Pre-Historic India Flashcards
(132 cards)
1
Q
What is the origin of the English word ‘history’?
A
The English word ‘history’ comes from the Greek word ‘historia,’ meaning ‘inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation.’
2
Q
What does history correspond to?
A
History corresponds to the study of the past and throws light on various past events of significance that shaped and evolved human experiences.
3
Q
Into what is history further divided?
A
History is further divided into pre-history, proto-history, and history.
4
Q
What is considered the domain of pre-history?
A
Events that occurred before the invention of writing.
5
Q
What is pre-history generally represented by?
A
The three stone ages.
6
Q
What does proto-history refer to?
A
A period between pre-history and history during which a culture or civilisation had not yet developed writing but was mentioned in the written records of a contemporary literate civilisation.
7
Q
Give an example of a civilisation that is part of proto-history due to an undeciphered script.
A
The Harappan civilisation, whose existence is noted in Mesopotamian writings.
8
Q
Why is the Vedic civilisation considered a part of proto-history?
A
The Vedic civilisation, from c. 1500-600 BCE, had an oral literary tradition but did not develop literary writing.
9
Q
What do archaeologists consider Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures to be a part of?
A
Proto-history.
10
Q
What constitutes history?
A
The study of the past after the invention of writing and the study of literate societies based on written and archaeological sources.
11
Q
What light does religious literature throw on ancient Indian history?
A
Religious literature provides invaluable insights into the social and economic conditions of the ancient Indian period.
12
Q
Name the four Vedas and their primary content.
A
The four Vedas are the Rig Veda (mainly consisting of prayers), Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda (containing prayers, rituals, magic, and mythological stories).
13
Q
What are the Upanishads and what do they discuss?
A
The Upanishads, also referred to as Vedanta, contain philosophical discussions on ‘Atma’ and ‘Pramatma’.
14
Q
What do the Sutras include?
A
The Sutras, such as Shrautasutras and Grihyasutras, include ritual literature on moral values.
15
Q
Name the two great epics of ancient India.
A
The Ramayana and Mahabharata.
16
Q
What are the Buddhist religious texts called and what do they consist of?
A
Buddhist religious texts are written in Pali and are commonly known as Tripitakas (three baskets): Suttapittaka, Vinayapitaka, and Abhidhammapitaka.
17
Q
What are the Jaina religious texts called and what do they discuss?
A
Jaina religious texts are written in Prakrit and are commonly called Angas; they contain philosophical concepts of the Jainas.
18
Q
What do the Dharmashastras or law books prescribe?
A
The Dharmashastras prescribe the duties for different social groups, such as those mentioned in Manu Smriti.
19
Q
What information does Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’ provide?
A
Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’ provides great information about the Mauryan period’s polity and economy.
20
Q
What is ‘Ashtadhyayi’ and who wrote it?
A
‘Ashtadhyayi’ is an important work on grammar written by Panini.
21
Q
What do the compositions of Kalidasa provide information about?
A
The compositions of Kalidasa, such as ‘Abhijananashakuntalam’, ‘Ritusamhara’, and ‘Meghadutam’, provide valuable information about the social and cultural life of the Guptas.
22
Q
What is ‘Rajatarangini’, and what does it tell about?
A
‘Rajatarangini’, written by Kalhana, tells about the social life of 12th-century CE Kashmir.
23
Q
What are Charitas, and can you give an example?
A
Charitas are biographies written by court poets in praise of their patron rulers. An example is ‘Harshacharita’, written by Banabhatta in praise of King Harshavardhana.
24
Q
What does Sangam literature provide insight into?
A
Sangam literature, the earliest South Indian literature produced by poets in assemblies (Sangam), provides valuable insight into the period from 300 BCE to 300 CE.
25
Name two Tamil literary gems from Sangam literature and their significance.
The two Tamil literary gems are 'Silappadikaram' and 'Manimekali', which shed light on South Indian society, economy, and polity of those times.
26
What are inscriptions or Prashastis?
Inscriptions or Prashastis are writings engraved on hard surfaces, such as stone or metal like copper, which usually record some achievements or ideas.
27
What do inscriptions help us understand?
Inscriptions help us understand different religious and administrative policies of ancient times.
28
Give an example of inscriptions related to state policy.
Inscriptions detailing state policy issued by Ashoka.
29
What type of inscriptions were issued by the Satavahans, kings of the Deccan?
Inscriptions recording land grants.
30
What kind of information do coins provide?
Coins provide useful information not only on the economic history of different dynasties but also on parameters such as the script, art, religion, metallurgy, and science and technology of the time.
