Social Studies and Population Education Book 6_2077 Edition

Chhiring : How are states or provinces formed, ma’am? Teacher : In this system, provinces are formed on the basis of geography, history, ethnicity and language, region, population, availability of resource etc. Dolma : Now we understood about the federal system but still don’t know about republic. Could you please tell us? Teacher : Sure, a country in which peoples’ representative is the head of the state is called a republic state. Nepal was ruled by the king for a long time. At that time Nepal was called a kingdom but now it is republican state. Nepal was declared a republican state on Jesth 15th 2065 BS by ending 240 years long monarchal system. The Constitution of Nepal has formally recognized Nepal as an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive democratic, socialism-oriented federal democratic republican state. KEY TERM Autonomous : self governing, self ruling Indivisible : not separable Secular : not concerned with religion Socialism : political system of communal ownership Sovereign : self-governing and not ruled by any other state Evaluation Exercises 1. Answer the following questions. a) What is the official name of our country? b) What is a federal system? c) What is meant by a republican state? Why Nepal is called a republic country? d) When was Nepal declared as a republican state? e) What is the difference between a monarchy and a republic? f) What is democracy? Why Nepal is called a democratic country? g) On what basis, the provinces are formed in a federal system? Civic Awareness 101

Review Exercise Very short answer questions: 1. What is constitution? 2. What differences do you find between citizens and aliens? 3. Define fundamental rights. 4. What are your duties as a member of your family? Write any two. 5. Why should citizens pay tax? Write in a sentence. 6. What does Right To Information denote? 7. What is a zebra crossing? 8. What is our official language according to the constitution? 9. Why Nepal is called a republic country? 10. When was Nepal declared as a republican state? Long answer questions: 1. What are the responsibilities of a citizen? List them. 2. List eight fundamental rights granted by our constitution. 3. Which fundamental rights are the following statements related to? a) All citizens shall be equal before law. b) Every citizen shall have the right of access to basic education. c) Every person shall have the right against exploitation. d) Every citizen shall have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. 4. Mention the duties of the citizen according to the Constitution of Nepal. 5. “Duties and rights are two sides of a same coin.” Justify this statement? 6. What is democracy? Write its importance. 102 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

5UNIT OUR EARTH ??? Learning Achievement A Introduce the Earth, A Prove the rotation of the Earth through practical demonstration and illustration, A Introduce longitude and latitude through globe and map and find out the location of a place, A Introduce physical features and social life of Nepal, A Introduce social, economic and physical features of Asia, A Draw and study the map of Nepal, A Identify the climate change and its effects, and A Introduce disaster management and help in disaster management work.

Lesson INTRODUCTION TO OUR EARTH 1 Earth is one of the planets of our solar system. It has land, water and air. Technically, they are known as lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere respectively. The lithosphere is in solid state (land); the hydrosphere is in liquid state (water) while the atmosphere is Neptune in the gaseous state Saturn (air). Thus, due to the Mars Uranus presence of all three basic elements: air, Venus water and land, the Earth Jupiter Earth is the common Mercury  home of all plants, animals and human beings. Solar System ORIGIN OF THE EARTH Earth is estimated to be originated 4.5 to 5 billion years ago. However, there is no concrete proof how it was formed. Different scientists have developed different theories regarding the origin of the Earth. The most popular theory regarding the origin of the Earth is the theory of “Big Bang”. According to this theory, once there was a huge explosion or bang in the universe. Such explosion gave birth to planets and stars in the universe. Our Earth is one of the planets formed during this explosion. When the Earth was formed, it was extremely hot and molten in the beginning. It slowly started to cool down. The process of cooling continued for a very long time. The outer layer of the Earth cooled down forming a hard crust where we live today. In the process of cooling, the heat escaped through evaporation, resulting in 104 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

heavy rainfall for thousands of years. The hollow part of the Earth was filled with rainwater forming oceans, seas and lakes. The part higher than the Earth’s surface was formed into mountains and hills. SHAPE AND SIZE OF THE EARTH Generally, we say the shape of the Earth is round. But, it has been proved that the shape of the Earth is spherical like the shape of an orange. The photographs taken from artificial satellites show that the Earth is bulging at the equator and flat at the north and south poles. This unique shape of the Earth is now described as Geoid. NP NP Equatoral Diameter Polar Diameter 12,757 km 12,714 km SP SP Equatorial Diameter Polar Diameter The Earth is the third planet from the sun in the Solar System. The circumference of the Earth is 40,000 km. Its equatorial diameter is 12,757 km and its polar diameter is 12,714 km. It is surrounded by several layers of air called atmosphere, which exists up to the height of 1600 km above the Earth’s surface. The Earth can be exactly represented by a globe. So, a globe is the model of the Earth while a Map is the flat picture of the Earth. KEY TERM 105 Artificial : made by humans not natural Estimated : rough calculation Evaporation : water changing to vapour Molten : made liquid by heat Our Earth

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) What would happen if the Earth was flat? 2. Fill in the blanks. billion years ago. a) The Earth is estimated to be originated b) When the Earth was formed, it was extremely and molten in the beginning. c) The photographs taken from artificial satellites show that the Earth is bulging at the and flat at the north and south poles. d) The circumference of the Earth is km. e) A is the model of the Earth while a Map is the flat picture of the Earth. 3. Answer the following questions. a) How old is our Earth and how was it originated? b) How did the oceans and mountains form? c) What is Big Bang theory? d) What is the equatorial and polar diameter of the Earth? e) What do you mean by hemisphere? Show the hemisphere in a map. f) How do day and night occur? 4. Differentiate between: a) Globe and map b) Lithosphere and atmosphere 106 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES 2 Sometimes it becomes necessary to locate a country or a village or a place on a globe or map. How do you do it? N There are several horizontal Lines of and vertical lines drawn on Latitude50° N60° N the globe and map. These 40° N 90° N 30° N 80° N lines are imaginary lines. 70° N 20° N They are called latitudes and 10° N longitudes. These imaginary 0° lines are very important for 10° S 0°Equator locating places. We can locate 20° S our country on the map of 30° S the world only because of the S latitudes and longitudes. Lines of Latitude Latitudes Latitudes are imaginary lines North Pole Arctic Circle drawn parallel to the equator South Pole Tropic of Cancer from east to west. They are imaginary horizontal lines. In Equator other words, latitudes are the angular distance of a place Tropic of Capricorn north or south of the equator. Antarctic Circle The equator is an imaginary line drawn from east to west Major Latitudes Our Earth 107

in the middle of the Earth. It divides the Earth into two equal halves. The 0° latitude is called the equator. There are 90° latitudes in the north of equator. They are called north latitudes. Similarly, there are 90° latitudes in the south of equator called south latitudes. The latitude of 90° is just a point. They are called North Pole and South Pole in the Northern and Southern hemispheres respectively. Do you know? The diameter and circumference of Parallels of Latitudes goes on decreasing in size (getting smaller) as we move from Equator to the Poles and latitudes at north poles and south poles are not circles but merely a point, while, the equator is the greatest circle of all. There are altogether 180° latitudes. Latitudes are expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds. The five important latitudes are: 1. Equator (0°) 2. Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) 3. Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) 4. Arctic Circle (66½° N) 5. Antarctic Circle (66½° S) Longitudes Important Latitudes Longitudes are imaginary lines drawn from North Pole to South Pole across the equator. They are vertical and semicircle lines. All the lines of longitudes meet at the two poles of the Earth. In other words, longitude is an angular distance of that place east or west of meridian. 0° longitude is called Prime Meridian. It passes through Greenwich, London. Prime Meridian divides the Earth into two equal parts. The part east of the meridian is called the Eastern Hemisphere and west of the meridian is called the Western Hemisphere. 108 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

