Prehistoric Age in India
The history of India is divided into three major phases:
1. Ancient India
2. Medieval India
3. Modern India
Ancient India (3600 BCE – 500 CE)
• Ancient India refers to the early history of India, from around 3600 BC to 500 AD.
Medieval India (500 CE – 1500 CE)
• Medieval India is the period that comes after ancient India, from 500 AD to 1500 AD, which is the middle part of Indian history.
Modern India (1500 CE – Present)
• Modern India is the period we’re living in now, Modern India covers the period from 1500 AD to the present.
Before exploring these historical phases, it is essential to understand some common time notations used in history such as BC, AD, BCE, and CE.
• BC (Before Christ): Refers to the years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
• AD (Anno Domini): A Latin phrase meaning “In the Year of the Lord,” denoting the years after the birth of Jesus Christ.
• BCE (Before Common Era): Equivalent to BC, but used in academic and scientific contexts to avoid religious connotations.
• CE (Common Era): Equivalent to AD, used for the same purpose.
It is important to note that in this dating system, there is no “Year Zero.” The year 1 BC is immediately followed by AD 1. Today, the Gregorian calendar, which uses these abbreviations, is followed globally, including in India.
Division of Ancient Indian History
Ancient India is divided into four broad parts:
1. Prehistoric Period
2. Indus Valley Civilization
3. Vedic Period
4. Kingdoms and Empires of Ancient India
1. Prehistoric Period
The Prehistoric period refers to the time before written records. It is further classified into:
* Prehistory: History before the existence of writing.
* Proto-history: The transitional phase between prehistory and recorded history.
* History: The period for which written evidence exists.
If there’s no written evidence, it’s called prehistory. If there is written evidence, it’s called history. The period between these two is called proto-history
To study these periods, historians rely on two types of sources:
• Non-literary sources – archaeological findings, coins, inscriptions, artifacts, etc.
• Literary sources – written records, texts, and scriptures.
Non-Literary Sources of Ancient India
• Coins (Numismatics): Early Indian currency existed in the form of coins made of silver, copper, and gold. Over time, rulers inscribed images of deities, kings, and important symbols. The discovery of coins helps trace political history, trade, and the spread of kingdoms.
• Archaeology: Excavations reveal settlements, pottery, tools, and human remains. Methods like Radio Carbon Dating help determine the age of these findings. Sites like Harappa provide insight into the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Inscriptions: Writings engraved on stones, copper plates, or clay tablets provide valuable information about administration, political events, and social systems.
• Foreign Accounts: Many foreign travelers visited India and recorded their observations.
Megasthenes (Greek ambassador): Wrote Indica, describing the Mauryan Empire.
Hiuen Tsang (Chinese traveler): Documented the reign of Harshavardhana and the glory of Nalanda University.
Roman and Greek writers described trade links and ports between India and the Roman Empire.
Literary Sources of Ancient India
Religious Literature: Religious texts provide valuable insight into ancient Indian society, culture, and philosophy. The Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda) are among the oldest scriptures, guiding social and spiritual life.
Other major texts include:
Upanishads – Philosophical teachings
Buddhist texts – Tripitakas
Jain texts – Agamas
Epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata
Stone Age to Iron Age Progression
People were divided into three groups based on the weapons they used.
1. Stone Age – when people used stones for all their tools.
2. Bronze Age – They started using bronze, and that period is called the Bronze Age.
3. Iron Age – They started using iron, so we call them the Iron Age people.
But from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, human history is divided into a few periods.
1. Paleolithic period, which means the Old Stone Age, lasting from 500,000 BC to 10,000 BC.
2. Mesolithic period, called the Middle Stone Age, from 10,000 BC to 6,000 BC.
3. Neolithic period, or the New Stone Age, from 6,000 BC to 1,000 BC.
4. Chalcolithic period is when people used both stone and copper tools. This period from around 3000 BC to 500 BC.
5. Iron Age is when people used Iron tools This period from about 1500 BC to 200 BC.
• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age, 500,000 – 10,000 BCE):
Paleolithic period. “Paleo” means old, and “lithic” means stone, so Paleolithic is called the Old Stone Age.
The term “Paleolithic” was coined in 1865 by a guy named Sir John Lubbock. During the Paleolithic period, people mostly hunted animals and gathered plants like beans and other foods from the ground.People who used to gather mostly collected yams, potatoes, and other crops that grew in the soil.
Back then, the land was mostly covered with frost, especially in the northern and southern areas. In other places, the cold wasn’t as intense. These people lived in those areas and used stones from the mountains to kill animals. They didn’t have much knowledge or ideas about building houses or what to keep inside them. They lived in caves and mostly stayed close to rivers.
