India, That is Bharat Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers

Students often revise Class 6 SST Extra Questions and Class 6th SST Chapter 5 India, That is Bharat Important Extra Question Answer before their exams for better preparation.

India, That is Bharat Class 6th Extra Question Answer

Class 6 Social Science SST Chapter 5 India, That is Bharat Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers

India, That is Bharat Class 6 Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is the meaning of ‘Sapta Sindhava’?
Answer:
Land of the seven rivers

Question 2.
Which ancient Indian text is several thousand years old?
Answer:
Rig Veda

Question 3.
Who was the Indian emperor that used the term ‘Jambudvīpa’?
Answer:
Emperor Aśhoka

Question 4.
Name two ancient texts that refer to the Indian Subcontinent as ‘Bharatavarsha’.
Answer:
Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana

Question 5.
Which river is referred to by the term ‘Sindhu’?
Answer:
Indus River

Question 6.
What is the significance of the name ‘Harappan Civilisation’? ,
Answer:
Harappa was the first city to be excavate 0f the ancient civilisation that flourished in the Indian subcontinent, and because of the early discovery the entire civilisation was named after this city.

Question 7.
Define the term ‘tributary.
Answer:
Tributary refers to a river that flows into a larger river or lake.

Question 8.
What was the most possible purpose of the Harappan seats?
Answer:
The Harappan seals were related to trading activities and were used to identify goods and traders.

Question 9.
Name two major Harappan cities that flourished along the Sarasvati River.
Answer:
Rakhigarhi and Ganweriwala

Question 10.
What might have been the significance of the large basin at Lothal?
Answer:
The large basin at Lothal was likely a dockyard, used tor sending and receiving ships. This signifies Harappans were involved in intensive maritime trade.

India, That is Bharat Class 6 Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Explain the significance, of the term ‘Bharata’ in ancient Indian texts.
Answer:
The term ‘Bharata’ refers to the country of the Bharatas, a main Vedic group mentioned in the Rig Veda. It came to denote the entire Indian Subcontinent and remains in use today.

Question 2.
How did the term ‘Jambudvipa’ come to be associated with the Indian Subcontinent?
Answer:
‘Jambudvipa’ means ‘the island of the fruit of the jamun tree’, a common tree native to India. It was used by Emperor Ashoka to describe the entire region, including present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan.

Question 3.
Describe the role of the Persians in naming the Indian Subcontinent.
Answer:
The Persians adapted the term ‘Sindhu’ to ‘Hind’, ‘Hidu’, or ‘Hindu’ in their language. These names were geographical terms referring to the Indus River region and were the earliest foreign references to fndia.

Question 4.
What are the two main names used for the Indian Subcontinent in the Mahäbharata?
Answer:
The Mahabharata uses the terms ‘Bharatavarşha’ and ‘Jambudvipa’ to describe the Indian Subcontinent.

Question 5.
How did the ancient Greeks come to name the region ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’?
Answer:
The ancient Greeks adapted the Persian term ‘Hindu’ to ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’ by dropping the initial ‘h’, which did not exist in the Greek language.

Question 6.
Which Indian emperor used the term ‘Jambudvipa’ to describe India? What does this term mean for him?
Answer:
(i) Emperor Ashoka used the term ‘Jambudvipa’ in many inscriptions.
(ii) He used the term to describe present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan.

Question 7.
How did ancient Persians influence the naming of India?
Answer:
(i) Ancient Persians controlled the region of the Indus river, which was earlier known as ‘Sindhu’.
(ii) Therefore, they referred to India as ‘Hind’, ‘HidtT or ‘Hindu’, which are derived from the word ‘Sindhu’.
(iii) This Persian adaptation later led to the names used by the Greeks and even influenced the term ‘Hindustan’.

Question 8.
Who was Xuanzang, and what made him significant in the context of Indian history?
Answer:
Xuanzang was a Chinese scholar who travelled to India in the 7th century CE, studied Buddhist texts and returned to China after 17 years. He is significant because he translated many Sanskrit texts into Chinese after his return, contributing to cultural exchange between India and China, and even influenced other scholars to do the same.

Question 9.
What is the importance of the phrase ‘India, that is Bharat’, mentioned in the very beginning of the Constitution?
Answer:
The phrase ‘India, that is Bharat’ in the Indian Constitution highlights the continuity of the country’s ancient identity (Bharat) with its modern identity (India), acknowledging its historical roots and beliefs.

Question 10.
Why are names important?
Answer:
Names are important as they provide a unique label and are the fundamental identities that are carried over years or even ages. They further reflect cultural and historical contexts, facilitate communication, and symbolise deeper meanings.

Question 11.
Define the term ‘civilisation’ in the most basic manner.
Answer:
Civilisation is defined as an advanced stage of human society with characteristics like government, urban planning, trade, writing systems, and cultural practices.

