Long Questions: From Hunting-Gathering to Growing Food | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: How did the changing climate affect the life of humans?
Ans: The climate of the world had major changes around 12,000 years ago. There was a shift to relatively warm conditions. Grasslands developed in many areas. Plants and animals also developed in the meantime. Humans observed the places where edible plants were found, they wondered how seed broke off stalks, fell on the ground, and new plants sprouted from them. They became farmers due to these changes.
They also learnt how to get the attention of animals by taming them and proriding them food. People tamed the wild ancestor of the dog. They also started rearing sheep, goat, cattle, etc. and this made them herders. Grasslands had allowed many animals which lived on grass to grow in number.

Q2: Describe the site of Mehrgarh.
Ans: Mehrgarh is a site located in a fertile plain, near the Bolan Pass, one of the most important routes into Iran. It was one of the first places where people grew barley and wheat, and reared sheep, and goat. In fact, it is one of the earliest known villages.
Archaeologists have found evidence of animal bones here on excavation. They have found remains of houses here. Most houses were square or rectangular. They usually had four or more compartments, some of which may have been used for storage. Several furial sites have also been found in Mehrgarh.

Q3: Discuss in brief stone tools used by the people in Neolithic.
Ans: Stone Tools of New Stone Age:

• Stones have been found from many sites related with the New Stone Age. Many of these are different from the earlier Palaeolithic tools (that is why, they are called Neolithic).
• Stone tools of this stage of stone age include tools that were polished to give a fine cutting edge, and mortars and pestles used for grinding grain and other plant produce.
• At the same time, tools of the Palaeolithic types continued to be made and used. Some tools were also made of bone.

Q4: What do you understand by the term domestication? What is generally effect of this process on plants and animals? What points are kept in mind before/ during this process?
Ans: 1. Meaning of Domestication:

• Domestication is the name given to the process in which people grow plants and look after animals.

2. Effect:

• Very often, plants and animals that are tended by people become different from wild plants and animals.
• This is because people select plants and animals for domestication.

3. Precautions or Points kept in Mind for Domestication:

• People select those plants and animals that are not prone to diseases.
• They also select plants that yield large-size grain and have strong stalks, capable of bearing the weight of the ripe grain.
• Seeds from selected plants are preserved and sown to ensure that new plants (and seeds) will have the same qualities.
• Amongst animals, those that were relatively gentle were selected for breeding.

4. Results of Domestication:

• As a result of domestication, gradually domesticated animals and plants became different from wild animals and plants.
• For instance, the teeth and horns of wild animals are usually much larger than those of domesticated animals.

Q5: Discuss in brief ‘the Beginning of Herding’.
Ans: The Beginning of Herding:

• The climate of the world was changing and so were animals that people used as food.
  • People could also attract and tame animals (after beginning of the farming) by leaving food for them near their shelters.
• The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog.
• Latter, people encouraged animals that were relatively gentle, lived in herds, and ate grass, such as sheep, goat, cattle and also the pig, to come near the camps where they lived.
  • Often, they protected these animals from attacks by other wild animals.