There are altogether 360° longitudes. To the east Lines of N of the meridian, there are 180° east longitudes Longitude and to the west of the meridian there are 180° west longitudes. Longitudes help us to know time. The latitudes and longitudes are expressed in S degrees, minutes and seconds. For example, the latitude of Nepal is 26° 22’ N o 30° 27’ N and the Lines of Longitude longitude is 80° 4’ E to 88° 12’ E. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes and each minute is divided into 60 seconds. 0° Prime Meridian Western Eastern 0° Equator Northern Hemisphere Hemisphere Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Do you know? The diameter and circumference of Meridians of Longitudes remains the same but meet (converge) at two points, the North Pole and the South Pole. KEY TERM 109 Angular : having angles or sharp corners Hemisphere : half part of the Earth Merely : Just; only Our Earth

Evaluation Exercises 1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for the false statements. a) The Arctic Circle divides the Earth into two equal halves. b) The latitude of the North Pole is 0°. c) Latitudes are parallel to each other. d) There are altogether 360° longitudes. e) There are six important latitudes. f) Latitudes help us to know the position of a place. 2. Fill in the blanks. London. a) Prime Meridian passes through b) Latitudes and longitudes are expressed in degrees, and seconds. from c) Latitudes are imaginary lines drawn parallel to the east to west. d) 0° longitude is called Meridian. e) The Equator is an imaginary line drawn from east to west in the of the Earth. 3. Distinguish between: a) Equator and Prime Meridian b) North Pole and South Pole c) Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere d) Longitude and Latitude 4. Answer the following questions. a) What is an equator? b) What are latitudes? c) What divides the Earth into two equal halves? d) How are latitude and longitude expressed? e) What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extension of Nepal? 5. Draw a diagram and show five important latitudes of the Earth. 110 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson LOCATION, SIZE AND BOUNDARY OF NEPAL 3 Nepal is a mountainous country situated in south Asia. It lies in the southern slope of the Himalayas. It is a landlocked country. It is situated between China in the north and India in the east, south and west. LOCATION Nepal lies in the northern hemisphere and is situated between 26° 22'N to 30° 27'N latitudes and 80° 4'E and 88° 12'E longitudes. It is 500 km far from the ‘Bay of Bengal’. BOUNDARY Nepal is separated from China by the mighty Himalayan range in the north. It is a natural boundary between Nepal and China. The two rivers Mechi in the east and Mahakali in the west also act as the natural boundaries between Nepal and India. The ten yards wide no-man’s-land with pillars called ‘Dash Gaja’ is the boundary between Nepal and India in the southern part of our country. The Indian state West Bengal lies in the east, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh lie in the south and Uttaranchal lies in the west of Nepal. Nepal is rectangular in shape. It is wider in the west and extends from north-west to the south-east. Its length from the west to east is 885 km and its width varies from 241 km in the west to 145 km in the east. The average width is 193 km. Humla Darchula Bajhang Mugu Jumla Baitadi Bajura Dadeldhura Doti Kalikot Achham Kanchanpur Dolpa Dailekh Kailali Jajarkot Mustang Manang Surkhet Rukum Bardiya Salyan Rolpa Myagdi Banke Parbat Lamjung Pyuthan Baglung Kaski Rasuwa Dang Gulmi Syangja Arghakhanchi Gorkha Tanahu Dhading Nuwakot Palpa Sindhupalchok Kathmandu Dolkha Chitwan Lalitpur Bhaktapur Kapilbastu Rupandehi Solukhumbu Taplejung Nawalparasi Makwanpur Ramechhap Sankhuwasabha Sindhuli Okhaldhunga Terhathum Panchthar Parsa Bara Khotang Bhojpur Sarlahi Udayapur Dhankuta Ilam Rautahat Dhanusa Mahottari Siraha Saptari Sunsari Jhapa Morang Geographical Regions of Nepal Our Earth 111

SIZE Nepal has a total area of 147,181 sq km which is 0.3% of the total area of Asia and 0.03% of the total land area of the Earth. However, Nepal is larger in area than some of its neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India is approximately 22 times bigger and China is 65 times bigger than Nepal. KEY TERM Landlocked : surrounded by land on all sides Mighty : Great Evaluation Exercises 1. Fill in the blanks. sq km. a) Nepal has a total area of b) Nepal is in shape. c) The ten yards wide no-man’s-land with pillars is called ‘ ’ is the boundary between Nepal and India. d) Nepal lies in the hemisphere and is situated between 26° 22’N to 30° 27’N latitudes. 2. Write ‘T’ for true or ‘F’ for false statements. a) The extension of Nepal is from the north-east to the south-west. b) The east-west length of Nepal is 855 km. c) Nepal occupies 0.03% area of Asia. d) Sri Lanka is bigger than Nepal. e) The average width of Nepal is 193 km. f) Nepal lies in the eastern part of Asia. 3. Answer the following questions. a) Why is Nepal called a landlocked country? b) Name the natural boundaries of Nepal. c) What do you understand by ‘Dash Gaja’? d) Why is Nepal regarded as a mountainous country? 4. Draw an outline map of Nepal showing its: a) Neighbouring countries b) Latitudinal and longitudinal extension 112 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF NEPAL 4 Nepal is a mountainous country. About 83% of the total area is covered by lofty and rugged hills and mountains. Many big and small rivers originate from these mountains. Altogether there are about 6000 streams and rivers in Nepal. Most of the big rivers of Nepal are perennial and they originate from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north. This diverse landform of Nepal is divided into three major physical regions. a. The Mountain region b. The Hill region c. The Terai region a) The Mountain Region: The Mountain region lies in the northern most part of our country. It occupies 15% of the total land area of Nepal. The altitude or height of this region ranges from 3,000m to 8,848m. Here lies the world’s highest mountain peak Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) which is 8,848m in height. Other important peaks are Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Choyu, Dhaulagiri, etc. The climate of this region is cold, Dolpo dry and windy. It snows almost all the time above the height of 5000m. Only the foothills of the Mountain region are suitable for settlement. Light rainfall takes place during monsoon season. Cone shaped coniferous trees like pine, fir, etc are found in this region. Thorny bushes and grasses are found in higher parts of this region. Most of the parts of this region are covered by rocky soil which is not fertile for cultivation. Steep hills and deep basins are the major features of land. Apple and various types of herbs are the major productions of this region. b) The Hill Region: The Hill region lies to the south of the mountain region. It occupies 68% of the total area of Nepal. Its altitude ranges from 600m to 3,000m. There are two ranges in the hill region: the Mahabharata range and the Chure range. There are broad and isolated valleys like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Dang. Our Earth 113

