like the Persians and Greeks name India?
2. Why do you think the Sindhu River was significant to these names?
3. What can the names given by foreigners tell us about their views of India?

Answer: 1. The Persians called India "Hind" and the Greeks called it "Indoi". Both names came from the Sindhu River and were based on how they pronounced the river's name.
2. The Sindhu was a major river that people could see and use for trade and travel. Foreign visitors used it as a reference point to describe the land and its people.
3. The names show that foreigners saw India as a land connected with its rivers and geography, and that they recognised the importance of the Sindhu in trade and culture.

Q4. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
India's ancient texts and literature show a strong awareness of geography, from the Himalayas in the north to [Cape] Kumari in the south. This unity is also reflected in cultural practices and traditions.
1. How does ancient literature reflect India's awareness of its geography?
2. What role do natural boundaries like the Himalayas play in defining India?
3. How do cultural practices contribute to India's unity despite its diversity?

Answer: 1. Texts such as the Vishnu Purana and the Mahabharata describe the Himalayas in the north and the oceans in the south. They show that people understood the size and variety of the land, with its rivers, mountains and forests, and saw these as part of their identity.
2. The Himalayas form a natural barrier in the north and protect the land. They are the source of rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna, mark India's northern boundary and shape its climate and culture.
3. Festivals, music and food bring people together. Festivals like Diwali and Holi are celebrated across the country in different regional ways, creating a sense of unity among people who speak different languages or follow different religions.

Q5. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
Emperor Ashoka referred to India as "Jambudvīpa" in his inscriptions. This name included regions that today form parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. His inscriptions provide valuable insights into India's history.
1. What does Ashoka's use of the name "Jambudvīpa" tell us about India's ancient boundaries?
2. How do Ashoka's inscriptions help us understand his rule and the Indian subcontinent?
3. Why are inscriptions like Ashoka's important for reconstructing history?

Answer: 1. Jambudvīpa included not only present-day India but also parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This shows that the subcontinent was seen as one large, connected region in his time.
2. The inscriptions describe his policies of peace and kindness and his care for his people. They also tell us about the spread of Buddhism and how his empire was organised across the subcontinent.
3. Inscriptions are direct written records from the time. They help historians learn about the beliefs, achievements and governance of people in the past; without them we would know much less.

Q6. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Rig Veda, Mahābhārata, and Vishnu Purana describe India in various ways. The Rig Veda mentions "Sapta Sindhava," meaning the land of seven rivers, while the Vishnu Purana defines India as the land between the Himalayas and the ocean.
1. What does "Sapta Sindhava" tell us about the geography of ancient India?
2. How does the Vishnu Purana describe India's boundaries?
3. Why is it important to study ancient texts to understand India's history?

Answer: 1. "Sapta Sindhava" means the land of seven rivers. It shows that the region had many rivers, including the Sindhu, which made the land fertile and supported farming, transport and the growth of early civilisations.
2. The Vishnu Purana describes India as the land between the Himalayas in the north and the ocean in the south, showing a clear understanding of its natural boundaries.
3. Ancient texts tell us about the culture, beliefs and geography of India at that time, how people lived, what they valued and how they saw the world.

Q7. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.
India has been called by many names over the years. Inhabitants referred to it as "Bharata" or "Jambudvīpa," while foreign visitors called it "Hind" or "India," often inspired by the Sindhu River.
1. What do the names "Bharata" and "Jambudvīpa" tell us about India's history?
2. How did the Sindhu River influence the names given to India by foreigners?
3. Why do you think different groups gave India different names?

Answer: 1. "Bharata" comes from a Vedic tribe mentioned in the Rig Veda, showing the cultural importance of the Bharatas. "Jambudvīpa" refers to the Indian subcontinent and reflects how ancient people described the geography of their land.
2. The river was called "Sindhu" in ancient Indian texts. The Persians pronounced it "Hindu", and this later became "Hind" and "India" in other languages. The river's importance in trade and geography made it the defining feature.
3. Each group saw the land from its own point of view. Local people used names based on their culture and geography, like "Bharata", while foreign visitors used names based on what stood out to them, like the Sindhu River.

Q8. Why did the Mahabharata mention regional names in India?
Assertion (A): The Mahabharata lists regions like Kurukshetra and Kaccha.
Reason (R): These regions were part of the epic's events and geography.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
The Mahabharata names these regions because they were part of its story and geography.

Q9. Why do many names for India originate from the Indus River?
Assertion (A): Foreign visitors often based India's names on the Indus River.
Reason (R): The Indus River was considered sacred in all ancient texts.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
Names like "Hindu" and "India" came from "Sindhu", but the river's sacredness is not mentioned in all ancient texts.

Q10. How did Emperor Ashoka describe India?
Assertion (A): Ashoka referred to India as 'Jambudvīpa' in his inscriptions.
Reason (R): 'Jambudvīpa' means 'land of the Bharatas.'
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
Ashoka used 'Jambudvīpa' for the subcontinent, but the word means 'land of the jamun tree', not the land of the Bharatas.

Q11. Why is the term 'Sapta Sindhava' significant?
Assertion (A): 'Sapta Sindhava' refers to the seven rivers of the Indian subcontinent.
Reason (R): It was used by ancient Chinese travellers to describe India.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
'Sapta Sindhava' comes from the Rig Veda; it was not a term used by Chinese travellers.

