NCERT Textbook: Timeline and Sources of History | Social Studies (SST) Class 6 PDF Download

 Page 1


59
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Timeline and  
Sources of History
CHAPTER
4
 
History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past 
... between the society of today and the society of yesterday. ...  
We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.”
— E.H. Carr
National Museum, New Delhi. Such museums preserve objects from 
the past, such as statues, coins and ornaments, all of which help us 
understand our history.
1. How do we measure historical 
time?
2. How can various sources help  
us understand history?
3. How did early humans live?
The Big 
Questions
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Page 2


59
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Timeline and  
Sources of History
CHAPTER
4
 
History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past 
... between the society of today and the society of yesterday. ...  
We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.”
— E.H. Carr
National Museum, New Delhi. Such museums preserve objects from 
the past, such as statues, coins and ornaments, all of which help us 
understand our history.
1. How do we measure historical 
time?
2. How can various sources help  
us understand history?
3. How did early humans live?
The Big 
Questions
4_100724_v9.indd   59 4_100724_v9.indd   59 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
60
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
History: The 
study of the 
human past.
How Do We Learn About the Past?    
THINK ABOUT IT
 ? What is the earliest memory you can recollect? Do 
you remember how old you were at that time? Those 
memories together are a part of your past, maybe going 
five or six years back. 
 ? How do you think understanding the past will help us 
understand the present world?
You will discover in Science that the Earth has a very, 
very long history, of which we humans occupy only a tiny  
part — the most recent one.
Reptiles 
Dinosaurs
Birds
Mammals
Flowers  
and bees
First cells
Bacteria
Sponges and fungi
Corals
Insects
Amphibians
300,000  
Homo sapiens
6,500 
Writing
1,000,000 
 Fire
10,000,000  
Primates
Fish 
Vertebrates
Atmospheric 
oxygen
Earth
Sharks
Billion years ago
Million years ago
Years ago
4.54
2.33
1
700
500
300
100
Fig. 4.1. Timeline of a few important stages in 
the evolution of life on Earth.
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Page 3


59
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Timeline and  
Sources of History
CHAPTER
4
 
History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past 
... between the society of today and the society of yesterday. ...  
We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.”
— E.H. Carr
National Museum, New Delhi. Such museums preserve objects from 
the past, such as statues, coins and ornaments, all of which help us 
understand our history.
1. How do we measure historical 
time?
2. How can various sources help  
us understand history?
3. How did early humans live?
The Big 
Questions
4_100724_v9.indd   59 4_100724_v9.indd   59 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
60
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
History: The 
study of the 
human past.
How Do We Learn About the Past?    
THINK ABOUT IT
 ? What is the earliest memory you can recollect? Do 
you remember how old you were at that time? Those 
memories together are a part of your past, maybe going 
five or six years back. 
 ? How do you think understanding the past will help us 
understand the present world?
You will discover in Science that the Earth has a very, 
very long history, of which we humans occupy only a tiny  
part — the most recent one.
Reptiles 
Dinosaurs
Birds
Mammals
Flowers  
and bees
First cells
Bacteria
Sponges and fungi
Corals
Insects
Amphibians
300,000  
Homo sapiens
6,500 
Writing
1,000,000 
 Fire
10,000,000  
Primates
Fish 
Vertebrates
Atmospheric 
oxygen
Earth
Sharks
Billion years ago
Million years ago
Years ago
4.54
2.33
1
700
500
300
100
Fig. 4.1. Timeline of a few important stages in 
the evolution of life on Earth.
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61
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Many people study the history of the Earth. Some of them 
are trained to uncover the secrets left beneath the Earth’s 
surface and help us learn about its past — and also our 
past.
Observe these four pictures and the activities involved. 
From top left:
 ? Geologists (Fig. 4.2.1) study the physical features 
of the Earth, like the soil, stones, hills, mountains, 
rivers, seas, oceans and other such parts of the Earth.
 ? Palaeontologists (Fig. 4.2.2) study the remains of 
plants, animals and humans from millions of years 
ago in the form of fossils.
 ? Anthropologists (Fig. 4.2.3) study human societies 
and cultures from the oldest times to the present.
 ? Archaeologists (Fig. 4.2.4) study the past by digging 
up remains that people, plants and animals left 
behind, such as tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, 
bones and teeth of animals and humans, burnt 
grains, parts of houses or bricks, among others.
How Is Time Measured in History?
Each society and culture has had its own ways of measuring 
time. Major events, such as the birth of an important 
person or the start of a ruler’s reign, have often marked 
the beginning of a new era. At present, the Gregorian 
Fig. 4.2.1: Geologists Fig. 4.2.3: Anthropologists Fig. 4.2.2: Palaeontologists Fig. 4.2.4: Archaeologists
Fossils: 
Impressions 
of footprints, 
or parts of 
plants or 
animals that 
are found 
preserved 
within layers 
of soil or 
rocks.
Era: A 
distinct 
period of 
time.
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Page 4