The Arun valley, which is the world’s deepest valley, lies in this region in Sankhuwasabha district. This region is rich in natural vegetation like Rhododendrons, Pines, Sal, Pipal, etc. The climate is moderate in this region. It is hot Arun Valley in summer and cold in winter. Plenty of rainfall takes place in monsoon season. Steep hills, gorges, valleys, tar, basin are the major features of land in this region. Deciduous types of vegetation are found in this region. The trees shed their leaves in winter. Uttis, Salla, rhododendron, etc are the major natural vegetations. Red soil is found here which is not so fertile. Guava, orange, etc are the major fruits of this region. Food crops can be grown in the valleys. c) The Terai Region: The Terai region extends from the Chure range in the north to the borders of India in the south. It occupies 17% of the total land area of our country. The altitude varies from 59 m to 600 m above sea level. This region has very fine and fertile alluvial soil, brought and deposited by rivers. The soil is very suitable for agricultural crops. Plenty Village of Terai of food crops and cash crops are grown here. So, this region is also called the Granary of Nepal. Evergreen trees like sal, sisau, khayer, etc grow here. The climate is hot and wet. Sufficient rainfall takes place in summer. This region is covered by the plain land with no hills and mountains. Banana, mango, pineapple, papaya, etc are the major fruits of this region. KEY TERM Granary : grain-growing region Lofty : of great height Rugged : having a rough irregular surface 114 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) Which geographical region do you live in? Describe the climate and vegetation of your region. 2. Fill in the blanks. a) Most of the big rivers of Nepal are perennial and they from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north. b) There are two ranges in the hill region: the range and the Chure range. valley, lies in c) The Arun valley, which is the world’s the hill region in Sankhuwasabha district. d) The of Terai region is hot and wet. 3. Match the following: Arun Valley Hill region Pokhara Himalaya Lhotse Mountain region Cold and dry Terai Evergreen trees Valley Moderate climate deepest valley 4. Answer the following questions. a) Differentiate between Mountain region and Hill region in term of natural vegetation. b) What percentage of land is occupied by the mountain region of Nepal? c) Which region of Nepal is called the Granary of Nepal and why? d) Name the important valleys of Nepal. Where do they lie? e) Which region has the moderate climate? f) What is the major occupation of mountain region? g) Make a table showing the climate and vegetation of Mountain, Hill and Terai regions. 5. Draw an outline map of Nepal and show the physical divisions using suitable index or symbols. Our Earth 115

Lesson SOCIAL LIFE OF NEPAL 5 Nepal’s social life is full of diversity. Despite diversity in various terms, there is unity among the Nepalese people. According to differences in altitude and climate, the lifestyle of Nepalese people differs from Terai to Mountain region. The Himalaya/Mountain region The climate of this region is cold, dry and windy. It snows almost all the time. Only the foothills of the Mountain region are suitable for settlement. Sherpas, Bhotias, Thakalis live here. They wear thick woollen clothes called Bhakkhu, Pangden and knee-high thick shoes called Docha. They live in a house made up of stone and clay. They eat Dhindo, potato, bread, meat and dairy products. Their main occupation is animal husbandry. They rear sheep, goats and yaks. Dairy farming is a major occupation. Cheese and Chhurpi are the major dairy products of this region. The Hill Region The climate is moderate in this region. People of various ethnic groups live here. Brahmins, Chhetris, Newars, Rais, Limbus, Gurungs, Magars, Dhami, Sunuwar, etc are the main habitants of this region. Here, men wear Daura Suruwal, Coat, Dhaka Topi, Patuka, Bhoto and Kachhad. Similarly, women wear Guneu-Cholo, Majetro, Sari, Hakupatasi (Sari worn by the Newari women of 116 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Kathmandu valley) and Ghalek. Married women wear Pote and Tilahari. In the towns and cities, people wear modern outfits according to their comfort. The houses are made of stone and clay, with thatched roofs, but some multi-storeyed modern houses can be seen in towns and cities. The main occupation is agriculture. Dashain, Tihar, Lhosar, Udhauli, Ubhauli, etc are the major festivals. People of Kathmandu and Pokhara valley celebrate various jatras. The Terai Region Many people live in the Terai region due to plain land and fertile soil. Tharu, Rajbansi, Musahar, Rajput, Satar, Dhimal, Yadav, Jha, Muslim, etc live here. The climate is hot, so people wear light cotton cloths. Men wear Dhoti, Kurta, Lungi, Shirt, etc. Women wear sari, blouse, cholo, lehenga, etc. People of this region speak Tharu, Maithali, Bhojpuri, Avadhi, etc. In the villages, houses are made of mud and clay and have thatched roofs supported by bamboo or wooden poles. The walls of such houses are beautifully decorated by paintings of flowers and animals. Modern buildings and houses can be seen in the towns and cities. The main food items of the people of Terai are rice, pulse, roti and vegetables. They celebrate Chhath, Holi, Maghi, Siruwa, Eid, etc. Their main occupation is agriculture but at present many people are engaged in trade, business and services as well. Nowadays, due to migration large numbers of the people of mountain and hill regions are also found in Terai. KEY TERM Altitude : height, elevation, height from the sea level Dairy product : food produced from the milk of mammals Migration : the movement of people across a specified boundary for the purpose of establishing a new or semi permanent residence Moderate : neither hot nor cold Outfits : clothes, garments Pulse : edible seeds of various pod bearing plants (peas or beans or lentils etc.) Our Earth 117

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) Which geographical region has high prospect of development and why? b) Describe the social lifestyle of people of your geographical region. 2. Fill in the blanks. a) The people of Himalaya region live in a house made up of and clay. b) The main occupation of the people of region is animal husbandry. c) The climate is moderate in region. d) Many people live in the region due to the plain land and fertile soil. e) In the villages of Terai region houses are made of and and have thatched roofs supported by bamboo or wooden poles. 3. Answer the following questions. a) Write any four differences on the social life of people of Mountain region and Terai region. b) Why are the people of Hill and Mountain region migrating towards the Terai? c) Write an essay on the topic “Unity in diversity: Characteristic of Nepalese society” d) Complete the following chart: Mountain Hill Terai Festivals Dresses Languages Races Classroom Activities Collect the Pictures, photos, news, etc which reflect our social life such as various dresses, cultures, festivals, jatras, etc. Paste on a chart paper and display in your classroom. 118 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson MAP WORK 6 A map is the representation of Earth’s surface, a continent, a country, a city or a village in a reduced scale. It is a very important tool to study the whole Earth or a part of it. It gives a general idea of location, direction, physical and cultural (man- made things like, roads, houses, dams, etc) features of any particular place or the whole Earth. Such things are represented with different signs, symbols or colours. Maps are of different types. They are prepared for different purposes. A physical map shows us natural features like hills, rivers, lakes, etc. A political map shows us countries with their capitals, cities and boundaries. Besides, there are information maps like tourist map, which give information to tourists so that they can easily travel from one place to another. Scale, legend, title, north direction etc are the major requirements of a complete map. A map on sphere representing Earth and illustrated with the continents, seas, and islands, countries etc is called a globe. In this lesson, we will learn to draw an outline map of Nepal and insert various symbols to show different features in the map. METHODS OF DRAWING MAPS There are several methods of drawing a map such as freehand method, carbon method, GIS method, template method etc. Here we will follow the geometrical measuring method to draw a map of Nepal. This is a very convenient method of drawing a map. 2 cm 2 cm 2 cm 2 cm 3 cm 3 cm 2 cm Our Earth Scale: 1 cm = 80 km 119

