How does archaeology help us in understanding the past? Archaeology is the study of the material remains of the past. This enables us to systematically dig the successive layers of the old mounds and to form an idea of the material life of the people on the basis of remains found there. It helps us to study prehistory, the history which has no evidence of written records. It tells us about the pasts, means what kind of houses the early people lived, what kind of foods the early people ate, what kind of clothes the early people wore, type of games they played and the source of entertainment they enjoyed.  The archaeological sources are pots and pottery, tools, weapons, paintings, toys, crafts, bricks etc. Excavations of burial sites called megaliths. Megaliths are the sites where dead bodies were buried. From the burial sites it has been discovered about the socio-economic status of the people.Some burials have large number of pots with ornaments suggests the rich family while...

 Queston 2: Write five sentences on coins as a source material for reconstructing history. The study of coins is called numismatics. It includes variety of coins made out of different metals such as copper, silver, gold and lead etc. It shows visual elements and helps us to know about the metallurgical analysis.. Ancient coins were generally minted in metals such as copper, silver, gold and lead. The earliest coins contained certain symbols, called punch-marked coins. The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-Greeks. The first gold coins were issued by Kushanas in the first century AD. Some of the most spectacular gold coins were issued by the Gupta rulers. Coins provide useful information regarding economic history as they were used as a medium of exchange. Some trade Guilds also issued coins with the permission of the rulers. This shows the influence of Crafts and Commerce. Coins also potray kings and gods, and contain religious symbols, all o...

 question: 1. Write a short not on secular literature of Ancient India? This category of literature does not have religion as its theme. To this class belongs to Dharmashastra or law books which prescribe the duties for different social groups. The earliest law book was Manusmriti, this book was written during Pushyamitra Sunga of Sunga dynasty. It was the first book translated by the British to codify the Hindu law. Ashtadhyayi of Panini was the first grammar book prepared around 700 BC. This is also helpful in historical reconstuction. Indica of Megasthenese and Arthashastra of Chanakya give a detailed accounts of politics of the Indian subcontinent. Mudrarakshak of Vishakhadatt also describes about the Mauryan empire. The works of Kalidas who worked in the Gupta period composed poems and dramas- Abhijanashakuntalam, Ritusamhara and Meghadutam. These provide us with the glimpses of social and cultural life of the Guptas. For the history of kashmir, we have an important book calle...