The prehistoric age is the period where there is no written documentation of human civilization. Since there is no writing from the people this period is referred to as the prehistoric period in Ancient history. This time period dates back from 2.5 million years ago to 1,200 B.C.
During that time stone tools were used by the people for hunting. Since there were no written notes it was very difficult to interpret the lifestyle and behaviour of the people who lived back then. The evidence of this period is found out using archaeology and excavation. In this article, we will tell you everything about the prehistoric age.
Ancient History is categorised into three ages: Stone Age, Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Let’s talk about all three ages.
Stone Age
The Stone Age refers to the time period when stone was used to make tools. This age is further divided into three periods:
- Paleolithic age (old stone age): Period – 500,000 – 10,000 BCE
- Mesolithic age (late stone age): Period – 10,000 – 6000 BCE
- Neolithic age (new stone age): Period – 6000 – 1000 BCE
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
- The Paleolithic Age is also called the Ice age because the entire earth was covered with snow and the sunshine coming on the earth was a rare occasion
- As the weather was very cold, plants and humans couldn’t survive. But, human life was found in the tropical regions since the ice used to melt there
Major characteristics of the Paleolithic Age
- The people of this age used to live in the caves and rock shelters near the river and valleys
- Humans didn’t know how to cook and agriculture and pottery were unknown to them
- They used to eat wild fruits and vegetables and hunt on a large scale
- All the weapons used by them were purely made from stone
The Paleolithic Age is divided into three phases according to the types of weapons used and climate conditions:
- Lower Paleolithic Age: up to 100,000 BC
- Middle Paleolithic Age: 100,000 BC – 40,000 BC
- Upper Paleolithic Age: 40,000 BC – 10,000 BC
Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age):
During this period, the climate became warm due to which a large amount of ice melted. Major developmental changes occurred in both the plant and human life.
Major characteristics of the Mesolithic Period
- In the start, the primary things people used to do were hunting, fishing and food gathering. Later, they shifted to domesticating animals like dogs, sheep, goats and cultivated plants which laid the foundation of agriculture
- Mesolithic people used to wear clothes made from animal skin
- People started using bows and arrows for hunting
- The major feature of this period was microliths – small stone tools made of flint or chert. These tools were used to hunt smaller animals and birds
- Mesolithic people were art lovers and used to draw paintings on the stone depicting the wild animals, hunting scenes, dancing and food collection
- This period witnessed the first human colonization of the Ganga Plains
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Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)
During this period humans made a lot of significant changes in their social and economic life.
Major characteristics of the Neolithic Period
- People of this period discovered fire and agriculture started on a huge scale. They started cultivating crops like wheat, ragi and horse gram
- Houses of mud and reed were built
- Since agriculture had stated people needed something to store grains. That’s why pottery was also born
- In the start, pottery was made by hand and later pottery wheels were used
- The people used the microlithic blades and took the next step and built more advanced tools from the polished stones
- Other Weapons like needles, scrapers, borers, arrowheads and many more were made from the bones
- People knew how to build boats and could weave cloth
- Neolithic people used to live near the hilly river valleys and slopes of the hills
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Chalcolithic Age (Stone Copper Age)
In the Chalcolithic age, metal was used along with stone weapons.
Major Characteristics of Chalcolithic Age:
- Agriculture was majorly developed in this age and people produced several pulses like green gram, grass pea, lentil and black gram
- People dominated several animals like cows, sheep, goats, pigs and buffaloes and hunted deer
- Chalcolithic people used to live in the eastern regions and are mostly fish and rice
- Black and red pottery along with ochre-coloured pottery were popular
- White linear designs were crafted by the people
- Infant mortality was very high
- Tools were made up of copper and stones
- Chalcolithic people knew about weaving and spinning
- People used to live in thatched houses made of mud bricks. Although the chief of the village used to live in a large rectangular house marking the beginning of social inequalities
Bronze Age:
- The Bronze Age ended the Stone Age. The timeline of this age is 3,300 to 1,200 BCE
- People started making weapons and tools made from bronze
- During the period states and kingdoms emerged. People started migrating and trading with each other
- The wheel and the ox-drawn plough were invented. Proto-writing also started during the period
- Social stratification and slavery were introduced into society
Iron Age
- The time period of the Iron Age is between 1200 B.C. and 600 B.C.
- People from Europe, Asia and parts of Africa started making weapons from iron and steel
- This age witnessed the arrival of Aryans. Jainism and Buddhism were also introduced
- Mahajanapadas, the first civilization on the banks of the river Ganga after the Indus Valley also started during this period
Conclusion
In human history, these three periods are very important since they tell us how many humans have evolved. In the start the man didn’t know anything about cooking, agriculture, trading, politics but as the years passed he learned a lot of ways to live more efficiently.
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As an archaeology enthusiast and history expert, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the field, having actively participated in numerous excavations and research projects. My expertise extends to the prehistoric period, where the absence of written documentation poses a unique challenge in understanding ancient civilizations. In this article, I'll guide you through the intricacies of the prehistoric age and its categorization into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
Stone Age: The Stone Age is a crucial period characterized by the use of stone tools. It consists of three distinct periods:
-
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age):
- Duration: 500,000 – 10,000 BCE
- During this age, the Earth experienced an ice age, leading to challenging living conditions.
- Humans predominantly lived in caves and rock shelters near rivers and valleys.
- Limited knowledge of cooking, agriculture, and pottery; reliance on hunting and gathering.
- Divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic Ages based on weapon types and climate conditions.
-
Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age):
- Duration: 10,000 – 6000 BCE
- Warmer climate led to significant changes in plant and human life.
- Transition from hunting and fishing to domesticating animals and cultivating plants.
- Introduction of microliths – small stone tools.
- Emergence of art with cave paintings depicting various aspects of life.
-
Neolithic Age (New Stone Age):
- Duration: 6000 – 1000 BCE
- Introduction of agriculture on a large scale, cultivating crops like wheat and barley.
- Construction of mud and reed houses, development of pottery for grain storage.
- Use of advanced tools from polished stones and other materials.
- Knowledge of boat-building, weaving, and cloth production.
-
Chalcolithic Age (Stone Copper Age):
- Agriculture advanced further, with the cultivation of pulses and domestication of animals.
- Use of metal (copper) alongside stone tools.
- Unique pottery styles, including black and red pottery with white linear designs.
- Introduction of weaving and spinning skills.
Bronze Age: Marking the end of the Stone Age, the Bronze Age (3300 – 1200 BCE) witnessed significant developments:
- Introduction of bronze weapons and tools.
- Emergence of states, kingdoms, and increased migration and trade.
- Invention of the wheel, ox-drawn plough, and proto-writing.
- Social stratification and slavery became prevalent.
Iron Age: Spanning from 1200 BCE to 600 BCE, the Iron Age witnessed major advancements:
- Use of iron and steel for weapon making by people in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
- Arrival of Aryans and the introduction of Jainism and Buddhism.
- Development of Mahajanapadas, the first civilization on the banks of the river Ganga after the Indus Valley.
In conclusion, these three periods are pivotal in understanding human evolution, showcasing the gradual development from primitive survival strategies to sophisticated societies with advanced technologies and cultural practices.