31
What were the earliest coins found in India called, and what were they made of?
The earliest coins found in India were punch-marked coins, made of silver and copper, and contained only certain symbols.
32
What innovation did the Indo-Greeks introduce in coinage?
The Indo-Greeks introduced gold coins and issued coins bearing the names and images of rulers.
33
What does archaeology help us understand?
Archaeology helps us form an idea of the material life of ancient people based on excavated remains.
34
What do excavated sites from the Harappan period reveal?
Excavated sites from the Harappan period reveal information about the life of people living in that era.
35
What are Megaliths, and what do they tell us?
Megaliths are graves in south India that throw light on the life of the people living in the Deccan and south India before 300 BCE.
36
How do faunal (animal) and floral (plant) sources complement archaeological studies?
Faunal and floral sources complement archaeological studies by helping understand the ancient way of life.
37
How can plant residues and pollen analysis be used to understand ancient farming practices?
Examination of plant residues and pollen analysis can help infer the farming practices of Stone Age people.
38
What does mitochondrial DNA provide information about?
Mitochondrial DNA provides information on pre-historic migrations.
39
Who was Megasthenes, and what did he write?
Megasthenes was a Greek Ambassador who wrote 'Indica,' providing valuable information about the Mauryan society and administration.
40
What information do 'The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea' and Ptolemy's 'Geography' provide?
These Greek works provide valuable data regarding Indian ports and commodities of trade between India and the Roman Empire.
41
Who was Fa-hien, and what did he document?
Fa-hien was a Buddhist traveller who came to India in 500 CE and left a vivid account of the age of Guptas.
42
Who was Hsuan Tsang, and what details did he provide?
Hsuan Tsang was a Buddhist pilgrim who visited India in 700 CE and gave details about India under the reign of King Harshavardhana and the glory of Nalanda University.
43
How far back does the history of human settlements in India go?
The history and identity of human settlements in India go back to the pre-historic times.
44
What is the pre-historic period based on?
The pre-historic period is based only on materials found in archaeological excavations, as it is the period before the development of script.
45
Who is credited with conducting an early extensive study of Indian pre-history?
Robert Bruce Foote is credited with conducting an early extensive study of Indian pre-history.
46
What was the first palaeolithic tool discovered in India, and who discovered it?
The Pallavaram handaxe was the first palaeolithic tool discovered in India, and it was found by Robert Bruce Foote.
47
What did Sir Mortimer Wheeler contribute to Indian pre-history?
Sir Mortimer Wheeler greatly contributed to our knowledge of the pre-historical cultures of India and their sequence.
48
What is another name for the pre-historic phase of human development?
The pre-historic phase of human development is also referred to as the Stone Age.
49
How is the Indian Stone Age classified?
The Indian Stone Age is classified into three types based on geological age, the type and technology of stone tools, and the subsistence base:
- Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic Age (5,00,000-50,000 BCE)
- Late Stone Age or Mesolithic Age (40,000-10,000 BCE)
- New Stone Age or Neolithic Age (6,000-1,000 BCE)
50
What is the Palaeolithic Age?
The Palaeolithic Age is the earliest period of the Stone Age, which developed in the Pleistocene period or the Ice Age.
51
In which parts of India was the Palaeolithic Age not spread?
The Palaeolithic Age was not spread in the alluvial plains of the Indus and Ganga, southern Tamil Nadu, and the hilly areas of the Western Ghats.
52
To which species did the pre-historic man of the Palaeolithic Age belong?
The pre-historic man of the Palaeolithic Age belonged to the species of Homo erectus.
53
What type of language culture did the pre-historic man have during the Palaeolithic Age?
The pre-historic man did not have a complex language culture; they might have expressed a few sounds or words and used sign language.
54
Where did the Palaeolithic men of India live?
The Palaeolithic men of India lived in open air, river valleys, caves, and rock shelters.
55
Why is the term 'Palaeolithic' used for the Old Stone Age?
The term 'Palaeolithic' is derived from the Greek word 'palaeo' (old) and 'lithic' (stone), referring to the Old Stone Age.
56
What is the Pleistocene period?
The Pleistocene period is the geological period when the earth's surface was covered with ice, and the weather was so cold that human or plant life could not survive, except in tropical regions where ice melted.
57
What are the stages of human evolution mentioned in the text?
Australopithecus afarensis < Homo habilis < Homo erectus < Homo neanderthalensis < Homo sapiens.
58
What type of lifestyle did Palaeolithic people have?
