Introduction to Ancient History and Pre – Historic Period

Prehistory is the period which has records of human activities, civilization, using of stone tools. This period doesn’t witness any writings from the civilians, therefore, this period is the prehistoric period in Ancient history. To know more about the Prehistoric period explore the article further.!

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Ancient History

Ancient history is the summation of events from the period where there was no human activity records and writings along with the period when there are records of the human activities. This period has witnessed the greatest wars of Bharat Varsha that is India as the whole country and also some efficient human civilization like Harappan civilization. This era was witness by people from 60,000 BC to 650 AD.

The archaeologists also disclose the methods and techniques used for power conservation and agricultural methods. They also have explored the tools used by the people made up of stone, bronze and iron materials. The fall of an ancient era was evident after certain events and they are as follows

• Roman Empire
• Han Dynasty
• Gupta Empire
• Carolingian Revival
• The Dark Ages

Browse more Topics under Ancient Indian History

• The Gupta Period, North, Deccan and South India
• The Harappan Culture and Different Civilization
• Vedic culture and Religious Movements
• The Mauryan and Post Post – Mauryan Period (200 BC-AD 300)

Prehistoric Period

The prehistoric era is the witness of the time when there was no record of human activity or writings. prehistory also refers to the hunter-gather lifestyle of people in that era/ period. Pre-history is the fact of origin of human activities and civilization thousands of years ago. In general, prehistory is divided into 3 ages and hence the name was given ” A 3 Age System”.

The 3 ages are Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. These 3 ages give pieces of evidence of human activity in ancient times. These ages are evolutionary ages in humankind.

Stone Age

Stone Age is the very first age notice the change in human civilization. Use of stone and tools made up of stones were used. The stone age further divides into 3 more sub-parts and they are as follows:

• Palaeolithic  Age: In Palaeolithic age or old stone age. Humans were unaware of methods of cooking, agriculture. the main occupation of those times was food gathering and hunting. Everything man used was made up of stone in this time like his shelter, hunting tools.This period lasted from 5,00,000 BC to 10,000 BC.

• Mesolithic Age: In Mesolithic age or middle stone age. Humans started using bo and arrows for hunting of animals. Hunting of small animals like fish begin using sharp tools which are also known as microliths-pointed. This period lasted from 10,000 BC to 6,000 BC.

• Neolithic Age: In Neolithic age or the last phase of the stone age. A remarkable change in the human civilization is marked in this age. Cultivation of plants and domestic animals led to human civilization. Improvement in tools and other equipment. Mud bricks houses were made during this period. This period lasted from 6,000 BC to 1,000 BC

Metal Age

The metal age marks the end of the stone age. Metal age is broadly categorized into two ages and they are as follows

• Bronze Age: Bronze itself is harder and more durable than other metals available at the time, allowing bronze age civilizations to gain a technological advantage. This age was the first witness in Egypt. Most commonly metals in this period were copper and bronze.

• Iron Age: In the 19th century, the use of iron increased and hence rise of Iron Age. This age is the last age of the ” 3 Age System”. This age brought an end to the bronze age. Weapons were also made of iron in this era.

Question For You

Q1. Early people painted on the _____  of caves.

Ans: Early people painted on the walls of caves.

Q2. What tools would you use today for cutting fruit? What would they be made of?

Answer: We use a knife for cutting fruit. Knives are made of steel

Q3. List three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire. Would you use fire for any of these purposes today?

Answer: Three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire are as follows:

• Cooking
• Forwarding off wild animals
• Clearing forest