India has one of the oldest continuous histories in the world. To understand how human life began and developed in India, we study Ancient History.
Ancient history helps us understand:
- How early humans lived
- How tools developed
- How society slowly moved towards settled life
This chapter mainly deals with:
- Sources of ancient history
- Pre-historic period
- Stone Age phases
Table of Contents
Historical Sources and Pre-Historic Period
History is reconstructed using sources.
But all periods of history do not have written records.
Historical Sources
Historical sources are materials that help us understand past events.
They are broadly classified into:
Archaeological sources
- Tools
- Pottery
- Coins
- Inscriptions
- Monuments
Literary sources
- Religious texts
- Manuscripts
- Chronicles
For very early periods, archaeological sources are most important.
Pre-Historic Period
The Pre-Historic Period refers to the time before the invention of writing.
During this period:
- Humans did not know how to write
- No written records are available
- Information is obtained only from tools and fossils
The pre-historic period is mainly divided into:
- Palaeolithic Age
- Mesolithic Age
- Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
The Palaeolithic Age is the earliest phase of human history.
Time Period and Nature
- It lasted for the longest period
- Humans were hunters and food gatherers
- Life was nomadic
They depended completely on nature.
Tools of the Palaeolithic Age
Tools were:
- Made of rough stone
- Unpolished
- Crude in shape
Examples:
- Hand axes
- Choppers
- Scrapers
These tools were used for:
- Hunting animals
- Cutting meat
- Breaking bones
Life in the Palaeolithic Age
- Humans lived in caves and rock shelters
- They had no permanent homes
- Fire was discovered in later phase
- No agriculture or domestication
This period shows survival-based life.
Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
The Mesolithic Age marks a transitional phase between hunting and farming.
Key Features of Mesolithic Age
- Climate became warmer
- Humans started staying longer at one place
- Still depended on hunting and gathering
This period shows slow progress.
Tools of the Mesolithic Age
The most important feature was the use of microliths.
Microliths were:
- Very small stone tools
- Sharp and efficient
Used for:
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Cutting
Life in the Mesolithic Age
- Domestication of animals began
- Fishing became important
- Humans started forming small communities
This age shows adaptation to environment.
Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
The Neolithic Age marks a major turning point in human history.
Beginning of Agriculture
The most important development was:
- Domestication of plants and animals
Humans:
- Started farming
- Grew crops
- Stored food
This led to settled life.
Tools of the Neolithic Age
Tools were:
- Polished
- Sharper
- More efficient
Examples:
- Polished axes
- Sickles
Pottery also developed during this age.
Life in the Neolithic Age
- Permanent houses were built
- Villages were formed
- Use of pottery and weaving
- Social life became organised
This period laid the foundation of civilisation.
Importance of Stone Age in Indian History
The Stone Age:
- Explains human evolution
- Shows development of tools
- Explains transition from food gathering to food producing
Many questions in exams are comparative and conceptual.
Ancient History- FAQs
What is pre-history?
Period before the invention of writing.
Which sources are used for pre-history?
Archaeological sources.
Which is the earliest Stone Age?
Palaeolithic Age.
What were microliths?
Small stone tools of Mesolithic Age.
Which age marks beginning of agriculture?
Neolithic Age.
Were Palaeolithic people settled?
No, they were nomadic.
Which age shows domestication of animals?
Mesolithic and Neolithic Ages.
Which tools were polished?
Neolithic tools.
Why is Neolithic Age important?
It led to settled life and civilisation.
Did pre-historic people know writing?
No.
Last-Moment Notes (Cheat Sheet)
- Ancient History studies early human life
- Pre-historic period → no writing
- Palaeolithic → hunting, gathering
- Tools → rough and unpolished
- Mesolithic → transitional phase
- Tools → microliths
- Neolithic → agriculture begins
- Tools → polished stone
- Neolithic people → settled life
- Villages and pottery developed
- Archaeology main source for pre-history