For Daily Free Study Material Join wiredfaculty Whatsapp Group | Download Android App | Ncert Book Download

Themes In World History Chapter 1 From The Beginning Of Time

Sponsor Area

NCERT Solution For Class 11 History Themes In World History

From The Beginning Of Time Here is the CBSE History Chapter 1 for Class 11 students. Summary and detailed explanation of the lesson, including the definitions of difficult words. All of the exercises and questions and answers from the lesson's back end have been completed. NCERT Solutions for Class 11 History From The Beginning Of Time Chapter 1 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 History From The Beginning Of Time Chapter 1 The following is a summary in Hindi and English for the academic year 2021-2022. You can save these solutions to your computer or use the Class 11 History.

Question 1

Wired Faculty App

What are Primates ?

Solution

Primates are a subgroup of a larger group of mammals. They include monkeys, apes and humans. They have body hair, a relatively long gestation period following birth, mammary glands, different types of teeth, and the ability to maintain a constant body temperature.

Question 2

Wired Faculty App

Define the term Hominoids?

Solution

Hominoids are different from monkeys in a number of ways. They have a larger body and do not have a tail. Besides, there is a longer period of infant development and dependency amongst hominoids.

Question 3

Wired Faculty App

What is meant by Artefacts?

Solution

Artefacts are objects that are made by human beings. The term can refer to a wide range of things : tools, paintings, sculpture, engravings.

Question 4

Wired Faculty App

What is meant by Ethnography ?

Solution

Ethnography is the study of contemporary ethnic groups. It includes an examination of their modes of livelihood, technology, gender roles, rituals, political institutions and social customs.

Question 5

Wired Faculty App

Define Anthropology.

Solution

Anthropology is a discipline that studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology.

Question 6

Wired Faculty App

What is foraging?

Solution

Foraging means to search for food.

Question 7

Wired Faculty App

What do you mean by Zinjanthropus ?

Solution

Zinjanthropus was the first human species that made tools. The living being of this species existed about five lakh years ago.

Question 8

Wired Faculty App

Describe Mesolithic period.

Solution

Mesolithic Period : The pace of human progress quickened only about 8,000 B.C. or 10,000 years ago when man began to make a variety of fine tools. This period is known as the middle stone age or Mesolithic period.

Question 9

Wired Faculty App

What do you know about Peking Man ?

Solution

Sinanthropus or Peking Man: The remains to the early man were found in a cave near Peking. He has been called sinanthropus. His body was more developed than that of Peking Man.

Question 10

Wired Faculty App

What are the features of Java Man?

Solution

The features:
(i)The study of the bones of the species of this man shows that he was mid-way between man and apes because his forehead was bigger than apes but smaller than man.

(ii)The other characteristic of this type of man was that he had erect posture. The remains of the Java Man are found in Java.

Question 11

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the characteristics of Heidelberg Man.

Solution

The characteristics:
(i)The study of the Heidelberg Man shows his jaws were bigger than the Modern man.
(ii)He had a better-developed head as compared to the Java Man and Peking Man. It is presumed that he could not speak. The Heidelberg Man was found in Germany.

Question 12

Wired Faculty App

What do you know about the Neanderthal Man ?

Solution

The Neanderthan Man :
(i)The study of this type of man shows that he had short stature, big chest flat nose and head.

(ii)His neck resembled with that of a bull. He used to burry the dead bodies. His remains were discovered in the valley of Neander in Germany.

Question 13

Wired Faculty App

What do you know about Cro-Magnon Man ?

Solution

The Cro-Magnon Man :

(i)This type of man belonged to the species of Homo-Sapiens. His body resembled much like that of the Modern Man.
(ii)He belonged to the Neolithic period. The remains of this man are found in France.

Question 14

Wired Faculty App

When did man appear on the earth ?

Solution

Appearance of man:
(i)The earth is believed to be 4 thousand and 5 hundred million years old but man is considered to be only one million years old.

(ii)Man's development was very slow. It is believed that our own species appeared only 30,000 or 40,000 years back. This species is known as the Homo Sapiens. All human beings belong to this species.

Tips: -

(Imp.)

Question 15

Wired Faculty App

Describe the importance of the discovery of fire to the primitive man .

Solution

Discovery of fire was perhaps the most important achievement of man in the early stages of his development.
(i)It had a great significance in man's development and his way of life. He learnt to warm his caves, get light and protect himself from wild animals with its help.

