The earliest People: The Stone Age

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1. Who were the Earliest People?

  • The earliest humans lived millions of years ago.
  • They were called hunter-gatherers.
  • They hunted animals and gathered fruits, roots, and seeds.
  • They lived in caves, rock shelters, or under trees.
  • They had no permanent homes and moved from place to place (nomadic life).

2. Features of Early Humans

  • Used stone tools for cutting, hunting, and protection
  • Discovered fire (for cooking, warmth, and safety)
  • Lived in groups for protection
  • Did not practise farming in the beginning
  • Lived a simple life (no writing, no permanent houses)

3. Division of the Stone Age

The Stone Age is divided into three periods:

a) Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age)

  • Time: 2 million years ago – 10,000 BCE
  • Used rough, unpolished tools
  • Lived in caves
  • Depended on hunting and gathering
  • Discovery of fire
  • Example: Bhimbetka (India)

b) Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)

  • Time: 10,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE
  • Tools became small and sharp (microliths)
  • Started domesticating animals
  • Lived near rivers and lakes
  • Began semi-nomadic life
  • Fishing and art (rock paintings) began

c) Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

  • Time: 8,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE
  • Beginning of agriculture (farming)
  • People lived in permanent settlements
  • Tools became smooth and polished
  • Development of pottery and wheel

4. Palaeolithic Period in Detail

General Features

  • Nomadic life
  • No farming or permanent houses
  • Fully dependent on nature

Stages of Palaeolithic Period

a) Lower Palaeolithic

  • Time: 2 million – 300,000 years ago
  • Tools: large and rough (hand axes, choppers)
  • Very basic survival skills
  • Early use of fire

b) Middle Palaeolithic

  • Time: 300,000 – 40,000 years ago
  • Tools: smaller and sharper (flakes)
  • Better hunting techniques
  • Stronger group living
  • More use of fire

c) Upper Palaeolithic

  • Time: 40,000 – 10,000 years ago
  • Tools: refined (stone, bone, wood)
  • Development of art (cave paintings)
  • Better shelters and hunting methods

5. Tools of Palaeolithic Period

  • Hand axes – cutting and hunting
  • Choppers – breaking bones and wood
  • Scrapers – cleaning animal skins
  • Spears and blades – hunting
  • Bone tools – needles and hooks

6. Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

Features

  • Use of microliths (small tools)
  • Hunting became more efficient
  • Fishing started
  • Early domestication of animals (dogs)
  • Semi-nomadic life (stayed longer in one place)
  • Rock paintings developed

Important Mesolithic Sites in India

  • Tilwara (Rajasthan) – microliths found, near Luni River
  • Bagor (Rajasthan) – large site, stone floors, tools found
  • Langhnaj (Gujarat) – human skeletons found, hunting evidence

7. Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

Features

  • Beginning of farming (agriculture)
  • Permanent settlements near rivers
  • Use of polished tools
  • Development of pottery and wheel
  • Domestication of animals

8. Development of Agriculture

  • First practised in Near East
  • Crops grown: wheat, barley, rice
  • Led to settled life and food security

9. Domestication of Animals

  • Animals: dog, sheep, goat, cattle
  • Uses:
    • Food (milk, meat)
    • Farming (ploughing)
    • Transport
    • Protection

10. Pottery

  • Made using clay
  • Used for:
    • Storing food and water
    • Cooking
    • Protecting grains

11. Invention of the Wheel

  • Used for:
    • Making pots (potter’s wheel)
    • Transport (carts)
  • Importance:
    • Made transport faster and easier
    • Helped in trade and communication
    • Led to development of civilization

B. Short Answer Questions

1. Write any four features of early humans.
Early humans used stone tools for hunting and protection. They discovered fire for cooking and safety. They lived in groups for protection and had no permanent homes. They depended on hunting and gathering for food and led a simple life without farming or writing.

2. What was the importance of fire in the Stone Age?
Fire was very important for early humans. It helped them cook food, which made it easier to eat and digest. It provided warmth in cold weather and protected them from wild animals. Fire also helped in giving light at night.

3. What changes took place in the Mesolithic Age?
In the Mesolithic Age, tools became smaller and sharper (microliths). People started domesticating animals like dogs. They began living near rivers and lakes and stayed longer in one place. Fishing and rock art also developed during this period.

4. What is the Neolithic Revolution?
The Neolithic Revolution refers to the major change when humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming. People started growing crops, domesticating animals, and living in permanent settlements. This led to the development of villages and a more settled way of life.

C. Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the Palaeolithic Age.
The Palaeolithic Age was the earliest stage of human life, lasting from about 2 million years ago to 10,000 BCE. People lived a nomadic life and depended on hunting and gathering. They used rough, unpolished stone tools and lived in caves or open areas. They discovered fire, which helped them cook food and stay safe. Life was simple, with no farming, writing, or permanent houses.

2. Explain the features of the Neolithic Age.
The Neolithic Age was marked by important developments in human life. People began practising agriculture and started growing crops like wheat and rice. They domesticated animals such as sheep and cattle. Permanent settlements were formed near rivers. Tools became smooth and polished. Pottery and the wheel were invented, making storage and transport easier and leading to the growth of early civilizations.

3. Describe the importance of the invention of the wheel.
The invention of the wheel was a major achievement of early humans. It was first used in making pottery and later for transport in carts. The wheel made travel faster and easier and helped in moving goods from one place to another. It improved trade and communication and played an important role in the development of civilization.

HOTS

1. Why did early humans live in groups?
Early humans lived in groups for safety and survival. Living together helped them protect themselves from wild animals and enemies. They could hunt animals more effectively in groups and share food. Group living also allowed them to learn skills from each other and support one another in difficult situations.

2. Why was the shift from hunting to farming important?
The shift from hunting to farming was important because it gave humans a stable food supply. People no longer needed to move constantly in search of food. They could settle in one place and build homes. This led to the growth of villages, development of tools, and progress in human civilization.

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