CONVENTIONAL SIGNS AND SYMBOLS Simply drawing a map does not give us the information we need. We should also put information onto the map with the help of conventional symbols or indexes. Sometimes, symbols or indexes have to be accompanied with set colours. For example, water is represented by blue, plain lands by green, hills by yellow or orange, mountains by brown, etc. Indexes are usually drawn at the corner of the map. Also, some of the symbols can be drawn by ourselves, depending on the type of information we wish to represent on the map. GENERAL RULES OF MAP FILLING 1. Map filling should be clean, clear and correct. 2. Name of facts like river, lake, city, peak etc should be written inside the map, not outside of it. Only if there is not enough space on the map, facts can be shown outside of map representing with appropriate symbols. 3. It is necessary to give symbols while showing regional distribution of any fact. 4. Name of the facts with their appropriate symbols should be given on the map and a legend should be given in a table outside of the map for the explanation of the symbols used on the map. Some symbols which are used on the map are as follows: Peak International Lake Boundary State Boundary District Boundary Q Airport River Mountain Pass Capital Road Town/City Railways Industry Path KEY TERM Accompanied : to go with as a companion Convenient : very suitable Conventional : based on general practice 120 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Indexes : something that serve to point out places on the map Reduced scale : smaller version Evaluation Exercises 1. Draw an outline map of Nepal inside a rectangle of 20 cm x 12 cm and insert the following facts in it using a suitable index. a) Provincial boundaries b) East-West highway c) International boundary d) Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dhankuta, Birendranagar, Dipayal e) Mt. Sagarmatha, Mt. Machhapuchhre f) River Koshi, River Karnali g) Lake Rara, Lake Tilicho, Lake Phewa h) Muktinath Temple, Manakamana Temple 2. Answer the following questions. a) Define a ‘Globe’ and a ‘Map’. b) What are the different types of maps? What do they show? c) What are the requirements of a complete map? d) Write about the shape of Nepal’s map. 3. Copy the following map of Nepal and identify the different Provinces. Our Earth 121

Lesson ASIA: THE WORLD’S LARGEST CONTINENT 7 Asia is the largest continent of the world. It is the most mountainous continent in the world. It has the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest (8,848 m) and the lowest point, the Dead Sea (about 400 m below the sea level). The Plateau of Tibet, known as the ‘Roof of the World’, is the highest and the largest plateau in the world. Lake Baikal (about 1642 m below sea level) is the world’s deepest lake. Verkhoyansk, in Russia with a winter temperature of -70° C, is the coldest place in the world. Cherapunji, in India has the world’s highest rainfall. Nearly 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia. N ò BOUNDARY Asia is surrounded by oceans on three sides - the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Indian Ocean in the south and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Europe lies to the west of Asia. Asia and Europe are separated by the Ural Mountains and the Ural River. Europe and Asia together are called Eurasia. The Suez Canal separates Asia from Africa and the Bering Strait from North America. 122 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

LOCATION Asia lies between 10° S to 80° N latitudes and between 25° E to 170° E longitudes. ASIA FACTS 1. Area 44,391,000 sq. km. 2. Seas Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, China Sea, Yellow Sea, Sea of Japan, Bering Strait. 3. Lakes Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Baikal, Lake Balkhash, Tilicho. 4. Islands Kurile, Honshu, Hokkaido, Taiwan, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Cyprus. 5. Mountains Pamir Knot, Himalayas, Karakoram, Kunlun, Tien Shan, Altai, Hindukush, Elbruz, Sulaiman, Urals 6. Plateaus Anatolia Plateau, Plateau of Iran, Plateau of Arabia, Plateau of 7. Deserts Tibet, Plateau of Mongolia, Plateau of Yunnan, Deccan Plateau. Arabian Desert, Thar Desert, Gobi Desert. 8. Hottest and Jacobabad of Pakistan and Verkhoyansk of Russia coldest place 9. Highest Cherapunji of India rainfall area 10. Civilizations Indus valley, Hwang Ho valley and Mesopotamia 11. Main Hinduism, Buddhism, Islamic, Christanity religion 12. Rivers Euphrates, Tigris, Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Hwang Ho, Yangtse, Sikiang, Amur, Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Irrawadi, Salween, Mekong 13. Important Aden, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Colombo, Cities Yangoon, Kaula Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minn City, Singapore, Manila, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Sanghai, Tokyo, etc. PHYSICAL DIVISION Siberian Plain 1. The Northern Lowlands - It extends all along 123 the Siberian Plains in the northern part of Asia. 2. The Central Mountains and Plateaus - It lies in central part of Asia and comprises of mountain ranges and plateaus. The highest plateau, the Our Earth

Tibetan Plateau and the highest mountain range, the Tibetian Plateau Himalayan Range also lie here. 3. The Southern Plateaus - It comprises of three main plateaus in its southern part namely the plateaus of Arabia, the Deccan plateaus of India and the plateaus of Yunnan and Indo-China. 4. The Great River Plain - Fertile plain formed by Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Menam, Yangtse and Hwang Ho rivers. 5. The Island Chain - Formed by the Japanese Island, the island of Philippines and Indonesia, etc. CLIMATE Yangtse River 1. Equatorial Climate: The southern part of Asia is close to the equator. It is hot and wet throughout the year. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia experience such climate. 2. Monsoon Climate: Countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and China have monsoon climate. It is hot and wet in summers, and cold and dry in winters. Most parts of South and South-East Asia have this type of climate. 3. Desert Climate: The central and western parts of Asia are dry in all seasons. Here lies the Arabian Desert, Thar in India, the Gobi and Shamo of central Asia. There is a desert climate. 4. Mediterranean Climate: This climate is characterized by hot and dry summers and warm-wet winters. Syria and Turkey experience Mediterranean climate. 5. Arctic or Tundra Climate: The extreme north of the continent has Arctic or Tundra climate, which is extremely cold throughout the year. NATURAL VEGETATION Natural vegetation depends upon the climate. We have studied that the climate of Asia differs from place to place. Therefore, there are different types of natural vegetation in different parts of Asia. Tropical Rainforest 124 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

1. The extreme north of Asia with cold climate has very little vegetation as the land remains covered with snow. 2. The northern parts around Siberia have coniferous evergreen forest. It is called Taiga. 3. The Arabian, Thar and Gobi desert of Asia have very little rainfall. Thus, only thorny plants and cactus grow there. Desert Vegetation 4. The middle of the continent (Central Asia) where the rainfall is not enough to support the growth of trees has grasses. It is called Steppes. 5. The monsoon region in the south-east and South Asia have hot climate with rainfall in summer. These regions have mostly deciduous forests. 6. The extreme south and the islands of Asia have hot and wet climate throughout the year. These regions have thick evergreen forests. KEY TERM Boundary : something that indicates border or limit Mountainous : region having many mountains Plateau : raised flat ground Island : a piece of land surrounded by water Strait : a narrow passage of water connecting two seas Our Earth 125

Evaluation Exercises 1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements. a) Asia lies entirely in the southern hemisphere. b) The latitudinal extent of Asia is 10° S to 80° S. c) Asia and Europe are separated by the Ural Mountains. d) Red sea separates Asia from Africa. e) The northern lowland of Asia is also called Siberian Plain. 2. Fill in the blanks. by Suez Canal . a) Asia is separated from b) Arctic Ocean lies to the of Asia. c) Natural depends upon the climate. d) The Indian ocean lies to the of Asia. e) The Bering Strait separates from North America. 3. Complete the given table about the Climate of Asia: Name of the Climate Characteristics Countries Monsoon Climate Hot and Wet Mediterranean Climate Dry all the year round Extremely cold 4. Answer the following questions. a) Name the main physical features of Asia. Describe each in brief. b) Which country is called the roof of the world? Where is it situated? c) Name the three main plateaus of Asia. d) Name the rivers which have formed great and fertile plains in Asia. e) Which part of Asia has deserts? Name the deserts. 5. Draw an outline map of Asia. Mark the following on it. a) Ocean - Indian, Pacific, Arctic b) Mountains - Ural, Mt. Everest c) Rivers - Ob, Hwang-Ho, Yang Tse, Kiang, Irrawadi, Indus, Ganga, Tigris, Euphrates d) Plateaus - Arabian, Deccan e) Seas - Arabian, Red, Mediterranean, Black, Caspian f) Deserts - Thar, Gobi 126 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson CLIMATE CHANGE 8 The change in global weather patterns is known as climate change. Atmosphere consists of gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen etc in certain amount. The change in the amount of such gases causes change in the climate. The gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen Cause of Climate Change oxide, methane, etc are increasing in the atmosphere due to increase in air pollution. These gases obstruct radiation reflecting back from Earth and cause to increase heat. So, the temperature of the Earth is slowly increasing. Warming of the Earth’s surface as a result of atmospheric pollution by gases is called Green House Effect (GHE). Such global warming causes climate change. It is found that the snow in the Arctic region and mountains is melting. It affects the lives of all living beings in the world. Presently, in and around snow covered areas, seas and oceans are likely to be affected more by this. The sea level is found rising because of increasing snow melting. As the temperature of the sea water is increasing, the volume of the ocean water level is also growing. This has been causing problems to the coastal area. There is a danger for coastal area’s settlements and small islands being submerged and even a small tide wave can cause huge destruction. The rise in sea water temperature is affecting biodiversity in coastal areas. There are changes taking place in the nature and characteristics Our Earth 127