(ii)Later on, he roasted his food and made it tasteful by its help. He began to work with his family in the light of fire.

Tips: -

(V.V. Imp.)

Question 16

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the advantages to man of his erect position.

Solution

The advantages are discussed below:

(i)He got himself distinguished from the other animals and his arms also became free.

(ii)It made him see objects from far off distances. Again, he was not in a better position to protect himself from his enemies.
(iii)His brain and intelligence also developed because of this fact.
(iv)He invented tools and made great achievements as compared to animals due to his erect posture.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 17

Wired Faculty App

What are the views on language development ?

Solution

There are several views on language development:
(1)that hominid language involved gestures or hand movements;
(2)that spoken language was preceded by vocal but non-verbal communication such as singing or humming;
(3)that human speech probably began with calls like the ones that have been observed among primates.
(4)Humans may have possessed a small number of speech sounds in the initial stage. Gradually, these may have developed into language.

Sponsor Area

Question 18

Wired Faculty App

Mention any three characteristic features of the Palaeolithic period.

Solution

In history, the period from the early times to 10,000 B.C. is called the Palaeolithic Period.

(i) During this period man has started working in co-operation with their fellow beings for the hunting work and self-protection against the wild animals. In this way the community life had started.

(ii)In this age man had started making the rough stone tools like hand axes and choppers.

(iii)There are some evidence in history which show that during this period man had developed the art of painting.

Question 19

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the Art in Palaeolithic Age.

Solution

The Art in Palaeolithic Age:
(I)During this period man used to live in caves. He used to draw some beautiful designs and pictures on the walls and ceilings of the caves.
(II) There are the depictions of beautiful design. The pictures also depict the customs and religious rites.

(III) The man of this age had also started making of ornaments from ivory and bones etc.

Question 20

Wired Faculty App

What are fossils ?

Solution

Fossils are the remains or impressions of a very old plant, animal or human which have turned into stone. These are often embedded in rock, and are thus preserved for millions of years.

Question 21

Wired Faculty App

Define Species.

Solution

Species is a group of organisms that can breed to produce fertile offspring. Member of one species cannot mate with those of other species to produce fertile offspring.

Question 22

Wired Faculty App

Humans and mammals such as monkeys and apes have certain similarities in behaviour and anatomy. This indicates that humans possibly evolved from apes.
List these resemblances in two columns under the headings of (a) behaviour and (b) anatomy.
Are there any differences that you think are noteworthy ?

Solution

Humans and mammals such as monkey and apes have certain similarities in behaviours and anatomy.
This shows that humans possibly evolved from apes.

Similarities on the basis of behavior:
(i) Both can climb on trees.
(ii) Both secrete milk and carry their babies with them .
(iii) Both can run and walk.
(iv) Both use sound as a mode of communication.

Similarities on the basis of anatomy:
(i) They have warm blood and body hair are present on body.
(ii) They have different types of teeth.
(iii) Both are vertebrates .
(iv) Both have two feet and two hands.

Differences on the basis of behavior:
(i) Human beings earn money for their families but monkey and apes do not perform economic activities.
(ii) Humans walk upright while monkey any and apes cannot walks upright.
(iii) Humans prepare tools themselves while monkeys and apes do not prepare themselves.
(iv)Human walks on two feet while monkey and apes walk on four feet.

Differences on the basis of anatomy:
(i) Humans have larger body as compared to apes and monkeys.
(ii) Monkeys and apes have tails while humans have no tail.

Question 23

Wired Faculty App

Explain the causes of change in the life of early man and its implications on modern life.

Solution

Early man made great changes in his way of life. Such changes were caused by his discovery of fire, beginning of farming and invention of pottery, spinning, weaving, etc.

It implications:
(i) The modern process in agriculture is based on the beginning of farming by the textile industry of today.
(ii) Early man had learnt the use of cotton and woollen cloth for protecting himself from heat and cold which resulted in a great incentive to the textile industry.
(iii) The use of wheel by the early man has also brought about a great change in the transport system of today.
(iv) The modern scientific revolution is due to the early man's achievements.

Tips: -

(Imp.)

Question 24

Wired Faculty App

Describe the consequences of eliminating the use of fire and the wheel from modern man's life.

Solution

If we eliminate from the present day life of the man, the use of fire and the wheel man will retreat to the old stone age of uncivilized existence.

(i)It was the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel that had assisted man's march to the modern civilization.

