Understanding Social Science

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts, disciplines, and historical traditions of Social Science as outlined in the introductory chapter for Grade 9.

Social Science

The systematic study of human society that explains how people live together, how governments function, how economies operate, and how the past and present shape the world.

Pañchamahābhūtas

An Indian philosophical concept describing the natural world as composed of five fundamental elements: earth ($Pṛithvī$), water ($Āpaḥ$), fire ($Agni$), air ($Vāyu$), and space ($Ākāśha$).

Vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam

A Sanskrit phrase meaning ‘the world is one family’, expressing the interconnectedness of human societies across regions and cultures.

Arthaśhāstra

A foundational text on politics, administration, and economic management attributed to Kauṭilya, composed about $2,300$ years ago.

Geography

The study of the Earth, its environments, and the relationships between people and their surroundings, including spatial and temporal perspectives.

History

The study of the human past through which societies seek to understand experiences, values, and changes over time using archaeological and literary sources.

Political Science

The study of governance, including how power is distributed, how decisions are made, and the study of constitutions, governments, and state institutions.

Economics

The study of how individuals and societies decide to use limited resources to produce, distribute, and utilize goods and services.

itihāsa-purāṇa tradition

One of the oldest traditions of preserving cultural memory in Bharat, using stories to share historical information and cultural values.

Empirical evidence

Information collected through actual observation or experimentation.

Genealogical records

Documents or sources that trace family lineage and ancestry by recording relationships and events like births, marriages, and deaths.

Archaeological sources

Material remains used to study the past, including monuments, architectural structures, excavated sites, artefacts, and art.

Epigraphic Source

A historical source consisting of texts, decrees, or records inscribed on durable materials such as stone, metal plates, or rock surfaces.

Numismatic Source

A historical source comprising coins, currency, or medals used to study economy, chronology, and political boundaries.

Panchayati Raj system

A system in Indian villages that embodies grassroots democracy by giving citizens a voice in local development planning.

Dharma

A concept in Indian political thought referring to moral duty, closely linked to ideas of how society should be organised.

Rājadharma

A term referring to the specific duties and ethical responsibilities of a ruler toward their people.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measure of the economic activity within a country, representing the total value of goods and services produced.

School Bhuvan portal

An NCERT portal used as a tool to map villages or cities and explore geographical data.

Carbon-14 dating

A scientific method used in modern historiography to establish timelines by determining the age of organic materials.