59
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Timeline and  
Sources of History
CHAPTER
4
 
History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past 
... between the society of today and the society of yesterday. ...  
We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.”
— E.H. Carr
National Museum, New Delhi. Such museums preserve objects from 
the past, such as statues, coins and ornaments, all of which help us 
understand our history.
1. How do we measure historical 
time?
2. How can various sources help  
us understand history?
3. How did early humans live?
The Big 
Questions
4_100724_v9.indd   59 4_100724_v9.indd   59 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
60
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
History: The 
study of the 
human past.
How Do We Learn About the Past?    
THINK ABOUT IT
 ? What is the earliest memory you can recollect? Do 
you remember how old you were at that time? Those 
memories together are a part of your past, maybe going 
five or six years back. 
 ? How do you think understanding the past will help us 
understand the present world?
You will discover in Science that the Earth has a very, 
very long history, of which we humans occupy only a tiny  
part — the most recent one.
Reptiles 
Dinosaurs
Birds
Mammals
Flowers  
and bees
First cells
Bacteria
Sponges and fungi
Corals
Insects
Amphibians
300,000  
Homo sapiens
6,500 
Writing
1,000,000 
 Fire
10,000,000  
Primates
Fish 
Vertebrates
Atmospheric 
oxygen
Earth
Sharks
Billion years ago
Million years ago
Years ago
4.54
2.33
1
700
500
300
100
Fig. 4.1. Timeline of a few important stages in 
the evolution of life on Earth.
4_100724_v9.indd   60 4_100724_v9.indd   60 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
61
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Many people study the history of the Earth. Some of them 
are trained to uncover the secrets left beneath the Earth’s 
surface and help us learn about its past — and also our 
past.
Observe these four pictures and the activities involved. 
From top left:
 ? Geologists (Fig. 4.2.1) study the physical features 
of the Earth, like the soil, stones, hills, mountains, 
rivers, seas, oceans and other such parts of the Earth.
 ? Palaeontologists (Fig. 4.2.2) study the remains of 
plants, animals and humans from millions of years 
ago in the form of fossils.
 ? Anthropologists (Fig. 4.2.3) study human societies 
and cultures from the oldest times to the present.
 ? Archaeologists (Fig. 4.2.4) study the past by digging 
up remains that people, plants and animals left 
behind, such as tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, 
bones and teeth of animals and humans, burnt 
grains, parts of houses or bricks, among others.
How Is Time Measured in History?
Each society and culture has had its own ways of measuring 
time. Major events, such as the birth of an important 
person or the start of a ruler’s reign, have often marked 
the beginning of a new era. At present, the Gregorian 
Fig. 4.2.1: Geologists Fig. 4.2.3: Anthropologists Fig. 4.2.2: Palaeontologists Fig. 4.2.4: Archaeologists
Fossils: 
Impressions 
of footprints, 
or parts of 
plants or 
animals that 
are found 
preserved 
within layers 
of soil or 
rocks.
Era: A 
distinct 
period of 
time.
4_100724_v9.indd   61 4_100724_v9.indd   61 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM
62
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
calendar is commonly used worldwide; side by side, Hindu, 
Muslim, Jewish, Chinese and other calendars are also used 
for calculating the dates of festivals and other auspicious 
events.
In the West, the conventional year for Jesus Christ’s birth 
has generally been taken to be the starting point for this 
calendar. Years are counted forward from this point and 
used to be marked with ‘AD’ (an abbreviation for a Latin 
phrase that refers to the years after Jesus’ birth). However, 
this is now called the Common Era or CE across the world. 
For example, 1947, the year India gained independence, 
can be written as 1947 AD (sometimes AD 1947) or 1947 CE.
Similarly, the years before the conventional date for the  
birth of Jesus are counted backward and used to be 
marked with BC (or Before Christ). They are now called 
Before Common Era or BCE. For example, 560 BCE is an 
approximate year of birth of Gautama Buddha (whom we 
Gregorian 
calendar: The 
calendar now 
used the world 
over; it has 12 
months adding 
up to 365 days, 
and a leap 
year every four 
years. However, 
century years 
— for example, 
1800, 1900, 
2000 — are 
leap years 
only if they 
are multiples 
of 400; so 
in the three 
centenary 
years above, 
only 2000 is a 
leap year.
Auspicious: 
favourable or 
bringing luck; 
for instance, 
‘an auspicious 
beginning’.
First examples 
of rock art in 
the world
Ice Age
40,000 
BCE
14,000 
BCE
300,000 
BCE
Fig. 4.3. Timeline of some main events since 300,000 BCE
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Page 5