(ii)In the absence of fire and the wheel, man's life in all fields-political, economic, religious and social, etc. will be adversely affected and his advancement in all these spheres will come to an end.

(iii)In the absence of fire he would not be able to cook food, make tools and weapons, etc.

(iv)Similarly in the absence of the wheel, all the means of transport, generator of electricity, all kinds of machines will come to a standstill.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 25

Wired Faculty App

Do you think that it would be possible for man to live anywhere today exactly as the Stone Age man lived? Why or why not ?

Solution

1. Looking at the present state of civilization which is at the highest point of achievements. It seems untenable that man would be able to live like his Stone Age predecessor.
2. But this point of view may not be fully correct as even today there are regions where man still lives an uncivilized existence.
Such regions are extensively found in the African continent.
3. In these regions people still cover themselves with barks and leaves or skins of animals. They are still ignorant about the methods of weaving and spinning of cloth etc.
4. In these regions people still gather food by hunting animals. Catching fish and gathering fruits and roots.
5. Due to the lack of education and prevalence of ignorance, people in these regions still believe in magic and witchcraft and are quite ignorant about the present civilization.

Tips: -

(Imp.)

Question 26

Wired Faculty App

State the two main periods of Stone age and summarize the inventions and discoveries of each period.

Solution

The two main periods of Stone Age are:
(i)The Palaeolithic Period.
(ii)The Neolithic Period.
The Palaeolithic Period :

(i) Crude tools : During this period, crude tools of stone were made. Tools like hand-axe, choppers and flake implements were made.

(ii) Discovery of the Fire : Man found that it could protect him from wild animals and severe cold.

Later on, he began to roast his food on fire.

The Neolithic Period :

(i) The Beginning of Farming : Now man became food producer instead of food gatherer. He then made a rapid progress in other walks of life such as in the community life, village life and domestication of animals.

(ii) Invention of Wheel : It helped in rapid transport, pottery, spinning and weaving, art too developed with a rapid pace due to the division of labour.

(iii) Polished Tools : Man made beautiful, smooth, well shaped and polished tools of stone. Tools, for making various articles of daily use, was a good achievement. Tools from bones and ivory were also make including hooks for fishing.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 27

Wired Faculty App

Who are archaeologists? Discuss the attempt they have made.

Solution

Scholars who have dug up old sites and have brought to light, in a scientific manner, in the man's progress since several hundred thousand years ago are called the archaeologists.

Archaeologists have made attempts to reconstruct the lives of early people – to find out about the shelters in which they lived, the food they ate by gathering plant produce and hunting animals, and the ways in which they expressed themselves. Other important developments include the use of fire and of language.

Question 28

Wired Faculty App

Describe the role of an anthropologist. How it helps the Historian?

Solution

The role of an Anthropologist is described below :

(i) To understand the physical characteristics of man as well as his relation or behaviour to his environment.

(ii) To work for understanding the culture of a society by the help of artifacts and pictures besides taking the help of monuments and dwellings.

Helps to the Historians:

(i)It is due to the work of anthropologists that the historians have drawn the pen picture of the progress of man and society since the prehistoric period.

(ii)They have gained the knowledge of physical characteristics of the early man from the skeletons collected by these scholars and from artifacts, pictures, dwelling and monuments provided by them.

Tips: -

(M.Imp.)

Question 29

Wired Faculty App

How does the work of a Zoologist help a Historian?

Solution

It helps in the following ways:

(i) To study the development of life and living structures on earth during the different past ages.

(ii) To trace and study the dates of the once living organisms.

Question 30

Wired Faculty App

Look at the diagram showing the positive feedback mechanism on page 13. Can you list the inputs that went tool making? What were the processes that were strengthened by tool making ?

Solution

The inputs that helped in making tools:
(i) Bipedalism which led to freeing of hands.
(ii) Large brain size and increased capability

The processes that were strengthened by tool making were:

(i)The capability and mental capacity of men.
(ii)Tool making strengthened man’s technical skills.
(iii) Created conditions from the transition from scavenging to hunting.
(iv)Introduction of punch blade technique to make small chisel.
(v)Tools helped the primitive man in farming, development of agriculture and to lead a settled instead of nomadic life.

Question 31

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the progress made by the stone age man in respect of shelter, clothing, tools and weapons.

Solution

The progress:
(i)Shelter : In the Stone Age man had started farming. For this purpose he began to domesticate animals and reside at one place. He began to make huts to live in.

