TIMELINE AND SURCES OF HISTORY

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Revisit to the past

Let's take a tour back to your past memories.
Which is your favourite memory?

Why do we remember some things from the past?

As individuals, we remember history not just to know the past, but to understand ourselves, grow, stay connected, and live meaningfully.

What is history?

History is the study of the people and events of the past. It tells the story of the ways that cultures change over time.

History explains why things are the way they are.

Learning about the past helps us understand the present and make decisions about the future.

How do we learn about the past?

1.Archaeological Sources (Things People Left Behind)

Tools and weapons

Pots and coins

Jewellery

Old buildings or ruins

Inscriptions (writing carved on stone or metal)

2. Written Records

Manuscripts (books or scrolls written by hand)

Old letters or government records

Books and documents written in the past

3. Oral Sources

Folk tales

Songs

Legends and myths

4. Visual Sources

Old paintings
Maps
Photographs (in modern history)

People who study about the past

Earth has a long history in which humans play a very small role. Many people study Earth’s history to understand the past. The specialists who study history are as follows:

1. Geologists
- They study the Earth’s physical features like:
  - Soil, rocks, hills, mountains, rivers, seas, and oceans.
- They help us understand how the land has changed over time.
🦴 2. Palaeontologists
- They study fossils – the remains of plants, animals, and even early humans that lived millions of years ago.
- Fossils help us learn what life was like long before humans wrote anything down.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 3. Anthropologists
- They study human beings, their cultures, customs, and ways of living from ancient times to now.
- They tell us how societies grew, changed, and interacted with each other.
🏺 4. Archaeologists
- They dig up and study things made or used by humans, plants and animals in the past., such as:
  - Tools, pots, beads, toys, bones, teeth, burnt grains, and parts of buildings.
- These clues help them rebuild the story of how people lived long ago.

How is time measured in history?

Every society and culture has its own methods 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.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Gregorian Calendar (Christian Era)
- Event: Birth of Jesus Christ
- Era Begins: From this event, the calendar is divided into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini – "In the year of our Lord")
- Used in: Most of the world today for civil purposes

Hijri Calendar (Islamic Era)
- Event: Migration (Hijra) of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE
- Era Begins: Islamic calendar starts from this event
- Used in: Muslim countries and for Islamic religious purposes

Vikram Samvat (Hindu Era)

Event: Started by King Vikramaditya to commemorate his victory over the Sakas
Era Begins: 57 BCE
Used in: Parts of India, especially in traditional Hindu calendars

Buddhist Era Calendar

Event: Death (Mahaparinirvana) of Gautama Buddha
Era Begins: Around 543 BCE
Used in: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar

The calendars, such as Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Chinese, are used to mark festivals and important events of their religion.

Panchanga

Panchanga is a traditional Hindu calendar used in India.
It is based on the positions of the Sun and the Moon.
The word Panchanga means “five parts” of time.
It is used to mark festivals, religious events, and auspicious timings.
It includes astronomical data such as:
- Sunrise and sunset times
- Solar and lunar eclipses
- Moon phases (Tithi)
It is commonly printed in a book format each year.
Panchangas also give weather predictions and seasonal forecasts.
Widely used in astrology, rituals, and daily religious practices.

Gregorian Calendar – Key Points

The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world today.

It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

It is a solar calendar, based on the Earth’s revolution around the Sun.

A year has 12 months and 365 days, with a leap year every 4 years (366 days).

The months are:

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

Timeline :

It is a tool that displays a sequence of dates and events for a specific period. Timelines help in understanding the order in which historical events took place.

The timeline shows dates and important events from the beginning of human history to the present.

Terms for Longer Duration of Time :

Along with a year and a decade (a period of ten years), we often use other terms to understand longer durations of time.

Following terms are quite commonly used when learning about history

Century: It refers to a period of 100 years. Centuries are counted starting from the year 1 CE. The 21 st century CE spans from 2001 to 2100 CE .

For BCE , the counting goes backward from 1 BCE. For example, the 3rd century BCE includes the years 300 BCE to 201 BCE.

Millennium: It represents a period of 1,000 years. Millenniums are counted starting from the year 1 CE. The current 3rd millennium CE, which started in 2001 CE will last until 3000 CE .

