H-1 Pre-Historic Period PDF

# H-1 | PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD ## Introduction History, derived from the Greek word "Historia," which signifies "inquiry" or knowledge attained through investigation, encompasses the examination of bygone times. It serves as a comprehensive term encompassing not only past occurrences but also the une...

# H-1 | PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD ## Introduction History, derived from the Greek word "Historia," which signifies "inquiry" or knowledge attained through investigation, encompasses the examination of bygone times. It serves as a comprehensive term encompassing not only past occurrences but also the unearthing, compilation, arrangement, display, and understanding of data concerning these occurrences. It is categorized into three distinct phases: * **Prehistory** * **Proto-history** * **History** **Prehistory** refers to events occurring prior to the advent of written language. This phase is characterized by the three stone ages. **Proto-history** designates the interval bridging pre-history and history. Within this span, cultures or organizations had not fully developed, yet their existence is acknowledged in the written accounts of contemporaneous literate civilizations. For instance, though the scripts of the Harappan civilization remain undeciphered, their existence is noted in Mesopotamian inscriptions, thus classifying them as part of proto-history. Likewise, the Vedic civilization spanning 1500-600 BCE is also considered within proto-history. Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures, as assessed by archaeologists, also fall under the proto-history umbrella. **History** pertains to the study of the past subsequent to the establishment of writing systems. It encompasses the examination of literate societies based on written documents and archaeological evidence. Formulating the history of ancient India ## Resources aiding the reconstruction of history include: ### 1. Non-literary sources * Coins * Archeology remains * Inscriptions * Foreign accounts ### 2. Literary sources * Religious Literature * Tales of Mahabharata and Ramayana * Sutras * Buddhist religious texts * Jain's religious texts * Secular Literature * Dharmashastras / Law books * Arthashastra * Literature work of Kalidasa * Rajatarangini * Biographies * Sangam literature ## Ancient History Ancient History can be segmented into distinct periods based on the tools utilized by the people during those times: ### 1.1. Pre-Historic Age ## ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY ### PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD TIME LINE #### PRE-HISTORIC | | STONE AGE | BRONZE AGE | IRON AGE | |-----------|--------------|--------------|-----------------| | | Palaeolithic Age (Old stoneage) 5,00,000-10,000 B.C. | Mesolithic Age (Late stoneage) 10,000 - 4000 B.C. | Neolithic Age (New stoneage) 6,000 - 1,000 B.C. | | LOWER | Lower Palaeolithic Culture 50,000-1,00,000-B.C. | | | | MIDDLE | (Middle Palaeolithic Culture) 1,00,000-40,000 B.C. | | | | UPPER | Upper Palaeolithic Culture 40,000-10,000 B.C. | | | #### Paleolithic The term 'Paleolithic' originates from the Greek words 'palaeo,' signifying old, and 'lithic,' meaning stone. Consequently, the term Paleolithic age pertains to the era of the Old Stone Age. The Palaeolithic culture in India emerged during the Pleistocene period, commonly known as the Ice Age. ##### Lower Paleolithic Age * Time Range: Up to 100,000 BCE * Characteristics: * Simple stone tools like pebble tools and choppers. * Hominids like *Homo habilis* and *Homo erectus* were predominant. * Basic hunting and scavenging strategies. * Limited evidence of the controlled use of fire. * Limited symbolic expression and art. * Important sites: Soan Valley (in present Pakistan), Sites in the Thar Desert, Kashmir, Mewar plains, Saurashtra, Gujarat, Central India, Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur plateau, North of the Cauvery River, Belan valley in UP. ##### Middle Paleolithic Age * Time Range: Around 100,000 BCE – 40,000 ВСЕ * Characteristics: * Continued use of stone tools, including handaxes and flake tools. * Progress in tool design and refinement. * Transition from earlier hominid species to early forms of *Homo sapiens*. * Adaptations to different environments, including cold climates. * Important sites: Belan valley in UP, Luni valley (Rajasthan), Son and Narmada rivers, Bhimbetka, Tungabhadra river valleys, Potwar Plateau (between Indus & Jhelum), Sanghao cave (near Peshawar, Pakistan) ##### Upper Paleolithic Age * Time Range: Approximately 40,000 ВСЕ – 10,000 ВСЕ * Characteristics: * Advanced stone tool technology, including blades and microliths. * Evidence of art and symbolism, like cave paintings and portable art. * Increased sophistication in hunting and gathering strategies. * The emergence of *Homo sapiens* as the dominant human species. * Important sites: Bhimbetka, Belan, Son, Chota Nagpur plateau (Bihar), Maharashtra, Orissa and The Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh ##### Mesolithic * Time Range: Approximately 10,000 ВСЕ – 6000 ВСЕ * Characteristics: * The transition phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. * Continued