9. Settled Life and Urban Civilization

(a) Stone tools: Stone Age.

(b) Copper tools and other copper objects: Copper Age.

(c) Iron tools and other iron objects: Iron Age.

(a) (1) Copper (2) Gold (3) Iron
The correct chronological order of the metals used by humans is:

(b) (1) Copper Age (2) Iron Age (3) Stone Age
The correct chronological order of the Ages is:

(a) Discovery of copper:
Because gold was too soft to be used for making tools and implements, humans discovered and began using copper for these purposes. This discovery led to the Copper Age, a period marked by new inventions and rapid changes, including the invention of the wheel.

(b) Invention of the wheel:
The invention of the wheel made it possible for potters to produce symmetrical and colourful pots in large numbers. Later, the wheel was brought into use for transport, giving rise to wheeled vehicles like carts and chariots, which helped expand trade.

(c) Use of script:
As trade expanded and the volume of production grew, it became necessary to keep permanent records. The use of signs and symbols improved over time, leading each culture to develop its own script to maintain these essential records.

(a) Use of metals
Christian Thomsen introduced the 'Three Age System' which classified prehistoric objects into the Stone Age, Copper Age, and Iron Age based on the materials used for tools. However, gold was actually the first metal used by humans. Because gold is a soft metal, it could not be used for making tools, so humans eventually discovered copper. In areas where copper was rare, people continued to use stone alongside copper, a period known as the Chalcolithic Age. Eventually, people learned to mix copper with tin to create a harder alloy called bronze, leading to the Bronze Age.

(b) Social organization in the ancient cities
The rise in trade and production led to the emergence of cities, but the culture of these urban centers had its roots in the New Stone Age village-settlements. The agricultural faith systems and related festivals continued and became more elaborate in prosperous cities. Grand temples were constructed, and the chiefs of these temples became the chief administrators of the cities. Over time, the position of the temple head and the king was held by the same individual, marking the beginning of the ancient urban civilizations.