History is the study of past events in chronological order. The term history has been derived from the Greek word "Istoria", which means 'learning by enquiry'. In this chapter, Tamilini learns from her mother what history is: how we know about the lifestyle of pre-historic people, what pre-history and proto history mean, and how historical research brought the greatness of Emperor Ashoka to light.
1. What Is History?
- History is the study of past events in chronological order.
- The word comes from the Greek word Istoria = 'learning by enquiry'.
- A historian is described in the chapter as a person who excelled in history.
- Sources are a place, person, text or object from which some data can be obtained.
2. Telling the Time in History
Time in history is calculated in years using two terms:
| Abbreviation | Full Form | Also Written As |
|---|---|---|
| BC | Before Christ | BCE – Before Common Era |
| AD | Anno Domini | CE – Common Era |