Questions Answers Class 11 Chapter 1 History Maharashtra Board

First Farmers

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and write the complete sentences.

(1) ‘Yellow River’ is the English translation of the Chinese name _____ .
(a) Kemet (b) Mother
(c) Sorrow (d) Huang He

Answer: Huang He.

(2) The Australian archaeologist ______ coined the term ‘Neolithic Revolution’.

(a) Gorden Willey
(b) Gorden Childe
(c) Herodotus
(d) Collingwood

Answer: Gorden Childe

(3) The neolithic people at Gilgal had systematically planted _____ trees.

(a) Guava (b) Sapodilla
(c) Fig (d) Indian blackberry

Answer: Fig

(4) _______ in the Shirur taluka of Pune district, is an important site of the village of Chalocolithic farmers in Maharashtra.
(a) Saradwadi (b) Ranjangaon
(c) Pabal (d) Inamgaon

Answer: Inamgaon

(B) Find the incorrect pair from set B and write the correct ones.

Answer: (2) The valley of Nile – Egypt

Q.2 Complete the concept map.

Answer: Bead-making Method and Stages of production

Stage 1: To know the sources of siliceous stones and chank shells.
Stage 2: To obtain the raw material.
Stage 3: To transport the raw material to the manufacturing site.
Stage 4: Manufacturing finished beads from the stones of irregular shape and the core of chank shells.

Q.3 Explain the following statements with reasons.

(1) The camps of Mesolithic people developed into the first settled villages of neolithic people in Mesopotamia.

Answer: Reason: In Mesopotamia, the availability of ample water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their annual flooding made the soil fertile, encouraging Mesolithic people to stay longer in one place. This led to the establishment of permanent settlements as they began systematic agriculture, particularly growing wheat and barley. These camps gradually evolved into the first settled Neolithic villages around 10000 B.C.E., marking the transition from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle.

(2) ‘Huang He’ river is considered to be the mother of the Chinese culture.

Answer: Reason: The Huang He river, also known as the Yellow River, played a pivotal role in the origin and development of Chinese culture. Its valley supported the rise of Neolithic villages around 7000 B.C.E., where crops like wheat, foxtail millet, and rice were cultivated. The river’s fertile silt deposits sustained agriculture, fostering settled communities. Its significance in nurturing early Chinese civilization earned it the name ‘Mother,’ reflecting its central role in shaping Chinese culture.

(3) In the latter half of the Neolithic age, pottery-making had become an art that required special skills.

Answer: Reason: In the latter half of the Neolithic age, pottery-making evolved from a basic craft into a specialized art form due to advancements in techniques and societal needs. Initially, handmade pots were simple and monochrome, used for cooking, serving, and storage. Over time, Neolithic people introduced wheel-made pottery, enabling mass production and more refined shapes. They developed skills in sourcing and preparing clay, shaping pots, and decorating them with carved designs, stamping, applique work, and painted patterns.

Q.4 State your opinion.

(1)  There were radical changes in the way of human life during the Neolithic age.

Answer: Opinion: I agree that the Neolithic age brought profound changes to human life. The shift from a nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities was transformative. The development of agriculture allowed for food surplus, leading to permanent settlements, population growth, and the emergence of specialized crafts like pottery and tool-making. These changes laid the foundation for social organization, trade, and eventual urbanization, fundamentally altering human society.

(2) The Neolithic people invented the wheel and the technology they had developed so far, underwent a revolution.

Answer: Opinion: I believe the invention of the wheel during the Neolithic age was revolutionary. It transformed trade and transport by enabling the use of carts, making it easier to move goods and raw materials over long distances. Additionally, the wheel improved pottery production, allowing for mass-scale manufacturing. This technological advancement significantly enhanced economic and cultural exchanges, marking a turning point in Neolithic technological progress.

Q.5 Observe the map on page 2 of your textbook and answer the following questions based on it.

(1) What is the name of the sea at the north of the African continent?

Answer: The sea at the north of the African continent is the Mediterranean Sea.

(2) In which continent did the Harappan civilisation originate?

Answer: The Harappan civilisation originated in the Asian continent (specifically the Indian subcontinent).

(3) What is the name of the ocean at the south of India?

Answer: The ocean at the south of India is the Indian Ocean.

Q.6 Write short notes.

