histoy G-10 E

6. Historical Knowledge and Its Practical Application

Introduction

Any society exists in a balanced manner

based on knowledge. This knowledge is

formed related to the culture that is created

when he or she lives according to the

natural environment which belongs to that

society. Therefore, in world spread societies,

knowledge systems, which are different from

each other, could be seen. All these knowledge

systems corroborate with the sustainable

existence and the production efficiency of

the society to which it belongs. There may

be diverse aspects to the structure about the

knowledge which is made up by a society. The

criteria which are necessary to organize one’s

society, beliefs and criteria for practical steps

which are necessary to formalize economic

exchanges are some of them. Such knowledge

structures produced by a historical society give

experiences even to a present day society. That

is known as the cultural heritage. This lesson

has been compiled with a view of forming

the basic foundation to create a citizen who

has a historical consciousness by generating

sensitivity in the student about six selected

concepts that belong to the historical cultural

heritage in Sri Lanka. These concepts comprise

of the ancient social organization in Sri Lanka,

law and tradition, finance and exchange,

protecting the environment, representation of

women, and local food.

6.1 Social Organization in the Historical Era

Social organization means the nature of the
relationships between the people and groups
of that society which helps to maintain the

sustainability of a particular society. It is

a sociological concept. Anything becomes

successful when it is organized. Society is no

exception. When the social organization is

unstable, its law, ethics and values get destroyed.

As a result, that society becomes disharmonious.

In the historical era, the intelligent and efficient

rulers who ruled our country, constantly

dedicated themselves to well organize the society

of our country. Having an order in personal

relationships is one of the major characteristics

in a social organization. It is called hierarchy.

There is a social hierarchy in a society. If it is a

hierarchy in which the power goes down from

up, it is called a vertical hierarchy. The order such

as king, ministers, government officers, arranged

in top down order is a good example for that.

There are also structures with similar power in

the society. In various institutions, the officers

are equal. Such a structure is called a horizontal

hierarchy. Ministers, army generals, treasurers are

similar in power. Study chart 6.1 to understand

the social organization which existed in ancient

Sri Lanka.

The king is at the top of this social hierarchy.

It was accepted that the king should be highly

virtuous and an heir to the throne from the

lineage. Therefore, the king was noble. We have

described in the third chapter that the word

‘Nara Isera’ had been inscribed in an inscription,

which belonged to king Kootakannatissa, in the

Dambulla temple to show that the king was an

“Eshwara” to the countrymen.

Those who worked close to the king were royal

officers. The term “Radkol Samdaru” had been

used to name such officers. Its meaning is “Raja