They were food-gathering people who lived on hunting and gathered wild fruits and vegetables.
59
What were the Palaeolithic people unaware of?
They had no knowledge of agriculture, house building, pottery, or any metal.
60
When did Palaeolithic people attain the knowledge of fire?
They attained the knowledge of fire only in later stages of the Palaeolithic period.
61
What evidence of art appears during the Upper Palaeolithic period?
Evidence of art appears in the form of paintings during the Upper Palaeolithic period.
62
What type of tools did Palaeolithic people use?
Palaeolithic people used tools of unpolished, undressed rough stones such as hand axes, cleavers, choppers, blades, burins, and scrapers.
63
Why are Palaeolithic people in India called 'Quartzite men'?
Palaeolithic people in India are called 'Quartzite men' because their stone tools were made from a hard rock called quartzite.
64
What tools were used during the Early or Lower Palaeolithic period, and for what purposes?
Hand axes, choppers, and cleavers were used mainly for chopping, digging, and skinning. These stone tools were rough and heavy.
65
Where have Early or Lower Palaeolithic tools been found?
These tools have been found in the Soan and Sohan river valleys (now in Pakistan), Kashmir, Thar Desert (Didwana, Rajasthan), Hiran Valley (Gujarat), rock shelters of Bhimbetka (M.P.), and Belan Valley (Mirzapur, U.P.).
66
What tools were used during the Middle Palaeolithic period?
Tools made of flakes, such as scrapers, borers, points, and blade-like tools, were used. These tools became smaller, and the use of hand axes decreased in relation to other tools.
67
Where have Middle Palaeolithic tools been found?
Middle Palaeolithic tools have been found in the Soan, Narmada, and Tungabhadra river valleys, Potwar Plateau (between Indus and Jhelum), and Sanghao Cave (near Peshawar, Pakistan).
68
What marks the Late or Upper Palaeolithic period?
The Late or Upper Palaeolithic period is marked by innovations in tools and technology, such as parallel-sided blades, burins, and some instances of bone tools.
69
Where have Late or Upper Palaeolithic tools been found?
These tools have been found in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Central M.P., Southern U.P., and the Chhotanagpur Plateau.
70
Where have bone tools been found, and what other items were discovered in those sites?
Bone tools have been found only at cave sites in Kurnool and Muchchatla Chintamani Gavi in Andhra Pradesh. Incised ostrich eggshells, and shell and stone beads have been found in Andhra Pradesh and Patna, Maharashtra.
71
What does the Mesolithic Age represent in Stone Age culture?
The Mesolithic Age represents the intermediate stage in Stone Age culture.
72
Which era do Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures belong to?
Both Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures belong to the Holocene era, which succeeded the Pleistocene era around 10,000 years ago.
73
What was a key aspect of the Mesolithic Age regarding tools?
A key aspect of the Mesolithic Age was the reduction in size of well-established tool types.
74
What were the characteristic tools of the Mesolithic Age, and what were they made of?
The characteristic tools of the Mesolithic Age were microliths, miniature stone tools made of crypto-crystalline silica, chalcedony, or chert, in both geometrical and non-geometrical shapes.
75
How were microliths used during the Mesolithic Age?
Microliths were used as tools themselves and to make composite tools such as spearheads, arrowheads, and sickles by hafting them on wooden or bone handles.
76
What did microliths enable the Mesolithic man to do?
Microliths enabled the Mesolithic man to hunt smaller animals and birds.
77
Where did Mesolithic people live?
Mesolithic people lived in semi-permanent and temporary settlements, along with occupying caves and open grounds.
78
How did Mesolithic people survive?
They survived on hunting, fishing, food gathering, and in later stages, domesticated animals and cultivated plants, paving the way for the Neolithic way of life.
79
What does the burial of the dead during the Mesolithic Age suggest?
The burial of the dead, sometimes with grave goods, suggests their beliefs in life after death.
80
What artistic skill did Mesolithic people possess?
Mesolithic people initiated rock art in pre-history and created numerous rock paintings.
81
Where were the first rock paintings discovered in India, and when?
The first rock paintings in India were discovered at Sohagighat (Kaimur Hills, UP) in 1867.
82
Name some Mesolithic rock art sites with rich concentrations in Central India.
Bhimbetka caves, Kharwar, Jaora, and Kathotia in M.P.; Sundargarh and Sambalpur in Orissa; Ezhuthu Guha in Kerala.
83
What scenes dominate Mesolithic rock art, and what is absent?
