Page 5 - SST Class 06

History : When,

ory 1
Hist Where and How

q Importance of history q The timeframe under study
q BC and AD q Geography and history
q The geographical extent q Sources of history

Introduction TIMEFRAME OF HISTORY
We often wonder how people lived in the past, The history of man from earliest times to the
what did they eat, wear, and what kind of houses modern ones can be divided into three phases—
they lived in etc. The answer of all these questions ancient history , medieval history and modern
is available in history. Suppose, we have to know history . The period of ancient history is
about yesterday or the day before yesterday then considered from earliest times up to about eighth
we read newspaper, listen to the radio or watch the century; that of medieval period from about eighth
television. If we wish to gather information related to eighteenth century; and that of modern history
to last month or previous some months we read is considered from about eighteenth century to
magazines, annual reports etc. but if we have to until now. In this class, we shall study ancient
find out what happened decades or centuries ago, history.
we study history or various sources of history.
Ancient history can be divided into two types of
timeframes :
IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
1. Prehistory and history 2. BC and AD.
History is not a simple narration of past events in a
chronological order. Rather it studies events, their Prehistory and History
causes and effects. It studies man, how he lived Prehistory is quite a matter of conjecture because
and progressed and how he succeeded in his not much of such evidence is available which can
achievements and what problems he faced during point to the specific occurrences. As there is no
this course. History is important as : written record about Early Man, we have inferred
from sources or clues that we have got in the form
1. It helps us to know our past events.
of tools, weapons, pots, jewellery, coins, carvings
2. It acquaints us with our ancestors, kings, in cave etc. Still we cannot tell with surety that
important people and common men.
3. It tells us about the evolution and progress of
knowledge in different fields.
4. It tells us about progress in art, architecture,
language, religion, culture, civilization, beliefs,
customs, traditions etc.

5. It helps us to understand our present day
problems and how we can tackle them in an
effective manner.
Early Man’s stone tools
History : When, Where and How
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