The Paleolithic period can be divided into three parts:
1. Lower Paleolithic (500,000 – 100,000 BCE)
2. Middle Paleolithic (100,000 – 40,000 BCE)
3. Upper Paleolithic (40,000 – 10,000 BCE, evidence of Homo sapiens)
1. The Lower Paleolithic period refers to the time from around 50,000 BC to 10,000 BC. During this time, much of the world was covered in ice. People back then used stones shaped like axes as weapons, which they used to cut down trees. There is evidence of this Paleolithic period
Where those sites are—like the Shivalik Range, Soan Valley, and Belan Valley.In Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, there are caves in the Bellan Valley linked to Paleolithic humans. Similarly, in Kashmir’s Pahalgam and next in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhimbetka—remember this name well because evidence of humans from not just the Paleolithic but all eras is found here. After that, there’s Singh Talav in Rajasthan, Nivesa in Maharashtra, Hansgi in Karnataka, and Athirampakam in Tamil Nadu.
2. Middle Paleolithic period. During this time, people started using hand axes less and became more slender and lightweight.Let’s take a look at where evidence related to tool users has been found. In the Son Valley, Rohiri Hills region, a lot of weapons and tools were made. Later, in Rajasthan, in the Narmada River valley near Bhimbetka and the Tungabhadra River valley, evidence related to the Middle Paleolithic period was discovered. During this time, people used to sharpen stones a bit and make tools. They mostly used flake tools, which means they sharpened one stone against another. They also used blade tools—blades, like the ones we use now.The blade they used was sharp on both sides, right? These people used to sharpen stones on both edges.
3. Upper Paleolithic refers to the last part of the Paleolithic era. People from the Upper Paleolithic age developed stones, shaping and sharpening them in different ways. Also, evidence related to Homo sapiens has been found in the Upper Paleolithic.
Upper Paleolithic people evidence has been discovered in Bimbetika, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
By the time the Upper Paleolithic period arrived, the ice had melted and the climate became similar to what it is now.
• Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age, 10,000 – 6,000 BCE):
Mesolithic period. The word “Mesolithic” comes from Greek—”Meso” means middle and “lithic” means stone, so it’s called the Middle Stone Age. During this time, the temperature rose and the climate became warmer. As a result, the ice melted, causing changes in plants and animals. They lived in small huts.People in this era used to live by fishing and gathering food, but later they started domesticating animals and growing plants. This eventually led to agriculture. The first animals they raised were dogs, followed by sheep and goats, which became the most common domesticated animals. These Mesolithic people also began wearing clothes made from animal skins. They painted on walls too.
• Neolithic Age (New Stone Age, 6,000 – 1,000 BCE):
Neolithic period. “Neo” means new, and “lithic” means stone.That’s why it’s called the Neolithic period. This time brought some major changes in human economic life. People shifted from just gathering food to actually producing it. During this time, they started polishing stones, which made the tools sharper. They also used weapons made from bones. In the Neolithic age, people began farming—they grew fruits, grains, and various plants. They cooked and stored food grains too. That’s why we see a lot of pots from this period.In the beginning, pots were made by hand. Then, once they discovered the wheel, they started using foot-powered wheels to make pots. Boat-making also began here, and weaving cloth started from this place too. People in the Neolithic age lived a more settled life.
Important sites: Mehrgarh (Pakistan), Burzahom (Kashmir), Chirand (Bihar), Brahmagiri (Karnataka).
• Chalcolithic Age (Copper-Stone Age, 3,000 – 500 BCE):
Chalcolithic period. During the Chalcolithic age, people mainly used copper. This Chalcolithic period is linked to the Indus Valley Civilization, which means the civilization in the Sindhu (Indus) region. It was during the Chalcolithic period that they started worshipping gods. They hunted animals like cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. But back then, horses…There’s still no clear evidence whether they existed or not. These people used to grow wheat and rice, as well as chickpeas, green grams, and millets. Those living in the eastern regions depended on fish and rice to survive. People in this era lived in mud-brick houses. The village system started from here. These Chalcolithic people liked jewelry and ornaments; women wore bangles and bone jewelry.
Important sites: Ahar and Gilund (Rajasthan), Daimabad (Maharashtra), Malwa and Kayatha (Madhya Pradesh).
• Iron Age (1,500 – 200 BCE):
Widespread use of iron tools.Expansion of agriculture and warfare.Foundation for large kingdoms and the Vedic Age.
Prehistoric Findings
Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh): Rock shelters with prehistoric paintings.
Nevasa (Maharashtra): Evidence of cotton.
Atranjikhera (Uttar Pradesh): Textile printing.
Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh): Evidence of sugarcane.
Inamgaon (Maharashtra): Statue of Mother Goddess.
Mehrgarh (Pakistan): First evidence of agriculture.
Koldihwa (Uttar Pradesh): First evidence of rice cultivation.
Bagor (Rajasthan): Evidence of domesticated animals.
Chirand (Bihar): Serpent cult worship.