STD 6 SOCIAL SCIENCE MATERIAL
An academic discipline, or a field of study, is a branch of knowledge that is taught
at various levels of education and researched at university level. Any field of study
has several sub-disciplines or branches. These may at times overlap. Some important
branches or sub-disciplines of Social Science are Economics, History and Archaeology,
Geography, Political Science and Sociology.
You would be surprised to know that in the beginning, there was only one discipline,
i.e. Philosophy. Philosophy means love for wisdom or knowledge. That is why even
now the highest Degree in any subject is Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy). Later, when
knowledge started increasing and expanding, a need was felt to classify knowledge
into different disciplines. Science and Social Science came to be differentiated. Both
refer to different aspects of our reality. Environment Science deals with knowledge
regarding the natural and physical world. Social Science on the other hand deals with
knowledge concerned with all aspects of society and human beings themselves. Let
us begin with History.
What is History? History is an account of events that have happened in the past.
It is about the real people and the real things. It does not deal with mere ideas and
ideals or what should have been. On the other hand, it is a study of what has been.
History does not deal with individuals alone. It is concerned with nations and societies.
It is not limited to kings and queens, but all human beings. It includes all men and
women, rich and poor irrespective of their background in terms of religion caste etc.
Have you ever wondered how and what happened to our ancestors in ancient times?
You will learn about them in this book. While going through this course, note down
all the events which seem interesting to you. Go to the libraries and search the internet
to see if you can get more information on them. We will also help you in your search
for more knowledge.
Why do we study History? The study of History helps us to know our roots,
strengths and achievements and gives us a sense of pride as well as direction. What
we call progress would be non-existent if we do not have proper knowledge and
understanding of our past. There is a general belief that history deals with the past,
which we think is dead. In reality, our past has important lessons for the present and
the future. History records this legacy that has an important bearing on our lives. In
essence, history relates the story of cooperative actions of a large number of men
and women in their quest for a better life. When we think of how we can know about
our past, we get connected to Archaeology. Often these past activities and
achievements bring a sense of pride. Let us keep them safe for our future generations.
Archaeology is the study of the ancient times with respect to society and culture.
The traces of those events can be found in material remains i.e. the artifacts, burials,
ruined buildings, monuments, etc. and are studied by archaeologists. They
interpret them to provide knowledge about the times to which these artifacts belong.
The study of Archaeology also includes the written records that are very ancient and
cannot be easily deciphered or understood. These sources give more reliable and
authentic information.
Most of the time, such traces are found buried underground and have to be dug out.
This is called archaeological excavation. Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and Nalanda
are some well known sites where excavations have been undertaken and valuable
material found. Such excavations are often carried out and reported in the
newspapers. A very interesting recent discovery is that of the remains of a city found
under the sea near Gujarat. It is believed to be Hindu God Krishna’s city Dwarka.
Rakhigarhi, in Haryana, is another very recent excavation site.
A trip to such a site will transfer you back to those times. You must visit such sites
whenever you get an opportunity. Also, find out more about such sites in other
countries too.
Archaeological sources also include inscriptions, pillars, metal plates, coins, seals,
monuments, tools, pottery, toys, pictures etc. Works of art like paintings,
sculptures, architecture, etc. tell us about the culture of particular periods. Look
around your city or town for a museum or visit somebody’s house which has a
collection of some of these items. Make a list and then try and find out which period
they belong to. For this you can search on the internet or visit a library to know
more about them. Today, a lot of information can be got from books, magazines and
newspaper.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the
premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the
cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological
sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. For
the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites the entire country
is divided into 24 Circles. The organization has a large work force of trained
archaeologists, conservators, epigraphists, architects and scientists for conducting
archaeological activities and researches. Explore more about it on the website
of the organization i.e. www.asi.nic.i