6th Social Notes (Ancient Civilizations)

 6^th History Chapter 3

Ancient Civilizations

Egyptian Civilization

I. Fill in the blanks:

1. Egyptian civilization was born on the banks of the river Nile.

2. The Pharaoh who built a big pyramid at Giza was Khufu.

3. Egypt is the first civilization of the ancient world.

4. The statue with body of a lion & head of man is called Sphinx.

 

II. Answer the following in a sentence each:

1. Which is the longest river in the world?
Ans: River Nile is the longest river in the world.

 

2. Why Egypt is called as the gift of Nile?
Ans: Egypt is called ‘Gift of Nile’ because if the River Nile had not flowed through Egypt, it would have been a desert.

 

3. Who is a Pharaoh? Name some of the Pharaohs.
Ans: The kings of Egypt were called ‘Pharaohs’. Menes, Khufu, Amenhotep and Thamos were prominent pharaohs.

 

4. What does ‘Mummy’ mean?
Ans: The preserved dead body of Egyptians were called ‘Mummy’.

 

5. Which is the script of ancient Egyptians?
Ans: Hieroglyphics is the script of ancient Egyptians.

 

The Mesopotamian Civilization

 I. Fill in the blanks :

1. Ashurbanipal built a library in Nenveh.

2. Sumerians wrote in Cuneiform script.

3. Hammurabi was the first king to enforce Code of Laws.

 

II. Answer the following in a sentence:

1. Which were river banks on which Mesopotamia flourished?
Ans: Tigris and Euphrates.

 

2. Which were the tribes that ruled Mesopotamia?
Ans: Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians and Neo-Babylonians.

 

3. Which are the city states of Mesopotamia?
Ans: Ur, Kish and Lagash were the important city states.

 

4. Write a short note on Hammurabi?
Ans: Hammurabi was the most famous king among Babylonians. He was the architect of the famous ‘Code of laws’, which were based on ideas like ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.

 

5. Who created the Hanging Gardens in Babylonia?
Ans: Nebuchadnezzar, the great king among Chaldean tribe of Babylonia.

 

6. What is Ziggurat?
Ans: ‘Ziggurat’ are high raised temples of Babylonia.

 

7. Name the epic of Mesopotamians?
Ans: The great epic of Mesopotamia is ‘Gilgamesh’.

 

 Chinese civilization

 I. Fill in the blanks with a appropriate words:

1. The trade route between China and Rome was known as “The Silk Route”.

2. Chinese wrote in Photographic script.

II. Answer the following in a sentence:

1. On which river bank did Chinese civilization evolve?
Ans: Yangtze and Hwang Ho.

 

2. Name the dynasties that ruled China.
Ans: Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han and Song dynasties.

 

3. Who built the Great Wall of China and Why?
Ans: Chi-Huang-Ti, the king of Qin dynasty built ‘Great wall of China’.

 

4. Write a short note on the king Wu-Ti?

Ans: King Wu-Ti was the famous king of Han dynasty. He established a vast empire. He gave very much importance to foreign trade. There was a great demand for Chinese silk in Rome. So he formed a trade route between China and Rome, which became famous as ‘The silk Route’. He encouraged and literature. His reign is known as the ‘Golden age’ in Chinese History.

 

5. List the contributions of Chinese to the ancient world.
Ans: The contributions of Chinese to ancient world are, wood printing press, Porcelain, Tea, Silk, Paper made of bamboo, explosives, painting brush, Porcelain and Mariner’s compass.

 

6. Name the philosophers of China.
Ans: Lao. Tze and Confucius.

 

Greek Civilization

 I. Answer the following in a sentence:

1. Which are the different tribes of Greek?
Ans: Aeoleans, Ionions and the Dorians.

 

2. Which are the city-states in Greek?
Ans: Athens and Sparta were the city states of Greece.

 

3. Write short notes on Athens.

Ans: Athens was an ideal city-state of Greece. It was governed by a democratic government. Clesthenes, who overthrew the kingship of Athens was instrumental in forming the base for Democracy, about 2500 years ago. The reign of Pericles in Athens is known as ‘Golden period for science in Athens. Pericles called Athens as ‘The School of Hellas’. He encouraged Art, Literature and philosophy which reached their Pinnacle during his reign. The temple of Athena in Athens was built by Pericles. It is a best example of Greek Architecture.

 

4. Name the great historians of Greek.
Ans: Herodotus and Thucydides are great historians of Greek.

 

5. Name the works of Homer.
Ans: Homer wrote two epics, ‘The Illiad’ and ‘The Odyssey’.

 

6. Who is the father of medicine?
Ans: Hippocrates is known as the ‘Father of Medicine’.

 

II. Match the following from list ‘A’ to list ‘B’:

A	B
1. Athens	a. Temple of Parthenon	c
2. Plato	b. King of Macedonia	d
3. Pericles	c. Greek dramatist	e
4. Alexander	d. Academy	b
5. Aeschylus	e. City-state	a

 

Roman Civilization

 I. Answer the following in a sentence each:

1. Who are the ancestors of Rome?

Ans: Romus and Remus were the ancestors of Rome.

 

2. Name all the persons of the first Triumvirate.

Ans: Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar formed the ‘first Triumvirate’.

 

3. Which were the places of importance during the reign of Julius Caesar?

Ans: Rome and Egypt were the places of importance during the reign of Julius Caesar.

 

4. Write a short note on Augustus Caesar.

Ans: Augustus Caesar was formerly called Octavius. Augustus Caesar formed the second Triumvirate along with Mark Anthony and Lepidus. In the beginning Augustus Caesar shared power with Mark Anthony by banishing Lepidus. Later he also defeated Mark Anthony. Augustus became the most powerful man in the Roman Empire.

