Chapter 2: From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food
Social Science - History (Our Pasts - I) for CBSE Class 6
Chapter Summary
- Early Humans as Hunter-Gatherers: For thousands of years, people were hunter-gatherers, constantly moving from place to place.
- Reasons for Movement:
- If they stayed too long in one area, they would have eaten all the available plant and animal resources.
- Animals move to different places for food, so hunters had to follow them.
- Plants and trees bear fruit in different seasons, requiring people to move in search of them.
- People needed water, and many rivers and lakes were seasonal.
- How We Know About Them: Archaeologists have found stone tools, which were used for cutting meat and bone, scraping bark and animal hides, chopping fruits and roots. Some tools were attached to handles of bone or wood to make spears and arrows.
- Important Sites:
- Palaeolithic Sites: Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) - known for caves and rock shelters with paintings; Hunsgi (Karnataka); Kurnool Caves (Andhra Pradesh) - traces of ash found, suggesting the use of fire.
- Neolithic Sites: Mehrgarh (present-day Pakistan), Burzahom (Kashmir), Daojali Hading (Assam).
- The Discovery of Fire: Traces of ash found in Kurnool Caves indicate that early humans knew how to use fire. Fire was used as a source of light, to cook meat, and to scare away wild animals.
- Changing Environment (Mesolithic Period): Around 12,000 years ago, there was a major change in the climate of the world, leading to a warming trend. This resulted in the development of grasslands, which in turn led to an increase in animals that thrive in grasslands, like deer, antelope, goat, sheep, and cattle. This also led to an increase in fishing.
- Beginning of Farming and Herding:
- People observed plants growing, seeds falling, and new plants sprouting, leading to the development of farming. They began growing crops like wheat, barley, and rice.
- They started taming animals (domestication). The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog. Later, they tamed sheep, goats, and cattle, which provided milk, meat, and could carry burdens.
- Domestication: The process in which people grow plants and look after animals. It began around 12,000 years ago.
- A New Way of Life (Neolithic Period):
- When people started growing crops, they had to stay in the same place for a long time to look after the plants, water them, weed the fields, and drive away animals and birds until the grain ripened. This led to a settled life.
- Grains were stored for food, as seeds for the next season, and as gifts. They made large clay pots, wove baskets, or dug pits into the ground for storage.
- Animals were also a 'store' of food (milk, meat) and could be used for transport.
- Archaeological Evidence of Settled Life:
- Mehrgarh: This site, in present-day Pakistan, is one of the earliest villages discovered (around 7000 years ago). Houses were square or rectangular with four or more compartments. Burials were found with the deceased often buried with goats, indicating a belief in life after death. Evidence of wheat, barley, sheep, goat, and cattle bones.
- Burzahom (Kashmir): People built pit-houses, which were dug into the ground with steps leading into them. These provided shelter in cold weather.
- Daojali Hading (Assam): Stone tools like mortars and pestles have been found, indicating grinding of grain. Jadeite stone, possibly brought from China, was also found.
- Tribes: Groups of farmers and herders often lived in small settlements or villages called tribes. They usually had distinct cultural practices and were often led by elders.
- Time Periods:
- Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age): From 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. Divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Palaeolithic.
- Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): From about 12,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago. Characterized by environmental changes and 'microliths' (tiny stone tools).
- Neolithic (New Stone Age): From about 10,000 years ago onwards. Marked by the beginning of farming, herding, and settled life.
Questions and Answers
1. Why did people who lived in the Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic) move from place to place? (2 reasons)
Answer: People who lived in the Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic) moved from place to place for several reasons, two of which are:
- If they stayed too long in one area, they would have eaten all the available plant and animal resources, forcing them to move in search of more food.
- Hunter-gatherers followed the movement of animals they hunted. Animals move from place to place, either in search of grass and leaves, or in turn, for smaller prey. So, to hunt them, people had to follow their movements.
2. What are the three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire?
Answer: Hunter-gatherers used fire in the following three ways:
- As a source of light in dark caves or at night.
- To cook meat and other food, making it easier to digest.
- To scare away wild animals, protecting themselves from danger.
3. List three ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from that of hunter-gatherers.
Answer: The lives of farmers and herders were significantly different from hunter-gatherers in these three ways:
- Settled Life vs. Nomadic Life: Farmers and herders lived a settled life in one place to look after their crops and animals. Hunter-gatherers were nomadic, constantly moving from place to place in search of food.
- Food Production vs. Food Collection: Farmers and herders produced their own food by growing crops and rearing animals. Hunter-gatherers relied on collecting wild plants and hunting wild animals.
