Grade 6, Social Studies
1. About 300,000 years ago, humans evolved as Homo Sapiens/ Thinking man
2. During Prehistoric period, humans lived in caves and were hunters and Gatherers.
3. Early humans wore animal skin and used stones tools for hunting. This period is called as Stone age.
4. Based on the types of tools used, Stone age are divided into three periods. Paleolithic age, Mesolithic age, Neolithic age.
5. Palaeolithic period is longest, and it dates 5,00,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
6. Humans were Nomads ( move from place to place in search of food, shelter.
7. Early humans collected fruits, roots, honey, hunted animals for food.
8. The most spectacular discovery of palaeolithic age is Fire.
9. They might have noticed a spark when two stones are rubbed and it lighted the dry grass.
10. Importance of Fire:
a) Fire was used to scare the wild animals.
b) Fire is the source of light in darkness.
c) Fire kept the early humans warm during winters.
d) Fire helps them to discover the art of cooking.
e) Without Fire, early humans would not have survived the Ice age.
11. Archaeologist discovered and divided prehistoric tools into three categories. They are Core tools, Flake tools, Blade tools.
12. Core tools are large and most primitive. They used it for pounding/ smashing. Ex: Hammer, Hand axe
13. Flake tools are created by striking flakes from stone core. They are used for Cutting, Scraping, Carving
14. Blade tools were created by striking a long narrow flake from stone core. These are mounted on top of bamboo sticks and used as spears.
15. Cave paintings/ Etchings/ Drawings done on walls/ceilings by sharp tools.
16. Historians thought that early human drawings were some kind of ritual/ a form of communication.
17. The paintings showed hunting scenes, animals, human figures.
18. Colours used was natural such as yellow ochre, Hematite, Manganese oxide, Charcoal
19. In India, 150 cave paintings have been discovered.
20. The most famous painting site is Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. It is an excellent source of information about the prehistoric life.
21. Palaeolithic sites are found mostly in places where good quality stones are found. They stayed here for long time, and these sites are referred as Habitation Site.
22. Most of the Palaeolithic age are found near riverbanks.
23. Early humans settled near the river so that they can easily access the water and food. Fishing became an important activity.
24. Banks of Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and in Tamil Nadu near the banks of palar, penniyar, Kaveri, yielded a large information about the palaeolithic age.
25. Mesolithic age was from 10,000 BCE to 8000 BCE
26. Domestication became an important feature during this period.
27. Wild dog was the first animal to be domesticated followed by sheep, goat, cattle.
28. People used Microliths tools which are sharp and more effective.
29. During Mesolithic age, there was emergence of grassland, herbivores animals. Early humans started rearing these animals. They observed natural growth of grasses wheat and barley
30. Neolithic age is also known as New stone age. It took place around 100,000 years ago.
31. Neolithic age is last stage of cultural evolution of early humans.
32. During Neolithic age, early humans started cultivation, domesticated animals, learn to grow crops, pottery, weaving developed.