DAV Class 6 SST Chapter 11 Question Answer The Iron Age Civilisation

Looking for the most authentic, 100% textbook-grounded DAV Class 6 Social Science Chapter 11 Solutions: The Iron Age Civilisation? Based strictly on the prescribed DAV CMC textbook We and Our World, this comprehensive master guide provides complete answers for Section A (Tick the correct option with detailed reasons), Section B (Fill in the blanks), Section C (Match the following table), Section D (Short Answer Questions), Section E (Detailed Long Answer Questions with structural headings), Value-Based Questions (VBQ), HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills), multi-column comparison tables (Early Vedic vs Later Vedic Period, Four Ashramas of Life), and authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024) with official marking schemes.

Section A: Tick (✓) the Correct Option

1. The oldest Veda is:
(a) Samaveda
(b) Yajurveda
(c) Rigveda
(d) Atharvaveda
Answer: (c) Rigveda
Detailed Justification: The Rigveda is the oldest religious scripture in the world, composed around 1500 BCE in the Sapta Sindhu region. It contains 1,028 sacred hymns (suktas) organized into 10 mandalas dedicated to deities like Indra, Agni, and Varuna.

2. What was the main occupation of Aryans?
(a) Trade
(b) Agriculture
(c) Weaving
(d) Fishing
Answer: (b) Agriculture
Detailed Justification: Agriculture, along with cattle rearing (pastoralism), was the primary occupation of the Vedic Aryans. They cultivated barley (yava), wheat, and rice, utilizing ox-drawn plows to furrow their fertile fields.

3. The chief god during the Early Vedic Civilisation was:
(a) Vishnu
(b) Shiva
(c) Brahma
(d) Indra
Answer: (d) Indra
Detailed Justification: Indra (the God of Thunder, Rain, and War, also called Purandara or breaker of forts) was the supreme deity of the Early Vedic Aryans, with more than 250 Rigvedic hymns addressed directly to him.

4. The supreme god worshipped during the Greek Civilisation was:
(a) Zeus
(b) Apollo
(c) Poseidon
(d) Ares
Answer: (a) Zeus
Detailed Justification: In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus was revered as the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus, the father of gods and men, and the god of the sky and thunder.

5. Who calculated the circumference of the earth?
(a) The Romans
(b) The Greeks
(c) The Persians
(d) The Chinese
Answer: (b) The Greeks
Detailed Justification: Greek polymath Eratosthenes of Cyrene (c. 276-194 BCE) made the first accurate scientific calculation of the Earth’s circumference using geometric angles of solar shadows at Alexandria and Syene.

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

1. The word Veda means knowledge (sacred spiritual wisdom).
2. As a part of the barter system, the cow was used as a standard of value (unit of exchange and wealth).
3. The Early Vedic Period is also known as the Rig Vedic Period.
4. In the Later Vedic Period, the varna system became hereditary (and rigid).
5. During Sanyas Ashram, a man lived a life of complete detachment (renunciation of worldly pleasures in pursuit of spiritual liberation).

Section C: Match the Following

Section D: Answer the Following Questions in Brief

Question 1: What were the main inventions of Greek Civilisation?
Answer:
The ancient Greek civilisation contributed breakthrough achievements:

• Calculation of Earth’s Circumference: Eratosthenes scientifically measured the spherical dimensions of the Earth.
• Cartography and World Maps: Greek geographers introduced latitude and longitude grid systems to draw accurate world maps.
• The Olympic Games: Founded athletic competitions held every four years at Olympia in honor of Zeus.
• Democracy and Philosophy: Pioneered direct democratic governance in Athens and laid the foundations of Western logic (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle).

Question 2: Name the gods that were worshipped by Romans.
Answer:
The ancient Romans worshipped an extensive pantheon of deities representing natural forces and civic duties:

1. Jupiter: King of gods and ruler of the sky.
2. Mars: God of war and protector of Rome.
3. Mercury: God of commerce, trade, and messenger of gods.
4. Juno: Queen of gods, goddess of marriage and women.
5. Venus: Goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

Question 3: Name the four Vedas.
Answer:
The four sacred canonical scriptures of the Vedic literature are:

1. Rigveda: The oldest Veda, containing hymns in praise of natural deities.
2. Samaveda: The book of melodies and chants, forming the origin of Indian classical music.
3. Yajurveda: The handbook of sacrificial formulas and ritual prose.
4. Atharvaveda: The collection of prayers, healing charms, herbal medicines, and daily domestic rituals.

