6th Standard, Social Science, Chapter 4
THE CULTURE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD
EXERCISE
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
1. ‘Veda’ means knowledge.
2. The Vedas are in Sanskrit language.
3. The head of Aryan was called Rajan.
II. Answer the following questions in one sentence.
1. Which are the four Vedas?
Answer: The four Vedas are as follows.
1. Rigveda
2. Yajurveda
3. Samaveda and
4. Atharvanaveda.
2. Name the four Varnas.
The four Varnas are as follows.
1. Brahmana,
2 . Kshatriya,
3. Vaishya
4. Shudra.
3. Name two women scholars of the Vedic period.
Answer: The two women scholars of the Vedic period are,
1 . Lopamudra
2. Indrani
The others are Ghosha, Apala, Vishwavara, Gargi and Maitreyi.
4. Which are the great epics of ancient India? Who were the authors?
Answer: Ramayana and Mahabharatha are the two popular epics among the Indians. The Author of Ramayana is Valmiki Maharshi and the author of Mahabharatha is Vyasa Maharshi. These two epics have shaped Indian life, literature and art for thousands of years.
III. Discuss.
1. What are the differences between the Pre-vedic society and the Post-vedic society?
Answer: The differences between the Pre-vedic society and the Post-vedic society are as follows.
1 . During Pre- Vedic period the women held a respectable position in the society. They even participated in political institutions. Widow Remarriage was in practice. Women also studied Vedas.
In Post Vedic period the position of the women was lowered. Women were deprived of education and even kept away from the political institutions.
2. In Pre Vedic period women are participated in the political institution like sabha and samithi. Child marriages and sati system were not practiced during this period. But in Post Vedic society Child marriage and Sati system started.
3. The Varna system came into existence which was inclusive of four varnas namely: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra in Post Vedic Period which is not in practice in Pre Vedic period.
Additional Questions:
1 . From where Aryans came to India?
Answer: Aryans came from Central Asia to India.
2. Where did the Vedic culture emerge in ancient India?
Answer: The culture of Vedic period, arose first in the plains of River Saraswathi, and later in the plains of the River Ganga.
3. Which period is called ‘Vedic Period’?
Answer: The period in which the Vedic literature was formed is called the Vedic period.
4. Which river of ancient India is believed to be the River Saraswathi?
Answer: The ‘Ghaggar-Akra’ river which disappeared in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan is believed to be the ancient river Saraswathi. It is also believed that the Helmond river of Afghanistan is the ancient Saraswathi River.
5. What is meant by ‘Pre-Vedic Period’?
Answer: The period for Rigveda is called ‘Pre-Vedic Period’.
6. What is ‘Post-Vedic Period’?
Answer: The period of three vedas like Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda is called ‘Post-Vedic Period’.
7. Who was the head of the family during Pre-Vedic Period?
Answer: Father was the head of the family during Pre-Vedic Period.
8. What were the prisoners of war called in Pre-vedic period? How were they treated?
Answer: The prisoners of war called dasas and dasyus. They were treated like slaves.
9. Which are the three political institutions in Pre-Vedic Period administration?
Answer: The political institutions ‘Sabha’ ‘Samithi’ and ‘Vidhatas played a major role in Pre-Vedic period administration.
10. Name the gods which Aryans worshipped.
Answer: Aryans worshipped Gods like Indra, Surya, Soma, Varuna, Mitra, Yama, Ashwini etc. They worshipped gods through the rituals of ‘yagnas’.
11. What is the message of Vedas?
Answer: “There is only one truth. People perceive it differently. Let the noble thoughts come from all the corners of the world”. These were the messages of the Vedas.
12. Which are the political changes happened in Post-Vedic period which practiced in Pre-Vedic period?
Answer: The king became more powerful. The position of ‘Vidhata’,‘Sabha’ and ‘Samiti’ lost their importance. The king expanded his kingdom and the kingship became hereditary. The king performed rituals like ‘Ashwamedha Yaga’ and ‘Rajasuya Yaga’ to expand his kingdom.
13. Which are the four Ashramas in Post-Vedic Period?
Answer: A four Ashrama system (Chathurashrama) Brahmacharya, Gruhastha, Vaanaprastha and Sanyasa are started in Post-Vedic Period.
Activity: Read Ramayana and Mahabharata (with pictures) meant for children.
