Class 8 – History – Our Past III

Our Past III by NCERT is the official history textbook for Class 8 students following the national curriculum framework. This engaging textbook introduces students to historical thinking, source analysis, and understanding of India’s rich cultural heritage through evidence-based narrative.

The textbook covers important historical periods and themes including prehistoric times, early civilizations, ancient kingdoms, cultural developments, social structures, economic systems, and political changes. Each chapter uses archaeological evidence, inscriptions, texts, and visual sources to help students understand how historians reconstruct the past. The narrative approach makes history engaging while developing chronological thinking and source criticism skills.

Special features include source-based questions, map work, timeline activities, and analytical questions that develop historical thinking. The book promotes understanding of continuity and change, cause and effect, and multiple perspectives. As an NCERT publication aligned with CBSE and DPS standards, Our Past III builds historical consciousness and critical thinking essential for understanding present society and future citizenship.