Early Human Life
Introduction to Early Human Life and Evolution
Planet Earth’s story and its first human inhabitants continue to puzzle scientists even today.
The evolution of humans from apes to the present form started about 1500 million years ago, and it took many millions of years to complete this process of physical evolution.
In the earliest stages of physical development, humans or hominids walked on four legs.
Over a period of time, they began to walk upright. The erect posture of humans, or Homo erectus, helped them to see further in all directions and also allowed them to freely use both their hands.
In earliest times, prehistoric humans lived alone in caves or natural shelters such as trees and groves. They ate wild berries, roots, fruits, insects, worms, and the flesh of small animals that they killed. They had no weapons and used their bare hands to kill. Their bodies were covered with thick hair, and they did not wear any clothes.
The modern humans, Homo sapiens, finally appeared about 40,000 years ago. They had mastered the art of making tools. Till 3000 BCE, early humans used stone on a large scale for various purposes. This period is known as the Stone Age.
The Stone Age can be further divided into four broad periods:
- Paleolithic Age or Old Stone Age
- Mesolithic Age or Middle Stone Age
- Neolithic Age or New Stone Age
- Chalcolithic Age or Copper Stone Age
Old Stone Age: Key Features and Lifestyle of Early Humans
The first stage of human civilization is known as the Old Stone Age or the Paleolithic Age.
This period extended roughly from 500,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE.
During this period, humans made crude stone tools.
The humans of the Old Stone Age used their enlarged brains and flexible hands to make their lives better and more secure than the apes.
Main Features of the Old Stone Age
Crude Stone Tools Used by Paleolithic Humans
The Paleolithic humans were the first to make stone tools. They began making crude, unpolished stone tools. Large pieces of stones were shaped into hammers, scrapers, and axe heads. These tools were used for cutting trees, killing and skinning animals, chopping meat, and digging up roots.
Food and Hunting Practices of Old Stone Age Humans
The humans of the Old Stone Age were hunters and food gatherers. They did not know how to grow crops. Their food consisted of fruits, nuts, eggs of birds, and raw flesh of animals and birds.
Shelter and Cave Dwellings in the Paleolithic Age
Early humans did not build houses. To protect themselves from wild animals, they took refuge in caves or on trees. Caves protected them from the elements of nature and bad weather conditions.
Clothing and Protection from the Elements
During this period, humans did not wear clothes. Gradually, they learnt to use the barks of trees, leaves, and animal skins to protect their bodies from the cold and the rain. Later, they made clothes by stitching animal skins with bone needles.
Social Life and Nomadic Lifestyle of Early Humans
To protect themselves from wild animals, early humans began to form small groups. They lived a nomadic life, moving from place to place in search of food.
Cave Paintings and Artistic Expression of Primitive Humans
Primitive humans were skillful artists. They painted animal pictures and hunting scenes on cave walls. These pictures were lively and colourful. They also engraved pictures on ivory horns and flat bones.
Discovery of Fire: A Major Achievement of Early Humans
The greatest achievement of early humans was the discovery and use of fire. Initially, humans used naturally caused fire, for example, bush or forest fires or lightning. Later, they found that rubbing two dry stones together produced sparks of fire. They learnt to roast meat, keep themselves warm, and frighten animals by keeping a fire burning at the entrance of their caves.
Middle Stone Age: Transition Period in Human Evolution
The Paleolithic Age was followed by the Middle Stone Age or the Mesolithic Age.
This period extended roughly from 10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE.
This period was much shorter as compared to the previous age.
It was actually a transition period leading to the next distinctive phase of evolution, that is, the Neolithic Age.
Main Features of the Middle Stone Age
Advanced Stone Tools and Microliths of the Mesolithic Age
The tools used during this period were more advanced than Paleolithic tools. These tools, called microliths, were smaller, sharper, and more effective than those of the Old Stone Age. Besides stone, animal bones and horns were also used to make scrapers, hooks, borers, hammers, and arrowheads.
Occupation and Early Agriculture in the Middle Stone Age
Humans were hunters and food gatherers during this period. Towards the end of this period, they learnt about growing crops and cultivation.
New Stone Age: Transition from Food Gatherers to Food Producers
The New Stone Age or the Neolithic Age is the period extending roughly from 8,000 BCE to 4,000 BCE.
During this period, humans improved their lifestyles.
They built mud houses, grew crops, domesticated animals, and invented the wheel.
They gave up their nomadic life and settled down, transforming themselves from food gatherers to food producers.
Main Features of the New Stone Age
Improved Stone Tools and Polished Implements
One of the important characteristics of the New Stone Age was the marked improvement in the quality of stone tools. The stone tools were well-shaped and polished. Humans used digging sticks to till the soil and stone sickles to reap the crops. Their axes were larger and attached to wooden handles. Well-chiselled stone knives were used to cut plants, fruits, and meat. Bone tools were widely used during this period.
Agriculture and the Beginning of Farming in the Neolithic Age
Farming began in this period, probably after humans discovered that wheat and barley were edible. Humans might have observed that grains buried in the soil grew and yielded food crops.
Domestication of Animals for Food and Labour
Taming animals to serve their needs was an important development of the Neolithic Age. Dogs, goats, sheep, and cattle were domesticated. These animals supplied milk, meat, and skins. Now humans did not have to go on dangerous hunting trips in search of food. Life became safer and easier. Bullocks, donkeys, and horses were later used to plough the fields.
