11th History - Book Back Answers - Unit 1 - English Medium Guides

 

 

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Tamil Nadu Board 11th Standard History Unit 1: Book Back Answers and Solutions

    This post covers the book back answers and solutions for Unit 1 – History from the Tamil Nadu State Board 11th Standard textbook. These detailed answers have been carefully prepared by our expert teachers at KalviTips.com.

    We have explained each answer in a simple, easy-to-understand format, highlighting important points step by step under the relevant subtopics. Students are advised to read and memorize these subtopics thoroughly. Once you understand the main concepts, you’ll be able to connect other related points with real-life examples and confidently present them in your tests and exams.

    By going through this material, you’ll gain a strong understanding of History Unit 1 along with the corresponding book back questions and answers (PDF format).

Question Types Covered:

• 1 Mark Questions: Choose the correct answer, Fill in the blanks, Identify the correct statement, Match the following 
• 2 Mark Questions: Answer briefly 
• 3, 4, and 5 Mark Questions: Answer in detail

All answers are presented in a clear and student-friendly manner, focusing on key points to help you score full marks.

All the best, Class 11th students! Prepare well and aim for top scores. Thank you!

Unit 1 - Early India: From the
Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation

I. Choose the Correct Answer

Question 1. 

The period before the development of script is called__________    
(a) Pre-historic    
(b) Historic    
(c) palaeolithic    
(d) Neolithic
Answer Key:
(a) Pre-historic

Question 2. The earliest age in history is called_________         
(a) Old Stone Age    
(b) New Stone Age    
(c) Copper Age    
(d) Iron Age
Answer Key:
(a) Old Stone Age

Question 3.  

The first Palaeolithic tools were identified in_______    
(a) 1860    
(b) 1863    
(c) 1873    
(d) 1883
Answer Key:
(b) 1863

Question 4.  

Baghor I and Baghor III of Son Valley in Madhya Pradesh are some of_____sites in India.
(a) Lower Palaeolithic    
(b) Middle Palaeolithic    
(c) Upper Palaeolithic    
(d) Neolithic
Answer Key:
(c) Upper Palaeolithic

Question 5.
The site of Mehrgarh has been associated with___________culture.
(a) Palaeolithic    
(b) Neolithic    
(c) Mesolithic    
(d) Chalcolithic
Answer Key:
(b) Neolithic

Question 6. 

The______inscriptions mention the trade contacts between Mesopotamia and Harappan civilisation.
(a) Cuneiform    
(b) Heiroglyphics    
(c) Devanagiri    
(d) Kharoshti
Answer Key:
(a) Cuneiform 

   

Question 7.  

Burzahom is an important site of___________         
(a)Neolithic culture of Kashmir
(b) Neolithic culture of Ganga Valley
(c) Neolithic culture of Eastern India
(d)Neolithic culture of South India
Answer Key:
(a)Neolithic culture of Kashmir

 

Question 8. 

Early Harappan period was____________     
(a) 3000–2600 BCE    
(b) 2600–1900 BCE    
(c) 1900–1700 BCE    
(d) 1700–1500 BCE
Answer Key:
(a) 3000–2600 BCE

 

Question 9.

______was an important source of subsistence for the Harappans.
(a) Agriculture    
(b) Pottery    
(c) Craft production    
(d) Fishing
Answer Key:
(a) Agriculture

 

 Question 10. 

The Indus civilisation declined from about     
(a) 1800 BCE    
(b) 1900 BCE    
(c) 1950 BCE    
(d) 1955 BCE
Answer Key:
(b) 1900 BCE

II. Write Brief Answers

1. What are the sources for the study of pre-historic period?

• Archaeological sites, geological sediments, animal bones.
• fossils, stone tools, bone tools, rock paintings and artefacts.

2. How is the Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic Period divided?

• Lower Palaeolithic culture.  
• Middle Palaeolithic culture
• Upper Palaeolithic culture.

3. Write a short note on hominin.

• Hominin is immediate ancestor of Homo Sapiens.
  
• Unlike Africa, evidence of hominin fossil is rare in India. 
• The only well-known hominin fossil of India was found at Hathnora.

