Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in Current Affairs.

(d) Both A and R are incorrect

(c) Sumerians – Akkadians – Babylonians – Assyrians

(c) (iii) is correct

1. (a) Civilisation is seen as an advanced, organised way of life. 

(b) It instilled a way of life that could be considered as an adaptation to particular environmental and cultural contents.

2. The Egyptian, Mesopotamian, the Chinese and the Indus were the important Civilisations.

3. The surplus food production by the farmers in the fertile regions supported the livelihood of. a large number of people.

4. As civilizations began to take shape, huge buildings were built, the art of writing developed and science and technology contributed to the betterment of society

1. The pyramids are massive monuments built by Egyptians as tombs of mourning to the Pharaohs. The Great Pyramids near Cairo are known as the Gizza Pyramids.

2. (a) The Egyptians had the tradition of preserving the dead bodies using Natron salt;, a combination of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. 

(b) The preservation process is called mummification.

(c) After 40 days when the salt absorbed all the moisture, the body was filled with sawdust and wrapped in strips of linen clothes and covered with fabric. The body was stored in a stone coffin called sarcophagus.

3. (a) The Egyptians believed in life after death. 

(b) Egyptian practiced polytheism. They worshipped many Gods.

4. The Great sphinx of Giza is a massive limestone image of a lion with a human head. It is dated to the time of Pharaoh Khaffe. It is one of the largest sculptures of the world and measures seventy three metres in length and twenty metres in height.

Hieroglyphics: 

Egyptians are well known for their writing system. Their form of writing is known as hieroglyphic. Hieroglyphic was used in the inscriptions on seals and other objects. The heretic, an another form of writing, was used for common purposes. This form of writing used a pictogrambased system. It was developed around 3000 BCE and many texts and books were written using this script.

The Egyptian writing system was deciphered by the French scholar, Francois Champollion (1822 CE). He used the Rosetta stone, a trilingual inscription, for deciphering the script. This inscription, which was written in Hieroglyphic, Demotic and Greek,- was taken to France by Napoleon and from there it was taken to England. Now this inscription is on display in the British Museum London.

Cuneiform: 

Cuneiform is the Sumerian writing system. The shape of the letter is in the form of wedge and hence it is called cuneiform. Evolving around 3000 BCE, it is one of the earliest scripts of the world. The epic of Gilgamesh was written in this script. They used this script for commercial transactions and writing letters and stories. The clay tablets contain loads of information on the Sumerian civilization.

Prepare a chart on the Pyramids and the Mummies with guidelines from the Textbook and the Internet. Students can be divided into groups & prepare the charts on the Pyramids and Mummies.

1. Hammurabi Code is an important legal document that specifies the laws related to various crimes. 

2. It has 282 provisions specifying cases related to family rights, trade, slavery, taxes and wages. ‘ 

3. It is carved on a stone, which portrays Hammurabi as receiving the code from the Sun god Shamash. 

4. It was a compilation of old laws based on retributive principles. 

5. The ‘eye for eye’ and ‘tooth for tooth’ form of justice is used in the Hammurabi Code

1. Ziggurats were pyramid – shaped monuments found in the ancient Mesopotamia (Modem Iraq). 

2. One of the most famous Ziggurats of the time is the one in the city of Ur. 

3. The Ziggurats were at the city centre on a platform and appeared like steep pyramids with staircases leading to the top.

(a) Mesolithic

Download the pictures & collect them. Assignment with teacher’s guidance 

(i) Prepare a hand out comparing the ancient world civilizations. Reference: Textbook & Internet 

(ii) Prepare a scrap book collecting pictures on Indus civilization from website. Students can collect pictures on Indus Civilization and paste it in their scrap book.

1. The Egyptians excelled in art and architecture. Their writing is also a form of art. 

2. Numerous sculptures, painting and carvings attest to the artistic skills of Egyptians. 

3. The Pyramids are massive monuments, built as tombs of mourning to the Pharaohs. 

4. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a massive limestone image of a lion with a human head.

1. (e) 

2. (a) 

3. (d) 

4. (b) 

5. (c)

(b) Pictographic

(a) correct

(b) incorrect 

(c) incorrect 

(d) incorrect

(c) Mummification

(b) Hieroglyphic

(d) Ox and Platinum

(c) Dancing girl

The Bronze Age period: 3300 – 1200 B.C. The location: China

 (i) The Congshan people of China lived from around 300 B.C. to 2400 B.C. in China 

(ii) Around 2300 B.C. in Europe. The teacher can help the students to locate the place on the world map.

(i) Chinese poets and philosophers such as Lao Tze, Confucius, Mencius, Mo Ti (Mot Zu) and Tao Chien (365-427 CE) contributed to the development of Chinese civilization. Sun-Tzu, a military strategist, wrote the work called Art of War. 

(ii) The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the state at the time. The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine is considered China’s earliest written book on medicine. It was codified during the time of Han Dynasty. 

(iii) Lao Tze (c. 604-521 BCE) was the master archive keeper of Chou state. He was the founder of Taoism. He argued that desire is the root cause of all evils.

(iv) Confucius (551 —497 BCE) was famous among the Chinese philosophers. He was a political reformer. His name means Kung the master. 

(v) He insisted on cultivation of one’s own personal life. He said, “If personal life is cultivated, family life is regulated; and once family life is regulated, national life is regulated. 

(vi) Mencius (372-289 BCE) was another wellknown Chinese philosopher. He travelled throughout China and offered his counsel to the rulers.