Invention of the Wheel and Its Impact on Civilization
The invention and use of the wheel was a major milestone in the evolution of civilized humans. It brought about a great transformation and made life easier and more comfortable. The potter’s wheel was used to make better pottery. Sometime later, the wheel was used for transportation and for carrying loads.
Pottery and Utensils for Storage and Cooking
Humans needed pots to store grains, water, and food. They had learnt to cook and needed utensils for cooking. At first, they made wicker baskets plastered with clay. The invention of the potter’s wheel was a boon for potters. They made pots of various shapes and sizes. Pots were often decorated with floral designs and geometrical patterns.
Settlements and Early Villages in the New Stone Age
Agriculture and domestication of animals brought about a dramatic change in the life of humans. They gave up the nomadic lifestyle and settled down. They built mud houses with thatched roofs and lived in groups in small villages.
The population increased, and human life became more organised.
Division of Labour and New Occupations in Neolithic Society
Humans now lived a settled life. This led to new occupations and specialization of labour. Agriculture was the main occupation. Some people kept herds of animals and became shepherds. Fishing and domestication of animals were important occupations too. Hunting became a sport or a pastime. The need for pottery, tools, clothes, and flint or hard stones led to specialization in occupations.
Dress and the Art of Spinning and Weaving
Humans had developed the art of spinning and weaving. Cotton and woollen clothes replaced the clothes made of skins of animals and barks of trees.
Barter System and the Early Economy of Villages
The villages became self-sufficient. The needs of humans were simple. Everything they needed was produced in the village. Payment for services was made in kind, not in cash. For example, the potter got food grains in exchange for pots and vice versa. This system of exchanging services and goods is known as the barter system.
Social Life and the Emergence of Village Headmen
From the earliest times, people had been living in groups. As the population increased, it became necessary to have a code of life to regulate and control the activities of people. With the passage of time, these rules became established customs. The oldest, wisest, or the strongest man in the village was chosen as the village headman. He maintained law and order in the village and protected the people from enemies.
Religion and Worship of Nature in Early Human Societies
Early humans did not understand natural phenomena. They were afraid of lightning, thunder, seasonal changes, and natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. They saw them as mysteries that were beyond their control. So, they began to worship the forces of nature, and the sky, sun, rain, thunder, lightning, etc., became their gods. Ceremonies were performed to please them.
Copper Stone Age: Transition to the Age of Metals
This period, known as the Copper Stone Age or Chalcolithic Age, was a brief but significant period in the life of humans.
This period extended roughly from 4,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE.
It was an age during which both copper and stone tools were used.
This age was a period of transition.
It marked the end of the New Stone Age and the beginning of the Age of Metals.
Main Features of the Copper Stone Age
Discovery of Metals and the Use of Copper Tools
The first metal discovered by humans was copper. Copper implements such as axes, knives, swords, and spearheads were better and more useful than stone tools. In course of time, humans learnt the art of making copper alloy, that is, mixing copper with tin to form a harder and stronger metal called bronze.
Society and Economy in Chalcolithic Settlements
Chalcolithic settlements were rural in nature. They were producing far more food than they needed and in much less time. This freed them from the burden of hard labour. They now had enough time to devote to other activities. Division of labour became more organised and specific. Society became classified into different groups.
Beginning of the Iron Age and Its Significance
An important advancement occurred in the history of humans with the discovery and use of iron. Iron is harder than copper and bronze and was available easily and in plenty. The Iron Age began in about 1200 BCE, when iron implements began to be used.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Early Human Life
Q1: What is the Stone Age and how is it divided?
A: The Stone Age is the prehistoric period when early humans widely used stone to make tools and weapons. It is divided into the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), Neolithic (New Stone Age), and Chalcolithic (Copper Stone Age).
Q2: What were the main features of the Old Stone Age?
A: The Old Stone Age was characterized by crude stone tools, a nomadic lifestyle, hunting and food gathering, cave shelters, cave paintings, and the discovery of fire.
Q3: How did early humans discover fire?
A: Early humans first used naturally occurring fire from forest fires or lightning. Later, they learned to create fire by rubbing two dry stones together to produce sparks.
Q4: What is the difference between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages?
A: The Paleolithic Age was a period of nomadic hunters and food gatherers using crude stone tools, while the Neolithic Age marked the transition to settled farming communities, polished stone tools, domestication of animals, and the invention of the wheel.
Q5: What was the barter system in early human societies?
A: The barter system was a method of exchange where goods and services were traded directly without using money. For example, a potter would exchange pots for food grains from a farmer.
Q6: Why did early humans worship nature?
A: Early humans did not understand natural phenomena like lightning, thunder, floods, and earthquakes. They believed these forces were controlled by powerful spirits or gods, so they worshipped the sun, rain, sky, and other natural elements to seek protection and favour.
Conclusion
The journey of early human life from primitive wanderers to settled farmers is one of the most remarkable stories in world history. From the crude stone tools of the Old Stone Age to the polished implements of the New Stone Age, and finally to the discovery of metals in the Copper and Iron Ages, each phase brought significant advancements. The discovery of fire, the domestication of animals, the invention of the wheel, and the rise of agriculture transformed human existence, laying the foundation for modern civilization. Understanding these early human societies helps us appreciate the ingenuity and resilience of our ancestors, who overcame immense challenges to build the world we live in today.