He was instrumental in introducing many social reforms and his reign, in Rome was very peaceful and hence known as ’Roman Peace’. Hence Rome progressed economic and culturally. His reign is known as the ‘Golden Age of Rome’.

 

5. Name the great poets of Roman civilization.

Ans: Virgil, who wrote the epic ‘Aeneid’ and Ovid, were the great poets of Rome.

 

6. Name the philosophers of Rome.

Ans: Cato, Cicero and Seneca were the famous philosophers of Rome.

 

7. List the contributions of Romans.

Ans: Ancient Romans had a deep knowledge in science and Mathematics. The encyclopedia ‘Natural History’ was compiled by Pliny. Galen was a famous surgeon. Strabo and Ptolemy were famous Geologists. The Roman law laid the basic foundation for the world’s future laws. Even today Latin words are being used in science, law and other branches of knowledge. Julius Caesar recorded history. The Colosseum and Amphitheater in Rome are great architectural structures. The Julian calendar is still used all over the world.

 

II. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions:

1. The achievements of Augustus Caesar.

Ans: Augustus Caesar was formerly called Octavius. Augustus Caesar formed the ‘Second Triumvirate’ along with Mark Anthony and Lepidus. In the beginning Augustus Caesar shared power with Mark Anthony by banishing Lepidus. Later he also defeated Mark Anthony. Augustus became the most powerful man in the Roman Empire.

 He was instrumental in introducing many social reforms and his reign, in Rome was very peaceful and hence known as ’Roman Peace’. Hence Rome progressed economic and culturally. His reign is known as the ‘Golden Age of Rome’.

 

2. List the contributions of Romans.

Ans: Ancient Romans had a deep knowledge in science and Mathematics. The encyclopedia ‘Natural History’ was compiled by Pliny. Galen was a famous surgeon. Strabo and Ptolemy were famous Geologists. The Roman law laid the basic foundation for the world’s future laws. Even today Latin words are being used in science, law and other branches of knowledge. Julius Caesar recorded history. The Colosseum and Amphitheater in Rome are great architectural structure. The Julian calendar is still used all over the world.

 

III. Match the items in list ‘A’ with those of list ‘B’:

A	B
1. Rome	a. Natural History	c
2. Augustus Caesar	b. Tiber river	a
3. Pliny	c. Golden age of Rome	b
4. Galen	d. Roman Architecture	e
5. Colosseum	e. Roman surgeon	d

  Harappa Civilization

 I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:

1. Lothal was a port/harbour in the Harappan Civilization.

2. The Mesopotamian called the Harappan civilization as ‘Meluah’

3. Mother Goddess was worshiped by the Harappans.

 

II. Answer the following in a sentence:

1. Which are the two important cities of Harappan civilization?

Ans: Mohenjadaro and Harappa are the two important cities of Harappan civilization.

 

2. Which was the first country to grow cotton?

Ans: India was the first country to grow cotton.

 

3.Which Gods were worshiped by the people of Harappan civilization?

Ans: Pashupati (Shiva), Mother Goddess, Peepal and Neem trees, Sun, Fire, Earth, Water and Snakes.

 

4. Where can we find the ‘Great Bath’ ?

Ans: We find the ‘Great Bath’ in Mohenjadaro.

 

5. In which was the port of Harappan civilization found?

Ans: The port of Harappan civilization was found in Lothal.

 

6. Mention two reasons for the decline of Harappan civilization?

Ans: The reasons for the decline of Harappan Civilization

a) Aryan Invasion.

b) Regular floods of the River Indus.

c) Overuse of wood for burning bricks destroyed forests.

d) The Spread of Infections diseases.

 

III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions:

 1. What are the reasons for the decline of Harappan civilization?

Ans: Harappan Civilization developed along the Indus river. The River Indus irrigated the agricultural lands of the inhabitants. Though agriculture flourished, River Indus flooded at regular intervals leading to huge loss of crops, grains and trade which consequently proved to be uneconomical. They migrated to other places with suitable arable land.The cities of Indus Valley Civilization were well planned. They inhabitants built wide roads with well planned drainage system and even multistory buildings.

 Since agriculture flourished they store excess food grains in granaries. Since agriculture was labour intensive they had to build large quarters for the labour force and life stocks like cattle, goats, pigs, cats, dogs, camels and donkeys. Even trade with other civilizations flourished. All this required huge quantities of burnt bricks to build the infrastructure. They used large quantity of fire¬wood to bum bricks, which eventually led to the destruction of forests. So they had to migrate to other places.

 Although the Indus valley inhabitants gave importance to cleanliness and public-health. Trade with other civilizations brought new diseases which were infections, and which led to mass extinction of the inhabitants so they migrated to, other safe places in fear of death. Moreover, the invasion by Aryans, destroyed their cities and they fled to other safe places in fear, abandoning their civilization.

 

2. Discuss the common features that can be found in the social, economic and religious life of your village/town and Harappan civilization.

Ans: Yes, there are common features that can be found in the social, economic and religious life, of our town/village and Harappan Civilization. Similar to us, the Harappan men and women used to decorate themselves with ornaments like necklaces, fillets, armless, finger- rings, bangles, ear-rings and nose-studs. They also used cosmetics and perfumes. They also played Marbles, balls and dice, as recreational sports. They also enjoyed to watch bull-fight, similar to us watching cricket or football. Even their children played with dolls made of clay and wood or metal.

 The main occupation of Harappanas was agriculture and rearing domestic animals. They also carried trade with other civilizations. Just like us they were interested in art and architecture. They made clay idols of Mother Goddess. Beautiful artifacts like the copper figurine of a dancing girl and the head of a bearded man made of stone were found while excavating Harappan sites. Just like us they were religious people and worshiped Pashupati and performed fire-rituals. They also has a unique script which is yet to be deciphered.