Question 12.
What role was played by rivers in the growth of the Harappan Civilisation?
Answer:
Rivers like the Indus and Sarasvati provided easy access to water and made the plains fertile, which further supported agriculture. This led to settlements along the rivers, and these settlements, with time, turned into villages, then towns and eventually cities.

Question 13.
Which features reflect that Harappan cities had advanced urban planning?
Answer:
Harappan cities reflected advanced urban planning:
(i) They had wide streets which were often oriented to the cardinal directions.
(ii) Most of the cities were fortified.
(iii) All houses had a uniform quality of construction and were mostly made up of bricks.
(iv) Almost all houses had private bathrooms.
(v) All cities had well-planned drainage systems.

Question 14.
How can we say that Harappans had a diverse diet?
Answer:
Many excavations and examinations revealed that Harappans had a diverse diet:
(i) Harappans grew pulses, vegetables, cereals like barley, wheat, some millets and even rice.
(ii) A large number of animal and fish bones were found during excavations, which indicated Harappans domesticated animals for meat consumption and fished.
(iii) Remains of dairy products, turmeric, ginger, and banana, were even found in Harappan clay pots.

Question 15.
What were the two main interpretations laid by the archaeologists about the purpose of the Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro?
Answer:
The most possible interpretations laid by the archaeologists about the purpose of the Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro are:
(i) A structure meant for the bath of the royal family.
(ii) A tank meant for some religious rituals.

Question 16.
Why is the Harappan Civilisation perceived to be peaceful?
Answer:
It is perceived that the Harappan Civilisation was rather peaceful as there is no evidence of warfare or invasions, and the Harappans did not maintain armies or weapons.

Question 17.
What were the reasons for the decline of the Harappan Civilisation?
Answer:
Multiple factors led to the decline of the Harappan Civilisation, but two of them are mostly considered,
(i) Climate change around 2200 BCE caused reduced rainfall and drier phases, affecting agriculture. As a result, food supply to the cities also decreased.
(ii) The central basin of the Sarasvati River dried up which further contributed to the abandonment of cities in its basin.

India, That is Bharat Class 6 Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Diseuss the different names for the Indian Subcontinent used throughout history and their origins.
Answer:
Over time, the Indian Subcontinent has had many names, such as ‘Sapta Sindhava’ from the Rig Veda, ‘Bhăratavarşha’ and ‘Jambudvīpa’ from the Mahābhārata, ‘Bharat’ and ‘Bharatam’ in modern times, and names given by foreign visitors like ‘Hind’, ‘Hindu’, ‘Indoi’, ‘Indike’, ‘Yintu’, ‘Yindu’, and ‘Tianzhu’. These names reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage and interactions with various Civilisations.

Question 2.
Explain how the ancient texts and inscriptions have contributed to our understanding of India’s past and evolution.
Answer:
Ancient texts like the Rig Veda, Mahabharata, and Vishnu Purana, as well as inscriptions from Emperor Aśhoka, provide valuable insights into India’s historical geography, cultural traditions, and the evolution of its names. These sources help us trace the development of the Indian Subcontinent from ancient times to the present.

Question 3.
Analyze the influence of foreign visitors and invaders on the naming of the Indian Subcontinent.
Answer:
Foreign visitors and invaders, such as the Persians, Greeks, and Chinese, adopted and adapted names

like ‘Sindhu’, ‘Hind’, ‘Hindu’, ‘Indoi’, ‘Indike’, ‘Yintu’, and ‘Yindu’ based on their interactions with the region. These names highlight the historical significance of the Indus River and the cultural exchanges that shaped India’s identity.

Question 4.
Describe the significance of Emperor Aśhoka’s inscriptions in understanding ancient India’s geography.
Answer:
Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions, which date back to about 250 BCE, use the term ‘Jambudvipa’ to describe the entire Indian Subcontinent, including present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan. These inscriptions provide valuable information on the extent of his empire and the historical geography of the region.

Question 5.
Trace the historical changes in the names and boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent from ancient times to today.
Answer:
The names and boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent have evolved over millennia. Ancient names like ‘Sapta Sindhava’, ‘Bharatavarş̣ha’, and ‘Jambudvipa’ reflected specific regions and cultural identities. Foreign influences introduced names like ‘Hind’, ‘Indoi’, and ‘Yindu’. Today, the name ‘India’ and its boundaries are defined by modern political borders, but the historical names continue to reflect the region’s rich heritage.

Question 6.
Mention how ancient and foreign accounts contributed to the naming and understanding of the unified Indian subcontinent.
Answer:
(i) Ancient texts like the Rig Veda, Mahabharata and Vishnu Purana called Indian subcontinent with names such as ‘Sapta Sindhava/ ‘Bharatavarsha/ and ‘Jambudvipa’.
(ii) These names were important as they provided a collective identity to all the regions that fell within the specified boundaries and these texts altogether highlighted the geographical and cultural unity of the area.
(iii) Foreign accounts, especially from Persians and Greeks, introduced names like ‘Hindu’ and ‘Indoi/ based on their interactions with the region, which later influenced terms like ‘Hindustan.’
(iv) These names gave global recognition to the Indian subcontinent.
(v) Together, these sources helped shape the understanding of India’s identity over the years.

