Pre-History and Paleolithic Age Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What types of tools characterized the Early or Lower Palaeolithic phase?

Hand axes, choppers, and cleavers.

Which locations are associated with the Middle Palaeolithic phase?

Soan, Narmada, and Tungabhadra river valleys.

How did climate changes affect the Mesolithic Age?

The climate became warmer and less humid.

What time period does the Didwana site in Rajasthan belong to?

<p>500,000 – 50,000 BCE.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of tools were found at cave sites in Kurnool and Muchchatla Chintamani Gavi?

<p>Bone tools.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of tools used during the Mesolithic Age?

<p>The key characteristic is the use of microliths, which are miniature stone tools.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant cultural development began during the Mesolithic Age?

<p>The beginnings of plant cultivation emerged during the Mesolithic Age.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one of the important Mesolithic sites in India.

<p>Bagor in Rajasthan is one of the important Mesolithic sites.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What insights do burials and rock paintings provide about Mesolithic societies?

<p>They provide insights into religious practices and gender roles during the Mesolithic era.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is pottery generally absent at Mesolithic sites?

<p>Pottery is generally absent at Mesolithic sites because it became more prevalent during the Neolithic Age.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Greek word historia signify in the context of history?

<p><em>Historia</em> means 'inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Distinguish between pre-history and proto-history.

<p>Pre-history refers to events before the invention of writing, while proto-history involves cultures mentioned in contemporary literate records but without developed writing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which archaeological discovery is Robert Bruce Foote known for in Indian pre-history?

<p>He discovered the Pallavaram handaxe, one of the first palaeolithic tools in India.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the tools used by Palaeolithic man in India?

<p>Palaeolithic man used unpolished, rough stone tools made primarily of quartzite.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the lifestyle of Palaeolithic humans differ from later human societies?

<p>Palaeolithic humans were food gatherers and hunters with no knowledge of agriculture or pottery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of crops did Neolithic people in South and Eastern India cultivate?

<p>Neolithic people cultivated crops like ragi and horse gram.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the polished stone axes developed during the Neolithic period?

<p>Polished stone axes were used for various purposes, including agriculture and hunting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did pottery evolve during the Neolithic phase?

<p>Pottery evolved from hand-made to wheel-made, resulting in different types including black burnished ware and grey ware.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the village communities during the Neolithic era?

<p>Neolithic village communities were self-sufficient and lived in circular or rectangular houses made of mud and reeds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What unique burial practice was noted at the Burzahom site?

<p>Burzahom was unique for burying domestic dogs with their masters in graves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Palaeolithic Age

An era in human history characterized by stone tools and early human development

Early Palaeolithic

First phase of Palaeolithic with hand axes, choppers, and cleavers for basic tasks

Middle Palaeolithic

Second phase using flake tools like scrapers and borers for a wider range of tasks

Late/Upper Palaeolithic

Final phase of Palaeolithic, using blades and bone tools for advanced tasks

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Mesolithic Age

Transitional period after Palaeolithic, characterized by hunter-gatherer lifestyle and diverse tools

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Mesolithic Age characteristic tool

Small stone tools called microliths, made of materials like flint, and used in composite tools like spearheads and arrowheads.

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Mesolithic rock art

Early rock paintings found across India, primarily depicting animals, but not snakes, discovered in locations like Bhimbetka Caves.

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Mesolithic plant use

Early signs of plant cultivation in India during this period.

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Mesolithic settlement

Mesolithic sites showing evidence of hunting, gathering and later animal domestication.

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Mesolithic vs Neolithic tools

Mesolithic used smaller tools (microliths) while the shift to the Neolithic involved larger tools.

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Pre-history

The period before the invention of writing, often divided into the Stone Ages.

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Proto-history

The period between pre-history and history, where a society has no writing system but is mentioned by literate civilizations.

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Stone Tools

Tools made from unpolished, rough stones (i.e., hand axes, cleavers, scrapers).

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Indian Stone Age

The general name for the Old (Paleolithic), Middle (Mesolithic), and New (Neolithic) Stone Ages in India.

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Neolithic Revolution in India

A period in South and Eastern India marked by the development of agriculture, animal domestication, and advanced stone tool technology

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Polished Stone Tools

Tools made of quartzite, including celts, handaxes, and axes, created during the Neolithic period, known for their advanced craftsmanship.

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Neolithic Pottery

Earthenware objects, crafted by hand and later on the potter's wheel, developed during the Neolithic in varied styles (black burnished ware, grey ware, mat-impressed ware)

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Self-Sufficient Villages

Independent communities during the Neolithic era, able to meet their basic needs through agriculture, craft work and trade

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Neolithic Excavated Sites

Archaeological locations in India, offering insights into Neolithic life, including tools, houses, and burial practices.

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Study Notes

Pre-History Phases

  • Pre-history is divided into three time periods: pre-history, proto-history, and history
  • Pre-history spans periods before the invention of writing
  • Proto-history is the time period between pre-history and history, during which written records of a civilization have not developed
  • History is the period after the invention of writing in literate societies

Paleolithic Age

  • The Paleolithic Age is the first period of the Stone Age, which developed in the Pleistocene period or the Ice Age
  • It was widespread across practically all parts of India, except the alluvial plains of the Indus and Ganga
  • Paleolithic humans lived in caves and rock shelters
  • They were primarily food gatherers, who lived off hunting and gathering wild fruits and vegetables
  • They did not know the use of pottery or agriculture
  • They used hand axes, cleavers, choppers, blades, burin, and scrapers for tools
  • These tools were made from a hard rock called "quartzite"

Mesolithic Age

  • The Mesolithic Age represented the intermediate phase in the Stone Age, which follows the Paleolithic Age
  • The Mesolithic is between the Pleistocene and the Holocene era, occurring about 10,000 years ago
  • Mesolithic humans lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering food
  • They also domesticated animals
  • Tools used were characterized by microliths (miniature stone tools)
  • These tools used to make composite tools such as spearheads, arrowheads, and sickles
  • Pottery was not present

Neolithic Age

  • The Neolithic Age emerged around 8,000-6,000 BCE
  • Neolithic people were food producers
  • They produced crops like ragi and horse gram (kulathi)
  • They also domesticated animals like cattle, sheep, and goats
  • The polished stone tools were more developed than Paleolithic tools, particularly axes and adzes
  • The Neolithic also introduced pottery
  • People began to live in circular and rectangular houses

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