Let's Know the History

Before Christ

Step 1: In historical dating, we need a reference point to count years. Step 2: The birth of Jesus Christ is used as that reference point. Step 3: B.C. stands for 'Before Christ', meaning years that came BEFORE the birth of Jesus Christ. Step 4: For example, 2000 B.C. means 2000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Step 5: The modern equivalent of B.C. is B.C.E., which stands for 'Before Common Era'. Remember — the larger the B.C. number, the further back in time it is.

Indus (Sindhu)

Step 1: Our country is known by two names — India and Bharat. Step 2: The name 'India' has its roots in the Indus river, which is called 'Sindhu' in Sanskrit. Step 3: People of ancient Iran called the Indus river 'Hindos', while people of Greece called it 'Indus'. Step 4: The Greeks knew the land on the east bank of this river as 'India' — and this is how our country came to be called India. Step 5: The name 'Bharat' comes from a group of people named 'Bharat' who settled in North-western India, as mentioned in the Rigveda.

Patan (North Gujarat)

Step 1: Tamrapatras are copper plates on which kings engraved information about their administration and donations. Step 2: Many such Tamrapatras have been found in Gujarat. Step 3: The chapter lists several places in Gujarat that preserve these copper plates. Step 4: The Hemchandra Library is specifically located in Patan, which is in North Gujarat. Step 5: Other institutions that preserve Tamrapatras include L.D. Institute of Indology in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, and Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhna Kendra in Koba, Gandhinagar.

Marco Polo

Step 1: Travellers who visited other countries and wrote about the life and culture of people there are important sources of history. Step 2: The chapter specifically mentions four travellers: Megasthenes, Plini, Fa-hi-yan, and Hiuen Tsang. Step 3: Marco Polo was indeed a famous traveller who visited India, but he is NOT mentioned in this chapter. Step 4: Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador who visited India during Chandragupta Maurya's time. Step 5: Fa-hi-yan and Hiuen Tsang were Chinese Buddhist monks who travelled to India. Since Marco Polo is not mentioned in the chapter, he is the correct