Question 7.
Give a brief on Harappan trade.
Answer:
Trade played an important role in the prosperity of the Harappan Civilisation.
(i) The Harappans engaged in both internal and external trade, exchanging goods within their civilisation and with distant regions like Mesopotamia.
(ii) They exported items such as ornaments, timber, gold, cotton, and daily-use objects, while probably importing copper.
(iii) Harappan traders used land routes, rivers, and the sea for transportation, this indicates they really had an extensive trade network.
(iv) Harappans carried out the first intensive maritime activity in India.
(v) The use of seals for identification of traders and goods and the development of a writing system clearly suggests that trade was well-organised and essential to their economy.

Question 8.
What valuable lessons can modern societies learn from the Harappan Civilisation’s approach to water management?
Answer:
Modern societies should learn Harappan Civilisation’s approach to water management, keeping in mind the limited availability of this natural resource in today’s world. The Harappans placed great importance on cleanliness and efficient water use, with private bathing areas in homes connected to a larger drainage system. They constructed wells, ponds and reservoirs, some of which were even interconnected for optimal water harvesting and distribution. In Dholavira, large reservoirs and underground drains were built to store and manage water in an arid region. This focus on sustainable water usage and management ensured the survival and prosperity of their cities, a practice that becomes even more relevant in today’s context of climate change and water scarcity.

India, That is Bharat Class 6 Source-based Questions

1. Read the below passage and answer the following questions:

The first ternn, Bharatavarşhan; clearly extents’ to the entire Subcontinentsland the tointrincludes the names of numerous rivers and peoples. ‘Bharatavarsha’ means ‘the country of the Bharatas’. ‘Bharata’ is a name that first appears in the Rig Veda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic groups of people. In later literature, several kings named ‘Bharata’ are mentioned.

The second term, ‘Jambudvipa’, means ‘the island of tree native to India, also called ‘jambul tree’, whilatary’s plum tree’, etc. ‘Jambudvipa’ came to mean the Indian Subcontinent. In fact, we get a good clue from an Indian emperor-his name is ASHotes and we will meet him later; for now, we can take his date to be about 250BCE.

Question i.
What does the term ‘Bhăratavarşha’ mean, and what does it refer to in ancient texts?
Answer:
‘Bharatavarsha’ means ‘the country of the Bharatas’. It clearly extends to the entire Subcontinent and includes the names of numerous rivers and peoples.

The term first appears in the Rig Veda, referring to one of the main Vedic groups of people.

Question ii.
What is the significance of the term ‘Jambudvipa’ in ancient Indian texts?
Answer:
‘Jambudvipa’ means ‘the island of the fruit of the jamun tree’, a common tree native to India. The term came to mean the Indian Subcontinent.

Question iii.
Around what time did Emperor Aśhoka reign, and how is he relevant to understanding the term ‘Jambudvīpa’?
Answer:
Emperor Ashoka reigned around 250 BCE. He is relevant to understanding the term ‘Jambudvipa’ because his use of the term gives us a clue that it referred to the Indian Subcontinent.

2. Read the below passage and answer the following questions:

The frst/forelgners totmention Tridia were the Petsians, the ancientimeabitants iof Iran In the 6thseentury BCE, Persian, mperer, laymehed, a military campaign and gained gontrel of the regien of the Indus River, which, as we saw, was earlier called ‘Sindhu’. So, it is no surprise that in their earliest records and stone inscriptions, the Persians referred to India as ‘Hind’, Hidi’ ‘ of “Hindu’, which are adaptations in their language of ‘Sindhu’. (Note that in ancieht Persian, ‘Hindu’ is a purely geographical term; it does not refer here to the Hindu religion.) Based on these Persian sources, the ancient Greeks named the region ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’, They dropped the initial letter ‘th’ of Hindu’ because this letter did not exist in their Greek language.

Question i.
What was the Persian term used to refer to India, and how did it derive from an earlier name?
Answer:
The Persian term used to refer to India was ‘Hind,’ ‘Hidu,’ or ‘Hindu,’ which derived from the earlier name ‘Sindhu’ for the Indus River.

Question ii.
Why did the ancient Greeks use the name ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’ for India?
Answer:
The ancient Greeks used the name ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’ for India based on Persian sources, dropping the initial ‘h’ from ‘Hindu’ because the Greek language did not have this letter.

Question iii.
What was the primary difference between the Persian and Greek usage of the term derived from ‘Sindhu’?
Answer:
The primary difference was that the Persians used the term ‘Hind’ or ‘Hindu’ as a geographical reference, while the Greeks adapted it to ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike,’ dropping the initial ‘h’ due to Greek phonetic constraints.