Q12. Why is India referred to as 'Bharat' in ancient texts?
Assertion (A): The name 'Bharat' comes from the Rig Veda.
Reason (R): It refers to a Vedic group of people called the Bharatas.
(a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not explain A.
(c) A is correct, but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong, but R is correct.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct, and R explains A.
The Rig Veda mentions the Bharatas, the group after whom the land was named.

Related Study Material on Extramarks

Q.1 Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reasoning (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.
Assertion (A): An account of the Vajjis was given in the Digha Nikaya, a famous Buddhist book about Ajatasattu and the Vajjis.
Reason (R): It contains some speeches of Mahavira, which were written down about 2600 years ago.

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Both A and R are true, and R is not the correct explanation of A.

A is true but R is false.

A is false but R is true.

Marks:1

Ans

The account of Ajatasattu and the Vajjis is from the Digha Nikaya, a well-known for Buddhist literature that includes some of the Buddha’s utterances. Around 2300 years ago, these were written down.

Q.2 In what form were the taxes imposed on craftspersons?

Cash

Labour

Goods

Bhaga

Marks:1

Ans

The taxes that were imposed on craftspeople was in the form of labour. A smith or maybe a weaver was supposed to work once or twice a month for the king exclusively.

Q.3 Later Vedic books were composed in north India.
I) Name three books that were written after the Rigveda or during the Later Vedic Period. (2)
II) What were these books about? (3)

Marks:5

Ans

I) The books that were written after the Rigveda are known as the later Vedic books. These included the Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, as well as several more, like Puranas, Upanishads, etc.
II) As the later Vedic Literature, written by priests, included a wealth of information regarding the rituals to be performed. These texts provide instructions on how to carry out these ceremonies. These books also included regulations that thesociety and its citizens expected to observe.

Q.4 Rajas became famous for performing sacrificial rituals.
I) What was the horse sacrifice called? (2)
II) What happened in the horse-sacrifice? (3)

Marks:5

Ans

I) The horse sacrifice was known as the Ashvamedha sacrifice which many rajas performed in order to demonstrate their power and strength.
II) A horse was set free to wander and was watched by some of the Raja’s soldiers. If a raja of any realm stopped the traveling horse, he had to battle. If the raja of a kingdom let the horse roam freely through his territory, then he submitted to the raja performing the sacrifice. These rajas who submitted to the authority of the raja were invited to a grand event in which the sacrifice was performed by well-trained priests. These rajas also brought gifts for the raja and henceforth, the raja was recognized as all-powerful and strong.

Q.5 Why did many people refuse to accept the varna system?

Marks:5

Ans

There were many people who refused to accept the varna system. Some believed it wrong to decide the varna on the basis of birth. Some were against the indiscrimination based on occupation which the varna system brought. Kings considered themselves to be superior to priests. Others opposed the tradition of untouchability, while others thought that everyone should be permitted to participate in the rites. Hence, all these reasons made the varna system unacceptable to most people except for the Brahmins who were responsible for establishing the varna order.

Q.6 What was the Painted Grey Ware?

Marks:3

Ans

Painted Grey Ware was a form of pottery.
Bowls and plates were some of the most prevalent painted grey pottery pieces.
Its texture used to be fine, and had a beautiful and smooth surface.
These potteries were grey in colour and had both simple lines as well as geometric designs on them.
It is assumed that these wares were used on special occasions, to serve special food to important people.

Q.7 Highlight two differences between a raja of a janapada and that of a mahajanapada.

Marks:2

Ans

Rulers of mahajanapadas maintained huge armies and ruled over vast kingdoms. Rajas of janapadas did not have to do this.

Q.8 The Buddha and Mahavira were both members of ganas, or sanghas. Buddhist literature contains some of the most vivid depictions of life in the sanghas.
Q.1 How did gana and sanghas work? (3 marks)
Q.2 What was the difference between ganas and sangha? (2 marks)

Marks:5

Ans

1. There were numerous rulers in a gana or sangha, not just one. Even when thousands of men reigned at the same time, each was referred to as a raja. These rajas united in ceremonies. They also assembled in groups to discuss and debate what was required to be done and how it should be done. If they were battered by an opponent, for instance, they would assemble to discuss what should be done to oppose the threat. Women, dasas, and kammakaras, on the other hand, were not permitted to attend these gatherings.
2. The term Gana was used for a group that has multiple members and the term sangha meant organization or association.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Kingdoms, Kings, and an Early Republic is the title of Chapter 6 in History for Class 6. This chapter tells us about rajas and how they were chosen in the past. We talk about the “Mahajanpadas” capital cities, which were typically protected by building enormous walls. In addition to domesticating cattle and other animals, people also lived in huts. They produced earthen pots and farmed a variety of vegetables. To know more details of the chapter, students can refer to Extramarks Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 5.

Kings constructed forts to defend themselves from potential attacks by other kings. Additionally, some kings wished to display their wealth by building imposingly high walls around their respective kingdoms. Further, the king exerted more authority over the population living within his kingdom by fortifying the borders. All of these serve as reasons for kings fortifying their kingdoms. To gain a deeper perspective of the chapter, students can easily click on the Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 5.

In former times, priests divided people into categories known as varnas. Each varna fit into one of these categories, which represented a particular social class. There were a total of 4 varnas. The Shudras were the ones who had to serve the other three varnas and were forbidden from performing any rites, made up the final varna. Women were frequently included in shudra groups and prohibited from participating in ceremonial sacrifices.