📖 Open Your History Textbook to Page Number 10
GRADE 6 • HISTORY • SSC MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD
Chapter 2: Prehistoric Period
Page 10 — Easy Page-wise Explanation
🌍 2.1 Ancient India – Geographical Background
📜 Textbook Paragraph
agricultural practices, crops and human
lifestyles.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- The previous page explained that North and South India have different climates.
- These climatic and geographical differences affect the methods used for agriculture.
- They affect the kinds of crops grown in different regions.
- They also cause people in different places to develop different ways of life.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural practices – methods used for farming. | शेतीच्या पद्धती – शेती करण्यासाठी वापरल्या जाणाऱ्या पद्धती. | कृषि पद्धतियाँ – खेती करने के लिए उपयोग की जाने वाली विधियाँ. |
| Crops – plants grown by farmers for food or other uses. | पिके – अन्न किंवा इतर उपयोगांसाठी शेतात वाढवलेली झाडे. | फसलें – भोजन या अन्य उपयोग के लिए खेतों में उगाए गए पौधे. |
| Lifestyles – the ways in which people live. | जीवनशैली – लोकांचे जगण्याचे मार्ग. | जीवनशैली – लोगों के जीवन जीने के तरीके. |
🎯 Clear Concept
Geographical diversity creates differences in agriculture, crops and human lifestyles.
📜 Agriculture in Ancient India
In ancient times, agriculture flourished
in the fertile sedimentary soils of India.
The vast plateau of Central India and the
Ganga-Yamuna delta were the most fertile
regions for agriculture in India.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- Agriculture developed successfully in ancient India.
- It developed well in places that had fertile sedimentary soil.
- Fertile soil contains suitable conditions for growing crops.
- Central India has a very large plateau region.
- The Ganga and Yamuna rivers form a fertile delta region.
- The Central Indian plateau and Ganga-Yamuna delta were among India’s most fertile agricultural regions.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Flourished – developed successfully and strongly. | भरभराट झाली – यशस्वीपणे आणि मोठ्या प्रमाणात विकास झाला. | फलती-फूलती रही – सफलतापूर्वक और अच्छी तरह विकसित हुई. |
| Fertile – good for growing crops. | सुपीक – पिके वाढण्यासाठी योग्य. | उपजाऊ – फसल उगाने के लिए अच्छी. |
| Sedimentary soils – soils formed from materials deposited in layers. | गाळाची माती – थरांमध्ये साचलेल्या पदार्थांपासून तयार झालेली माती. | तलछटी मिट्टी – परतों में जमा पदार्थों से बनी मिट्टी. |
| Plateau – a large raised area of mostly flat land. | पठार – उंचावलेला व बहुतांश सपाट भूभाग. | पठार – ऊँचा और अधिकतर समतल भूभाग. |
| Delta – fertile land formed near the mouth of a river. | त्रिभुज प्रदेश – नदीच्या मुखाजवळ तयार झालेला सुपीक भूभाग. | डेल्टा – नदी के मुहाने के पास बनी उपजाऊ भूमि. |
💡 Useful Information
Fertile soil and river regions supported the growth of agriculture in ancient India.
🎯 Clear Concept
Agriculture flourished mainly in India’s fertile plateau and river-delta regions.
📜 The Deccan Plateau and Chalcolithic Settlements
The black soil of Deccan Plateau is
very fertile. The Chalcolithic cultures
developed here. Rivers like Godavari,
Krishna and their tributeries gave a
boost to the establishment of chalcolithic
settlements, agriculture and agrarian life
style in ancient Maharashtra.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- The Deccan Plateau has very fertile black soil.
- Chalcolithic cultures developed in this fertile region.
- The Godavari and Krishna rivers flow through the region.
- The smaller rivers that join them are called tributaries.
- These rivers provided support for the establishment of Chalcolithic settlements.
