Class 6 Social Studies Notes Chapter 12 (Buildings; Paintings And Books) – History - Our Past Book
Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 12: 'Buildings, Paintings and Books'. This chapter explores the rich cultural, architectural, and intellectual achievements of ancient India, which are important topics for your government exam preparation. Pay close attention to the details.
Detailed Notes: Chapter 12 - Buildings, Paintings and Books
1. Metallurgy: The Iron Pillar
- Location: Mehrauli, Delhi (within the Qutub Minar complex).
- Material: Iron.
- Significance:
- Demonstrates the advanced metallurgical skills of ancient Indian craftspersons.
- It has stood for about 1500 years (likely made during the Gupta period, possibly associated with Chandragupta II) without significant rusting.
- Inscription mentions a ruler named 'Chandra', often identified with Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty.
- Dimensions: About 7.2 meters high and weighs over 3 tonnes.
2. Architecture: Buildings in Brick and Stone
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Stupas:
- Meaning: The word 'stupa' means a mound.
- Purpose: Primarily Buddhist structures, often built over relics (bodily remains or objects used by the Buddha or his followers). Also marked important places associated with Buddhism.
- Structure:
- Generally a round, dome-like structure (anda).
- Often placed on a base or platform.
- A path for circumambulation (walking around in a clockwise direction as a mark of devotion) called the pradakshina patha, often surrounded by a railing (vedika).
- Entrances often had elaborate gateways called toranas.
- Examples: Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh). Early stupas were simpler; later ones became more elaborate.
-
Temples:
- Purpose: Homes for deities (Hindu gods and goddesses). Became prominent during the Gupta period.
- Early Temples: Often simple, consisting of a small square room.
- Key Features:
- Garbhagriha: ('womb-house') The most important part; a small, often dark, cave-like room where the image of the chief deity was placed. Only priests were usually allowed entry.
- Shikhara: A tower built on top of the garbhagriha to mark it as a sacred space. This was a later development, not found in the earliest temples.
- Mandapa: An assembly hall or porch-like structure located in front of the garbhagriha, where people could gather for worship.
- Construction Materials: Stone and brick.
- Examples:
- Bhitargaon (Uttar Pradesh): An early temple made of baked brick (around 1500 years ago). Notable for its tall shikhara.
- Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu): Famous for monolithic temples (carved out of single, huge rock pieces), known as rathas (chariots). Built during the Pallava period.
- Aihole (Karnataka): Known as the "Cradle of Indian Architecture". Has many temples, including the Durga temple (around 1400 years ago), which has an unusual apsidal (semi-circular) end.
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How Stupas and Temples were Built:
- Funding: Kings, queens, merchants, guilds, farmers, artisans, and devotees contributed money and materials. Records of donors are sometimes found inscribed on railings, pillars, or walls.
- Planning & Execution: Required careful planning. Stone blocks had to be quarried, transported, shaped, and placed precisely. Skilled craftspersons were essential.
3. Paintings
- Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra):
- Type: Rock-cut caves, used as monasteries (viharas) and prayer halls (chaityas) by Buddhist monks.
- Time Period: Many paintings date back to the Gupta period and slightly later.
- Technique: Primarily fresco technique (painting done on wet plaster, allowing colours to seep in and become part of the wall).
- Themes: Primarily Buddhist themes, especially scenes from the Jataka tales (stories about the previous births of the Buddha). Also depict courtly life, animals, birds, and flowers.
- Colours: Made from natural minerals and plants; vibrant even after centuries.
- Significance: Masterpieces of ancient Indian art, known for their expressiveness and detail. The caves were dark, so paintings were likely done using torchlight.
4. The World of Books
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Epics: Grand, long compositions about heroic men and women, often including stories about gods.
- Tamil Epics:
- Silappadikaram: Composed by Ilango Adigal around 1800 years ago. Story of a merchant named Kovalan, his wife Kannagi, and the courtesan Madhavi. Known for its vivid description of city life (Puhar).
- Manimekalai: Composed by Sattanar around 1400 years ago. Story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi.