(ii)Clothing : The Stone Age man invented the wheel. With its help he started spinning cotton and weaving cloth. With the cloth he covered his body to protect himself from rain, cold and heat.

(iii)Tools and Weapons : In the Stone Age man made beautiful and well shaped tools and weapons of stones.

Tips: -

(Imp.)

Question 32

Wired Faculty App

Examine the principal characteristics that distinguish man from other animals. Mention the names of five different species of prehistoric men.

Solution

Following are the distinctions between a Man and Animal :

(i) Man has got intelligence and wisdom and are better developed in comparison to other animals. The animals do not possess the wisdom and intelligence.

(ii) Man has the capacity to learn and benefit itself through the experience and invention of other human beings which the animals do not have.

(iii) Man has learnt to stand erect on his two legs. In this way he has freed his hands and arms to work and developed the art and architecture.

(iv) Man had the ability to make tools which the animals could not. He used these tools in cooperation with other human beings, which the animals failed.

Names of Five Different Species of Prehistoric Men :

1. The Java Man.

2. The Peking Man.

3. The Heidelberg Man.

4. The Meanderthal Man.

5. The Cro- Magnon Man.

Question 33

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the lesson learned about the changes in our lives today by studying the causes of the change in life of early man.

Solution

The lessons:

1. Early man made many significant changes in his way of life to fulfil his necessities i.e. satisfy his hunger, to protect himself from the effects of changing seasons and to have shelters against the wild animals.

2. Such changes were caused by his discovery of fire, beginning of cultivation and invention of wheel and the methods of spinning and weaving.

3. The discoveries of the early man have helped the modern man to make progress in life. We can learn from the early man the way of self-defence and to fulfil the necessities of life. In this way we can improve our standard of living.

Question 34

Wired Faculty App

State the chief characteristic features of the Palaeolithic Period.

Solution

In history, the period from the early times to 10,000 B.C. is called the Palaeolithic period. The chief characteristic features of this period are stated below :

(i) During this period man had started working in co-operation with other fellow beings for the hunting work and self-protection against the wild animals. This way the community life had started.

(ii) In this age man had started making the rough stone tools like hand-axes and choppers.

(iii) There are some evidences in history which show that during this period man had developed the art of painting.

(iv) The Palaeolithic man had not as yet learnt agriculture and domestication of animals. He was a food gatherer and a food producer.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 35

Wired Faculty App

Mention the main characteristics of the Mesolithic Period.

Solution

The Mesolithic Period was between the Palaeolithic Period and the Neolithic Period. The Period between 10,000 B.C. and 7,000 B.C. is known as the mesolithic period. The main characteristics of this period are mentioned below :

(i) During this age man had invented the small tools like spearheads, arrow heads etc.

(ii) The man of Mesolithic Age had started taming the dogs for the hunting purpose.

(iii) The man of this age was still a food collector and not a food producer. He used to hunt the animals and gather the natural vegetation for his food.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 36

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the arguments advanced in favour of the regional continuity model of human origins.
Do you think it provides a convincing explanation of the archaeological evidence? Give reasons for your answer.

Solution

The issue of the place of origin of modern humans has been much debated. Two totally divergent views have been expounded, one advocating the regional continuity model (with multiple regions of origin), the other the replacement model (with a single origin in Africa).
(i) According to the regional continuity model, the archaic Homo sapiens in different regions gradually evolved at different rates into modern humans, and hence the variation in the first appearance of modern humans in different parts of the world. The argument is based on the regional differences in the features of present-day humans.
(ii) According to those who advocate this view, these dissimilarities are due to differences between the pre-existing Homo erectus and Homo heidelbergensis populations that occupied the same regions.

Question 37

Wired Faculty App

Describe the significant changes brought about with the introduction of agriculture.

Solution

With the introduction of agriculture:

(i) More people began to stay in one place for even longer periods than they had done before. Thus permanent houses began to be built of mud, mud bricks and even stone. These are some of the earliest villages known to archaeologists.
(ii) Farming and pastoralism led to the introduction of many other changes such as the making of pots in which to store grain and other produce, and to cook food.
(iii) Besides, new kinds of stone tools came into use. Other new tools such as the plough were used in agriculture.
(iv) Gradually, people became familiar with metals such as copper and tin. The wheel, important for both pot making and transportation, came into use.

Question 38

Wired Faculty App

What do you know regarding the division of labour in food procurement ?