4. Define Mesolithic culture. 

• Mesolithic cultures appeared around 10,000 BCE in India.
• Hunting wild animals and gathering plant food and fishing were people’s main occupation during this age.
• The Mesolithic people buried the dead.

5. How is the Harappan culture divided into various phases? 

• Early Harappan 3000–2600 BCE
• Mature Harappan 2600–1900 BCE
• Late Harappan 1900–1700 BCE

6. Write a short note on The Great Bath. 

• The Great Bath is a tank situated within a courtyard.
• There were corridors with stairs on all four sides.
• It was well paved with several adjacent rooms.

7. Mention the reasons for the decline of Indus Civilisation. 

• Decline of the trade with the Mesopotamia, the drying of the river.
• Invasions, floods and shifting of the river course.

 

III. Write Short Answers

1.Write a note on Acheulian and Sohanian industries.

• Acheulian industry mainly had hand axes and cleavers.
• The Sohan industry mainly had pebble-flake.
• The Sohan industry is considered to have used only chopper and chopping tools.
• The Sohan industry gets its name from the Sohan river valley of Pakistan.

 

2. What are the main features of Indian Middle Palaeolithic age?

• The tools became smaller.
• The decrease in the use of hand axes in relation to other tools.
• Use of core preparation techniques in stone tool production.
• Use of chert, jasper, chalcedony and quartz as raw materials.

 

3. Mention the Mesolithic sites in India.

• Paisra (Bihar),
• Langhnaj (Gujarat),
• Chopani Mando, Sarai NaharRai, Mahadaha and Damdama in U.P,
• Sankanakallu , Kibbanahalli (Karnataka).

 

4. Explain the distinct features of the Mesolithic cultures.

• The Mesolithic people lived in temporary settlements.
• They occupied caves and open grounds.
• They buried the dead.
• They had artistic skill.

 

5. What are the border settlements of the Indus civilisation?

• West :Sutkagen-dor Pakistan–Iran border.
• East :Shortugai (Afghanistan ).
• North :Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh).
• South :Daimabad (Maharashtra).

 

6. Write a short note on the craft production of Harappan economy.

• Bead and ornament making, shell bangle making.
• Metalworking were the major crafts.
• The beads were made in innumerable designs and decorations.
• They were exported to Mesopotamia.

 

7. What do you know about the faith and belief system of the Harappans?

• The Indus people worshipped nature.
• They worshipped the pipal tree.
• Fire altars have been identified at Kalibangan.
• They buried the dead.

 

IV. Answer the following in detail 

1. Describe pre-historic India.

• The period before the development of script is called the pre-historic times. 
• Human ancestors are likely to have first evolved in Africa and later migrated to different parts of the world. 
• The pre-history of India was considered between two million and one million years ago.
• Generally, this period divided into Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. 
• The earliest age in history is called Palaeolithic. 
• This periodis divided into Lower Palaeolithic culture, Middle Palaeolithic culture, Palaeolithic culture. 
• This is the age in which animal and plant domestication developed, leading to food production. 
• The classification of these cultures is done on the basis of stratigraphic, chronological and lithic evidence.

 

2. Compare the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic cultures.

Lower Palaeolithic Culture	Middle Palaeolithic cultures
The lower Palaeolithic culture in india is around two million years ago.	The Middle Palaeolithic culture in India is dated between 3,85,000 and 40,000BCE.
The Lower Palaeolithic sites are found in Athirampakkam, Pallavaram and Gudiyam, Hunsgi valley,Isampur, and Bhimbetka.	The Middle Palaeolithic sites are found in Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna and other river valleys.
They lived in open air, river valleys, caves and rock shelters.	They occupied open-air, cave and rock shelter sites.
They used Hand axes, cleavers, choppers.	The decrease in the use of hand axes in relation to other tools.

 

3. "Upper Palaeolithic culture marked an innovation in tool technology." Elucidate. 

