Question

Long Answer Type Question.
What are the different ways of finding out about the past? Describe briefly.

Answer 1

The different ways of finding out about the past are :
(i) Manuscripts. These were hand-written matter. They were usually written on palm leaf or the bark of the birch tree. While many of these manuscripts got destroyed, many have survived in temples and monasteries. These books dealt with all kinds of subjects such as religious beliefs and practices, the lives of kings, medicines and science. These manuscripts also included epics, poems and plays.
(ii) Inscriptions are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Sometimes, kings got their orders inscribed in order to make common people aware of them. Some inscriptions kept records of victories in battle.
(iii) Archaeological excavations or evidences. Archaeology means the study of cultures of the past and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found under the earth. Archaeologists explore and dig up the earth to find tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments and coins. These things provide us with valuable information about the past.