Solution

Also, there is little consensus regarding the division of labour in food procurement.
(i) Although today generally women gather and men hunt, there are societies where both women and men hunt and gather and make tools. In any case, the important role of women in contributing to the food supply in such societies cannot be denied.
(ii) It is perhaps this factor that ensures a relatively equal role for both women and men in present-day hunter-gatherer societies, although there are variations. While this may be the case today, it is difficult to make any such inference for the past.

Question 39

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the views on the development of language.

Solution

There are several views on language development:
(1) that hominid language involved gestures or hand movements;
(2) that spoken language was preceded by vocal but non-verbal communication such as singing or humming;
(3) that human speech probably began with calls like the ones that have been observed among primates.
(4) Humans may have possessed a small number of speech sounds in the initial stage. Gradually, these may have developed into language

Tips: -

(V.Imp)

Sponsor Area

Question 40

Wired Faculty App

Which of the following do you think is best documented in the archaeological record : (a) gathering, (b) tool making, (c) the use of fire ?

Solution

The best documented in the archaeological record is tool making.

Question 41

Wired Faculty App

Mention any two characteristics of each of the following species of Man:
1. The Java Man
2. The Peking Man
3. The Heidelberg Man
4. The Neanderthal Man
5. The Cro-Magnon Man.

Solution

The Java Man :

(i) The study of the bones of the species of this man shows that he was mid-way between man and apes because his forehead was bigger than apes but smaller than man.

(ii) This type of man was able to stand erect. The remains of the Java Man were found in Java.

2. The Peking Man :

(i) The study of the species of man shows that he had short stature, raised face, sloped forehead and powerful Jaws with strong teeth.

(ii) This type of man had thick neck. His external limbs resembled with modern man. The remains of the Peking Man were found in China.

3. The Hidelberg Man :

(i) The study of the Heidelberg man shows that his jaws were bigger than the modern man.

(ii) He had a better developed head as compared to the Java man and the Peking man. It is presumed that he could not speak. The Heidelberg Man was found in Germany.

4. The Neanderthal Man :

(i) The study of this type of man shows that he had short stature, big chest and flat head.

(ii) His neck resembled with that of a bull. He used to burry the dead bodies. His remains were found in the valley of Neander in Germany.

5. The Cro-Magnon Man :

(i) This type of man belonged to the species of Homo- Sapines . His body resembled much like that of the Modern Man.

(ii) He belonged to the Neolithic period. The remains of this man are found in France.

Question 42

Wired Faculty App

Discuss the extent to which (a) hunting and (b) constructing shelters would have been facilitated by the use of language.
What other modes of communication could have been used for these activities ?

Solution

Among living beings, it is humans alone that have a language. Humans may have possessed a small number of speech sounds in the initial stage.

Hunting activities of human:
(i) They could also discuss about the nature and behaviour of animals.
(ii) They can also discuss nature of tools used in hunting.
(iii) They can exchange ideas where the specific animals were found
(iv) People now could organise and manage hunting expeditions.

Construction of shelters by human beings:
(i) People now could discuss secure places for construction of their shelter.
(ii) They could now get information about the resources available around their surroundings.
(iii) People become edible to get knowledge about the materials used for places for construction of their shelter.
(iv) Their could also discuss the means to protect their shelter from severe condition.
Signs, symbols , oral, voice shouting, cave painting, engraving on the walls and ceiling on the caves are the other useful modes of communication used for these activities.

Question 43

Wired Faculty App

Mention the salience of the Palaeolithic Age.

Solution

The salience of the Palaeolithic Age are mentioned below :

1. Weapons : Man-made crude stone tools like hand-axes, cleavers, choppers, hatchets, knives, harpoons and flake implements. Later on he began using ivory and bones for making tools. There were tools to make tools. The bow and the spear thrower too were invented. Some tools were very thin and sharp.

2. Hunting : The Palaeolithic Man had not learnt the art of growing food. Hunting alone was his sole resort. He lived on wild plants, fruits and animals flesh. He used to gather roots and berries to fill his belly. He lacked knowledge of taming animals.

3. Dwellings : He used trees and hide tents or caves for his dwelling.

4. Discovery of Fire : The discovery of fire was man's greatest achievement. The Palaeolithic Man perhaps found fire in the woods where it was caused by a lighting flash. Later on he learnt the art of making fire by rubbing stones.

5. Social Life : The earliest men began to live in groups and formed communities to avoid the danger of wild animals. He started wrapping leaves or animal's skins round his body.