- They also supported agriculture and an agrarian way of life in ancient Maharashtra.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Chalcolithic cultures – cultures of a period when stone and copper were used. | ताम्रपाषाण संस्कृती – दगड आणि तांबे वापरले जात असलेल्या काळातील संस्कृती. | ताम्रपाषाण संस्कृतियाँ – उस काल की संस्कृतियाँ जब पत्थर और ताँबे का उपयोग होता था. |
| Tributaries – smaller rivers that flow into a larger river. | उपनद्या – मोठ्या नदीला मिळणाऱ्या लहान नद्या. | सहायक नदियाँ – बड़ी नदी में मिलने वाली छोटी नदियाँ. |
| Boost – help something grow or develop. | चालना – वाढ किंवा विकास होण्यास मदत. | बढ़ावा – वृद्धि या विकास में सहायता. |
| Agrarian lifestyle – a way of life based mainly on farming. | कृषिप्रधान जीवनशैली – मुख्यतः शेतीवर आधारित जीवनपद्धती. | कृषि-आधारित जीवनशैली – मुख्य रूप से खेती पर आधारित जीवन. |
💡 Useful Information
Fertile black soil and rivers made the Deccan Plateau suitable for settlements and agriculture.
🎯 Clear Concept
The soil and rivers of the Deccan Plateau helped Chalcolithic culture and agricultural life develop in ancient Maharashtra.
📜 Sea Trade and Cultural Contact
With the Arabian Sea to the west and
the Bay of Bengal to the east, sea trade
had prospered since ancient times. So the
Indians could establish contact with distant
regions and cultures.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- The Arabian Sea lies to the west of India.
- The Bay of Bengal lies to the east of India.
- Because India has seas on both sides, sea trade developed from ancient times.
- Sea routes allowed Indians to make contact with distant regions.
- This contact also connected Indians with different cultures.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Sea trade – buying, selling and transporting goods by sea routes. | सागरी व्यापार – समुद्री मार्गाने वस्तूंची खरेदी, विक्री आणि वाहतूक. | समुद्री व्यापार – समुद्री मार्ग से वस्तुओं की खरीद, बिक्री और परिवहन. |
| Prospered – grew and became successful. | भरभराट झाली – वाढ झाली आणि यश मिळाले. | समृद्ध हुआ – बढ़ा और सफल हुआ. |
| Distant regions – places located far away. | दूरचे प्रदेश – खूप अंतरावर असलेले भाग. | दूर के क्षेत्र – बहुत दूर स्थित स्थान. |
🎯 Clear Concept
India’s seas supported trade and contact with distant regions and cultures.
📜 Result of Geographical Diversity
This geographical diversity gave rise
to many cultures, traditions and ways of
life within India.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- India has many different natural and geographical features.
- People living in different regions developed different cultures.
- They also developed different traditions and ways of life.
- Therefore, geographical diversity created cultural diversity within India.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Gave rise to – caused something to begin or develop. | निर्माण केले – एखादी गोष्ट सुरू किंवा विकसित होण्यास कारणीभूत ठरले. | जन्म दिया – किसी चीज के आरम्भ या विकास का कारण बना. |
| Traditions – beliefs and customs followed for a long time. | परंपरा – दीर्घकाळ पाळल्या जाणाऱ्या प्रथा आणि विश्वास. | परंपराएँ – लंबे समय से मानी जाने वाली प्रथाएँ और विश्वास. |
🎯 Clear Concept
India’s geographical diversity helped create many cultures, traditions and lifestyles.
⏳ 2.2 Prehistoric Period
📜 Human Evolution
Last year, you have learnt that humans
gradually evolved from some ape species.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- Students studied human evolution in the previous year.
- Human beings did not develop suddenly in their present form.
- Humans gradually developed over a very long period.
- The textbook connects this gradual development with certain ape species.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Gradually – slowly, step by step. | हळूहळू – टप्प्याटप्प्याने आणि सावकाश. | धीरे-धीरे – क्रमशः और चरणों में. |
| Evolved – developed slowly over a long period. | उत्क्रांत झाले – दीर्घ काळात हळूहळू विकसित झाले. | विकसित हुए – लंबे समय में धीरे-धीरे विकास हुआ. |
| Species – a group of similar living beings. | प्रजाती – एकसारख्या सजीवांचा समूह. | प्रजाति – समान प्रकार के जीवों का समूह. |
🎯 Clear Concept
Human evolution was a gradual process that took place over a very long period.
🧬 Explanation of the Human-Evolution Diagram
🌟 Simple Explanation
The diagram presents the major steps of human evolution in sequence. The arrows show movement from one stage to the next.
Homo Habilis
Homo Erectus
Neanderthal Man
Homo Sapiens
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Major steps – the main stages in a process. | प्रमुख टप्पे – एखाद्या प्रक्रियेतील मुख्य पायऱ्या. | प्रमुख चरण – किसी प्रक्रिया के मुख्य पड़ाव. |
| Human evolution – the gradual development of humans over a long period. | मानवी उत्क्रांती – दीर्घ काळात मानवाचा झालेला हळूहळू विकास. | मानव विकास – लंबे समय में मनुष्य का धीरे-धीरे हुआ विकास. |
💡 Useful Information
The arrows should be read from left to right. They show the order of the stages given in the textbook diagram.