Animals dominate the scenes at Mesolithic rock art sites, while snakes are absent in the paintings.
84
What ideas do certain Mesolithic rock paintings reflect?
Certain Mesolithic rock paintings reflect the development of religious practice and the division of labour on the basis of gender.
85
What does the term 'Mesolithic' mean, and what is its origin?
The term 'Mesolithic' is a combination of two Greek words—'meso' meaning middle and 'lithic' meaning stone. It refers to the Middle Stone Age.
86
Which stage of pre-history is also known as the Middle Stone Age?
The Mesolithic stage of pre-history is also known as the Middle Stone Age.
87
What climatic changes occurred during the Holocene era?
During the Holocene era, there was a rise in temperature, resulting in a warm climate that caused the melting of ice and brought changes in flora and fauna.
88
How did global warming affect human groups during the Mesolithic Age?
With the advent of global warming, human groups became highly mobile and began to occupy various eco zones.
89
What are the various themes depicted in the paintings of Bhimbetka?
The themes include hunting, fishing, dancing, family and burial scenes, honey and plant food collection.
90
Which theme is most prominent in the paintings of Bhimbetka?
The hunting scenes are most prominent, depicting both men and women participating and various animals like bison, buffalo, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, deer, and Nilgai.
91
Are birds depicted in the Bhimbetka paintings?
Yes, birds are depicted, but perching birds that feed on grains in the field are seen only in later times.
92
What weapons are depicted in the Bhimbetka paintings?
The weapons depicted include bows and arrows, pointed sticks, and barbed spears.
93
How were the paintings at Bhimbetka created?
The paintings were made in a stick-line fashion, using primarily red and white colors that were mineral in nature or extracted from plants.
94
What is the significance of the site at Bagor (Rajasthan) on the River Kothari?
It is one of the largest and best-documented Mesolithic sites in India.
95
What does the site at Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh provide evidence for?
It provides the earliest evidence for the domestication of animals.
96
What notable artefacts were found at Mahadaha (U.P.)?
Bone artefacts, including arrowheads and bone ornaments, were found at Mahadaha. Additionally, a burial of a man and woman buried together was discovered.
97
What is significant about Langhnaj in Gujarat and the Kaimur region of Mirzapur (U.P.)?
Though pottery is absent at most Mesolithic sites, it is present at both Langhnaj and the Kaimur region of Mirzapur.
98
Name some prominent Mesolithic sites in Central and Southern India.
Prominent Mesolithic sites include Chotanagpur Region (Central India), areas south of River Krishna (Tinnevelly in Tamil Nadu), Birbhanpur (West Bengal), Langhnaj (near Gujarat), and Sarai Nahar Rai (near Allahabad Pratapgarh area).
99
When did the Neolithic Age emerge in northern and southern/eastern India?
The Neolithic Age emerged around c.8000-6000 BCE in northern India, but in some places in southern and eastern India, it was as late as 1000 BCE.
100
Why is the Neolithic phase termed as the "Neolithic Revolution"?
V. Gordon Childe termed it the "Neolithic Revolution" because it introduced important socio-economic changes that greatly affected human life.
101
What agricultural practices began during the Neolithic Age?
Neolithic man cultivated land and grew fruits and corn like ragi and horse gram (kulathi) while domesticating cattle, sheep, and goats, leading to the emergence of settled agricultural communities.
102
What innovations in technology were made by Neolithic people?
Neolithic people innovated in stone tool production, creating polished, pecked, and ground tools, and used celts for ground and polished handaxes.
103
What pottery advancements occurred during the Neolithic era?
Communities first made pottery by hand and later used the potter's wheel. Pottery included black burnished ware, grey ware, and mat-impressed ware.
104
How did village communities change during the later phases of the Neolithic era?
People lived in circular and rectangular houses made of mud and reed, knew how to make boats, and could spin cotton, wool, and weave cloth, creating self-sufficient village communities.
105
What was the division of labour based on during the Neolithic Age?
The division of labour was based on sex and age, with additional labour procured from non-kin groups.
106
What marked the Chalcolithic Age, also known as the Copper-Stone Age?
The Chalcolithic Age marked the emergence of the use of metal, primarily copper, along with stone tools, with occasional use of bronze.
107
To which settlements does the Chalcolithic stage largely apply?
The Chalcolithic stage largely applies to the settlements of pre-Harappans, though it appears after the end of the bronze Harappan culture in various parts of the country.
108
How are Chalcolithic cultures in relation to Harappan cultures?
