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From Gathering To Growing Food

Class 6th History Our Pasts I CBSE Solution
Imagine
  1. You are in charge of a small plot of land and have to decide what food crops to grow. What…
Let’s Recall
  1. Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time?…
  2. Look at the table on page 25. If Neinuo wanted to eat rice, which are the places she…
  3. Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start…
  4. State whether true or false: (a) Millets have been found at Hallur. (b) People in Burzahom…
Let’s Discuss
  1. List three ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from…
  2. Make a list of all the animals mentioned in the table (page 25). For each one, describe…
Let’s Do
  1. List the cereals that you eat
  2. Do you grow the cereals you have listed in answer no. 7? If yes, draw a chart to show the…
Imagine
Question 1.

You are in charge of a small plot of land and have to decide what food crops to grow. What are the plants you would choose? Where would you get the seeds from? How would you plant them? How would you look after your plants? And when would they be ready for harvesting?
Answer:

I would prefer planting rice crops.

Seeds of crops are available at local seed distribution shops.


Before planting I will plough the soil to soften it then I will put the seeds.


Rice needs a lot of water; hence I will irrigate them regularly.


Rice crops are ready for harvesting after approximately 160 days.
Let’s Recall
Question 1.

Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time?
Answer:

People who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time because:

1. The crops take time to grow and ripe.


2. Crops need protection from animals.


3. Watering the plants is very important otherwise crops would die.


4. Humans need to take care of their crops.
Question 2.

Look at the table on page 25. If Neinuo wanted to eat rice, which are the places she should have visited?
Answer:

Neinuo should have visited the following places to eat rice:

1. Koldihwa (Located in present day Uttar Pradesh)


2. Mahagara (Located in present day Uttar Pradesh)


NOTE: Remains of rice grains were found at the above mentioned places by archaeologists.
Question 3.

Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later?
Answer:

Archaeologists think that people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters initially but became herders later because during excavation bones of wild deer and pigs were found which suggest that they were hunters. Further excavation led to discovery of skeletons of domestic animals like Goats and Sheep which suggests that started herding animals.

NOTE: Mehrgarh is located in present day Pakistan, it was one of the most important routes to Iran.
Question 4.

State whether true or false:

(a) Millets have been found at Hallur.

(b) People in Burzahom lived in rectangular houses.

(c) Chirand is a site in Kashmir.

(d) Jadeite, found in Daojali Hading, may have been brought from China.
Answer:

a) Millets have been found at Hallur: True


Millets were found at Hallur which is located in present day Andhra Pradesh.


b) People in Burzahom lived in rectangular houses: False


People in Burzahom lived in pit-houses. Burzahom is located in present day Kashmir. Rectangular houses were found in Mehrgarh.


c) Chirand is a site in Kashmir: False


Chirand is located in present day Bihar, not in Kashmir.


d) Jadeite, found in Doajali Hading, may have been brought from China: True


Jadeite a stone may have been brought from China.
Let’s Discuss
Question 1.

List three ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from that of hunter-gatherers.
Answer:

Lives of farmers and herders was different from that of hunters-gatherers in following ways:
Question 2.

Make a list of all the animals mentioned in the table (page 25). For each one, describe what they may have been used for.
Answer:




Let’s Do
Question 1.

List the cereals that you eat.
Answer:

List of cereals that we eat:

1. Wheat


2. Maize


3. Rye


4. Millets


5. Rice


NOTE: Cereals refer to the grains of grass that are edible, for example wheat and rice.
Question 2.

Do you grow the cereals you have listed in answer no. 7? If yes, draw a chart to show the stages in growing them. If not, draw a chart to show how these cereals reach you from the farmers who grow them.
Answer:

I) If yes.


Yes, my family grows the rice in our fields. The stages in growing them are as listed.


Preparation of fields: Before planting rice we need to prepare the fields by ploughing. It softens the soil enabling it to absorb and retain water.


Stages in the growth of rice:


a) Sowing: sowing refers to the planting of seeds in the fields.


b) Germination: After sowing, the sapling comes out of seeds, this process is called


germination. It is the beginning of life of rice crop.


c) Ripening: After few months, the rice crop starts to ripen. Now they are ready to be cut.


d) Harvesting: It refers to the cutting and packaging of the rice crops after they ripe.


II) If no,


No, my family doesn’t grow cereals. The cereals reach our home from farms in following steps.


Farmers -> Middle man -> Whole seller -> Retailer -> Customers


Farmers: The people who grow crops.


Middle man: The person who helps farmers to sell crops.


Whole seller: The person who buys huge quantity of crops.


Retailer: The local shop keepers in your locality are called retailers.


Customers: The people like us who consume food. We buy cereals from retailer.