Page 18 - SST Class 06

First Farmers

and Herders 3

q Neolithic Age : Implications of farming and herding
q Archaeological evidences for crops, animals, houses, tools etc.

Introduction Producing food required that he should settle at
one place. Also, he now needed not to roam from
Man wandered from here to there in search of food
here to there in search of food, as he could
during the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages. This
was such a long period. Towards the end of this age, produce food himself.
however, he observed that the seeds that he threw
on the ground sprouted into plants and trees after
some time. This gave him an understanding that he
could grow food himself. At the same time, he
observed that all animals were not violent, some of
them were quite gentle and could be used for
different purposes, so he had an idea about
domesticating them. This understanding was a
great advancement over the previous times and
Early Man doing farming
thus the Neolithic Age dawned.
Herding
NEOLITHIC AGE (CIRCA 8000 BC TO 4000 BC) Man observed that some animals could be used
for other than hunting for food. So, he began to
Advancement in knowledge helps man to tread on
tame dogs, sheep, goats, cows, horses, donkeys
the path of progress and in this sense, and camels etc. Domestication of animals helped
advancement of knowledge towards the close of
him in many ways—he could kill them for food,
the Mesolithic Age gave man an idea that food
he could get milk from them and he could use
could be produced. Once he started to understand them for other tasks like for carrying loads. This
this phenomenon, he needed not to wander from
made his life easier. As he was in the process of
place to place; so he settled down at one place. developing agriculture, he used animals for
This period is called the Neolithic Age or the New ploughing. These animals were useful even after
Stone Age . This age lasted from about 8000 BC to
death, as he used their horns, bones and skins for
4000 BC.
different purposes, like clothes and tools. The
Just Think! animal waste, like cowdung, proved to be fine
manure for his fields.

What was the earth like 5000 BC? Settled Community Life
Since man had learnt how to produce his food, he
Farming
settled down at one place. Even earlier, he moved
The new concept of growing food resulted into in groups, so he settled in groups. He gave up the
farming. He started to produce his food. cave life and settled near the fields. He made huts

Contemporary Social Science-6
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