of flora and fauna. Plants are bearing flowers and fruits prematurely. Birds and animals have started laying eggs and bearing babies well before it is usual. There have been problems in the availability of their foods also. There is a great danger looming in the whole eco and bio system. Disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and flies, etc which are generally found in hot and warm places are now found in upper hills and colder places too. Epidemic is in rise. Agricultural and animal husbandry sectors are also facing problems with challenges of new plants and insects. Bio diversity of lower hot and warm areas is moving to higher colder places, and the bio diversity of higher Effect of Climate Change and colder places are getting extinct. There has been changes taking place in average rainfall also just like in temperature. The Equatorial region has started getting less rainfall whereas the Arctic is receiving more rainfall. This may cause drought in equatorial regions, and flood and landslides in other regions. The pattern of rainfall may also vary annually. This will cause heavy rainfall, cyclones and typhoons in some places and no rainfall elsewhere. We have been already observing such symptoms. The main factor to this climate change is nobody but the human being itself. Our careless attitudes are contributing to it. So, the initiatives to control this problem must be taken from us. There are basically two ways to control climatic change and to be able to survive in the changed climatic environment. First, the Green House Effect must be reduced and secondly, we must learn to reduce the effects and make our living normal. SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6 128

There are again two ways to control Green House Effects. First, we must reduce the use of carbon dioxide emitting items like petroleum products, coals etc. We have to find out alternative energy. Second, as plants take carbon dioxide and turn it into solid carbon through the process of photosynthesis. We must plant trees on barren lands and conserve forests. It will take a long time to make the climatic condition normal by reducing the Green House Effects. The whole world has to come together for this. Until the situation is normalized, we have to carry out all necessary preventive measures such as tree plantations, environmental protection, use of alternative energy, public awareness, preparedness etc. There has to be short and long term planning and preparedness to control, reduce and mitigate the possible dangers and problems. Such plans must be rehearsed time and again so that normal life can be maintained during calamities. KEY TERM Arctic region : the regions north of the Arctic Circle Coastal areas : land linked with sea or ocean Cyclone : a violent rotating windstorm Drought : a period of dry weather, especially a long one that is adverse to crops Emit : produce, release, send out Equatorial region : the area located between 0° to 5° latitudes of both hemispheres Extinct : vanish, disappear Flora and fauna : plants and animals that live in a particular area or time Fluctuation : rise and fall Initiative : introductory step Obstruct : hinder, hamper Photo synthesis : carbohydrate production using light and chlorophyll Prematurely : too early, too soon Radiation : energy emitted in rays or waves Retain : keep, hold on to Symptom : indication, sign Typhoon : a violent tropical storm in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean Our Earth 129

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) What changes are seen due to climate change in your locality? 2. Complete the following paragraph using the words given below. Eggs, ocean, flora and fauna, biodiversity, snow, coastal, island, flowers The sea level is found rising because of increasing melting. As the temperature of the sea water is increasing, the volume of water level is also growing. This has been causing problems to the area. There is a danger for coastal area’s settlements and small of being submerged and even a small tide wave can cause huge destruction. The rise in sea water temperature is affecting in coastal areas. There are changes taking place in the nature and characteristics of . Plants are bearing and fruits prematurely. Birds and animals have started laying and bearing babies well before it is usual. 3. Answer the following questions. a) What is climate change? b) What is Green House Effect? c) What are the causes of Green House Effect? d) How is climate change affecting Nepal and the world? e) Why is the sea level increasing? How does it affect in Small Island and coastal areas? f) Write any two ways to control the climate change. Activities Draw a picture showing the effect of climate change and exhibit in the classroom. 130 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson DISASTER MANAGEMENT 9 Biratnagar, Morang 5th May, 2019 Dear Chirag, I am very glad to get your letter. But I was shocked to know that a flood has destroyed many houses in your town. We have to encounter different types of natural disaster in our life. When flood, landslide, earthquake, etc occur, lots of lives, houses and property may be destroyed. Natural calamities may create several other problems too. During the time of natural calamities, there may be crisis of food, water, medicine and shelter. The emergency activities we do to avoid risks during the time of natural calamities or any such crisis is called disaster management. If you are careful, you can get rid of many problems. But you should follow the following measure of disaster management. Such as: Before the disaster a) Place the emergency aids and things like food, clothes, medicines, radio, etc in right place so that they can be used at the time of emergency, b) Be careful about the sudden change in weather, c) Listen to the weather forecast and news regularly related to weather, d) Practice the measures to be taken during the time of earthquake and other natural disaster, e) Develop the information system to get the weather information, f) Go to a safe place considering the condition of the weather, and g) If you are living nearby the river, watch out for rising level of water in the river and inform others by setting off a siren. During the time of disaster a) Do not panic and run here and there, b) Stay with family and friends, c) Stay in a safe place with an emergency bag and wait for help, d) Be safe from electric wire, broken glass, nail, etc. e) Listen to the radio carefully, and f) Provide first aid to wounded people if possible. Our Earth 131

After disaster a) Do not return home until the situation is under control, b) Take the injured people to the hospital or nearby health centers, c) Take precaution while eating and drinking, d) Don’t pass stool or urine everywhere, e) Be aware of possible violence and criminal activities, f) Help in rescue operation, and g) Listen to the radio regularly. I hope you got plenty of information now on disaster management. I will write more in another letter. Your friend Sanjog KEY TERM Encounter : meet, come across Panic : fear, terror Rescue : save Risk : danger Shocked : upset, surprise Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) What will you do if an earthquake hit when you are at home? b) Why is disaster management important? 2. Answer the following questions. a) What do you mean by natural disaster? b) List any four natural disasters. c) What preventive measures can you take before the natural disaster? d) What do you mean by disaster management? e) What measures can you adopt during the time of disaster? f) Name the organizations working for disaster management in your locality. 3. Make a table and show the activities to be done and not to be done during the time of disasters like earthquake and flood. 132 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Review Exercise Very short answer questions: 1. What do you mean by hemisphere? Show the hemisphere in a map. 2. What is an equator? 3. Why is Nepal called a landlocked country? 4. What is the major occupation of mountain region? 5. Why are the people of Hill and Mountain region migrating towards the Terai? 6. Which country is called the roof of the world? 7. Write any two ways to control the climate change. 8. What changes are seen due to climate change in your locality? 9. What do you mean by natural disaster? Long answer questions: 1. Which geographical region do you live in? Describe the climate and vegetation of your region. 2. Which region of Nepal is called the Granary of Nepal and why? 3. Draw an outline map of Nepal inside a rectangle of 20 cm x 12 cm and insert the following facts in it using a suitable index. Kathmandu, Rara Lake, Mt. Everest, Karnali River, Lumbini 4. Show the following facts in the given map of Asia: a) Nepal b) Indian Ocean c) Sri Lanka d) Japan e) Caspian Sea f) Arabian Desert g) Ural Mountains h) Tibetan Plateau Our Earth 133

6UNIT OUR PAST ??? Learning Achievement A Present the historical description of Kathmandu and Sinja valley, A Discuss the social, economic and political condition of ancient Nepal, A Discuss the art and culture of Lichchhavi period, A Search and preserve the historical facts of their community, A Pass on the information about Indus Valley civilization, A Discuss the Nile valley civilization, A Prepare the historical description of their community, and A Preserve the historical things and manage them.

