1. Complete the names of the following sources of history.
l _ _ _ _ d
Ans. legend
t _ _ _ _ h
Ans. tarikh
b_ _ _ _ r
Ans. bakhar
p_ _ _ _ a
Ans. powada
i _ _ _ _ i _ _ i _ n
Ans. inscription
m _ _ u _ _ _ t
Ans. monument
2. Let’s write.
(1) What do monuments include?
Ans. Monuments include samadhis, graves and veergalas and buildings.
(2) What is a Tarikh?
Ans. Tarikh or Tavarikh means the sequence of events.
(3) What qualities of the author are important in the writing of history?
Ans. The author’s integrity, impartiality and neutrality are very important in writing history.
3. Find the odd man out.
(1) Material sources, written sources, unwritten sources, oral sources.
Ans. unwritten sources
(2) Monuments, coins, cave sculptures, Stories
Ans. stories
(3) Bhurjapatras, temples, treatises, paintings.
Ans. Temples
(4) Owis, tarikhs, folk tales, myths
Ans. tarikhs
4.Explain the following concepts.
(1) Material sources
Ans. Those authentic material evidences or proofs of the ancient period which support our study of historical events are called material sources of history, e.g. memorials, buildings, cave sculptures, inscription, coins, copper, plates, forts, etc.
(2) Written sources
Ans. Those authentic evidences or proof of the ancient period which are in written form are called written sources of history, e.g. Documents of proceedings in Courts of kings, genealogies, Shakavali, correspondence, dispatches, treatises, biographies, travelogues, chronicles, Tavarikh, etc.
(3) Oral sources
Ans. We understand various aspects of folk life through folk literature traditionally passed from generation to generation and they are known as oral sources of history, e.g. Myths, Folk songs, Gatha, Shlokas, Abhangas, Powadas Proverbs, Legends, etc.
5. Is it necessary to evaluate sources of history ? Give your opinion.
Ans. (i) Yes, it is necessary to evaluate the sources of history. (ii) Just because a source is old does not mean it is reliable or true. We should examine their authenticity and see which sources are genuine and which are fake. (iii) We must evaluate its quality with the help of different methods and through critical analysis. (iv) It is necessary to determine the integrity, impartiality and neutrality of the authors by knowing their personal interests, the period during which they lived and political pressures on them.
6. Write why in your words.
(1) A stone inscription is considered to be an authentic source of history.
Ans. A stone inscription, i.e. a carving on the stone is a very authentic source of history as it throws light on different features of the ancient time like the language of communication which existed, script used and the social, political and economic life of a period, etc.
(2) Oral sources reveal various aspects of people’s lives.
Ans. (i) Various aspects of folk life through folk literature passed on to us by our ancestors. (ii) They are pearls of wisdom and they hold a wealth of knowledge about the past. (iii) It throws light on the rich cultural life of the past and different art forms which were practised in those times.