(1) Neolithic ‘Jericho’

Answer: Jericho, located on the banks of the Jordan River in Palestine, is one of the earliest known Neolithic settlements, established around 9000 B.C.E. By 8000 B.C.E., it had developed into an organized society with a protective wall and a watchtower, indicating a structured community. Evidence from nearby Gilgal shows that Neolithic people in the region systematically planted fig cuttings, marking early attempts at planned cultivation. Jericho’s significance lies in its role as a pioneer of permanent settlement and early agriculture.

(2) ‘Holocene’ epoch

Answer: The Holocene epoch began around 12000-11000 years ago, following the end of the last Glacial period. It marked a warming climate, leading to the melting of glaciers and increased water in rivers and oceans. This environmental shift facilitated the growth of vegetation and availability of animals, supporting the transition to agriculture and settled life. The Holocene provided favorable conditions for the rise of Neolithic villages and the development of river valley civilizations.

Q.7 Answer the following questions in detail.

(1) Write in detail about the ‘first farmers’ and beginning of agriculture in India.

Answer: The first farmers in India emerged during the Neolithic period, with evidence of settled villages dating back to around 8000 B.C.E. in the Indian subcontinent. The site of Mehrgarh in Baluchistan is of great importance, established around 7000 B.C.E., where farmers cultivated barley as the main crop and wheat on a smaller scale. They also domesticated animals like cattle, goats, and sheep, living in mud houses. Another significant site, Lahuradeva in Uttar Pradesh, is contemporary to Mehrgarh, indicating early agricultural practices.
The beginning of agriculture in India was linked to the transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming, driven by the availability of fertile land in the valleys of rivers like the Indus and Saraswati. Archaeological evidence suggests that systematic agriculture led to the growth of permanent settlements, which later evolved into the sophisticated Harappan civilization around 3000 B.C.E. The farmers’ ability to clear land using polished stone tools, such as axes, facilitated cultivation and settlement. These early agricultural practices laid the foundation for social organization, craft specialization, and eventual urbanization in India.

(2) What knowledge was essential for the Neolithic people to make pottery?

Answer: Pottery-making in the Neolithic age required specialized knowledge and skills, including:

• Source of Clay: Identifying and accessing sources of high-quality clay suitable for pottery production.
• Obtaining Clay: Managing the extraction and transportation of clay to the production site.
• Preparing Clay: Kneading and processing the clay to remove impurities and achieve the right consistency.
• Shaping Pots: Skillfully turning the clay into desired shapes, initially by hand and later using the wheel.
• Decoration: Possessing artistic skills to decorate pottery with carved designs, stamping, applique work, or painted patterns.
• Baking Techniques: Understanding the technique of firing pottery at appropriate temperatures (approximately 850º-900º Celsius) to ensure durability.

These skills were mastered by a specialized class of potters during the second phase of the Neolithic period, transforming pottery-making into an art form that reflected cultural and material richness.

(3) Write about the trade and transport in the Neolithic age.

Answer: In the Neolithic age, trade and transport evolved significantly from the Mesolithic period’s simple barter systems. Neolithic communities engaged in trade to exchange goods like pottery, beads, and agricultural produce. Initially, without the wheel, transport relied on human labor and beasts of burden to carry goods. The invention of the wheel in the latter half of the Neolithic age revolutionized transport and trade.
Tools like axes and chisels enabled Neolithic people to craft wooden logs into round wheels, facilitating the movement of goods using carts. This innovation made it easier to transport raw materials from distant sources and send finished products to markets where demand was higher. The wheel also enhanced pottery production, enabling mass-scale manufacturing of wheel-made pots, which were traded widely. These advancements fostered economic growth, cultural exchanges, and the expansion of trade networks, laying the groundwork for more complex economies in later civilizations.

(4) Write about the beginning of urbanization in the Neolithic age.

Answer: Urbanization in the Neolithic age began as villages grew and developed more complex social and economic structures. After settling permanently, Neolithic people developed a sense of ownership over their dwellings and cultivated land, leading to the concept of territoriality. Villages expanded, and awareness of collective land holdings and village boundaries emerged, necessitating rules to manage shared resources like water, crafts, and trade.
This led to the establishment of administrative systems to oversee trade, rituals, and community life. Record-keeping and writing systems developed to support these activities, giving rise to administrative centers. These centers attracted diverse populations, including officials, artisans, and traders, causing settlements to grow into cities. The need for managing collective resources and social norms further drove urbanization. For example, the transition from early Neolithic villages like Mehrgarh to the urban centers of the Harappan civilization illustrates this process, marking the beginning of urban life in the Neolithic age.