Lesson KATHMANDU VALLEY 1 Nepal is in existence since ancient period. Nepal is mentioned in various old literatures. In ancient period, Kathmandu valley was called Nepal. There are various myths regarding the origin of Kathmandu valley. According to the Hindu scriptures, Kathmandu valley was a lake. Lord Krishna came to Kathmandu in Dwarpar Yuga with some cowherd. He cut the hill at Katuwal Daha and water of the lake flowed towards the south making Kathmandu valley suitable for settlement. According to the Swayambhu Puran, Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu valley was a lake in the beginning. Manjushree Bodhisatwo came to Nepal from China. He cut the hill near Chobhar then the water of the lake flowed out through the gorge which made Kathmandu valley suitable for settlement. The geologists also believe that thousands of years ago, Kathmandu valley was a big lake. Several rivers around the hills flowed into the lake. Thus the rivers deposited the soil and gravel into the lake. Slowly the lake was filled with stone, soil and gravel. The southern part of the lake is made by limestone. Limestone dissolves in water. Hence the lake water started to flow outside making the gorge and several caves. The gorge with time became wider and the water of the lake was flowed away. Soon hence Kathmandu valley became suitable for settlement. It had very fertile soil and plenty of pasture land. Gopal dynasty first settled in Kathmandu valley and ruled for about 511 years. After Gopal dynasty, Mahispal dynasty ruled over the valley for about 161 years. Kirat dynasty ruled over Nepal for over a millennium. Lichchhavi came to power after Kirant. Nepal made tremendous progress during the rule of Lichchhavi. So the Lichchhavi period is called the golden age in the history of Nepal. Mallas came to the power after Lichchhavi. They made all round development in the field of trade, art, architecture, etc. The buildings, palaces, temples, ponds, statues, etc built during the rule of Malla still exist in Kathmandu valley. Our Past 135

In 1825 BS, the king of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated the Malla kings of Kathmandu valley and made it the capital of unified Nepal. At present Kathmandu is the largest city and capital of Nepal. KEY TERM Geologist : an individual who specializes in the geological sciences Gorge : a narrow valley or ravine Limestone : a rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime Myth : legend, fable Tremendous : great, wonderful, marvelous Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) How is your city or village named? Take the help of your elders for it and write. b) Why was Kathmandu valley made the capital of Nepal? Write your opinion. 2. Fill in the blanks. a) In olden times, valley was called Nepal. b) Manjushree Bodhisatwo came to from China. c) After Gopal, Mahispal dynasty ruled over the valley for about years. d) dynasty ruled over Nepal for over a millennium. e) In BS, the king of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated the Malla kings of Kathmandu valley. f) Kathmandu is the city of Nepal at present. 3. Answer the following questions. a) Why is the Lichchhavi period called the golden age in the history of Nepal? b) How did Kathmandu valley become suitable for settlement according to the Hindu belief? c) Why is the soil of Kathmandu valley fertile? d) What is the Buddhist belief about the origin of Kathmandu valley? e) Name the dynasties that ruled over Kathmandu valley. 136 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson SINJA VALLEY 2 Before the unification of Nepal, there was a big and powerful kingdom in Karnali region which was called the Khas Empire. Khas kings ruled over the Khas Empire making Sinja valley their capital. It was also famous as the Sinja Sinja Valley Empire. Sinja Empire is mentioned in the inscription found in Kumau, Gadhwal and Tibet. Sinja Valley falls in Jumla district at present. King Nagraj came from the Khari province of south-west Tibet and started to rule making Sinja his capital. The inscriptions of Dullu of Dailekh district clearly mention that King Nagraj had made several rules and regulations in Khas kingdom. He had made several reforms. He extended the western boundary of his kingdom up to Kumau and Gadhwal, northern boundary up to Tibet, southern boundary up to Terai and eastern boundary up to Gandaki River. Jumla seems a backward place at present but it was the most powerful and prosperous kingdom during the rule of King Nagraj. So, its historical importance cannot be denied. After the rule of King Nagraj, Challa dynasty ruled over the Khas kingdom. Jitari Challa who attacked Kathmandu valley on his third attempt changed his family surname to Malla. Other Khas kings like Aditya Malla and Punya Malla too attacked Kathmandu valley during their rule. Finally Ripu Malla invaded Kathmandu valley and shifted some of his administration to Kathmandu valley from Sinja valley. Our Past 137

Hence he made the Kathmandu valley the second new center of Malla dynasty. Prithivi Malla ruled over the Khas empire as its last king. Due to his negligence in political affairs, 300 years of glorious history of the Khas empire came to a downfall splitting the empire into Baise states. The major reason of the succcess of Khas Kingdom was trade as it was the centre of trade with Tibet and India. Merchants of the Khas Empire exported woolen products, herbs, horses, musk etc, and imported silk, salt, and spices from India. Likewise they imported woolen products, salt, sheep, horses, gold, silver etc, and exported grain, cotton cloth and pepper to Tibet. Sinja valley kept a good trade relation with its neighbours, Tibet and India. Buddhism and Hinduism too prospered in harmony during the Khas period. Though the Khas kings were Buddhists by religion, they equally valued and prayed to hindu gods. Jitari Malla worshipped both at Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath temple during his stay in Kathmandu valley. Similarly Panchadewal of Achham and Kakre Bihar of Surkhet which still exist were built during the Khas period. It is said that the present Nepali language is originated from the Khas state i.e. Sinja valley. So the present Nepali language is also called the Khas language. The temple, inscription, stupas, pillar, etc found in Sinja valley and western Nepal prove that there was a big and prosperous empire existing in Karnali region. KEY TERM Boundary : border line Inscription : something written or engraved; especially, a word or words written or engraved on a solid substance for preservation or public inspection; as, inscriptions on monuments, pillars, coins, medals, etc Prosperous : flourishing, rich, wealthy Reform : development, change 138 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) In which district of present Nepal is the Sinja valley located? b) Mark the Karnali region, Sinja valley, Jumla, Kumau, Gadhwal in the map of Asia and Nepal. c) Find out the history of your birthplace with the help of your elders. 2. Fill in the blanks. a) Before the unification of Nepal, there was a big and powerful kingdom in Karnali region which was called the Empire. b) King Nagraj came from the province of south-west Tibet and started to rule making the Sinja valley his capital. c) The inscriptions of Dullu clearly mention that had made several rules and regulations in Khas kingdom. d) The present Nepali language is also called the language. 3. Answer the following questions. a) Write in brief about the trade of Khas Kingdom. b) Who was King Nagraj? c) Name any five kings who ruled over Khas kingdom. d) Discuss the extended boundaries of the Khas Empire during King Nagraj’s rule. e) There was religious harmony during the Khas period. Explain this statement. f) What are the differences between then Sinja valley and present Jumla district? Our Past 139

