KEY REVISION POINTS ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY
What is History?
- History studies the events of past especially related to human affairs.
- History may be divided into three major periods: Prehistoric Period, Protohistoric Period and Historic Period.
What is Pre-History?
- Prehistory refers to the period of time before civilization and writing.
- It refers to the time before human civilization developed and started writing things down.
- Ex: Stone Age
What is Proto-History?
- Protohistory is a period between prehistory and history.
- This period has a record of writings but their writings are not deciphered yet.
- Ex: Harappan civilization
Three different stages in prehistoric period (Stone Age):
1. Paleolithic period – Old Stone Age
- It extends from 2 million years ago to about 10,000 BCE
- Palaeolithic period has been divided into three phases viz. lower, middle, and upper palaeolithic periods.
2. Mesolithic period – Middle Stone Age
- It extends from 10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE
3. Neolithic period – New Stone Age
- It extends from 8,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE
Lower Palaeolithic:
- The stone tools used by these people were chopping tools, handaxes, and cleavers.
- Humans of this period were lived along the banks of rivers or streams and in caves and rock shelters.
- They were hunters and food gatherers.
- Belan valley and Soan valley are important sites.
Middle Palaeolithic:
- The stone tools used by these people were blades, points, borers and scrappers made up of flakes.
- Humans of this period were lived along the banks of rivers or streams and in caves and rock shelters.
- Nevasa, Samnapur on Narmada are important sites.
Upper Palaeolithic:
- The stone tools used by these people were burins and scrapers.
- They also used grinding stones.
- This phase was less humid and coincided with the last phase of Ice age.
- Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh is an important upper palaeolithic site.
Mesolithic Period:
- The stone tools used by these people were microliths.
- Mesolithic sites are found in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and along Krishna river.
- They domesticated animals along with hunting, fishing, and food gathering.
Neolithic Period:
- The stone tools of this period were more skillfully made.
- They were more varied in form and often polished.
- They particularly used stone axes.
- Neolithic people were food producers.
- Domesticated both plants and animals.
- Mehrgarh in Baluchistan is an important neolithic site.