- Sanskrit Epics:
- Mahabharata: Attributed to Vyasa. Traditionally believed to have been written down centuries after it was composed and recited. Contains the story of the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Also includes the Bhagavad Gita. It was compiled over a long period, reaching its final form around 1500 years ago.
- Ramayana: Attributed to Valmiki. Story of Rama, prince of Kosala, his exile, abduction of his wife Sita, and his war against Ravana. Like the Mahabharata, it has ancient roots but was written down later.
- Tamil Epics:
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Puranas:
- Meaning: Literally means 'old'.
- Content: Contained stories about gods and goddesses (Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Parvati), creation of the world, and genealogies of kings.
- Language: Written in simple Sanskrit verse, intended to be heard by everybody, including women and Shudras who were often not allowed to study the Vedas.
- Recitation: Recited in temples by priests.
- Compilation: Compiled during the Gupta period and later.
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Stories by Ordinary People:
- Jataka Tales: Stories about the previous lives of the Buddha, often preserved in oral tradition before being written down. Depicted in paintings (Ajanta) and sculptures (Sanchi).
- Panchatantra: Collection of animal fables, attributed to Vishnu Sharma. Intended to teach wisdom and statecraft (niti). Widely translated.
5. Science and Mathematics
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Aryabhata:
- Field: Mathematician and astronomer.
- Time: Gupta period.
- Book: Aryabhatiyam (written in Sanskrit verse).
- Contributions:
- Stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis.
- Gave a scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipses (based on shadows cast by the earth and moon).
- Calculated the circumference of a circle with remarkable accuracy (close to the modern value).
- Developed a sophisticated system for calculating pi (π).
- Made significant contributions to algebra and trigonometry.
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Zero (Shunya):
- The numeral '0' and the concept of zero were crucial developments in India.
- Simplified calculations and formed the basis of the decimal system, later adopted by Arabs and then Europeans.
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Ayurveda:
- Ancient Indian system of medicine.
- Two famous practitioners/compilers of texts:
- Charaka (1st-2nd century CE) - Charaka Samhita (deals with medicine).
- Sushruta (around 4th century CE) - Sushruta Samhita (deals mainly with surgery).
6. Other Developments
- Paper: Invented in China around 1900 years ago by Cai Lun. The technique spread gradually via Korea, Japan, Baghdad, Europe, Africa, and eventually to other parts of Asia, including India.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
-
The famous Iron Pillar, known for its rust resistance, is located at:
(a) Sanchi
(b) Ajanta
(c) Mehrauli, Delhi
(d) Mahabalipuram -
The central room in a temple where the image of the chief deity is placed is known as the:
(a) Mandapa
(b) Shikhara
(c) Garbhagriha
(d) Pradakshina patha -
Which of the following is an early temple built primarily of baked brick?
(a) Durga temple, Aihole
(b) Monolithic Rathas, Mahabalipuram
(c) Bhitargaon temple
(d) Kandariya Mahadeva temple -
The paintings in the Ajanta caves primarily depict scenes from:
(a) The Mahabharata
(b) The Ramayana
(c) The Puranas
(d) The Jataka tales -
The Tamil epic 'Silappadikaram' was composed by:
(a) Sattanar
(b) Ilango Adigal
(c) Valmiki
(d) Vyasa -
The 'Aryabhatiyam' deals with subjects related to:
(a) Medicine and Surgery
(b) Grammar and Language
(c) Mathematics and Astronomy
(d) Law and Statecraft -
Which ancient Indian scholar explained that day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis?
(a) Charaka
(b) Sushruta
(c) Aryabhata
(d) Panini -
Stupas were primarily associated with which religion?
(a) Hinduism
(b) Jainism
(c) Buddhism
(d) Sikhism -
The Puranas were written mainly in which language to make them accessible to a wider audience?
(a) Pali
(b) Prakrit
(c) Simple Sanskrit verse
(d) Tamil -
Monolithic temples, known as 'rathas', carved out of single large rocks, are a characteristic feature of:
(a) Aihole
(b) Sanchi
(c) Ajanta
(d) Mahabalipuram
Answer Key:
- (c)
- (c)
- (c)
- (d)
- (b)
- (c)
- (c)
- (c)
- (c)
- (d)
Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understanding the cultural and scientific achievements of this period is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!