Millenniums BCE are also counted backward from 1 BCE. For example, the 1 st millennium BCE covers the years 1 BCE to 1000 BCE .

Sources of History

Sources are things that help us know and understand the past. They include objects, writings, buildings, and stories from earlier times.
Example: A coin with a king’s name helps us know who ruled.

🗣️ Oral Sources: Genealogies and Folklore

These are stories passed down by speaking, not writing.

Genealogies tell about family history.
Folklore includes songs, tales, and legends.
Example: A folk story about a brave king told by villagers.

📚 Indian Literature

Old Indian books and writings that tell us about religion, society, kings, and life.

Vedas – Religious chants and hymns
Itihasas – Great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata
Poems and Plays – Written by famous poets like Kalidasa
Historical Texts – Books like Rajatarangini about kings
Story Collections – Like Jataka tales about Buddha’s past lives
Example: The Mahabharata tells about wars, kings, and values.

🌍 Foreign Accounts

Writings by foreign travelers and scholars who visited India.
They give outside views of Indian culture and rulers.
Example: Fa-Hien, a Chinese traveler, wrote about Gupta India.

🎨 Artistic Sources

Things made or used by people in the past.

Habitations and burials – Ancient homes and graves
Figurines and ornaments – Small statues and jewelry
Human, animal, and plant remains – Bones, teeth, seeds, etc.

🏛️ Structures: Monuments and Mounds

Big buildings or raised earth made by people long ago.

Monuments – Temples, stupas, pillars, forts
Mounds – Small hills that cover old remains
Example: Sanchi Stupa is a famous Buddhist monument.

✍️ Inscriptions

Writings on hard surfaces like stones or metals.
They were used to record orders, gifts, and events.

Manuscripts – Handwritten texts on palm leaves or paper
Copper plates – Royal orders and land grants
Coins – Have names, pictures, and symbols of rulers
Example: Ashoka’s inscriptions tell about his rule and Buddhism.

Who contributes to all these sources of history?

Historians

-archaeologists

- epigraphists (who study ancient inscriptions)

-anthropologists (who study human societies and their cultures)

-experts in literature and languages

-scientific studies such as ancient climate, nature of artefacts etc.
-News paper and electronic media

A gold coin of Gupta emperor Samudragupta depicts him playing the veena, a stringed musical instrument.

It gives informaltion about the economy, art and religion of the time.

This is a relief sculpture, likely showing a religious or historical scene.
Such sculptures are usually found in temples or monuments and help us understand the beliefs and lifestyle of that time.

The Lion Capital of Ashoka is a famous stone sculpture.
It was made by Emperor Ashoka around 250 BCE and placed on top of a pillar at Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon. it is closely associated with the spread of Buddhism andthe principles of Dharma (moral law) during Ashoka's reign. Today, the Lion Capital is the
national emblem of India, symbolizing India's sovereignty, strength, and unity.

Jeber Irhoud Site, Morocco, where first human fossils were found

1. The Beginnings of Human History

Modern humans (Homo sapiens) appeared about 300,000 years ago.
We learn about them from rock paintings found in caves around the world.
Early humans lived in small groups for safety and support.
They survived by hunting animals and gathering plants, fruits, nuts.
They believed in natural forces and an afterlife.
Homes were temporary: camps, rock shelters, or caves.
They spoke early languages (now lost).
Important tools and discoveries:
- Fire for warmth and cooking
- Stone axes, blades, arrowheads
- Simple ornaments (shell beads, animal‑tooth pendants)

2. The First Crops

Earth’s climate changed; the last Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago.
Ice melted → rivers and oceans formed.
As the weather warmed, humans began to settle in one place.
They started growing crops like wheat and barley.
They domesticated animals: cattle, goats, sheep.
More food meant larger and healthier communities.
Most early farms were near rivers (water + fertile soil).

3. Growth of Settlements

Farming led to bigger communities called villages.
Villagers traded food, clothing, and tools with neighbours.
Leaders (chiefs) looked after everyone’s welfare.
Land and work were shared—no single owner.
Villages that traded more became small towns.
New technologies appeared:
- Pottery for storing and cooking food
- Metals (first copper, then iron) for stronger tools and ornaments

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