Anand Niketan

Maninagar Campus
Class-VI
Social Science Notes
Grade-VII
(History)
Chapter-3 The Age of Farming

 New Words:
Neolithic Habitation
Harvesting Domesticate
Invention Pottery
Pit-House Mortars
Pestles Cultivation
Earthen Tribes
Surplus Barter
Chalcolithic Hearth
 Short Answers questions:
1. Why did the early human leave their nomadic life?
Ans: They left their nomadic life because they had learnt farming and had to stay in one place to
take care of their fields and crops, so they settled down and started to live a normal life.
2. Why did pottery-making start during the Neolithic age?
Ans: When they learnt farming, they started storing their grains in large baskets or in pits dug into
the ground. Storage of grains till the next season made them start making pottery.
3. What is tribe?
Ans: A tribe is a group of 2 to 3 generations living together in small settlements or villages.
4. Name two items discovered in Burzahom, an important Neolithic site.
Ans: Pit houses, cooking hearths and a stone slab with a painting.
 Long Answer questions:
1. How do we get to know about the Neolithic people?
Ans: a) We get to know about the Neolithic people through the evidences found by the
archaeologists during the excavation made in present day Kashmir, east and south India.
b) They found various evidences of several grains at different sites in Bihar, UP, Birzahom, and
Andhra Pradesh.
c) They found bones of domesticated animals like dog, cattle, sheep, and ox, etc.in UP, Kashmir,
Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
d) Archaeologists also found traces of huts or pit houses in Burzahom.
e) Tools and pottery have been also found at various sites.
All these excavation have helped us to know about the Neolithic age.
2. How did agriculture change the life style of early humans?
Ans: a) Agriculture changed the life style of early humans.
b) Now they stayed in one place and grew crops.
c) From food gathers they became food producers.
d) They settled down and started a normal life with regular food supply.
e) They made mud houses near their fields. This change in their life style was, however, not sudden
but gradual.
3. Write a short note on the Neolithic tools. How they were different from the Paleolithic tools?
Ans: Mortar and Pestles were two very important Neolithic tools. They were used for grinding.
Neolithic tools were very different from Palaeolithic tools. Neolithic tools were well polished with a fine
cutting edge. Palaeolithic tools were also used. Bones were also used to make tools. Neolithic tools have
been found in Kashmir and Karnataka.
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 3.Write about two changes in the life of the early humans during the Neolithic age.
Ans: The two changes in the life of Neolithic age people were the discovery of the agriculture and
the invention of the wheels. The former changed them from food gatherers to food producers and
they began to lead a settled life with the regular supply of the food. The latter was an important step in
the development of early humans. They could now travel easily and move heavy loads faster than
before.
 Map Work:
 Attempt the following Map Answers:

1.Show the location of the following sites of early man on an outline map of India].
a) Burzahome
b) Bagor
c) Maski
d) Kurnool
2.Name any three places where Paleolithic sites have been found.
Ans: Mirzapur, Broi, Kurnool
3.Locate the Chalcolithic site.
Ans: Brahmagiri
4.Locate any two sites where evidence of bones of domesticated animals has been found.
Ans: Mehargarh (Pakistan), Chirang (Bihar)
 Chapter-4 In the Earliest Cities
 New Words:
Civilization Mohenjo-daro
Harappa Excavated
Citadel Acropolis
Inhabited Merchants
Granaries Residential
Weavers Potters
Trader Terracotta
Rectangular Statuettes
Dockyard Pictographic
Decline Devastation
 Short Answers Questions:
1.Write a note on the trade relations of the Harappa with their neighbouring civilizations.
Ans: Harappa had good relations with their neighbours. They had a flourishing internal and external
trade. Silver, tin, gold, copper and precious metals were brought from outside. A dockyard excavated
at Lothal is proof of flourishing trade.
2.List out things to show that the sites of this culture were very well planned.
Ans: a) The great Bath b) The Granary c) The Citadel d) The Assembly
3.What was the significance of the lower town? Who lived there?
Ans: Most of the buildings in the lower towns were residential buildings. Houses were one or
two storey’s high, baked of bricks. All houses had a central courtyard, a health and a bathing area.
Common people lived in this part.
4.Why is the Indus Valley Civilization also known as the Harappan Civilization?
Ans: It is also known as Harappan civilization because Harappa was the first site to be
excavated. It was located in the Valley of Indus River.
 Long Answers Questions:
1.Discuss the extent of Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans:
a) The Indus Valley Civilization was spread over large parts of present day Pakistan and the Indian states
of Haryana, U.P, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
b) A number of sites have been discovered in these places, E.g. Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Gola Dharo,
Rangpur etc.
2. Describe the Citadel area of the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans:
a) In some cities special buildings were constructed in the Citadel areas.
B) A very special tank, the Great Bath has been discovered. It was lined with bricks and Mortars and
was made water tight.
C) Elaborate granaries were also found. They were mostly in raw of 6 with a central passage to allow
ventilation.
D) It had a circular working platform for threshing grains.
E) Another important structure was the assembly or town hall. It was a large hall within twenty pillars.
3. What was the significance of the lower town? Who lived there?
Ans: According to historians, the following factors would have caused the declined of the civilization.
a) Natural disaster such as floods, epidemics, earthquakes or a change in the course of river Indus
might have led to its collapse.
b) More advanced culture brought an end to the Indus valley civilization.
c) Change in climate led to reduction in agricultural surplus and they migrated to different regions in
search of a better life.