Some Chalcolithic cultures are contemporary to Harappan cultures, some to pre-Harappan cultures, but most Chalcolithic cultures are post-Harappan.
109
Where was the Chalcolithic Age mostly concentrated in India, and why?
The Chalcolithic Age was mostly concentrated in western India, covering parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, and Maharashtra, because copper was primarily found there.
110
How did Chalcolithic people sustain themselves?
Chalcolithic people subsisted on agriculture, cattle rearing, hunting, and fishing. They produced staples like wheat and rice, barley, bajra, and several pulses, including lentil, black gram, green gram, and grass pea. In eastern regions, they relied on fish and rice.
111
What type of cultivation did Chalcolithic people practice, and what tools have been found?
They practiced slash-and-burn (jhum) cultivation. Neither the plough nor the hoe has been found at any Chalcolithic site.
112
Which type of soil did major parts of Chalcolithic culture flourish in, and what crop was it useful for?
Chalcolithic culture flourished in the zone of black soil, which was mainly useful for growing cotton.
113
What animals did Chalcolithic people domesticate, and what unusual dietary practice did they follow?
They domesticated cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and buffaloes, hunted deer, and ate beef. Interestingly, domesticated animals were slaughtered for food and not milked for dairy products—a practice still seen among the Gond people of Bastar.
114
What advancements were made in pottery during the Chalcolithic period?
Pottery was well-advanced and became the most valuable source of information as no written records exist. Popular types included black and red pottery and ochre-colored pottery (OCP), which were made using the potter's wheel and painted with white line designs.
115
Who used the potter’s wheel during the Chalcolithic Age?
Only male potters used the potter's wheel; female potters did not.
116
How were Chalcolithic settlements characterized?
They were characterized by rural, village-based economies. People lived in thatched houses made of mud bricks and were not acquainted with burnt brick.
117
What indicates the beginnings of social inequalities in Chalcolithic societies?
Chiefs lived in rectangular houses, dominating others who lived in round huts. Additionally, graves showed social stratification: some contained gold, silver ornaments, and semi-precious stones, while others had cheap pottery and earthen beads.
118
How were Chalcolithic villages structured?
Chalcolithic villages were small, with huts close to each other. People lived in rectangular and circular houses with mud walls and thatched roofs. Most houses were single-roomed, but some had two or three rooms.
119
What do public buildings in Chalcolithic settlements indicate?
The existence of public buildings like forts and dams suggests some type of public authority, though the nature and character of the authority remain unclear.
120
What religious symbols and practices are associated with Chalcolithic culture?
Chalcolithic people venerated the Mother Goddess, as evidenced by small clay images of earth goddesses. The bull was likely a symbol of their religious cult, based on stylized bull terracottas found in Malwa and Rajasthan.
121
What do the discoveries of male figurines indicate about Chalcolithic religious practices?
The rarity of male figurines suggests that male deities held an inferior status compared to female deities.
122
What belief is suggested by the discovery of items in Chalcolithic graves?
The discovery of items of common use in graves suggests that Chalcolithic people believed in the idea of life after death.
123
What type of ornaments did Chalcolithic people prefer, and what materials were used?
Chalcolithic people, especially women, wore ornaments made of shell and bone, carried finely worked combs in their hair, and manufactured beads of semi-precious stones such as carnelian, steatite, and quartz crystal.
124
How did Chalcolithic people practice trade and commerce?
They practiced trade and commerce through the barter system.
125
What craftsmanship were Chalcolithic-era people skilled in?
Chalcolithic-era people were expert coppersmiths, skilled in copper smelting and stone working. They also knew spinning and weaving, though they did not know the use of writing.
126
What evidence points to high infant mortality among Chalcolithic people?
The burial of a large number of children in western Maharashtra indicates high infant mortality among Chalcolithic people.
127
Where have Chalcolithic settlements been found in India?
Chalcolithic settlements have been found in south-eastern Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, western Maharashtra, and other parts of southern and eastern India.
128
What regional differences existed in Chalcolithic settlements?
Regional differences were seen in cereals produced and consumed, as well as in pottery. Eastern India produced rice, whereas western India cultivated barley and wheat.
129
How were the dead buried in Maharashtra during the Chalcolithic Age?
In Maharashtra, the dead were buried in the north-south direction.
130
How were the dead buried in southern India during the Chalcolithic Age?
In southern India, the dead were buried in the east-west direction.
131
What burial practice was followed in eastern India during the Chalcolithic Age?
Eastern India practiced fractional burial.
132
Which questions have been omitted?
71-77, 106, 107
