**Key Dates & Periods:**
• 26 lakh years ago: Quaternary Period began
• 3.3 million years ago: Earliest stone tools made
• 2 million years ago: Homo erectus left Africa
• 300,000 years ago: Homo sapiens evolved
• 125,000 years ago: Major migration wave
• 5000 years ago: Writing invented, history begins
• 400 BCE: Brahmi script used in India
**Key Terms:**
• Hominins: Tool-making human-like ancestors
• Australopithecines: Early ancestors (southern primates)
• Homo erectus: Upright human ancestor with stone tools
• Homo sapiens: Modern humans
• Biological evolution: Physical and genetic changes
• Cultural evolution: Adaptation through tools and technology
• Artefacts: Material remains from human activity
• Old World: Africa, Asia, Europe—earliest settlements
**Before vs After Writing:**
Before (99%): Artefacts only; approximate dating; thoughts unclear.
After (1%): Written documents; accurate dating; names and events recorded.
Q1. Which term refers to gradual physical and genetic changes in early human ancestors?
Answer: A — Biological evolution specifically describes the physical and genetic transformation of ancestors into Homo sapiens, as clearly stated in the chapter.
Q2. Homo erectus was significant because it was:
Answer: B — Homo erectus was the first hominin to exit Africa around 2 million years ago, carrying stone tools such as hand axes and cleavers to other continents.
Q3. What percentage of human history occurs before the invention of writing?
Answer: C — The chapter explicitly states that more than 99 per cent of human history falls under the period before writing (from 3 million to 5000 years ago).
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a reason why archaeologists study artefacts?
Answer: C — The chapter states it is generally difficult to understand the thoughts and ideas of people from artefacts alone; artefacts cannot reveal exact individual names or personal thoughts.
Q5. The Harappan script remains undeciphered, unlike cuneiform and hieroglyphics, because:
Answer: C — The chapter states the Harappan script is pictographic and found on seals and pottery, but unlike cuneiform and hieroglyphics, it has not yet been successfully deciphered.
Q6. Dr. Sharma observes that early humans transitioned from hunting-gathering to agriculture. Which concept best explains this change?
Answer: B — This transition demonstrates cultural evolution—humans adapted to their surroundings by developing new techniques (agriculture) to survive changing climatic and environmental conditions.
Q7. The earliest stone tools discovered were made approximately:
Answer: C — The chapter explicitly states that around 3.3 million years ago, one of the early human ancestors made the earliest known stone tools, marking the beginning of human behaviour.
Q8. Tools are called extra-corporal limbs because they:
Answer: B — The chapter defines extra-corporal limbs as tools that functioned as extensions of the human body, enabling people to perform tasks impossible with hands alone.
Q9. An archaeologist finds stone hand axes in both Africa and Europe. This discovery most likely indicates:
Answer: C — The chapter states that stone hand axes and cleavers found in Asia and Europe indicate Homo erectus dispersal from Africa between 2 and 0.5 million years ago.
Q10. Which statement best explains why written records provide more accurate dating than artefacts alone?
Answer: B — The chapter contrasts pre-writing (approximate dating) with post-writing periods (accurate dating) because written documents explicitly mention specific dates of historical events.
What does biological evolution mean?
Biological evolution is the gradual physical and genetic changes through which early ancestors evolved into modern humans called Homo sapiens.
Define cultural evolution.
Cultural evolution explains how humans adapted to changing climates and environments by developing tools, techniques, and technology to survive.
Who were the australopithecines?
Australopithecines were early human-like ancestors whose name means southern primates, representing a stage in human biological evolution.
What is Homo erectus?
Homo erectus was an upright, bipedal human ancestor who used stone tools like hand axes and was the first hominin to leave Africa around 2 million years ago.
What percentage of human history has written records?
Less than 1 per cent of human history has written records, covering only the last 5000 years since writing was invented.
What is the Harappan script?
The Harappan script, also called Sindhu lipi, is a pictographic writing system found on seals and pottery that has not yet been successfully deciphered.
When did Homo sapiens evolve in Africa?
Homo sapiens, or modern humans, evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago and later migrated to other regions.
What role did surplus food play in civilisation?
The ability to produce surplus food and material goods provided the foundation for the emergence of civilisation.
What are artefacts in archaeology?
Artefacts are tools, implements, and other material objects made by humans that serve as major sources for understanding early human life.
How did tools function in early human life?
Tools functioned as extra-corporal limbs or extensions of the human body, helping people perform tasks they could not accomplish with hands alone.
Define biological evolution and explain why it is important to study early human history. [2 marks]
State that biological evolution is gradual physical and genetic change of ancestors to Homo sapiens. Then explain that studying it helps us understand human adaptation to climate and environmental changes over millions of years.
Why is the Harappan script considered undeciphered, while cuneiform and hieroglyphic scripts have been successfully decoded? What does this tell us about sources of historical knowledge? [3 marks]
Explain that Harappan script is pictographic but not yet decoded despite being found on seals and pottery. Compare with cuneiform and hieroglyphics which are deciphered and mark the beginning of history. Conclude that without deciphered writing, we rely only on artefacts and cannot understand thoughts, ideas, or specific historical events.
How did the development of agriculture and the production of surplus food transform early human societies? Explain the connection between this change and the emergence of civilisation. Support your answer with evidence from the chapter. [5 marks]
Begin by explaining cultural evolution—how humans adapted to environments through tools and techniques. Show the progression from hunting-gathering to agriculture as a major cultural adaptation. Explain that surplus food production allowed some people to specialise in non-farming activities, leading to social organisation, trade, and ultimately civilisation. Reference the chapter's statement that surplus food and material goods laid the foundation for civilisation.
Practice with interactive flashcards, mind maps, upload your own chapters and get AI study kits instantly
Try StudyOS Free →