6. Development of Art : The occupants made beautiful figures of animals and hunting scenes in their caves and the artists used lasting colours. They drew paintings. The people used bone and stone articles to beautify their body.

7. Religious Beliefs : The earliest men were worshippers of nature and fearful creatures. They buried their deads along with their tools so that he might use them in the next world too.

Tips: -

(V.Imp.)

Question 44

Wired Faculty App

Describe the characteristics features of man in Neolithic age.

Solution

The main features of the life of man in Neolithic Age are as below :

1. Discovery of the Better Tools : In this period, the man had invented more beautiful, smooth and polished tools. These tools were more useful as compared to the earlier ones.

2. Beginning of the Cultivation : In this period man had become food producer instead of food gatherer. That man developed his farming during this period. The work made him to lead

a settled life ultimately.

3. Domestication of Animals : Man started domestication of those animals that were useful to him. He started the use of animals of farming and for riding. He also started getting milk and often meat from them.

4. Beginning of the Settled Life : Agriculture brought a change in the way of living of the Neolithic Age man. Man stopped living in the caves and he made the huts of mud and straw near his fields. In this way a new way of life developed and in a way the village life was evolved.

5. Invention of the Wheel : It was a great achievement of this age. The invention made the carriage and transport easier. It also helped in the making of the spinning wheel.

6. The Invention of Spinning and Weaving Machines : In the Neolithic period man began to cultivate cotton and jute. He also started producing wool from the animals. He invented a spindle for spinning and also a sort of weaving machines. In this way, the Neolithic Man began to weave cloth to cover his body and protect himself from the bad weather.

7. The Invention of Cooked Food : The Neolithic man began to eat cooked foot and roasted food instead of eating raw meat or raw food.

8. Development of the Art of Pottery : The Neolithic Man developed the art of making pots with mud. He began to make beautiful designs on his pots and tools. This was the age of development of art.

9. Development of the Religious Beliefs : When man began to cultivate in the Neolithic Age, he began to worship earth as Goddess. He also started believing in the mysterious forces of nature and certain magical powers. The Neolithic man began to bury the dead bodies. The dead were given a ceremonial burial. These all show the develop beliefs in the man of Neolithic Age.

Question 45

Wired Faculty App

Choose any two developments each from Timelines 1 and 2 at the end of the chapter and indicate why you think these are significant.

Solution

The developments and significance:
1. Timeline : For several million years, humans lived by hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants. Then, between 10,000 and 4,500 years ago, people in different parts of the world learnt to domesticate certain plants and animals. This led to the development of farming and pastoralism as a way of life. The shift from foraging to farming was a major turning point in human history.

2. The last ice age came to an end about 13,000 years ago and with that warmer, wetter conditions prevailed. As a result, conditions were favourable for the growth of grasses such as wild barley and wheat. At the same time, as open forests and grasslands expanded, the population of certain animal species such as wild sheep, goat, cattle, pig and donkey increased.

What we find is that human societies began to gradually prefer areas that had an abundance of wild grasses and animals. Now relatively large, permanent communities occupied such areas for most parts of the year.

With some areas being clearly preferred, a pressure may have built up to increase the food supply. This may have triggered the process of domestication of certain plants and animals. It is likely that a combination of factors which included climatic change, population pressure, a greater reliance on and knowledge of a few species of plants (such as wheat, barley, rice and millet) and animals (such as sheep, goat, cattle, donkey and pig) played a role in this transformation.

3. One such area where farming and pastoralism began around 10,000 years ago was the Fertile Crescent, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Zagros mountains in Iran.

With the introduction of agriculture, more people began to stay in one place for even longer periods than they had done before.

Thus permanent houses began to be built of mud, mud bricks and even stone. These are some of the earliest villages known to archaeologists.

4. Farming and pastoralism led to the introduction of many other changes such as the making of pots in which to store graingand other produce, and to cook food.

Besides, new kinds of stone tools came into use. Other new tools such as the plough were used in agriculture. Gradually, people became familiar with metals such as copper and tin. The wheel, important for both pot making and transportation, came into use.

5. About 5,000 years ago, even larger concentrations of people began to live together in cities.

Question 46

Wired Faculty App

Explain the ways of obtaining food during
early period.

Solution

Early humans would have obtained food through a number of ways, such as gathering, hunting, scavenging and fishing. Gathering would involve collecting plant foods such as seeds, nuts, berries, fruits and tubers.

(i) That gathering was practised is generally assumed rather than conclusively established, as there is very little direct evidence for it. While we get a fair amount of fossil bones, fossilised plant remains are relatively rare.