59
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Timeline and  
Sources of History
CHAPTER
4
 
History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past 
... between the society of today and the society of yesterday. ...  
We can fully understand the present only in the light of the past.”
— E.H. Carr
National Museum, New Delhi. Such museums preserve objects from 
the past, such as statues, coins and ornaments, all of which help us 
understand our history.
1. How do we measure historical 
time?
2. How can various sources help  
us understand history?
3. How did early humans live?
The Big 
Questions
4_100724_v9.indd   59 4_100724_v9.indd   59 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
60
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
History: The 
study of the 
human past.
How Do We Learn About the Past?    
THINK ABOUT IT
 ? What is the earliest memory you can recollect? Do 
you remember how old you were at that time? Those 
memories together are a part of your past, maybe going 
five or six years back. 
 ? How do you think understanding the past will help us 
understand the present world?
You will discover in Science that the Earth has a very, 
very long history, of which we humans occupy only a tiny  
part — the most recent one.
Reptiles 
Dinosaurs
Birds
Mammals
Flowers  
and bees
First cells
Bacteria
Sponges and fungi
Corals
Insects
Amphibians
300,000  
Homo sapiens
6,500 
Writing
1,000,000 
 Fire
10,000,000  
Primates
Fish 
Vertebrates
Atmospheric 
oxygen
Earth
Sharks
Billion years ago
Million years ago
Years ago
4.54
2.33
1
700
500
300
100
Fig. 4.1. Timeline of a few important stages in 
the evolution of life on Earth.
4_100724_v9.indd   60 4_100724_v9.indd   60 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:05 PM
61
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
Many people study the history of the Earth. Some of them 
are trained to uncover the secrets left beneath the Earth’s 
surface and help us learn about its past — and also our 
past.
Observe these four pictures and the activities involved. 
From top left:
 ? Geologists (Fig. 4.2.1) study the physical features 
of the Earth, like the soil, stones, hills, mountains, 
rivers, seas, oceans and other such parts of the Earth.
 ? Palaeontologists (Fig. 4.2.2) study the remains of 
plants, animals and humans from millions of years 
ago in the form of fossils.
 ? Anthropologists (Fig. 4.2.3) study human societies 
and cultures from the oldest times to the present.
 ? Archaeologists (Fig. 4.2.4) study the past by digging 
up remains that people, plants and animals left 
behind, such as tools, pots, beads, figurines, toys, 
bones and teeth of animals and humans, burnt 
grains, parts of houses or bricks, among others.
How Is Time Measured in History?
Each society and culture has had its own ways of measuring 
time. Major events, such as the birth of an important 
person or the start of a ruler’s reign, have often marked 
the beginning of a new era. At present, the Gregorian 
Fig. 4.2.1: Geologists Fig. 4.2.3: Anthropologists Fig. 4.2.2: Palaeontologists Fig. 4.2.4: Archaeologists
Fossils: 
Impressions 
of footprints, 
