Sources of History | Class 7 | History | Chapter 1 | Maharashtra State Board
In this video, you will learn about the sources of medieval Indian history, which span from the ninth century CE to the end of the eighteenth century CE. You will discover how historians use material sources, written sources and oral sources to reconstruct the past events and understand the culture, society, politics and economy of that period. You will also learn how to evaluate the sources of history critically and judiciously, and how to avoid biases, exaggerations and contradictions. You will see examples of different types of sources, such as forts, coins, inscriptions, copper plates, manuscripts, chronicles, travelogues, biographies, folk literature and more. You will also learn about the challenges and limitations of using these sources, and how history is constantly revised and updated with new research and discoveries. This video is a great introduction to the study of medieval Indian history and will help you appreciate the richness and diversity of India’s historical heritage.
Questions & Answers
1. Complete the names of the following sources of history:
1. l _ _ _ _ d
Ans. legend
2. t _ _ _ _ h
Ans. tarikh
3. b _ _ _ _ r
Ans. bakhar
4. p _ _ _ _a
Ans. Powada
5. i _ _ _ _ i _ _ i _ n
Ans. inscription
6. m _ _ u _ _ _ t
Ans. monument
2. Let’s write:
1. What do monuments include?
Ans. Monuments include samadhis, graves, veergalas, buildings, statues and sculptures.
2. What is a Tarikh?
Ans. "Tarikh" or "Tavarikh" means the chronological sequence of events in history.
3. What qualities of the author are important in the writing of history?
Ans. The qualities of integrity, impartiality, and neutrality are essential for authors writing history. They should conduct thorough research, critically analyze sources, understand historical context, provide proper citations, and communicate clearly. Avoiding personal biases, anachronisms, and remaining open to new discoveries are also crucial aspects of writing history.
3. Find the odd man out:
1. Material sources, written sources, unwritten sources, oral sources.
Ans. Unwritten sources is odd one out.
(The other three words are all types of historical sources, while unwritten sources is not a type of historical source.)
2. Monuments, coins, cave sculptures, stories.
Ans. Stories is odd one out.
(The other three items are physical objects or artifacts, while stories are narratives or accounts that can be written, spoken, or passed down through generations but do not have a physical form in the same way the other items do.)
3. Bhurjapatra, temples, treatises, paintings.
Ans. Temples is odd one out.
(The other three words are written sources of history, while temples is a physical structure.)
4. Owis, tarikhs, folk tales, myths.
Ans. Tarikhs is odd one out.
(The other three words, owis, folk tales, and myths, are all oral sources of history, while tarikhs is a written source of history.)
4. Explain the following concepts:
1. Material sources.
Ans. Material sources are those authentic material evidences or proofs of the ancient period which support our study of historical events. Examples include memorials, buildings, cave sculptures, inscription, coins, copper plates, forts and more.
2. Written sources.
Ans. Written sources are authentic evidences or proof of the ancient period which are in written form. They include documents of proceedings in Courts of kings, genealogies, Shakavali, correspondence, dispatches, treatises, biographies, travelogues, chronicles, Tavarikh, etc. These sources provide valuable information about the past and help historians to reconstruct the history of a particular period or event.
3. Oral sources.
Ans. Oral sources of history are those aspects of folk life that are traditionally passed from generation to generation and they are known as oral sources of history. Some examples of oral sources are myths, folk songs, Gatha, Shlokas, Abhangas, Powadas Proverbs, Legends, etc.
5. Is it necessary to evaluate sources of history? Give your opinion.
Ans. Yes, it is necessary to evaluate the sources of history. 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. We must evaluate its quality with the help of different methods and through critical analysis. 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. Stone inscriptions are considered to be an authentic source of history as they provide valuable historical evidence of the existence and activities of early kings and empires. They also provide detailed religious practices. These inscriptions are the writings on stone, metal or some materials as an important historical source. They throw 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.
2. Oral sources reveal various aspects of people’s lives.
Ans. Oral sources reveal various aspects of people’s lives in the following ways:
Gestures of the person express their thoughts and views of the person they are communicating with.
Oral sources are a primary source of communication.
People tend to judge people by the way they talk etc.
Through oral communication, people get to know other people’s life.