The only other way of getting information about plant intake would be if plant remains were accidentally burnt. This process results in carbonisation. In this form, organic matter is preserved for a long span of time. However, so far archaeologists have not found much evidence of carbonised seeds for this very early period.

(ii) In recent years, the term hunting has been under discussion by scholars. Increasingly, it is being suggested that the early hominids scavenged or foraged* for meat and marrow from the carcasses of animals that had died naturally or had been killed by other predators.

It is equally possible that small mammals such as rodents, birds (and their eggs), reptiles and even insects (such as termites) were eaten by early hominids.

(iii) Hunting probable began later - about 500,000 years ago. The earliest clear evidence for the deliberate, planned hunting and butchery of large mammals comes from two sites : Boxgrove in southern England (500,000 years ago) and Schoningen in Germany (400,000 years ago)

(iv) Fishing was also important, as is evident from the discovery of fish bones at several places.

Tips: -

(M.Imp)

Question 47

Wired Faculty App

'With the onset of a phase of glaciation (ice age), there were major changes in climate and vegetation'. Describe.

Solution

Around 2.5 mya, with the onset of a phase of glaciation (or an Ice Age), when large parts of the earth were covered with snow, there were major changes in climate and vegetation.

Due to the reduction temperatures as well as rainfall, grassland areas expanded at the expense of forests, leading to the gradual extinction of the early forms of Australopithecus (that were adapted to forests) and the replacement by species that were better adapted to the drier conditions. Among these were the earliest representatives of the genus Homo.

Tips: -

(M.Imp.)

Question 48

Wired Faculty App

Discuss how man started a settled life.

Solution

As man's knowledge of his environment increased, there was a desire for a more comfortable way of living. A number of discoveries led to a change in the pattern of life.

The most important of these was the discovery that man could grow plants and grain. He found that by putting seeds in the soil and watering the soil, plants would grow. This was beginning of agriculture.

1. This was an important discovery because it meant that man did not have to wander from place to place in search of food. He could grow his own food. He stopped being a nomad and began to settle down in one place as an agriculturist.

2. The New Stone Age (Neolithic) or the 'food-producing' stage was the time when man completely changed his way of life. Before this, man lived by hunting animals and collecting wild plants. In the new way of life, he began to domesticate animals and cultivate plants.

3. The dog, goat and sheep were probably the first of the animals to be domesticated. Among plants, wheat and barley were the earliest cereals grown. In order to do this, man had to settle down in certain selected areas.

4. This led to the growth of villages and farming communities. He needed certain tools with which he could clear the land, and others with which he could prepare the land for cultivation.

Question 49

Wired Faculty App

Describe how farming and pastoralism turned into a way of life.

Solution

For several million years, humans lived by hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants. Then, between 10,000 and 4,500 years ago, people in different parts of the world learnt to domesticate certain plants and animals.

1. This led to the development of farming and pastoralism as a way of life. The shift from foraging to farming was a major turning point in human history. Why did this change take place at this point of time ?

With some areas being clearly preferred, a pressure may have built up to increase the food supply. This may have triggered the process of domestication of certain plants and animals.

It is likely that a combination of factors which included climatic change, population pressure, a greater reliance on and knowledge of a few species of plaints (such as wheat, barley, rice and millet) and animals (such as sheep, goat, cattle, donkey and pig) played a role in this transformation.

3. One such area where farming and pastoralism began around 10,000 years ago was the Fertile Crescent, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Zagros mountains in Iran.

With the introduction of agriculture, more people began to stay in one place for even longer periods than they had done before. Thus permanent houses began to be built of mud, mud bricks and even stone. These are some of the earliest villages known to archaeologists.

4. Farming and pastoralism led to the introduction of many other changes such as the making of pots in which to store grain and other produce, and to cook food. Besides, new kinds of stone tools came into use. Other new tools such as the plough were used in agriculture. Gradually, people became familiar with metals such as copper and tin. The wheel, important for both pot making and transportation, came into use.

Tips: -

(Imp.)

Question 50

Wired Faculty App

Explain the term Fraternity.