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 Map work
 Show the following on an outline map of India and attempt the answers also:

1. The areas were Indus valley civilization existed.

2. The sites of two important civilization:
a) Harappa b) Mohenjo-Daro
3. Mark the following cities:
a) Lothal b) Ghazi Shah c) Ropar d) Banwali e) Dobar Kot f) Taxila
4. The Indus River
 (Geography)
Chapter – 3 Motions of the Earth
 New words:
Aphelion Rotation
Orbit Axis
Perpendicular Inclination
Illumination Down
Twilight Revolution
Motion Leap year
Elliptical Perihelion
Solstice Equinox
 Differentiate between following:
Spring Equinox Autumnal Equinox
1. It occurs on March 21 when rays of the sun 1. It occurs on September 23 when
fall vertically on the equator. rays of the sun fall vertically on the
equator.
2. During this period the northern hemisphere 2. During this period the northern
experiences spring season, while it is the hemisphere experience the autumn
autumn season in the southern hemisphere. season, while it is the spring season
in the southern hemisphere.

Perihelion Aphelion
1. Around January 4 when the earth reaches 1. Around July 4 when the earth
the point in its Orbit where the distance reaches a point in its Orbit where the
between the Earth and the Sun is minimum distance between the Earth and the
(about 146 million km), then we say the Sun is maximum (about 152 million
earth is Perihelion. km), then we say the earth is
Aphelion.

 Short Answer Questions:

