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Early Humans and Beginning of Civilization – Class 9 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 9 Social Science, chapter 4. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Early humans lived as hunter-gatherers using stone tools for hundreds of thousands of years. The discovery of fire, farming and the domestication of animals changed their lives, leading to settled villages. Over time, some villages grew into cities and the first civilisations, such as the Harappan or Sindhu–Sarasvati civilisation in India, developed along rivers.

The Stone Age

In the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) people were hunter-gatherers who used rough stone tools and lived in caves or rock shelters.
Rock paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh show animals, hunting and dancing.
In the Mesolithic period people used small stone tools called microliths; in the Neolithic period they used polished stone tools and began farming.

Farming and settled life

Farming and domestication of animals allowed people to stay in one place and store food.
Mehrgarh (in present-day Pakistan) is one of the earliest farming villages in South Asia, growing wheat and barley.
Pottery, weaving and permanent houses developed in settled villages.

The first civilisations

Civilisations arose along rivers: Mesopotamia (Tigris–Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), China (Huang He) and the Harappan civilisation (Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra).
Harappan cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira and Lothal had planned streets, drainage, granaries and standard weights.
Harappans traded with distant lands, used seals with a script that is still undeciphered and made fine beads and pottery.

Key terms

Hunter-gatherer: a person who obtains food by hunting animals and gathering wild plants
Microlith: a very small stone tool used in the Mesolithic period
Domestication: taming and raising plants and animals for human use
Civilisation: an advanced society with cities, organised government, trade, crafts and writing
Granary: a large storehouse for grain

Important questions with answers

How did the discovery of fire help early humans?2 marks

Fire gave early humans warmth, light at night and protection from wild animals. It allowed them to cook food, which made it easier to digest, and later to harden pottery and work metals.

How did farming change the lives of early humans?3 marks

Farming allowed people to grow their own food, so they settled near fields and built permanent houses. They could store surplus grain, domesticate animals, make pottery and weave cloth. Villages grew, population increased and people began to specialise in different crafts.

Describe the main features of the Harappan civilisation.5 marks

The Harappan or Sindhu–Sarasvati civilisation flourished from about 2600 to 1900 BCE in the north-west of the subcontinent, along the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra rivers. Its major cities included Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi. The cities were carefully planned, with streets in a grid pattern, houses of baked bricks of standard size and a covered drainage system. Many had a raised citadel and a lower town. Mohenjo-daro had the Great Bath, and large granaries stored grain. Lothal had a dockyard, showing sea trade. Harappans grew wheat, barley and cotton and domesticated animals. They traded with Mesopotamia and other regions, used standard weights and measures, and made fine beads, pottery, bronze figures and terracotta toys. They used seals with animal motifs and a script that has not yet been deciphered. The civilisation declined gradually, possibly due to climate change, drying of rivers and shifting trade.

Quick revision

Old Stone Age: hunter-gatherers, rough tools.
Bhimbetka rock paintings.
Farming led to settled villages; Mehrgarh.
Harappan cities: planning, drains, granaries, seals.

Exam tips

Draw a timeline: Palaeolithic → Mesolithic → Neolithic → Chalcolithic → Harappan cities.
For the Harappan civilisation, remember four features: town planning, drainage, trade, seals.

Practice MCQs

Early humans who hunted animals and collected plants were
1. hunter-gatherers
2. farmers
3. traders
4. artisans
Show answer
Answer: (a) hunter-gatherers. They moved from place to place for food.
Famous rock paintings of early humans are found at
1. Delhi
2. Bhimbetka
3. Kolkata
4. Mumbai
Show answer
Answer: (b) Bhimbetka. It is in Madhya Pradesh.
Very small stone tools are called
1. granaries
2. seals
3. microliths
4. bricks
Show answer
Answer: (c) microliths. They belong to the Mesolithic period.
One of the earliest farming villages in South Asia is
1. Mehrgarh
2. Agra
3. Patna
4. Madurai
Show answer
Answer: (a) Mehrgarh. People grew wheat and barley there.
The Great Bath was found at
1. Mohenjo-daro
2. Lothal
3. Kalibangan
4. Bhimbetka
Show answer
Answer: (a) Mohenjo-daro. It shows Harappan building skill.
The Harappan dockyard is associated with
1. Rakhigarhi
2. Harappa
3. Lothal
4. Mehrgarh
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lothal. It is in Gujarat.
Why did farming lead to settled life
1. rivers dried up
2. people stopped needing water
3. hunting became easier
4. crops needed care and food could be stored
Show answer
Answer: (d) crops needed care and food could be stored. Farmers stayed near their fields.
Which feature of Harappan cities shows careful civic planning
1. covered drains along grid-patterned streets
2. random narrow lanes
3. no houses
4. only temples
Show answer
Answer: (a) covered drains along grid-patterned streets. Drainage was very advanced.

All chapters of Class 9 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.