2. Prehistoric Period
Complete solutions to the Exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six History and Civics.
ShareAdvertisement
About the chapter
This chapter is about the time before scripts were developed. It describes the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages. It shows how humans moved from a wandering life to settled village life. It also tells us about Chalcolithic sites in Maharashtra.
Key points
- The period before scripts developed is called the Prehistoric Period.
- Fire was discovered in the Palaeolithic Age.
- Mesolithic people used microliths and began to tame animals. The dog was the first.
- Agriculture began in the Neolithic Age. People started living in villages.
- Copper came into use and the wheel was invented in the Chalcolithic Age.
- Daimabad, Inamgaon, Jorwe and Savalda are important sites in Maharashtra.
Words to remember
- Prehistoric Period – the time before scripts were developed
- Microliths – very small stone tools
- Neolithic Age – the New Stone Age
- Chalcolithic Age – the Copper-Stone Age
- Domestication – taming animals for human use
- Archaeologist – a person who studies the past from remains found in excavations
Exercise
(1) Plateau of India having black cotton soil — The Deccan Plateau
(2) The region in India that is most favourable to agriculture — The Ganga–Yamuna delta and the plateau of Central India
(3) The period prior to the origin or development of scripts — The Prehistoric Period
(4) The Archaeologist who discovered the site of Daimabad — B. P. Bopardikar
| Group ‘A’ | Group ‘B’ |
|---|---|
| 1. Palaeolithic Age | D) Discovery of fire |
| 2. Mesolithic Age | A) Large, sharp tools |
| 3. Neolithic Age | C) Advancements in agricultural techniques |
| 4. Chalcolithic Age | B) Invention of the wheel |
| No. | Features | Mesolithic age | Neolithic age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Habitation | Caves | Village settlements in fertile regions along the riverbanks |
| 2. | Occupation | Hunting, fishing, gathering and harvesting natural crops, beginning of the domestication of animals | Agriculture, Animal Husbandry |
| 3. | Tools | Microliths (small stone tools) | Polished stone axe hafted on a wooden handle |
| 4. | Arts | Cave paintings; sharp tools made by grinding and polishing horns and bones | Painted pottery |
| 5. | Way of life | Nomadic | Settled life |
(1) Four bronze objects were found at Jorwe. — False
Correct statement: Four bronze objects were found at Daimabad.
(2) The evidence of Jorwe culture was found at Nevasa for the first time. — False
Correct statement: The evidence of Jorwe culture was found at Jorwe for the first time.
(3) The chalcolithic culture of Inamgaon belongs to the early farmers in Maharashtra. — False
Correct statement: The Savalda culture belongs to the early farmers in Maharashtra.
Advertisement
(1) How did the lifestyle of humans change during the Neolithic Age?
- People made a polished stone axe with a handle.
- They began to sow grains in the proper season. Women are credited with starting farming.
- Farming kept them in one place. So village settlements grew along riverbanks.
- They could store grain. So they had enough food.
- They made earthen pots, learnt weaving and used wooden boats.
- Animals were tamed for food, hard work and carrying loads.
- The family as an institution began to take shape.
(2) What are the key characteristics of the Chalcolithic Age?
- Copper came into use along with stone tools.
- The wheel was invented. Transport became faster.
- Farming was done on a large scale. Wheat, jowar, rice, pulses and cotton were grown.
- Animal husbandry became a part of daily life.
- Trade grew and trade centres came up.
- Crafts like carpentry and metalwork developed.
- Painted pottery was made on the wheel, with black designs on red.
- The dead were buried in the house or courtyard. At Inamgaon, children were buried in twin urns.
(1) Palaeolithic Age
- People depended completely on nature. They lived in caves and survived by hunting and gathering.
- They used rough, unpolished stone tools. Fire was discovered in this age.
(2) Mesolithic Age
- People lived together in groups in caves and rock shelters.
- They used small stone tools called microliths. They began to tame animals, and the dog was the first.
(1) If Neolithic humans had not made progress in agricultural technology, what would human life be like today? Justify your answer.
- People would still be wandering in search of food.
- There would be no villages, towns or cities.
- The food supply would be uncertain. Hunger would be common.
- People would have no free time to develop crafts, trade and writing.
- Modern facilities like schools, hospitals and machines would not exist.
Justification: Agriculture gave a steady food supply. This led to settled life, crafts, trade and civilisation.
(2) Which techniques and arts were developed during the Neolithic Age that transformed the daily life of humans?
- A polished stone axe fixed on a wooden handle.
- Sowing grains in the proper season.
- A pointed digging stick with a perforated stone, to sow seeds deep.
- Storing grain for a long time.
- Taming animals for milk, meat and work.
- Making decorated earthen pots.
- Weaving cloth.
- Using wooden boats.
- Regular water supply
- Electricity and proper drainage
- Good roads and transport nearby
- School and hospital nearby
- Market nearby
- Safety of the area
- Clean surroundings and open space
- A strong building on a safe site
The Activity (interviewing a potter about making pots on a wheel) and the Project (marking excavation sites of Maharashtra on a map, and a skit on ‘If I were the Early Man’) are to be done at school with your teacher’s guidance.