Mesolithic Age

Mesolithic Age

It has been suggested that the end of the Palaeolithic age was characterized by major changes in the climate of environment of the world. Due to this, some areas became warmer; this led to the development of grassland at many places. This change also brought an increase in the number of many grass- eating animals.

During this time, many grain-bearing grasses like wheat, rice and barley grew naturally in different parts of the continent. This led the people to collect these grains for food. Later on, they learnt where these grasses grew and when they ripened. This might led them to think about growing plants on their own.

All these things favoured human survival. It was under such conditions that the Mesolithic age or Middle Stone Age began.

We know about the life of Mesolithic man in India from three types of sources: tools, cave and rock painting, and burials.

Main occupation of the people remained hunting and gathering food, but their tools improved gradually. Apart from rough and chipped stone tools, Mesolithic man made small, sharp and pointed stone tools called microliths (micro means small). Some of them were fixed on wood or bone, and were used as spears, saws, knives and arrows.

Small stone arrowheads and blades

The use of animals' bones as tools along with stones marked the biggest change in the life of man from Palaeolithic Age to Mesolithic Age.

Domestication began in the Mesolithic Age, when man learnt to grow crops and tame animals.

Mesolithic man discovered the food value of the seeds of certain grasses as barley and wheat. He began to gather these for food. Man might then experimented by dropping seeds into the soil and found plants growing.

Some animals often came near human habitations in search of food disca by man. Man noticed it and learnt to tame some of these animals and use t for his own benefit The dog was the first animal to be tamed. It was during hunting and for keeping watch.

Some people returned at the time of harvest to the places where they sow seeds, and stayed on until they had used up the crop. These people made th own primitive houses. These houses were usually built in river valleys, whe there was plenty of water and fertile soil for growing crops.

Cave and rock paintings belonging to the Mesolithic Age, are found in India and many places. Red and white were the main colours used. People made these colours from rocks and naturally available minerals. The paintings depict various activities of Mesolithic people, and tell us about Mesolithic methods of hunting, fishing, religious worship etc.)

Burials

A primitive painting at Bhimbetka in Central India

Remains of human burials have been found at some Mesolithic sites. The dead were buried along with offerings such as food and ornaments.

The period following the Mesolithic Age is called the Neolithic Age or New Stone Age.

The culture of Neolithic Age shows a remarkable change in the life of man.

Some areas in India where Neolithic sites have been excavated are Kashmir, the northern Vindhyas, the middle Ganga valley, and eastern, north-eastern and southern India.

In the Neolithic Age, man changed from food-gatherer to a food producer and learnt to take care of the crops he sowed and also reared animals

started producing their own food by cultivating cereals such as barley, wheat and rice. Once grains were cultivated, they needed to be stored. Hence, granaries were constructed to collect and store grains for long period of time.

Neolithic man realised that some animals could be domesticated. Animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, dogs and horses were domesticated both for milk and for meat. These animals were also suppliers of wool and skin which served as clothes for people. There is also evidence that Neolithic man used cattle in agricultural work and as means of transport.

Growing crops and rearing of animals assured them of a continuous supply of grains, meat, milk and hides.) Man could thus, produce more food than he required. He was at last free from the continuous search for food and used his free time for developing new skills.

The early humans became food producers in the Neolithic period.

Neolithic man used harder stones to make tools. These stone tools were well shaped, well polished and had a sharp cutting edge. He designed tools to suit his new needs. People particularly used stone and axes, ploughs and sickles which helped them in farming. They used a small rounded stone which was placed on another large flat stone to crush grains. Bone tools were also widely used during this period.

Invention of The Wheel

The invention of the wheel was a remarkable invention of Neolithic man. It was a landmark in the history of human civilization. The earliest evidence of the wheel dates back to 3500 BCE. The use of the wheel made life easier and more comfortable The potter's wheel was used to make better pots. People could now make wheeled carts for transportation and for carrying loads. Sometime later, people made the spinning wheel to spin thread, once weaving was known, man used cotton and wool to make cloth.

Chalcolithic Age

The Neolithic Age was followed by the Chalcolithic Age. At the end of the Neolithic period people began to use metals, Copper was the first metal to be used by them. Now people began to use both copper and stone tools. This period is called Chalcolithic Age or the Copper Stone Age. It extended from roughly 4000 BCE to 2000 BCE. In course of time, humans learnt the art of making bronze, an alloy of copper, by mixing copper and tin.

Chalcolithic settlements were found in most parts of India. Use of improved tools developed the agricultural skills which led to the production of more food than was required. The Chalcolithic people also domesticated animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, pigs, sheep, and even camels. People used wheel turned pottery and decorated them with beautiful designs. Spinning and weaving was also done in some Chalcolithic communities. The Indus valley civilization belonged to the Chalcolithic Age.