Lesson POLITICAL CONDITION OF ANCIENT NEPAL 3 Many kings of various dynasties ruled over Nepal in different periods. According to the rules of different dynasties, the history of Nepal has been divided into three periods. They are: a) The Ancient Period (Beginning to 935 BS) b) The Medieval Period (935 BS - 1825 BS) c) The Modern Period (1825 BS onward) Altogether four dynasties ruled over Nepal during the ancient period. They are: a) The Gopal Dynasty c) The Kirant Dynasty b) The Mahishpal Dynasty d) The Lichchhavi Dynasty The Gopal Dynasty It is believed that the Gopals came from Mathura (India) with Lord Krishna in Dwapar Yuga with their cows. Bhuktaman was the first king of this dynasty. Eight Gopal kings ruled over Nepal for 511 years. The Mahishpal Dynasty After Gopals, Mahishpals came to power. They were also called the Ahir or Abhir. Only three kings ruled from this dynasty for 161 years. The first king of this dynasty was Bada Simha. The Kirants invaded them from eastern Nepal and started to set up their regime. The Kirant Dynasty The stone inscriptions show that the Kirants ruled King Yalambar Nepal about 2700 years ago, even before the birth of Gautam Buddha. Yalambar was the first king of this dynasty. During the rule of the seventh Kirant king, Gautam Buddha visited Kathmandu 140 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

and introduced Buddhism. The Mahabharat tells us that Kirant King Jitedasti helped the Pandavas in the battle of Kurukshetra and the 14th Kirant king Sthunko offered valuable gift to Yudhishthir on his coronation ceremony. The emperor of India, Ashoka visited Nepal during the Kirant period. He built four stupas in Patan and also erected the Ashoka pillar in Lumbini. Gasti was the last king of this dynasty. The Lichchhavi Dynasty The Lichchhavis came to Nepal from Vaishali (India). They were more civilized than the Kirants. After the victory over Gasti, the Lichchhavi rule began in Nepal in around 296 BC. Mandev, Amshuverma, Shiva Dev Ashoka Pillar and Narendra Dev were some of the famous kings of the Lichchhavi dynasty. Mandev built Mangriha to run the administrative works. He issued the first coin of Nepal called Manangka. He expanded his kingdom far and wide. Amshuverma was the next great lichchhavi king of Nepal. He was appointed as a ‘Mahasamant’ during the rule of King Shivadev-I. When King Shivadev-I died in 605 AD, he became the next king of Nepal. He had built a seven storey palace called the ‘Kailashkut Bhavan’ at Devapatan from where he run his administration. The Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang has described Amshuverma in his works as a learned man with noble character. Amshuverma had written a grammar book in Sanskrit. He was a good administrator. He maintained good relations with Tibet, China and India. Trade improved a lot during his rule. The Lichchhavis were rich in art, culture and philosophy. They made all round development of the country. So the Lichchhavi period is considered as the ‘Golden Age’ in the history of Nepal. KEY TERM Coronation ceremony : crowning ceremony Dynasties : a succession of rulers from the same family Erected : established Invaded : to enter by force in order to conquer Noble : having high moral character Philosophy : pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means Worship : the prayer offered to god Our Past 141

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) ‘Mangriha’ and ‘Kailashkut’ were built by the Lichchhavis to run administration. Name any one such building in Nepal from where administration is run at present. 2. Match the following: Gopals Ashoka pillar Mangriha Mandev Kailaskut Amshuverma Ashoka cowherd 3. Tick (P) the correct answer. a) Who was the first king of Kirant dynasty? i) Gasti ii) Mandev iii) Amshuverma iv) Yalambar b) Who helped Pandavas during the Mahabharat war? i) Jitedasti ii) Yalambar iii) Gasti iv) Yudhisthir c) Kailashkut Bhavan was built during the rule of: i) Mandev ii) Amshuverma iii) Bhuktaman iv) Ashoka 4. Answer the following questions. a) Name the four dynasties that ruled over Nepal during the ancient period. b) Name the first and last kings of the Kirant dynasty. c) Who was Ashoka? What were his contribution in Nepal? d) Mention any two contributions by Mandev. e) How can you say that Amshuverma was a learned king? Give two reasons. f) Why is the Lichchhavi period called the ‘Golden Age’? g) What does Mahabharat tell us about the Kirants? h) Which dynasty’s rule do you think is the most important and why? i) From which place of India did Lichchhavis come in Nepal? 142 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Lesson SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF ANCIENT NEPAL 4 There were various dynasties who ruled over Nepal during the ancient period. Bhuktaman of the Gopal dynasty is regarded as the first king of Nepal. After Gopals, Mahishpals ruled over Nepal. Kirants defeated Mahishpals and started to rule Nepal. Altogether 29 Kirant kings ruled over Nepal for over a millennium. Gasti, the last king of this dynasty was defeated by Nimish, the Lichchhavi king and started the regime of Lichchhavi in Nepal. The proof of ancient Nepalese lifestyle, culture and Birupaksha tradition can be found only from the Kirant dynasty. Even then the Kirant dynasty does not have much documents of their literature, sculpture or stupas of theirs still exist. But still whatever is left of them, indicates that they had rich civilization. The names of many places are derived from the Kirant words. For example, Teku from Tengkhu, Tyagul from Tegval, Farping from Fanpring, Banepa from Bhajana, Khopasi from Khurpasi, Khwapu (Bhaktapur) from Khopring, etc. The Kirant had their own script which was called Sirijangha. They worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of Kiranteshwor Mahadev. They also worshipped serpent, tree, river, stone and lighting. The image of Birupaksha shows the standard of their sculpture. Buddhism flourished under the Kirants. The images of deities and the Ashoka stupas speak about their rich culture. The holy book of Kirant is called Mundhum in which the rites and rituals to be followed by Kirants are mentioned. The Kirants were short but stout. They had broad cheeks, a flat nose, dark eyes and thin whiskers. They established many permanent villages in the valley. They cultivated land and raised cattle for agriculture, meat and milk. They lived in a joint family. They had special festivals to mark sowing and reaping. Their major food consisted of milk, meat, green leaves, vegetables, rice, roots, fruit and fish. Our Past 143