1.Define a leap year?
Ans: Every fourth year has 366 days when February has 29 days. Such a year is called a leap year.
2.What do you understand by the ‘Circle of Illumination’?
Ans: The Circle of Illumination is the imaginary line that separates the lighted part of the earth
(where it is day time) from the dark areas (where its night time). .
3.List two factors responsible for the phenomenon of seasons.
Ans: The factors which are together responsible for the phenomenon of the seasons are:
a) The inclination of the earth’s axis at a fixed angle and direction.
b) The revolution of the Earth around the Sun.
4.Why do the places near the equator have equal days and nights?
Ans: The sun shines vertically throughout the year on the places near the equator.So they have equal
days and nights.
 Long Answers Questions:
1.What is rotation? Discuss its effect.
Ans: Rotation is the movement of the earth on its own axis; its effects are as follow:
a) It causes day and night. A day consists of 24 hours.
b) The concept of direction is based on sunrises and sunset which is due to the apparent movement
of the Earth.
c) Bulging of the Earth at the Equator and flattened at the poles are caused due to rotation.
d) Movement of winds, ocean currents and tides are also caused due to the rotation.
2.What is revolution? Write down its effect.
Ans: Revolution is the movement of the Earth on an inclined axis around the Sun. Its effects are as
follow:
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 a) It causes the cycle of the seasons.
b) It causes the difference in the duration of the days and nights.
c) It is responsible for the difference in distribution of heat over the surface of the Earth.
3.Define the Earth’s Orbit and explain the inclination of the earth’s axis.
Ans:
a) Earth’s Orbit is the fixed path on which it moves around the sun.
b) The earth’s axis is neither perpendicular to the direction of the Sun nor the plane of the Earth’s
Orbit.
c) It is inclined from the vertical line of an angle of 23 ½. It makes an angle of 66 ½ with its orbital
plane which is formed by the orbit of the Earth around the Sun.
d) The Earth always remains tilled to one side while moving around the Sun. this tilt is called the
inclination of the Earth’s axis.
4.What are Solstices? Explain the winter and summer Solstice.
Ans: Solstices are the position of the Earth when the midday sun shines vertically overhead at the
Tropic Of Cancer or the Tropic Of Capricorn and the duration of the day is longest in the
hemisphere.
a) Winter Solstices occur on 22nd December when the Sun rays falls vertically over the Tropic Of
Capricorn. Therefore it is summer season in the southern hemisphere, where the places
experiences the longest day and the shortest night. The Northern hemisphere which is turned
away from the Sun, receives slanting rays of the Sun, and the days are short and the nights are
long. It is the winter season in the Northern hemisphere.
b) Summer Solstice occurs on 21st June when the Sun’s rays fall vertically over the Tropic Of
Cancer. Therefore it is summer season in the Northern hemisphere where the places experiences
the longest day and the shortest night. The Southern Hemisphere, which is turned away from the
sun, receives slanting rays of the Sun. the duration of day light is short and it is winter season in
the Southern hemisphere.
 Diagrams:
The Circle of Illumination
 Chapter – 4 Maps and Globes
 New Words:
Atlas Cardinal Direction
Conventional Symbols
Globe Geographic
Navigators Cartographer
Cartography Mercator
Thematic Metric
Saptarishi Magnetic Compass
Mariner Compass Sketch
 Distinguish between following:
Physical Map Political Map
1. They show various landforms like 1. They show countries, states.
mountains, valleys, plains, rivers, plateaus Capitals, important cities and towns.
and oceans. 2. They help in the study of different
2. They help in planning of cities, colonies, types of cultural, historical and
buildings roads, railways and dams. economic activities.
Sketch Plan
1. It is a rough drawing 1. It is an accurate drawing of a very
2. It can help in finding directions by small area like a house or a building
showing important landmarks. complex.
2. It helps in the construction of houses
3. It does not use a scale or conventional signs and contains minutes details of the
or symbols. layout.
3. It is always drawn according to scale.

 Short answer questions:

1.What are the maps that show a very small area in detail called?
Ans: The maps that show a very small area is called a Plan.
2.How can the Pole star help in finding directions?
Ans: The Pole star always tells the North direction and thus, other directions can easily be
known.
3.What is the device used by sailors to find directions? What are the advantages of this device?
Ans: Sailors use a magnetic compass to find directions. The needle of the magnetic compass always
point toward the north-south direction. During cloudy conditions, when the Sun and Pole star are not
visible, this device helps to find the directions.
4.Why do we use maps?
Ans: We use maps because they represent a part of the Earth’s surface according to scale. They
provide accurate information of a small area. They help in making comparison and are easy to carry.
 Long Answers Questions:
1.What are the advantages of a map over a globe?
Ans: Map is drawn on a flat surface according to scale. Globe is a model of the Earth. The
advantages of a map over a globe are as follow:
a) Maps are easy to carry.
b) Maps use different symbols, colors and signs to give accurate information where globes do not
use symbols and signs.
c) Different types of maps like Physical, Political, Thematic types helped in giving different types
of information.
d) Maps are useful in making comparisons.
2.Describe different types of maps according to their functions.
Ans: There are three types of maps according to their functions:

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 a) Physical maps show various landforms like mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus and oceans.
These maps help in the planning of cities, colonies, roads, dams and establishing railway
lines.
b) Political maps show countries, states, capitals and important cities and towns. They help in
knowing the cultural, historical and economical activities
c) Thematic maps show particular features like climate, agriculture, rainfall and distribution
of population, minerals and industries.
3.Describe the different methods of showing scale on a map.
Ans: the different methods of showing scales on a map are as follow:
a) By a statement: The scale is given in words like ‘one cm. is to ten km. or 1cm=10km
b) By representative fractions: In this method the ration between the map distance and the ground
distance is represented by a fraction whose numerator is always one. It is called RF method or
numerical fraction.
c) By a graphic or linear scale method: In this method, the map distance is shown with the help of
a straight line. This line is further divided into primary divisions. The first primary division is
again subdivided into divisions called Secondary divisions.
4.Why do Representative Fractions (RF) have universal application in map making?
Ans: RF has universal application in map making because an RF carries no units (inches, centimeters,
etc.) This means that the RF scales can be used to compare different maps.