HISTORY(VI)- CHAPTER 2 FROM HUNTING GATHERING TO GROWING FOOD (LESSON NOTES)

HISTORY(VI)- CHAPTER 2

FROM HUNTING GATHERING TO GROWING FOOD

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø As you know that earliest people were known as hunter gatherers and skilled gatherers. This lesson tells us about how they survive. Which tools were used by them to hunt the animals? We also look the evidences found out by the archaeologists in various places. We also come to know that how the time to be classified by archaeologists.

v THE EARLIEST PEOPLE

Ø The earliest people known as hunter-gatherers because they collected food by hunting animals and by collecting berries and fruits and gathered nuts, stalks and eggs. So they move place to place-

§  In search of food.

§  To follow the movement of animals

§  They have to moved from season to season in search of different kinds of plants

§  People may travel to meet their friends and relatives.

§  In our search of water.

v ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF EARLY MAN:

Ø The stone tools were found by archaeologists in some places.

Ø The remains of things (tools, pots and huts) are also found.

Ø Archaeologist also found some painting in caves.

stone tools

v USES OF STONE TOOLS

Ø Stone tools were used to cut meat and bones.

Ø To Scrape bark (from trees) and hides (animal skins)

Ø To chop fruit and roots. 

USES OF STONE TOOLS

v TECHNIQUES OF MAKING STONE TOOLS 

Ø Stone on stone techniques

§  The techniques in which one stone (core)was hit by another 

§  stone(hammer) till the require shape was obtained was known as stone on stone technique.

Ø Pressure flaking techniques

§  When the core was placed on a surface and the hammer stone  was placed on the core, to remove flakes that could be shaped into tools

v CHOOSING A PLACE TO LIVE

Ø The early man lived near sources of water, such as rivers and lakes.

Ø The place where the good quality stone was available for their tools.

Ø The place good for shelter near caves.

v FINDING OUT ABOUT FIRE

Ø The archaeologists found the evidence and traces of ash at Kurnool caves in Andhra Pradesh that suggesting use of fire. The fire might have been used

Ø As a source of light,

Ø To cook meat and

Ø To scare away animals.

Ø To warm themselves in winter.

v HABITATION-CUM-FACTORY SITES 

Ø Habitation refers to the place where people lived. Places where stones were found and early people made their tools. Sometimes, people lived (habitat) here for a longer span of time. Some sites

§  Burzahom (Jammu and Kashmir)

§  Mehrgarh(Pakistan)

§  Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)- Natural caves and rock shelters

§  Chirand (Bihar)

§  Mahagara and Koldihawa(Uttar Pradesh)

§  Inamgoan(Maharashtra)

§  Hunsgi( Karnataka)

§  Kurnool Caves( Telangana)

§  Daojali Hading(Tripura)

v ANCIENT TIME PERIOD

Ø PALAEOLITHIC: This term refers to the age where we find a large number of stone tools. It extends from 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago and is divided into Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic.

Ø MESOLITHIC: This period extends from 10,000 years ago to about 12,000 years ago. Stone tools found during this period were generally tiny and were called Microliths. 

Ø NEOLITHIC: This was the period that dates back to about 10,000 years ago, and is, therefore, known as the New Stone Age or Neolothic.

v A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT: 

Ø About 12,000 years ago, there was a major change in the climate of the world.

Ø This change led to a shift to warm conditions, leading to the development of grasslands at many places.

Ø Many grain-bearing panes of grass, like wheat, barley, rice grew naturally in different parts of the subcontinent. The people also began growing plants on their own.

Ø  It helped people to start thinking about the herding and rearing animals.

v v THE BEGINNING OF FARMING

Ø Farming developed as a consequence of the climate change of the world.

Ø Several grain bearing grasses, including wheat, barley and rice grew naturally in different parts

Ø People observed these plants and started to collect the seeds. Gradually, they also started growing crops.

v THE BEGINNING OF HEARDING

Ø People also started taming animals. The dog was the first animal to be tamed.

Ø Animals like sheep, goat, cattle, pigs, were also tamed and so people became started to keep these animals.

Ø People protected these animals from attacks by other wild animals. In this way they became herders.

v DOMESTICATION: 

Ø The taming of animals for various purposes is referred to as Domestication. It began about 12000 years ago. The earliest domesticated animals include dog, sheep and goat etc.

v NEW WAY OF LIFE

Ø When the early man started to grow the plants and keep animals so they shifted to a new way of life. They have to live at one place for these works as a farmer-

§  To look after the plants from wild animals.

§  To give water to the plants.

§  Plants take nearly 6 months to ripe so they have to stay at one place.

v USES OF GRAINS AND ANIMALS

Ø Grains were used as seeds, as food, and also as gifts. They were stored by humans.

Ø Animals were also ‘stored’ since they can serve as a source of milk and also provide meat. They also multiply naturally. So, animals were used as a ‘store’ of food.

v FINDING OUT ABOUT THE FIRST FARMERS AND HERDERS

Ø Archaeologists have found much evidence of early farmers and herders. Most important ones are in the north-west, in present-day Kashmir, and in east and south India.

Ø They have been found remains of burnt grain in many areas.

Ø They also come to know about farmers and herders by bones of animals.

v TOWARDS SETTLED LIFE

Ø Archaeologists have found traces of huts or houses at some sites.

Ø Pit-houses are found in Burzahom (inpresent-day Kashmir), which were dug into the ground, with steps leading into them. These may have provided shelter in cold weather.

Ø Archaeologists have also found cooking hearths both inside and outside of the houses.

Ø They also found the stone tools with sharp edge, mortars, pestles etc. These were used to grinding grains.

Ø Many kinds of earthen pots have also been found, which were decorated. They may used to store food grains.

Ø They began weaving cloth, using different kinds of materials, for example cotton, that could now be grown.

v A CLOSER LOOK — LIVING AND DYING IN MEHRGARH

Ø Mehrgarh was located in a fertile plain, near the Bolan Pass. Here, people learnt to grow barley and wheat. It is one of the earliest villages.

Ø At this site many animal bones like deer and pig, sheep and goat etc were found.

            

Ø In Mehrgarh, remains of houses have been found. They had four or more compartments called as square or rectangular houses.

Ø Several burial sites have been found in Mehrgarh. When people die, their relatives and friends generally pay respect to them. Because they believed that there is some form of life after death.

Ø In one site the archaeologists found a dead person was buried with goats, which were probably meant to serve as food in the next world.