or parts of 
plants or 
animals that 
are found 
preserved 
within layers 
of soil or 
rocks.
Era: A 
distinct 
period of 
time.
4_100724_v9.indd   61 4_100724_v9.indd   61 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM
62
Exploring Society: India and Beyond 
Tapestry of the Past
calendar is commonly used worldwide; side by side, Hindu, 
Muslim, Jewish, Chinese and other calendars are also used 
for calculating the dates of festivals and other auspicious 
events.
In the West, the conventional year for Jesus Christ’s birth 
has generally been taken to be the starting point for this 
calendar. Years are counted forward from this point and 
used to be marked with ‘AD’ (an abbreviation for a Latin 
phrase that refers to the years after Jesus’ birth). However, 
this is now called the Common Era or CE across the world. 
For example, 1947, the year India gained independence, 
can be written as 1947 AD (sometimes AD 1947) or 1947 CE.
Similarly, the years before the conventional date for the  
birth of Jesus are counted backward and used to be 
marked with BC (or Before Christ). They are now called 
Before Common Era or BCE. For example, 560 BCE is an 
approximate year of birth of Gautama Buddha (whom we 
Gregorian 
calendar: The 
calendar now 
used the world 
over; it has 12 
months adding 
up to 365 days, 
and a leap 
year every four 
years. However, 
century years 
— for example, 
1800, 1900, 
2000 — are 
leap years 
only if they 
are multiples 
of 400; so 
in the three 
centenary 
years above, 
only 2000 is a 
leap year.
Auspicious: 
favourable or 
bringing luck; 
for instance, 
‘an auspicious 
beginning’.
First examples 
of rock art in 
the world
Ice Age
40,000 
BCE
14,000 
BCE
300,000 
BCE
Fig. 4.3. Timeline of some main events since 300,000 BCE
4_100724_v9.indd   62 4_100724_v9.indd   62 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM 11-Jul-24   4:25:10 PM
63
4 ? Timeline and Sources of History
will meet in Chapter 7). Can you calculate how many years 
ago that was? 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Such calculations are simple, but there is a catch. In the 
Gregorian calendar , there is no ‘year zero’. The year 1 CE 
follows immediately the year 1 BCE. Draw a simple timeline 
marking every year from 2 BCE to 2 CE; you will see that 
because of the absence of a year zero, only 3 years have 
passed between those two dates. 
 Æ So to calculate the number of years between a BCE date 
and a CE date, you should add them but subtract 1 — in the 
above case, 2 + 2 – 1 = 3. 
 Æ Practice a few examples with your classmates. For example, 
to return to the question about the Buddha, suppose we 
are now in the year 2024 CE, then the Buddha was born 
560 + 2024 – 1 = 2,583 years ago.
End of last  
ice age
First 
settlements 
and beginning 
of agriculture
Beginning 
of copper 
metallurgy
Birth of the 
Buddha
Ashoka
Pottery 
technology  
in Indian 
Subcontinent
The world’s 
first cities in 
Mesopotamia
Indus-Sarasvati 
civilisation
We are  
here
Birth of 
Jesus
10,000 
BCE
6000 
BCE
2000 
BCE
2000 
CE
12,000 
BCE
8000 
BCE
4000 
BCE
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