The Iron Age

The Iron Age was the time in early human history, when people began to use tools and weapons made of iron.

Historians think that the earliest widespread use of iron started about 3200 years ago in Turkey.

Iron was an extremely useful metal for human beings.

Iron is a much harder metal than any other metal, so it was used for making tools and weapons.

Iron is found in many parts of the world) and could be extensively used.

Iron is a stronger metal than bronze) (So, it was heated at high temperature to melt it and make it soft) After becoming soft it was beaten into tools or weapons that were required.

Several iron artefacts from early human history have been found which show that people had learnt to make useful objects, particularly tools and weapons, from this metal. (Some of the tools are sickles, nails, nails, swords, spears, axes, arrowheads and pots

The Changes of the Iron Age

Agriculture - The iron tools such as ploughshares and sickles helped in better farming. Iron axes were used to clear forest so that they had more land for

Neolithic people settled down permanently and began to live in small villages. A Neolithic village consisted of a few closely built houses surrounded by a common fence of prickly bush or mud wall.

The people of Neolithic village carried out activities like farming, herding, hunting, gathering and fishing in groups. They jointly owned natural wealth such as land, forests, water sources, etc.

Neolithic people worshipped water, fire, rain and thunder as also the sun, the earth and the stars. They worshipped the cow in thankfulness for the bounty it provided, and the snake in fear.

As people began farming and rearing animals, it was necessary to store grains, food, milk and water. Initially man wove baskets out of wild grass, applied wet clay around the baskets and dried them in the sun. These vessels were useful for storing dry grains. With the help of the potter's wheel, people made pots of different shapes and sizes.

Neolithic Pottery with various painted designs

Neolithic people gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled down in safe and comfortable houses. Mud houses with thatched roofs started appearing with plaster coated on the walls. Many houses in the same locality formed a village.

farming. This helped to grow better crops. Iron sickles were better for harvesting the ripe crops. This helped to produce more food.

Buildings and Crafts - Iron helped to improve crafts as well as building activities. Some artefacts found are iron cooking pots, nails and rivets.

Trade - Trade increased with improved tools. This led to the making of coins.

Earlier, coins were made of iron but later, metals like silver and gold were used. Coins were also made of a mixture of gold and silver.

Cities and Urban Centres - Grew with improved agriculture. Later on, many magnificent buildings and other centres were built. These became centres for trade as well.

Weapons - Iron was extremely useful in making better weapons like swords, spears and arrowheads. Wooden wheels on war chariots were fitted with iron spokes and rims. Iron weapons made people win battles easily for expanding kingdoms.

Two civilizations of the Iron Age were the Greek and Roman civilizations

A. Fill in the blanks:

1.The Neolithic man believed in an afterlife after death.

2.The Neolithic people worshipped water and fire.

3. The Neolithic people settled down in safe and comfortable houses.

4. The use of wheel made life Easier and more comfortable.

5. Copper was the first metal to be used by early humans.

B. Write T for True and F for False:

1. Palaeolithic man invented wheel.-false

2. Neolithic men made their own houses.-True

3. The stone tools of Neolithic Age were very crude.-False

4. The Chalcolithic Age is also called Copper-Stone Age.-True

C. Tick (✔) the correct option:

1. Palaeolithic Age was followed by

(a) Mesolithic Age

(c) Neolithic Age

2. The first animal to be tamed by man was

(a) elephant

(c) dog

3. Early man painted

 (c) rocks

(b) camel

(d) goat

(b) ceiling of cave

(d) all of these

4. Domestication began in

(a) Palaeolithic Age

(c) Neolithic Age

(b) Mesolithic Age

(d) Chalcolithic Age

D. Answer the following questions:

1. List any two types of archaeological sources from which we know about the life of Mesolithic man.
Two types of archaeological sources from which we know about the life of Mesolithic man are:

Tools: Like small, sharp stones called microliths.

Cave and rock paintings: They show us what Mesolithic people did in their daily lives.

 

2. What do you understand by domestication?

Domestication means taming and breeding wild plants and animals for human use. It's like making them helpful to us.

 

3. List three animals that were domesticated during the Neolithic Age.

Three animals domesticated during the Neolithic Age were:

Cows

Sheep

Goats

4. Why did early man need pots?

Early man needed pots because they stored food and water. They cooked food in pots.

5. How was iron useful for the people?

Iron was useful because it made stronger tools and weapons. Iron tools helped in farming and building.

6. 'Invention of wheel was a landmark in the history of human'. Justify the statement.
The invention of the wheel was important because it helped move things easier. It made travel and trade faster.

7. What were the implications of farming and herding?
The implications of farming and herding were farming and herding led to more food for people.Villages and towns grew.People started trading more.

8. What do you know about the Neolithic tools?

Neolithic tools were made from harder stones. Smoother and sharper than before.

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