Question 4: Give any two examples to prove that Vedic Civilisation was quite advanced.
Answer:
Two clear examples of advanced scientific and material culture in Vedic society:

1. Sophisticated Mathematics (Ganita): The Vedic Aryans mastered arithmetic, algebra, and geometry (the Sulba Sutras). They formulated the concept of zero, the decimal place-value system, and precise calculations for constructing complex fire altars.
2. Mastery of Iron Metallurgy and Crafts: They smelted iron (krishna-ayas or shyama-ayas) into durable axes, sickles, and weapons, and developed sophisticated textile weaving of fine cotton, wool, and silk fabrics.

Question 5: Mention the main occupations of the people of Iranian Civilisation.
Answer:
The ancient Iranians (Persians) engaged in diverse economic activities:

• Agriculture and Livestock: Farming wheat and barley; horse and camel breeding.
• Artisan Crafts: Stone carving, exquisite gold jewelry, fine pottery, and famous Persian carpet weaving.
• Maritime Shipbuilding and Trade: Constructing commercial transport ships and trading merchandise across the Royal Road connecting Asia and the Mediterranean.

Section E: Answer the Following Questions in Detail

Question 1: What was the political condition of the country under the Aryans?
Answer:
The political organization of the Aryans evolved from democratic tribal chiefdoms into centralized territorial monarchies.

Key Features:

1. Tribal Structure: The basic social unit was the family (kula) headed by the Grihapati. Multiple families formed a village (Grama) under a Gramani. Several villages constituted a clan (Vis), and a group of clans formed a tribe (Jana).
2. The King (Rajan): The tribe was governed by a king (Rajan). In the Early Vedic period, the king’s primary duty was protecting his tribe and cattle, leading armies in battle, and upholding justice. He did not possess absolute dictatorial power.
3. Democratic Tribal Assemblies: The king’s authority was guided by two assemblies:
   • Sabha: A council of respected elders and noblemen that handled judicial affairs.
   • Samiti: A broad assembly of common tribespeople that deliberated on policy and selected the king.
4. Later Vedic Expansion: With the spread of iron tools and agriculture eastward into the Ganga plains, small tribal chiefdoms expanded into large territorial kingdoms (Janapadas). Kings assumed grand titles like Samrat or Maharaja and performed majestic sacrifices (Ashvamedha, Rajasuya) to legitimize absolute power.

Question 2: What was the condition of women in the Early Vedic Period?
Answer:
Women enjoyed an honorable, dignified, and egalitarian status in the Early Vedic society.

Key Highlights:

1. Access to Education: Women were given equal access to sacred Vedic studies and underwent the sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana). Prominent female scholars and philosophers (Brahmavadinis) like Gargi, Maitreyi, Apala, Lopamudra, and Ghosha composed sacred hymns.
2. Religious Participation: No religious ritual, yajna, or domestic ceremony was considered complete or spiritually fruitful without the active presence and partnership of the wife (sahadharmini).
3. Freedom of Matrimonial Choice: Girls were married only upon attaining full adulthood. Women had the freedom to choose their life partners through swayamvaras.
4. Absence of Social Evils: Oppressive practices such as child marriage, female purdah (veil), and sati were completely non-existent during the Early Vedic period. Widows were permitted to remarry.

Question 3: Explain the Varna System. What change did it undergo during the Later Vedic Period?
Answer:
The Original Four Varnas:
In the Early Vedic society, people were classified into four varnas based on their chosen profession, personal aptitude, and character:

1. Brahmins: Priests and scholars who studied and taught the Vedas and conducted religious ceremonies.
2. Kshatriyas: Rulers and warrior defenders who governed and protected society.
3. Vaishyas: Farmers, cattle rearers, artisans, and merchants who produced goods.
4. Shudras: Manual laborers and service providers.

• Shift from Profession to Heredity: In the early period, a person could freely choose their varna regardless of birth. In the Later Vedic period, varna became strictly hereditary: a child’s social caste was permanently fixed by birth.
• Rigidity and Social Hierarchy: The system grew rigid and discriminatory. Inter-caste marriages and dining together were banned. Brahmins and Kshatriyas claimed superior privileges, while Shudras were relegated to the bottom, stripped of educational rights and access to Vedic study.

Question 4: List the achievements of the Aryans in the field of science and mathematics.
Answer:
The Vedic Aryans made pioneering contributions to empirical sciences and mathematics (Ganita):

Major Achievements:

1. Invention of Zero and Decimal System: Vedic mathematicians conceptualized shunya (zero) as a distinct mathematical number and developed the decimal place-value system that forms the foundation of modern world arithmetic.
2. Geometry and Altar Construction (Sulba Sutras): To construct sacrificial brick fire altars of precise geometric shapes (squares, circles, trapezoids), they formulated geometric theorems, including early formulations of the theorem later attributed to Pythagoras.
3. Arithmetic and Algebra: They mastered square roots, cube roots, algebraic equations, fractions, and progressions.
4. Astronomical Knowledge (Jyotisha): They charted the celestial movements of the Sun and Moon, identified 27 lunar mansions (nakshatras), calculated solar equinoxes, and devised an accurate lunisolar calendar.
5. Metallurgy and Medicine: They mastered the smelting of iron (krishna-ayas) and formulated herbal medical remedies, laying the foundation for Ayurveda.

