First Farmers
Short Questions
1. What is the Greek name for the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers?
Answer: The Greek name is Mesopotamia.
2. Who created the first stone tools according to the chapter?
Answer: Homo habilis created the first stone tools.
3. When did systematic agriculture begin according to archaeological evidence?
Answer: Systematic agriculture began 12,000-11,000 years ago.
4. Which crop was the main one grown by farmers at Mehrgarh?
Answer: Barley was the main crop grown at Mehrgarh.
5. What is the English translation of the Chinese name ‘Huang He’?
Answer: The English translation is ‘Yellow River’.
6. In which year were the first Neolithic villages in Egypt established?
Answer: The first Neolithic villages in Egypt were established around 6,000 B.C.E.
7. What tool-making technique was used to create microliths?
Answer: The Fluted Core technique was used to create microliths.
8. Who coined the term ‘Neolithic Revolution’?
Answer: Gordon Childe coined the term ‘Neolithic Revolution’.
9. Which site in Maharashtra is an important Chalcolithic village?
Answer: Inamgaon is an important Chalcolithic village in Maharashtra.
10. What was the primary use of polished stone axes in the Neolithic age?
Answer: Polished stone axes were used to clear jungles for cultivation.
11. At what temperature was Neolithic pottery fired?
Answer: Neolithic pottery was fired at approximately 850º-900º Celsius.
12. What innovation revolutionized transport in the Neolithic age?
Answer: The invention of the wheel revolutionized transport.
13. Which river valley is considered the origin of Chinese culture?
Answer: The Huang He river valley is considered the origin of Chinese culture.
14. What was the first crop systematically planted at Gilgal near Jericho?
Answer: Figs were the first crop systematically planted at Gilgal.
15. What concept emerged due to the ownership of land in Neolithic villages?
Answer: The concept of territoriality emerged due to land ownership.
Long Questions
1. Explain the significance of the Neolithic Revolution in human history.
Answer: The Neolithic Revolution, termed by Gordon Childe, marked a transformative shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities around 12,000-11,000 years ago. This period saw the domestication of plants and animals, leading to surplus food production and the establishment of permanent villages. These changes laid the foundation for social organization, craft specialization, and the eventual rise of urban civilizations.
2. Describe the role of the Huang He river in the development of Chinese culture.
Answer: The Huang He, or Yellow River, played a crucial role in the origin of Chinese culture by providing fertile silt deposits that supported agriculture from 7,000 B.C.E. Its valley nurtured Neolithic villages where crops like wheat and millet were grown, fostering settled communities. Known as ‘Mother’ and ‘Sorrow’ due to its nurturing yet destructive floods, it remains a cultural cornerstone in China.
3. How did the invention of the wheel impact Neolithic trade and transport?
Answer: The invention of the wheel in the latter half of the Neolithic age revolutionized transport by enabling the use of carts to move goods efficiently over long distances. It also enhanced trade by facilitating the transport of raw materials and finished products like pottery to distant markets. This technological advancement boosted economic growth and cultural exchanges among Neolithic communities.
4. What evidence supports the beginning of cultivation at the Ohalo site?
Answer: Archaeological evidence from Ohalo, near the Sea of Galilee, discovered by Bar Ilan University scientists, indicates cultivation began 23,000 years ago. Remains of barley, cereals, fruit seeds, and evolved weeds linked to cultivated crops, along with grinding stones, were found. This suggests early humans systematically planted and processed these crops, marking a significant step toward agriculture.
5. Explain the social organization in Neolithic villages like Mehrgarh.
Answer: Neolithic villages like Mehrgarh featured a hierarchical social structure with centralized food storage, indicating controlled production and distribution. Populations of 50-100 people lived in round huts, developing norms for land ownership, kinship, and skill training passed down through families. This organization laid the groundwork for later administrative systems and urban societies.
6. How did pottery-making evolve into an art form in the Neolithic age?
Answer: Pottery-making began as a basic craft in the Neolithic age with handmade, monochrome pots for cooking and storage, but evolved in the second phase with wheel-made techniques. Artisans developed skills in clay preparation, shaping, decorating with carved designs or paintings, and firing at 850º-900º Celsius. This specialization created a class of skilled potters, turning pottery into a cultural art form reflecting societal richness.
7. Describe the transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic life in Mesopotamia.
Answer: In Mesopotamia, Mesolithic people initially camped near the fertile Tigris and Euphrates rivers due to ample water and annual floods around 10,000 B.C.E. The availability of resources encouraged longer stays, leading to systematic agriculture with wheat and barley, and the establishment of permanent Neolithic villages. This transition marked the end of nomadism and the beginning of settled civilizations.
8. What were the key stages involved in bead-making during the Neolithic period?
Answer: Bead-making involved several stages, starting with identifying sources of siliceous stones and chank shells, followed by obtaining and transporting the raw materials. Artisans then manufactured finished beads from irregular stones and shell cores, requiring specialized skills and tools. This craft specialization contributed to trade and cultural exchange in Neolithic societies.
9. How did the Holocene epoch influence the rise of Neolithic settlements?
Answer: The Holocene epoch, beginning 12,000-11,000 years ago after the last Glacial period, brought a warmer climate that melted glaciers and increased water in rivers. This supported the growth of vegetation and small animals, providing food security for early humans. The favorable conditions encouraged the shift to agriculture and the establishment of permanent Neolithic settlements.
10. Discuss the beginning of urbanisation in the Neolithic age with examples.
Answer: Urbanisation in the Neolithic age began as villages like Mehrgarh expanded due to land ownership and territoriality, requiring management of resources and trade. The development of administrative centers, writing systems, and diverse populations turned these settlements into cities, as seen in the evolution to Harappan urban centers by 3,000 B.C.E. This process reflected growing social complexity and economic needs in the Neolithic world.
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