🎯 Clear Concept
Human evolution took place gradually through several major stages.
🔎 Do you know?
Would you like to hear something
interesting? There is a myth that a
mysterious, large and hairy creature exists in the Himalayas. It is called a ‘Yeti’. It
is also called as the ‘fearsome snowman’.
It is said that many times large footprints
are seen in this region. However, research
suggests that the footprints discovered
are actually those of Himalayan bears or
some other animal. The anthropologists
study such myths because they reveal a
great deal about culture, traditions and the
human imagination.
Replace the short beginning-and-ending words above with the complete textbook passage.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- A myth tells about a mysterious, large and hairy creature believed to exist in the Himalayas.
- This creature is called the Yeti.
- It is also known as the “fearsome snowman.”
- People have sometimes reported seeing large footprints in the Himalayan region.
- However, research suggests that these footprints may belong to Himalayan bears or other animals.
- Anthropologists study myths like this because myths provide information about culture and traditions.
- Such myths also show how people use their imagination.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Myth – an old traditional story or belief. | दंतकथा – जुनी पारंपरिक कथा किंवा समजूत. | मिथक – पुरानी पारंपरिक कथा या मान्यता. |
| Mysterious – difficult to understand or explain. | रहस्यमय – समजण्यास किंवा स्पष्ट करण्यास कठीण. | रहस्यमय – जिसे समझना या समझाना कठिन हो. |
| Creature – a living being or animal. | जीव – सजीव किंवा प्राणी. | जीव – कोई जीवित प्राणी. |
| Fearsome – causing fear. | भीतीदायक – भीती वाटण्यास कारणीभूत. | डरावना – भय उत्पन्न करने वाला. |
| Footprints – marks left by feet on the ground. | पावलांचे ठसे – जमिनीवर उमटलेल्या पावलांच्या खुणा. | पैरों के निशान – जमीन पर बने पैरों के चिह्न. |
| Anthropologists – people who study humans and human cultures. | मानववंशशास्त्रज्ञ – मानव आणि मानवी संस्कृतींचा अभ्यास करणारे तज्ज्ञ. | मानवविज्ञानी – मनुष्य और मानव संस्कृतियों का अध्ययन करने वाले विशेषज्ञ. |
| Human imagination – the human ability to form ideas and pictures in the mind. | मानवी कल्पनाशक्ती – मनात विचार आणि चित्रे तयार करण्याची मानवी क्षमता. | मानवीय कल्पना – मन में विचार और चित्र बनाने की मानव क्षमता. |
💡 Useful Information
A myth is a traditional story or belief. Researchers examine available evidence before deciding whether a claim has a natural explanation.
🎯 Clear Concept
The Yeti is described in a Himalayan myth, while research suggests that the reported footprints may belong to bears or other animals.
⏳ 2.2 Prehistoric Period
📜 Life of Early Humans
The life of early humans was extremely
difficult. He had to continuously wander
in search of food and water. They used to
gather roots, fruits and used to hunt. The
tools of early humans were crafted from
wood, stone or bone. Primitive humans
perhaps communicated through gestures,
various sounds or facial expressions.
Replace the short beginning-and-ending words above with the complete textbook paragraph.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- The life of early humans was extremely difficult.
- They could not remain permanently in one place.
- They had to keep moving in search of food and water.
- They collected roots and fruits for food.
- They also hunted animals.
- They made their tools from available materials such as wood, stone and bone.
- Primitive humans probably did not use a developed spoken language.
- They may have communicated by using hand and body gestures.
