PPT: Prehistoric Period and Sources of Ancient History | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Prehistoric Ages of 
India: From Stone to Iron
Page 2


The Prehistoric Ages of 
India: From Stone to Iron
The Old Stone Age
1
500,000 B.C. - 8000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools found in various regions of India. Humans 
used rough stone tools for hunting and cutting, lacking 
knowledge in cultivation and house building.
2
100,000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools discovered in the Chotanagpur plateau, 
indicating early human presence in the region.
3
25,000 B.C. - 10,000 B.C.
T ools found in the Kurnool district. Animal remains in the 
Mirzapur district suggest domestication around 25,000 B.C.
Page 3


The Prehistoric Ages of 
India: From Stone to Iron
The Old Stone Age
1
500,000 B.C. - 8000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools found in various regions of India. Humans 
used rough stone tools for hunting and cutting, lacking 
knowledge in cultivation and house building.
2
100,000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools discovered in the Chotanagpur plateau, 
indicating early human presence in the region.
3
25,000 B.C. - 10,000 B.C.
T ools found in the Kurnool district. Animal remains in the 
Mirzapur district suggest domestication around 25,000 B.C.
The Stone Age
1
Paleolithic Period
2 million BC 3 10,000 BC
2
Mesolithic Period
10,000 BC 3 8000 BC
3
Neolithic Period
8000 BC 3 4000 BC
4
Chalcolithic Period
4000 BC 3 1500 BC
5
Iron Age
1500 BC 3 200 BC
The Stone Age, a prehistoric period before the development of writing, is primarily studied through archaeological excavations. Robert Bruce Foote 
discovered the first palaeolithic tool in India, the Pallavaram handaxe. The Stone Age is classified into three main periods based on geological age, tool types, 
and technology.
Page 4


The Prehistoric Ages of 
India: From Stone to Iron
The Old Stone Age
1
500,000 B.C. - 8000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools found in various regions of India. Humans 
used rough stone tools for hunting and cutting, lacking 
knowledge in cultivation and house building.
2
100,000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools discovered in the Chotanagpur plateau, 
indicating early human presence in the region.
3
25,000 B.C. - 10,000 B.C.
T ools found in the Kurnool district. Animal remains in the 
Mirzapur district suggest domestication around 25,000 B.C.
The Stone Age
1
Paleolithic Period
2 million BC 3 10,000 BC
2
Mesolithic Period
10,000 BC 3 8000 BC
3
Neolithic Period
8000 BC 3 4000 BC
4
Chalcolithic Period
4000 BC 3 1500 BC
5
Iron Age
1500 BC 3 200 BC
The Stone Age, a prehistoric period before the development of writing, is primarily studied through archaeological excavations. Robert Bruce Foote 
discovered the first palaeolithic tool in India, the Pallavaram handaxe. The Stone Age is classified into three main periods based on geological age, tool types, 
and technology.
The Late Stone Age
1
8000 B.C.
End of the Ice Age, leading to a warm and dry climate. These 
changes impacted fauna and flora, enabling human migration to 
new areas.
2
8000 B.C. - 4000 B.C.
Mesolithic Age or Late Stone Age in India. Characterized by 
microliths as the primary tools, found in Chotanagpur, central 
India, and south of the river Krishna.
3
4000 B.C.
Approximate end of the Mesolithic Age, transitioning into the 
Neolithic Age.
Page 5


The Prehistoric Ages of 
India: From Stone to Iron
The Old Stone Age
1
500,000 B.C. - 8000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools found in various regions of India. Humans 
used rough stone tools for hunting and cutting, lacking 
knowledge in cultivation and house building.
2
100,000 B.C.
Palaeolithic tools discovered in the Chotanagpur plateau, 
indicating early human presence in the region.
3
25,000 B.C. - 10,000 B.C.
T ools found in the Kurnool district. Animal remains in the 
Mirzapur district suggest domestication around 25,000 B.C.
The Stone Age
1
Paleolithic Period
2 million BC 3 10,000 BC
2
Mesolithic Period
10,000 BC 3 8000 BC
3
Neolithic Period
8000 BC 3 4000 BC
4
Chalcolithic Period
4000 BC 3 1500 BC
5
Iron Age
1500 BC 3 200 BC
The Stone Age, a prehistoric period before the development of writing, is primarily studied through archaeological excavations. Robert Bruce Foote 
discovered the first palaeolithic tool in India, the Pallavaram handaxe. The Stone Age is classified into three main periods based on geological age, tool types, 
and technology.
The Late Stone Age
1
8000 B.C.
End of the Ice Age, leading to a warm and dry climate. These 
changes impacted fauna and flora, enabling human migration to 
new areas.
2
8000 B.C. - 4000 B.C.
Mesolithic Age or Late Stone Age in India. Characterized by 
microliths as the primary tools, found in Chotanagpur, central 
India, and south of the river Krishna.
3
4000 B.C.
Approximate end of the Mesolithic Age, transitioning into the 
Neolithic Age.
The Palaeolithic Age 
Time Period
2 million BC 3 10,000 BC
Etymology
'Paleo' (old) + 'lithic' (stone)
Geological Era
Pleistocene period or Ice Age
The Palaeolithic Age, or Old Stone Age, developed during the Pleistocene 
period when much of the Earth was covered in ice. In tropical regions where 
ice melted, the earliest human species could survive. This era marks the 
beginning of human tool use and adaptation to harsh environmental 
conditions.