Discuss how archaeologists reconstruct the past.
Archaeologists excavate the sites of the ancient past related to culture or civilization. They find art and crafts such as seal, material, remains of houses, buildings, pots, ornaments, tools, coins, weights, measurements and toys, etc. Skulls, bones, jaws, teeth of the dead bodies and materials kept with these dead bodies are also helpful for archaeologists. With the help of the botanists, and zoologists, archaeologists study the plants and animal bones found at different places.
Archaeologists try to find out the tools used in the process of cultivation and harvesting. They also try to find traces of wells, canals, tanks, etc. as they serve as means of irrigation. Different layers of sites are observed to find out different things. These things give the picture of socio-economic condition such as religious life and the cultural life of the people.
Tools, unfinished products, waste materials, help in identifying the centres of craft production. Indirect evidence also helps the archaeologists in reconstructing the past. Archaeologists develop frames of references, It can be better understood by this fact that the first Harappan seal that was found could not be understood till archaeologists had a context in which to place it-both in terms of cultural sequence in which it was found and in terms of a comparison with finds in Mesopotamia. Examination of seals help in constructing the concept of religious belief of the period. Seals depict religious scenes. Some animals such as the one-horned animal, often called the unicorn depicted on the seals appear mythical, composite creatures. In some seals, a figure has been shown sitting crossed legs in a yogic posture. All these represent the religious concept of the period.
Look at Fig. 1.30 and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton?
On Map 1, use a pencil to circle sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.
Describe some of the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro.
List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.
List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.
List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.
Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.
How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice?
Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.
Discuss the evidence of craft production in Early Historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities?
Explain why patriliny may have been particularly important among elite families.
Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists? Give reasons for your answer.
Describe the salient features of mahajanapadas.
Discuss whether kings in early states were invariably Kshatriyas.
Summarise the central teachings of Jainism.
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?
Compare and contrast the dharma or norms mentioned in the stories of Drona, Hidimba and Matanga.
Discuss the role of the begums of Bhopal in preserving the stupa at Sanchi.
Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (Source 8). Do you notice any similarities or differences?
Explain why patriliny may have been particularly important among elite families.
In what ways was the Buddhist theory of a social contract different from the Brahmanical view of society derived from the Purusha sukta?
Discuss whether the Mahabharata could have been the work of a single author.
Discuss the evidence of craft production in Early Historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities?
Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?
Describe the salient features of mahajanapadas.
Why do you think women and men joined the sangha?
How important were gender differences in early societies? Give reasons for your answer.
Read this short inscription and answer:
In the year 33 of the maharaja Huvishka (a Kushana ruler), in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day, a Bodhisatta was set up at Madhuvanaka by the bhikkhuni Dhanavati, the sister’s daughter of the bhikkhuni Buddhamita, who knows the Tipitaka, the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala, who knows the Tipitaka, together with her father and mother.
(a) How did Dhanavati date her inscription?
(b) Why do you think she installed an image of the Bodhisatta?
(c) Who were the relatives she mentioned?
(d) What Buddhist text did she know?
(e) From whom did she learn this text?
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?