• This period is marked by innovation in tool technology and increased cognitive capability of humans. 
• The lithic industry of the Upper Palaeolithic period is based on blade and bone tool technologies. 
• Microliths were introduced in the Upper Palaeolithic Period. 
• These tools were made using different varieties of silica-rich raw materials. 
• Bone tools and faunal remains have been found in Kurnool caves in Andhra Pradesh. The lithic blade industry advanced in this period.

 

4. Highlight the salient features of Early Neolithic cultures.

• Agriculture emerged in these period, which led to several cultural developments. 
• The Neolithic period marked the beginning of agriculture and animal domestication. 
• Domestication of animals and plants were introduced in this period. 
• It’s resulted in the production and supply of a large quantity of grains and animal food.
• The fertile soil deposited by the river- side enhanced the growth of agriculture. 
• Surplus food production played a major role in the rise of early civilizations. 
• Large villages came to exist and pottery developed. 
• Permanent residences were built.

 

 5. "The Neolithic Culture in Kashmir region was contemporary to the Harappan civilization". Justify the statement.

• Neolithic culture in Kashmir region was contemporary to the Harappan civilization. 
• Burzahom, an important site of this culture. 
• In this place, people lived in pit houses in order to escape the cold weather. 
• The Neolithic period of Kashmir had domestic sheep, goat and cultivated plants. 
• The Neolithic people of Burzahom traded with the people of the Harappan Civilization. 
• They used handmade pottery. 
• They used tools such as .stone axes, chisels, adzes. 
• Scrapers were used for working the skins. 
• Two phases of Neolithic culture have been identified. They are termed aceramic and ceramic phases.

 

6. Where are Neolithic cultures found in South India? Mention its important features.

• The Neolithic cultures of South India have been found mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and the north - western part of Tamil Nadu. 
• These sites have ash mounds in the centre with settlements around them. 
• More than 200 Neolithic sites have been identified as part of the Neolithic complex. 
• These sites are found near the granite hills with water sources. 
• Some early Neolithic sites have ash mounds.
• Soft ash and decomposed cow dung layers are also found at this site. 
• The evidence of habitation in the form of houses and burials are found around the ash mounds.

 

7. Why is the Indus Civilization also known as Harappan Civilization?

• The Indus Civilization represents the first phase of urbanization in India. 
• The civilization that appeared in the north-western part of India and Pakistan in third millennium BCE is collectively called the Indus Civilization. 
• Harappa was the first site to be identified in this civilization, it is also known as Harappan Civilization. 
• The Indus Civilization and the contemporary cultures covered nearly 1.5 million sq. km area in India and Pakistan. 
• The Indus region (Mehrgarh) is one of the areas of the world where agriculture and animal domestication began very early. 
• The early Harappan phase saw the development of villages and towns in the entire region. 
• In the Mature Harappan phase, urban centres developed.

 

8. Write about the planned towns of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. 

Harappa:

• Fortification, well-planned streets and lanes and drainages are noticed in the Harappan towns. 
• The Harappans used baked and unbaked bricks, and stones for construction. 
• The towns had a grid pattern and drainages were systematically built. 
• The houses were built of mud bricks while the drainages were built with burnt bricks.

Mohenjo-Daro:

• The site of Mohenjo-Daro had a planned town, built on a platform. 
• It has two distinct areas. One is identified as a citadel and another as the lower town. 
• The houses had bathrooms paved with burnt bricks and proper drains. 
• The citadel area had important residential structures that were either used by the public or select residents.

 

9. Write a short note on the following with reference to Indus Civilization.

 

(i) Pottery :

• The Harappan pottery is well-baked and fine in decorations.
• Their potteries have a deep red slip and black paintings.

(ii) Trade and exchange:

• The cuneiform inscriptions mention the trade contacts between Mesopotamia and Harappans. 
• Carnelian, lapis lazuli, copper, gold and varieties of wood were exported to Mesopotamia.

(iii) Weights and measures:

• Weights made of chert were cubical. 
• The weights exhibit a binary system. 
• They also used a measuring scale in which one inch was around 1.75 cm.

(iv) Seals, sealings and scripts :

• The seals from various media such as steatite, copper, terracotta and ivory are frequently found in the Harappan sites. 
• About 5,000 texts have been documented from the Harappan sites.