- Dwellings: Farmers and herders built permanent houses (like mud houses or pit-houses) to live in. Hunter-gatherers often lived in temporary shelters like caves and rock shelters.
4. Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time?
Answer: People who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time because the process of growing plants, from sowing seeds to harvesting the crops, takes a lot of time. During this period, they need to:
- Water the fields regularly.
- Weed the fields to remove unwanted plants.
- Drive away animals and birds that might eat the crops.
- Protect the crops until they ripen.
5. Find out whether these statements are True or False:
- Hunter-gatherers chose to live in caves and rock shelters because they wanted to protect themselves from the rain, heat and wind.
- Grasslands developed around 12,000 years ago.
- Early people grew wheat and barley in Europe.
- Early people in Karnataka did not know how to make pots.
Answer:
- Hunter-gatherers chose to live in caves and rock shelters because they wanted to protect themselves from the rain, heat and wind. - True
- Grasslands developed around 12,000 years ago. - True
- Early people grew wheat and barley in Europe. - False (Early evidence of wheat and barley is found in sites like Mehrgarh, which is in South Asia, not Europe. While wheat and barley were eventually grown in Europe, the primary examples discussed in the NCERT context for early cultivation are from the Indian subcontinent and West Asia.)
- Early people in Karnataka did not know how to make pots. - False (Archaeological evidence from various Neolithic sites in South India, including Karnataka, shows the presence of pottery. For example, sites like Hallur show evidence of Neolithic culture, which includes pottery.)
6. Look at the table on page 14. If you had to live in a Mesolithic age, list the food you would eat, the clothes you would wear, what you would do.
Answer: (Assuming 'Table on page 14' refers to the general characteristics of the Mesolithic Age discussed in the chapter)
If I had to live in the Mesolithic Age (around 12,000 to 10,000 years ago), considering the environmental changes and advancements:
- Food I would eat: My diet would be more diverse than in the Palaeolithic age. I would eat fish, deer, antelope, goat, and sheep, which became more abundant with the growth of grasslands. I would also collect a variety of wild fruits, berries, roots, and other plant products that grew in the warmer climate.
- Clothes I would wear: I would wear clothes made from animal hides (skins) sewn together, possibly using bone needles. This would provide warmth and protection from the elements, as the climate was still quite cool in many areas.
- What I would do: I would primarily be a hunter-gatherer, but with improved tools. I would hunt animals using microliths (tiny, sharp stone tools often attached to handles) and engage in fishing. I would also spend time gathering edible wild plants. I might start observing how plants grow and animals behave, which could lay the groundwork for farming and herding in the future. I would also move seasonally to follow animal migrations and plant ripening cycles.
7. Make a list of all the animals mentioned in the chapter. What different reasons do people have for rearing these animals?
Answer: Animals mentioned in the chapter include: Dog, Sheep, Goat, Cattle, Deer, Antelope.
Different reasons people have for rearing these animals:
- Dog: The wild ancestor of the dog was the first animal to be tamed. Dogs were likely used for hunting (to track and corner prey) and for protection/guarding settlements.
- Sheep, Goat, Cattle: These animals were domesticated for several important reasons:
- Food Source: They provided milk, which could be consumed, and meat.
- Other Products: Their hides (skin) and wool could be used for clothing and other purposes.
- Labour/Transport: Cattle were particularly useful for pulling ploughs, carrying burdens, and possibly for transport.
- 'Storehouse' of Food: Animals could reproduce and provide a ready supply of food whenever needed, acting as a 'mobile food store'.
8. Discuss whether the hunter-gatherers would have lived in one place for a long time or moved from place to place. Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Hunter-gatherers would have primarily moved from place to place rather than living in one place for a long time. There are several reasons for this nomadic lifestyle:
- Resource Depletion: If they stayed in one place for too long, they would exhaust all the available plant and animal resources in that area. Moving ensured a continuous supply of food.
- Following Prey: The animals they hunted, such as deer and antelope, moved seasonally in search of food (grass and leaves) or to find smaller prey. To successfully hunt, people had to follow these animal movements.
- Seasonal Availability of Plants: Different plants and trees bear fruits or produce edible parts in different seasons. Hunter-gatherers needed to move to find these seasonal plant resources.
- Water Availability: Water sources like rivers and lakes could be seasonal. People had to move to areas where water was available, especially during dry seasons.
- Climate and Safety: They might have moved to find warmer climates during harsh winters or to find safer locations away from dangerous predators or hostile groups.
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