E X T R A
1. Complete the sentence by choosing the appropriate words from the options given below:
The period from the ninth century CE till the end of the eighteenth century is considered to be the Medieval period of Indian history. (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
History gives us a chronological, scientific and systematic account of past events. (Past, present, future)
Historical sources should be used judiciously and only after a critical analysis. (Thorough reading, in-depth study, critical analysis)
Veergala is a monument. (Fort, monument, palace)
The Peshwas used the Arabic or Persian language on their coins. (Arabic or Persian, Hindi or Sanskrit, Pali)
Travellers of other countries who came to India have written travelogues or accounts of their travels. (Biography, autobiography, travelogues)
Tavarikh or Tarikh means the sequence of events. (Information about past, sequence of events, dates)
The author’s impartiality and neutrality are very important in writing history. (viexvpoint, perspective, impartiality and neutrality)
An, inscription is a carving on a stone, or a wall. (Metal plate, inscription, edict)
Bakhar is a type of chronicle that originated in Maharashtra. (Bakhar, Myths, Travelogues)
2. Find the odd man out:
1. Genealogies, Travelogue, Chronicles, Inscription.
Ans. Inscription.
(Genealogies, Travelogues, and Chronicles are all written records that provide information about the past, while an inscription is a carving on a stone or a wall.)
2 Churches, Temples, Mosques, Myths.
Ans. Myths.
(Churches, Temples, and Mosques are all physical structures that serve as places of worship for different religions, while Myths are traditional stories or legends that often explain the origins of natural phenomena or cultural practices.)
3. Name the following:
1. The subject which gives us a chronological, scientific and systematic account of past events. Ans. History.
2. Any two metals used by different rulers in the past to make coins. Ans. Gold, Silver.
3. One place in Tanjavur where inscriptions are found. Ans. Brihadishwara temple.
4. Two things inscribed on copper plates. Ans. (a) Royal edicts (b) Verdicts
5. Any two scripts used in the Medieval period. Ans.(a) Devanagari (b) Arabic
6. Written accounts of the travels by the travellers from other countries. Ans. Travelogues.
7. Any two travellers who visited India in the Medieval period. Ans. (a) Al Biruni (b) Ibn Batuta
8. Sanskrit biography of Shivaji Maharaj was composed by this poet. Ans. Paramanand.
9. A source of history which means the sequence of events. Ans. Tavarikh or Tarikh.
10. Two people who compiled Tavarikh. Ans. (a) Al Biruni (b) Ziauddin Barani.
11. A type of chronicle that originated in Maharashtra. Ans. Bakhar.
12. Any two chronicles written in Marathi. Ans. (a) Mahikavatichi Bakhar (b) Sabhasad Bakhar
13. Any two contemporary western historians. Ans. (a) Robert Arm (b) Grant Duff
14. Any two oral sources of history. Ans. (a) Owis (b) Folk songs
4. Answer in one sentence:
1. What information does history give us? Ans. History gives us a chronological, scientific and systematic account of past events.
2. What must history be based on? Ans. History must be based on chronological, scientific, and systematic accounts of past events.
3. What are the different sources of history? Ans. Material sources, written sources and oral sources are the three different sources of history.
4. How should we use different sources of history? Ans. We have to use the different sources of history should be used judiciously and only after a critical evaluation.
5. What do we learn when we look at forts and monuments built in the past? Ans. When we look at forts and monuments built in the past, we come to know about the development of architecture, the economic conditions, the quality of art, style of the building construction and people’s standard of living in that particular period.
6 Why is an inscription considered to be a very important and reliable source of history? Ans. An inscription is considered to be a very important and reliable source of history as it provides valuable historical evidence of the existence and activities of early kings and empires.
7. What are known as copper plates? Ans. Copper plates are known as historical legal records engraved on copper plates in the Indian subcontinent.
8. How do we understand various aspects of folk life? Ans. We understand various aspects of folk life through folk literature, oral traditions, songs, and cultural practices that are passed down through generations.
5. Explain the following terms:
1. History. Ans. History is the systematic study and interpretation of past events, societies, and human experiences, aiming to understand how they have shaped the present.
2. An inscription. Ans. An inscription is a carving on a stone, metal or some materials as an important historical source.
3. Tavarikh or Tarikh. Ans. Tavarikh or Tarikh means the sequence of events.
4. Bakhar. Ans. Bakhar is a type of chronicle that originated in Maharashtra.
5. Chronicles. Ans. Chronicles are written accounts that record historical events in a chronological order, providing a narrative of past occurrences and developments.
6. Classify the following into Material sources, Written sources and Oral sources of history:
Ornaments, Fort, Owis, Myths, Utensils, Folk songs, Weapons, Travelogue, Well, Biographies, Clothing, Powada, Copper plate, Folk tales, Coins, Shloka, Temples, Books. Answer:
Written Sources | Material Sources | Oral Sources |
Books, Travelogue, Copper plate, Coins, Temples. | Ornaments, Forts, Utensils, Weapons, Well, Clothing. | Owis, Myths, Folk songs, Hearsays, Powada, Folk tales, Shloka. |
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Example of myths