They consumed wine. They enjoyed wrestling and bull fighting. They had established many law-courts to punish the criminals. The Kirants were simple in their manner and customs. The Lichchhavi society was based on the caste system. Brahman, Chhetri, Baisya and Shudra were the main castes. People lived in joint families. The status of women was high in the society. King Mandev had inscribed the image of his wife Bhogini in his Changunarayan Temple coin. The polygamy system was practiced. King Mandev had three wives named Bhogini, Gunavati and Kshem Sundari. The Satee custom was in practice but it was not compulsory. King Mandev did not allow his mother Rajyavati to go Satee (i.e. burn herself with her dead husband’s body on the funeral pyre) when his father died. The condition of education was good during the Lichchhavi period. Amshuverma was a learned king. He had written a book called “Shabda Vidhya”. The Veda, Purana, Smriti, Ramayan, Mahabharat and the ancient religious epics were the main text of that time. Both male and female could wear the ornaments. King Narendra Dev wore various valuable ornaments. People observed various Jatras and festivals for entertainment. The practice of Baraha Jatra, Kailaskut Jatra, etc are mentioned in the inscription. Dashain, Deepawali, Buddha Jayanti, etc were their main festivals. Like Kirants, the Lichchhavis entertained wrestling and bull fighting. There was a good religious tolerance in the society. KEY TERM Civilization : a social process whereby a society develops into advance form Derived : to obtain or receive from a source Polygamy : practice of having several wives/husbands Regime : a form of government Script : a particular system of writing Sculpture : the art of making statues Sowing : to scatter seeds on the ground for growing Whiskers : the hair on a man’s cheeks and chin 144 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) What similarities and differences do you find between the social conditions of Nepal during the ancient period and at present? 2. Tick (P) the correct answer. a) From which time did the modern period begin in the history of Nepal? i) 935 BS ii) 1820 BS iii) 1825 BS b) Who was the first king of Gopal dynasty? i) Yalamber ii) Gasti iii) Bhuktaman c) How many Kirant kings ruled over Nepal? i) 25 ii) 26 iii) 29 d) What is the holy book of Kirants? i) Veda ii) Ramayan iii) Mundhum e) Who wrote the book called “Shabda Vidhya”? i) Mandev ii) Amshuverma iii) Narendra Dev f) What is the Kirant script called? i) Devnagari ii) Latin iii) Sirijangha g) What is Polygamy? i) Marrying many wives ii) Marrying only one wife iii) Not to marry 3. Answer the following questions. a) What are the three periods of Nepalese history? b) Name the dynasties that ruled over Nepal during the ancient period. c) Write the names of any four places which are derived from Kirant words. d) What did the Kirant people look like? e) How was the social condition of Nepal during the Kirant period? f) How was the social condition of Nepal during the Lichchhavi period? g) Name the three wives of Mandev. h) Amshuverma was a learned king. Justify this statement. 145 Our Past

Lesson ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF ANCIENT NEPAL 5 During the ancient period, the economic condition of Nepal was quite good. Agriculture, cottage industry and trade were the main occupations of the people. Three types of taxes which was called ‘Trikar’ were imposed on agriculture, cattle- rearing and trade. The Kirants raised many other taxes as well. The tax office was called Kuther Adda. Nepal was a common route for trade between Tibet in its North and India in its South. The Kirants made good trade relations with India, Tibet, China and Sri Lanka. According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Nepal exported wool, woolen goods (radi, bakkhu), blankets, wood, musk, gold, hides, skins and herbs like chiraito, etc to India. Woolen blankets had a great demand in the market of Pataliputra, (Patna, Bihar, India). They also developed the cottage industry. The Lichchhavis had made great progress in the field of trade. They changed the barter system into monetary economy by introducing coins. Mandev had introduced the first coin of Nepal called Manangka. The state fixed separate land for pasture. There was development in all the sectors in the Lichhavi Period. So, this period was known as the golden period in the history of Nepal. Though people reared cow, buffalo, pig, sheep, etc more emphasis was given to sheep and yak, because they had a great demand. For external trade, people moved in groups. Such groups were called Sartha and their leader Sarthwaha. The state had established the security post to protect the traders. Sometimes the Lichchhavi king made people get exempted from some taxes. King Amshuverma’s inscription of Tistung says, “Except for the goods which are not allowed to export without the permission of the government like iron, fly-flapper (chamao), wool, musk (Kasturi), copper utensils, taxes are exempted in other goods to the Tistung-dwellers”. 146 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

KEY TERM Barter system : exchanging the goods in absence of money Emphasis : give importance to Exempted : to free from duty/tax Monetary economy : to trade coins against goods and services Pasture land : land for grazing animals Evaluation Exercises 1. Think and write. a) Differentiate between the goods exported from Nepal during the ancient period and at present. 2. Read the given inscription of Amshuverma and answer: a) What were the goods restricted by the government for export? b) Who had made the above announcement? c) What does the above inscription indicate? 3. Answer the following questions. a) What was Trikar? b) What were the main exporting goods of Nepal during the ancient period? c) “Lichchhavi had made great progress in trade”. How can you say so? d) What was the economic condition of Nepal during the ancient period? e) What was called the tax office in Kirant period? f) What is meant by barter system? g) Why was Lichhavi period known as the golden period in the history of Nepal? h) Why did ancient Nepalese people give more emphasis to rear sheep and yak? Our Past 147

Lesson ART AND CULTURE OF ANCIENT NEPAL 6 Human beings have discovered and created new knowledge through their experience. They were able to express and share their feelings in a variety of ways such as drawing, painting, music, literature, etc. Similarly, every society develop certain behaviours, habits and values that are passed on from one generation to another and become a way of life, which we call culture. Art and culture developed in Nepal along with the development of human civilization. However, the art and culture of Nepal can be traced from the reign of the Kirants although it was not well-organized. The advent of Lichchhavi rulers in Nepal from Baishali (India) brought a drastic change. King Mandev of this dynasty extended the territory of Nepal far and wide beyond the Kathmandu valley. Nepal became a dwelling place of different castes and creeds. The caste distinction started in the society. This division of caste based on occupation brought specialization in skills, art and culture. In spite of various religions there was religious tolerance in the country. The construction of big and artistic palaces, houses, temples, stupas, monuments, etc began in the Lichchhavi period. Mangriha, Kailashkut Bhawan, the temple of Wood Craft Pashupatinath, Changunarayan and Buddhist Bihars of Ashoka testify the advancement of art and architecture. King Narendradev had a beautiful palace which has been appreciated in ‘Tang Description’ of China. Similarly, Chinese traveller Wang-Huen-Tche had said that he had never seen a 148 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6

more beautiful palace than ‘Kailashkut Bhawan’. It was built in the pagoda style, which was a master piece of pure original Nepalese art. Apart from the Nepalese architecture, sculpture Trivikram of Changunarayan was also well developed in this period. The image of Trivikram of Changunarayan temple, Harihar of Nakshal, image of Baraha of Chandol, Dhumbarahi, Bijeshowri Bhagvati of Palanchok, etc speak of the excellence of Nepalese sculpture. Even today the people of the Kathmandu valley are famous for their craftmanship. They are skillful in metal and woodworks. The origin of those works was during the Lichchhavi period. Most of the kings of Lichchhavi dynasty Bijeshowri Bhagvati of Palanchok were fond of art and education. So, there was a good development of language, literature, astrology, ayurveda, religion and art. Sanskrit was the main language. The Chinese traveller Huen-Tsang had mentioned about Shabda Bidhya of Amshuverma, which was written in Sanskrit. The Lichchhavis were fond of dance, drama and song based on religion. KEY TERM Advent : beginning of something very important Architecture : the art of designing and constructing buildings Craftsmanship : the art of design and handicraft Creeds : a system of belief Distinction : the act of differentiating Drastic : extreme Reign : the period of a monarch’s rule Sculpture : the art of making solid objects that represent a thing, person, idea, etc. Testified : declaration of truth Traced : originated Our Past 149

Evaluation Exercises 1. Fill in the blanks. a) The development of art and culture began in Nepal from the period. b) The Lichchhavis came to Nepal from . c) There was religious in Nepal during the ancient period. d) King Narendradev had a beautiful palace which was appreciated by of China. e) The Chinese traveller had mentioned about the of Amshuverma. 2. Answer the following questions. a) Define art and culture. b) What is religious tolerance? Give examples. c) Name any three artistic works of the Lichchhavi period. d) How can you say that sculpture was also well developed during the ancient period? e) “Lichchhavis were fond of art”. Justify. f) What was the main language in the ancient period? g) Who was Huen-Tsang? What did he mention in his account about Amshuverma? h) You must have visited any cultural or religious place. Write a brief introduction of the place you have visited. 3. Draw a picture of a temple or a monastery or a statue that lies near your house and describe it in brief. 150 SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION - BOOK 6