- They may also have used different sounds and facial expressions.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Continuously wander – to keep moving from place to place. | सतत भटकणे – एका ठिकाणाहून दुसऱ्या ठिकाणी फिरत राहणे. | लगातार भटकना – एक स्थान से दूसरे स्थान पर घूमते रहना. |
| Gather – to collect things together. | गोळा करणे – वस्तू एकत्र जमा करणे. | इकट्ठा करना – वस्तुओं को एक साथ जमा करना. |
| Crafted – carefully made by hand. | घडवलेले – हाताने काळजीपूर्वक तयार केलेले. | बनाए गए – हाथ से सावधानीपूर्वक तैयार किए गए. |
| Primitive humans – humans from the earliest stages of development. | आदिम मानव – मानवी विकासाच्या सुरुवातीच्या टप्प्यातील मानव. | आदिम मानव – मानव विकास के आरम्भिक चरण के मनुष्य. |
| Gestures – movements of hands or body used to communicate. | हावभाव – संवादासाठी केलेल्या हातांच्या किंवा शरीराच्या हालचाली. | इशारे – संवाद के लिए हाथ या शरीर की गतिविधियाँ. |
| Facial expressions – feelings or messages shown through the face. | चेहऱ्यावरील भाव – चेहऱ्याद्वारे दाखवलेल्या भावना किंवा संदेश. | चेहरे के भाव – चेहरे द्वारा दिखाई गई भावनाएँ या संदेश. |
🎯 Clear Concept
Early humans wandered for food and water, made tools from natural materials and probably communicated through sounds, gestures and facial expressions.
📜 Meaning and Evidence of the Prehistoric Period
This period is known as the Prehistoric
Period. In the previous lesson, you learnt
that the period during which scripts were
not in use, is termed as the ‘Prehistoric
period’. During this period, humans made
remarkable progress. The evidence such
as stone tools, bones, pottery and cave paintings constitutes the major source to
study their life. In course of time, tools,
human lifestyles, dietary habits and
settlement patterns gradually changed.
Replace the short beginning-and-ending words above with the complete textbook paragraph.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- This early period of human life is called the Prehistoric Period.
- Students learnt about this period in the previous lesson.
- Scripts or systems of writing were not used during this period.
- Therefore, it is called the Prehistoric Period.
- Even without scripts, humans made remarkable progress.
- Researchers study objects left by early humans to understand their lives.
- Stone tools and bones provide important evidence.
- Pottery and cave paintings are also major sources of information.
- These sources help us learn how early humans lived.
- As time passed, their tools gradually changed.
- Their lifestyles and food habits also changed.
- The ways in which they formed and organised settlements changed gradually.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Prehistoric Period – the period before scripts or written records were used. | प्रागैतिहासिक काळ – लिपी किंवा लिखित नोंदी वापरण्यापूर्वीचा काळ. | प्रागैतिहासिक काल – लिपि या लिखित अभिलेखों के उपयोग से पहले का समय. |
| Scripts – systems of written letters or symbols. | लिपी – अक्षरे किंवा चिन्हे लिहिण्याची पद्धत. | लिपियाँ – अक्षर या चिन्ह लिखने की प्रणाली. |
| Remarkable progress – important and noticeable development. | उल्लेखनीय प्रगती – महत्त्वाचा आणि स्पष्टपणे दिसणारा विकास. | उल्लेखनीय प्रगति – महत्वपूर्ण और स्पष्ट रूप से दिखाई देने वाला विकास. |
| Evidence – objects or facts that help prove or explain something. | पुरावा – एखादी गोष्ट समजण्यास किंवा सिद्ध करण्यास मदत करणारी वस्तू किंवा माहिती. | प्रमाण – किसी बात को समझने या सिद्ध करने में सहायक वस्तु या जानकारी. |
| Pottery – pots and other objects made from clay. | मातीची भांडी – मातीपासून तयार केलेली भांडी व वस्तू. | मिट्टी के बर्तन – मिट्टी से बनाए गए बर्तन और वस्तुएँ. |
| Cave paintings – pictures painted on cave walls. | गुहाचित्रे – गुहेच्या भिंतींवर काढलेली चित्रे. | गुफा चित्र – गुफाओं की दीवारों पर बनाए गए चित्र. |
| Dietary habits – the usual food habits of people. | आहाराच्या सवयी – लोकांच्या नेहमीच्या खाण्यापिण्याच्या सवयी. | खान-पान की आदतें – लोगों की सामान्य भोजन संबंधी आदतें. |
| Settlement patterns – the different ways in which people formed places to live. | वस्तीची रचना – लोकांनी राहण्याची ठिकाणे तयार करण्याच्या वेगवेगळ्या पद्धती. | बसावट के तरीके – लोगों द्वारा रहने के स्थान बनाने के विभिन्न ढंग. |
💡 Useful Information
Written records were unavailable for the Prehistoric Period. Therefore, stone tools, bones, pottery and cave paintings are important sources for studying early human life.
🎯 Clear Concept
The Prehistoric Period was the time before scripts were used. Material evidence helps us understand the progress and changing life of early humans.