Question 5: List the occupations of the Aryans.
Answer:
Vedic Aryans pursued a wide spectrum of productive occupations:

1. Agriculture: Growing barley, wheat, rice (vrihi), pulses, and sugarcane with ox-drawn plows and canal irrigation.
2. Pastoral Cattle Rearing: Rearing cows, bulls, horses, sheep, goats, and dogs; the cow was the primary measure of personal wealth.
3. Metalworking and Metallurgy: Blacksmiths and coppersmiths forged iron weapons, plows, sickles, and bronze domestic utensils.
4. Carpentry and Chariot Making: Carpenters crafted fast-moving spoke-wheeled war chariots, plows, and domestic furniture.
5. Weaving and Spinning: Women and weavers spun cotton and wool into garments.
6. Pottery Making: Producing distinctive Painted Grey Ware (PGW) earthenware vessels.
7. Trade and Commerce: Merchants conducted trade via barter (using cows and gold ornaments called nishka as units of value).

Core Vedic Era Comparison Tables

1. Early Vedic Period vs Later Vedic Period

2. The Four Ashramas of Life (Chaturashrama)

Value-Based Questions (VBQ)

Question: The Vedic system of education (Gurukula) emphasized character building, humility, reverence for teachers (Guru-Shishya parampara), and self-reliance rather than commercial gains. What timeless values can modern students learn from the Gurukula tradition?
Answer:
The Gurukula educational philosophy imparts enduring values:

1. Equality and Humility: In a Gurukula, princes and commoners lived under the same roof, wore simple garments, and shared daily household tasks (cleaning, gathering firewood), learning that true nobility lies in humble service rather than wealth.
2. Integral Character Development: Education was not merely passing examinations; it cultivated moral integrity, emotional control, truthful speech, and holistic physical fitness.
3. Devotion to Teachers (Guru-Bhakti): The profound respect between teacher and student fostered mentorship, emotional well-being, and academic excellence.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Question 1: Why did the widespread discovery of iron revolutionize Indian civilization far more deeply than the earlier discovery of bronze?
Answer:
Iron altered Indian history far more fundamentally because:

• Abundance and Affordability: Copper and tin needed for bronze were rare and expensive. Iron ore was abundant in eastern India (Bihar and Jharkhand), making iron implements accessible to ordinary farmers.
• Superior Hardness: Heavy iron axes allowed rapid clearing of the dense subtropical forests of the Ganga Valley, and heavy iron-tipped plows turned the hard clayey soils, unleashing agricultural surpluses that gave rise to great cities (Pataliputra, Varanasi) and powerful empires.

Question 2: Why was the cow called ‘Aghanya’ (not to be killed) in the Vedic texts?
Answer:
In Vedic society, cattle constituted the primary economic foundation:

• Cows provided dairy products (milk, curd, ghee) vital for daily nourishment and sacrificial rituals.
• Cows gave birth to oxen, the indispensable draft animals required for plowing agricultural fields and pulling transport carts.
• Because the cow was the life-giving sustainer of families, she was revered as a mother figure and declared Aghanya (inviolable, not to be harmed or slaughtered).

Authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024)

Q1 [DAV Mid-Term Exam 2023, 2 Marks]: What were the Sabha and Samiti? State one difference between them.
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Sabha [1 Mark]: A select advisory council of village elders and aristocrats that performed judicial and legislative functions.
2. Samiti [1 Mark]: A general national assembly of common tribespeople that elected the king and debated state matters.

Q2 [DAV Annual Exam 2022, 3 Marks]: Explain the four Ashramas into which an Aryan’s life was divided.
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Brahmacharya [0.75 Mark]: Student life dedicated to learning and discipline.
2. Grihastha [0.75 Mark]: Householder life dedicated to family and societal welfare.
3. Vanaprastha [0.75 Mark]: Retired life of spiritual study and meditation.
4. Sanyasa [0.75 Mark]: Complete renunciation of all worldly attachments in pursuit of Moksha.

Q3 [DAV Annual Exam 2020, 2 Marks]: Name any two female scholars of the Early Vedic Period.
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Gargi
2. Maitreyi (or Lopamudra / Apala)

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