use of stone tools, but with more refinement and variety. * Shift towards smaller, microlithic tools used for specific tasks. * Evidence of increased mobility and changes in settlement patterns. * Growth of human communities and more complex social structures. * The gradual transition from a purely hunting-gathering lifestyle to more diversified subsistence strategies, including hunting, fishing, and plant cultivation. * Possible beginnings of domestication of animals and plants. * Important sites are Chopani-Mando, Uttar Pradesh, Adamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Langhnaj, Gujarat, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, Bagor, Rajasthan. #### Neolithic * **Agriculture / Animal husbandry / clothes cotton wool / Pottery / Village Settlement** The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, marked a significant transition in human civilization. The Neolithic Age is generally considered to have begun around 9000 B.C. worldwide. The only Neolithic settlement in the Indian subcontinent from around 7000 B.C. is Mehrgarh in Baluchistan, Pakistan.. * In India, the Neolithic Age is believed to have started not earlier than 6000 B.C. * In some parts of South and Eastern India, it may have extended as late as 1000 B.C. * Neolithic sites in India include the Kashmir Valley, Chirand in Bihar, Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh, and various places in the Deccan region. * Important Neolithic sites include Burzahom and Gufkral in Jammu and Kashmir, Maski, Brahmagiri, and Tekkalakota in Karnataka, Paiyampatti in Tamil Nadu, Piklihal and Hallur in Andhra Pradesh, and Garo hills in Meghalaya. * Koldihawa in Uttar Pradesh revealed a threefold cultural sequence: Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Iron Age. * Agriculture and animal domestication were key features of Neolithic culture. * Stone tools were polished for increased effectiveness. * Mud brick houses replaced grass huts, indicating a shift to sedentary life. * Pottery making, initially by hand and later using a potter's wheel, was a significant technological advancement. * Pottery was used for cooking and storing food grains, and large urns were used as coffins for burials. * There was a notable improvement in the technology of tool-making. * Polished stone axes were found to be more effective for hunting and cutting trees. * The cultivation of plants and domestication of animals led to the emergence of sedentary village communities. * Agriculture included the cultivation of wheat, barley, rice, and millet at different times and places. * The domestication of sheep, goats, and cattle was widespread. * Cattle were used for cultivation and transportation. * People in the Neolithic Age used clothes made of cotton and wool. * Large urns were used as coffins for the burial of the dead. * Neolithic people painted and decorated their pottery. #### Chalcolithic * The transition from the Neolithic Age to the Chalcolithic, or Metal Age, marked a significant development in human civilization with the introduction of metalworking, primarily involving copper. * The Chalcolithic culture emerged at the end of the Neolithic Period, blending the use of both stone and metal implements. * The term "Chalcolithic" signifies the stone-copper phase, indicating the coexistence of stone and metal implements. * Metalworking, particularly smelting copper ore and crafting metal artifacts, represented a crucial technological advancement. * Although copper became prevalent, the use of stone tools persisted, and microlithic tools remained essential. * The pursuit of metal ores led people to travel long distances, fostering a network of Chalcolithic cultures across various regions in India. * Chalcolithic cultures were particularly prominent in river valleys, with significant sites in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and southern regions such as the Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar, and Kaveri valleys. * Gold, though one of the earliest metals discovered, was primarily used for ornamental purposes. * Various metal artifacts, including copper and bronze objects, beads, terracotta figurines, and pottery, were unearthed at sites like Paiyampalli in Tamil Nadu. * Chalcolithic people produced different types of pottery, with black and red pottery being particularly popular. * Thatched houses were common, as burnt bricks were not yet in use. * The Chalcolithic age was characterized by a village-based economy, emphasizing agricultural practices and local settlements. * The Chalcolithic Age eventually gave way to the Iron Age, with iron frequently mentioned in the Vedas. * The Iron Age in the southern peninsula is often associated with Megalithic Burials. * "Megalith" refers to large stones covering burial pits, a practice extensively observed in South India. * Important megalithic sites include Hallur and Maski in Karnataka, Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh, and Adichchanallur in Tamil Nadu. * Megalithic burial pits were covered with large stones, and artifacts such as black and red pottery, iron tools like hoes and sickles, and small weapons were discovered within these graves. **Facts** * **Copper was the 1st metal to be used by human beings**