PREHISTORY

Synopsis

             Divisions of Prehistory - Paleolithic Age - Chalcolithic Age - Iron Age.

Pre-history refers to the earliest period in human history ofwhich we have no written evidence or no recorded history. This period therefore called Pre-history. This period tries to trace the progress of man from immemorial time to the present.

THE STONE AGE

The  first important development in the history of the early man was the time when he learnt how tomake crude tools todefend himself. The stone Age got its name from the fact that most human tools were made of stone, through tools of wood and animal parts were also in use. Hence the early period of human progress is called the Stone Age. The Greek word of LITHOSE means stone. Stone age divided into three stages. They are:

a} Paleolithic Agev - Old Stone Age [-up to 10,000 B.C]

         b} Mesolithic Age - Middle Stone Age [10,000 B.C. - 6000 B.C]

c} Neolithic Age - New Stone Age [7,000 B.C. - 5000 B.C]

a} PALEOLITHIC AGE - [Old Stone Age] 

Anthropologists have found skulls and bones of primitive people. The people used tools made of stone to walk upright. The scientists call this man HOMOERECTUS or ERECTMAN. Being able to walk,the Stone Age man started moving in groups looking for food, water and shelter. He led a nomadic life. NOMADS are people who wanter from place to place in search of food, water and shelter. These nomada lived in caves. In the begining they did not wear clothes, but when it was very cold they were forced to cover their bodies with leaves and

skins of animals they killed. Stone was the only material used for making tools. Old stone age man used a kind of rock called QUARTZITE or making his tools. Some of his weapon were axes, arrowsheads,spears. digging tools, choppers, knives and scrappers. In india such tools have been discovered in the valley of the rivers Soan in Punjab and on the banks of the river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh.

DISCOVERY OF FIRE: Man must have seen some sparks coming out when two pieces of stones were struck against each other. This discovery of fire was simply accidental. After this discovery, the life style of man

  

completely changed.Now he knew the uses of fire and also how  to make fire. Fire was used for cooking, to keep them warm and to drive away wild animals. There were no graves found in the old stone age perod. The dead bodies of the Old Stone Age man must have been left for natural decomposion or to eaten by wild animals.

b}THE MESOLITHIC AGE [MIDDLE STONE AGE]

The Period between the end of old stone age, around 10,000 years ago to 6,000 years was called the MESOLITHIC OR MIDDLE STONE AGE.There was a need to adapt to the changing environment and find new food sources and tools. The uses of MICROLITHIC tools {small stone tools} began. THey were derived from the previous Palaeolithic tools. Microlithic tools helped in more efficient hunting. Domestication dogs as a hunting companion propably dates to his age.

Early Man

c}THE NEOLITHIC AGE [NEW STONE AGE]

The Neolithic man

The neolithic men were more advanced than the old stone age men.They still depended on the stone implements but these were highly polished, sharpened, and grooved. During this period man gained the knowledge of agriculture. He realized that he could settle down in one place and grow food crops and rear animals. Now the life pattern of man was changed from food gatherer to a food producer. Since they needed water for cultivation etc, they settle down along riverbanks, shores of lakes and ponds.

INVENTION OF THE WHEEL: The invention of wheel was another significant steps of this period. It helped the people to carry their goods easily from one place to another.

INVENTION OF WHEEL

They also used wheel to spin cotton and to make pottery.People made help of the spinning wheel. Thus the invention of wheel is considered as a great landmark in human history.

SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE: Men started living in small huts with thatched roof and mud walls. The oldest and strongest person was chosen as their leader. The first evidence of human settlement is seen in the cave paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. It is belived to be drawn by Neolithic men.

The neolithic men paintings

The people of this age were afraid of this age were afraid of the forces of nature like thunder, lightning etc. So they started to worshipped them. Ancestral spirits were also worshipped. THe dead bodies were either buried or cremated. Urns were used to burry the dead. Urns were large pots used for keeping the dead person and the things he used these Urns were buried and in the burial places large slabs of stones known as MEGALITHS were placed. Many such Urns and stones are found in south india.

Urns

THE CHALCOLITHIC AGE [METAL AGE]

The age of matals slowly followed the New Stone Age. Man used both metal and stone during this period. CHALCO means copper and LITHO means stone. Hence it known as Chalcolithic Age or Copper Age. Copper was first matal used by man. It was discovered in western Asia around 4000 B.C. Next came Bronze this metal was harder tha copper. It was an alloy of copper and tin and was used in parts of north India. Finally the Bronze Age gave way Iron Age