CLASS - VI Subject- Social Science (HISTORY) Topic: Ch 6: NEW QUESTIONS AND
IDEAS
GENERAL INSTURUCTIONS:
1. Note down all the question- Answers in the notebook or take print out.
CH - New Questions and Ideas
Q1. What were the main teachings of Buddha?
Ans. i. The Buddha taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness. Desire is the cause of all sufferings.
He described this as “thirst” or “tanha.”
ii. He taught that this constant craving could be removed by following moderation in everything.
iii. He taught people to be kind and respect the lives of others, including animals.
iv. He believed that the results of our actions (called karma), whether good or bad it affects us both in this life
and the next.
v. He also encouraged people to think for themselves rather than to simply accept what he said.
Q2. Describe the ways through which Buddha tried to spread his message to the people.
Ans. i. Buddha travelled on foot from one place to another to spread his message amongst everyone.
ii. He taught in Prakrit the language of the ordinary people, so that everybody could understand his message.
Q3. What are Upanishads?
Ans. Upanishads literally means approaching and sitting near. Upanishads are a part of the later Vedic texts
and the texts contain conversations between teachers and students. Most
Upanishad thinkers were men, especially brahmin & rajas.
Q4. What were the questions that upanishadic thinkers wanted answers for?
Ans. They wanted to know about life after death and why sacrifices should be performed.
Q5. Discuss the beliefs of upanishadic thinkers/ teachings of Upanishads.
Ans. i. According to the Upanishads, there was something permanent in the universe that would last even
after death. They described this as ‘atman’ or ‘the individual soul ‘and the ‘brahman’ or ‘the universal soul’.
ii. Both the atman and the brahman were one.
iii A person could reach god through bhakti (personal devotion to god) without the help of priests or rituals
and sacrifices.
Q6. What were the main teachings of Mahavira?
Ans. i. Mahavira opposed Vedic rituals & sacrifices varna system and said that all humans were equal.
ii. He taught that men and women who wished to know the truth/ true knowledge must leave their homes.
iii. They must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa, which means not hurting or killing living beings.
iv. Mahavira encouraged his followers, who were known as Jainas, to lead very simple lives, begging for
food.
v. They had to be absolutely honest, were especially asked not to steal and observe celibacy.
Q7. What is meant by Sangha?
Ans. Sangha was an association of those who left their homes to become monks and nuns to gain the
knowledge.
Q8. Describe the life in the sanghas.
Ans. i. Men and women who joined the sangha led simple lives.
ii. They meditated for most of the time and went to cities and villages to beg for food during fixed hours.
iii. They taught others and helped one another.
iv. They also held meetings to settle any quarrels that took place within the sangha.
Q9. Who all joined the Sangha?
Ans. Those who joined the Sangha included Brahmins, Kshatriyas, merchants, labours, barbers, courtesans
and slaves.
Q10. What were Buddhist monasteries? Explain briefly.
Ans. i. Monasteries were permanent residences built for monks and nuns to live in these were known as
Viharas.
ii. The early viharas were made of wood and then of brick.
iii. The land on which vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or a land owner or a king.
Q11-. What is meant by ‘ashramas’? Describe the system of ashramas developed by Brahmans.
Ans. The word Ashrama is used to represent a stage of life. Four ashramas were recognized by Brahmanas.
These are:
i. Brahmacharya (0-25 yrs.) – Brahmin, Kshatriya & Vaishya men were expected to lead simple lives
and study the Vedas during the early years of their life.
ii. Grihastha (25-50 yrs) – Then they had to marry and live as householders.
iii. Vanaprastha (50 – 75 yrs.) – Then they had to live in the forest and meditate.
iv. Samnyasa (75 – 90 yrs.) – Finally, they had to give up everything and become samnyasins.
Women were not allowed to study the vedas. Women could not choose a particular ashrama. Women
had to follow the ashrama as per the husband’s stage of life.
Q12. Who was satyakama jabala?
Ans. Satyakama jabala, named after his mother, the slave woman jabali. He had a deep desire to learn
about reality, was accepted as a student by a Brahmin teacher, named Gautama, and became one of the
best known upanishadic thinker of the time.
Q13. Mention the rules made for the Buddhist Sangha as written in the book ‘Vinaya Pitaka’.
Ans. i. There were separate monasteries for men and women.
ii. All men could join the sangha.
iii. However, children had to take permission of their parents and slaves that of the masters, those who
worked for the king had to take his permission & debtiors that of creditors.
iv. Women had to take their husband’s permission.
HOMEWORK QUESTIONS
Q 14. Fill in the blanks:
1. Siddhartha, also known as ____________________was the founder of Buddhism.
2. The Buddha belonged to the ___________gana.
3. Buddha attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at ______________in Bihar. (now called
Mahabodhi tree)
4. Buddha taught for the first time at __________________.
5. The Stupa at ______________was built to mark the place where the Buddha first taught his
message.
6. ______________was a famous woman upanishadic thinker who participated in debates held in royal
courts.
7. _________________________was the last and the 24th tirthankara.
8. Followers of Mahavira were known as ______________.
9. The teachings of Mahavira were written down and are presently available at a place called
_______________in Gujarat.
10. The word ‘Jaina’ comes from the term Jina meaning ____________.
11. Prakrit spoken in Magadha was known as __________________.
Q15. List the basic teachings of Zoroaster.
1. _____________________
2. _____________________
3. _____________________
Q16. Zoroastrians are ancestors of today’s _______________.
Q17. Teachings of Iranian prophet Zoroaster is in the book _____________________.
MAP WORK
Q1. Mark the following places on political map of India:
a) The place where Buddha attained enlightenment- BODH GAYA (BIHAR)
b) The place where Buddha taught for the first time- SARNATH, near Varanasi (UP)
c) The place Where Buddha passed away- KUSINARA, (UP)
d) Teachings of Mahavira are presently available at- VALABHI (GUJARAT)
e) Place where Magadhi is spoken – MAGADHA (BIHAR)
f) Places in India where Jainism spread- GUJARAT, TAMIL NADU, KARNATAKA