Solution

The dictionary meaning of the term fraternity is 'brotherhood'. Without fraternity,liberty and equality are meaningless. It was the main slogan of the French Revolution (14 July,1789 AD).
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution lays special stress upon the promotion of fellow-feelings among the people ofIndia. Unless the people become a community of interests, the cohesion into one nation is notpossible.
Fraternity is related with social justice. Fraternity means equality of all the citizens and their integrity. This word was used for the first time in the declaration of the French rights and then it was used by United States of America in the declaration of Human Rights. Developmentof the feeling of fraternity has chief importance in the India's History.
The fraternity which is imagined in the Preamble of the Constitution, is achieved by enforcing ban on position obtainedby the practice of untouchability in the para 17and 18 and removing many evil practices from the Indian society.
The State should appear to be fair to all in the society. Everybody in society should be treated justly. The basic, rights to food, housing andclothing are to be provided for all without discrimination. The people are equally entitled to participate in the political activities.
Every citizen of the State is to be regardedas the part of the decision making process. Indian Constitution in its preamble accepts justice as a goal in social, economic and political aspects of our life.

Themes In World History Chapter 1 From The Beginning Of Time

NCERT Solution For Class 11 History Themes In World History

What are Primates ?

Define the term Hominoids?

What is meant by Artefacts?

What is meant by Ethnography ?

Define Anthropology.

What is foraging?

What do you mean by Zinjanthropus ?

Describe Mesolithic period.

What do you know about Peking Man ?

What are the features of Java Man?

Discuss the characteristics of Heidelberg Man.

What do you know about the Neanderthal Man ?

What do you know about Cro-Magnon Man ?

When did man appear on the earth ?

Describe the importance of the discovery of fire to the primitive man .

Discuss the advantages to man of his erect position.

What are the views on language development ?

Mention any three characteristic features of the Palaeolithic period.

Discuss the Art in Palaeolithic Age.

What are fossils ?

Define Species.

Explain the causes of change in the life of early man and its implications on modern life.

Describe the consequences of eliminating the use of fire and the wheel from modern man's life.

Do you think that it would be possible for man to live anywhere today exactly as the Stone Age man lived? Why or why not ?

State the two main periods of Stone age and summarize the inventions and discoveries of each period.

Who are archaeologists? Discuss the attempt they have made.

Describe the role of an anthropologist. How it helps the Historian?

How does the work of a Zoologist help a Historian?

Look at the diagram showing the positive feedback mechanism on page 13. Can you list the inputs that went tool making? What were the processes that were strengthened by tool making ?

Discuss the progress made by the stone age man in respect of shelter, clothing, tools and weapons.

Examine the principal characteristics that distinguish man from other animals. Mention the names of five different species of prehistoric men.

Discuss the lesson learned about the changes in our lives today by studying the causes of the change in life of early man.

State the chief characteristic features of the Palaeolithic Period.

Mention the main characteristics of the Mesolithic Period.

Discuss the arguments advanced in favour of the regional continuity model of human origins. Do you think it provides a convincing explanation of the archaeological evidence? Give reasons for your answer.

Describe the significant changes brought about with the introduction of agriculture.

What do you know regarding the division of labour in food procurement ?

Discuss the views on the development of language.

Which of the following do you think is best documented in the archaeological record : (a) gathering, (b) tool making, (c) the use of fire ?

Mention any two characteristics of each of the following species of Man:1. The Java Man2. The Peking Man3. The Heidelberg Man4. The Neanderthal Man5. The Cro-Magnon Man.

Discuss the extent to which (a) hunting and (b) constructing shelters would have been facilitated by the use of language. What other modes of communication could have been used for these activities ?

Mention the salience of the Palaeolithic Age.

Describe the characteristics features of man in Neolithic age.

Choose any two developments each from Timelines 1 and 2 at the end of the chapter and indicate why you think these are significant.

Explain the ways of obtaining food during early period.

'With the onset of a phase of glaciation (ice age), there were major changes in climate and vegetation'. Describe.

Discuss how man started a settled life.

Describe how farming and pastoralism turned into a way of life.

Explain the term Fraternity.

Mock Test Series

NCERT Book Store

NCERT Sample Papers

Entrance Exams Preparation

Discuss the arguments advanced in favour of the regional continuity model of human origins.
Do you think it provides a convincing explanation of the archaeological evidence? Give reasons for your answer.

Mention any two characteristics of each of the following species of Man:
1. The Java Man
2. The Peking Man
3. The Heidelberg Man
4. The Neanderthal Man
5. The Cro-Magnon Man.

Discuss the extent to which (a) hunting and (b) constructing shelters would have been facilitated by the use of language.
What other modes of communication could have been used for these activities ?

Explain the ways of obtaining food during
early period.