WHAT IS HISTORY ? AND WHY WE STUDY HISTORY IN MODERN AGE 21TH CENTURY

 History 

History is the study of past events, people know what happened in the past by looking at the past by the sources like letter, wall paint and other past remaining things. The person who studies History is known as Historian.

Why we study History ? 

1.  By reading history, we can learn from time to time what happens in the past. 

2.  To understand the present, you must know the past. Knowing the past, we can shape the present and the future. 

3.  Some of the ways in which people used to live in peace and happiness in the past may still be useful to us. History helps to choose the right ones from the past. 

4.  Knowing the various practices of the past, the formation of states, the system of governance, etc. we can accept those that are necessary for us. Reading history helps in doing this. 

5.  Many prejudices and superstitions in the past are still prevalent in our society. By reading history we can know when, why and how they were created, and what are not acceptable in the present age. Try to adapt to current situation by making the necessary changes. So reading history is a must for us. 

Father of History

 Herodotus was known as father of History. He was an ancient Greek first historian. He was born in between 550 and 479 BCE in Halicarnassus in Turkey. He was written a book "The History". 

The Stone Age

The age when the pre-historic man began to use stone for utilitarian purpose is termed as the Stone Age. The stone age started around 2 to 2.5 million years ago. The stone age occurred between 6000 BC and 2500 BC. Man is said to have appeared on the Earth (first in Africa) in the early Pleistocene, with true ox, elephant and horse. Bori in Maharashtra gives the earliest evidence of man in India, in the middle Pleistocene period.

Types of Stone Age:

1. Palaeolitic Age

2. Mesolithic Age 

3. Neolithic Age

Palaeolithic Age (Hunters and Food Gathers up to 9000 BC)

The term Palaeolithic was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865 and refers to a pre-historic era distinguished by the development of the first stone tools made of Quartzite. Hence, Palaeolithic men are also called as Quartzite Men.

Types of Palaeolithic Age: 

1. Lower Palaeolithic Age 

2. Middle Palaeolithic Age 

3. Upper Palaeolithic Age 

1. The Lower Palaeolithic Age (500000 - 50000 BC)

It is the earliest sub-division of the Palaeolithic or Old Age. The tools of this phase include mainly hand-axes, cleavers, choppers and chopping tools.

 Lower Paleolithic Age Sites

  Sites                               states

 Belan Valley                      -      Madhya   Pradesh and 

                                                    Uttar Pradesh

  Bhimbetka, Jogdaha       -     Madhya  Pradesh

  Bagor, Budha Pushkar   -    Rajasthan

  Patne, Nandipalle            -   Maharashtra

  Singhbhum                       -    Jharkhand

 2. The Middle Palaeolithic Age (50000-40000 BC)

It's tools pattern is based upon flakes and crude pebble industry. The dominant tool types being blades, points and borers. 

Middle Palaeolithic Age Sites

 Sites                                States

 Nevasa                               -        Maharashtra

Bhimbetka                         -        Madhya                                                                  Pradesh

Singhbhum                        -        Jharkhand

3. The Upper Palaeolithic Age (40000-10000 BC)

It is the characterized by burins, scrappers, flint industry and appearance of modern man (Homo-sapiens). Animal remains found in the Belan Valley in Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh shows that goats, sheep and cattle were exploited.

Upper Palaeolithic Age Sites

 Sites                               States

 Kurnool Caves                -        Andhra                                                                  Pradesh 

 Pahalgam                        -        Kashmir

 Kortallayar Valley         -        Tamil Nadu

2. Mesolithic Age (Hunters and Herders in 9000-4000 BC)

It was a transitional phase between the Palaeolithic age and the Neolithic age. Mesolithic periods is technologically characterized by microliths or small pointed and sharp stone tools. 

Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh and Bagor in Rajasthan provide the earliest evidence for the domestication of animals. Sites like Bhimbetka,  Adamgarh, Partapgarh and Mirzapur are rich in Mesolithic ate and paintings.

Mesolithic Age Sites

 Sites                                  States

 Langhnaj                      -              Gujarat

 Sanganakallu              -               Karnataka

 Gauri Gundam            -               Andhra                                                                   Pradesh

3. Neolithic Age (Food Producers in 4000-1800 BC)

The Neolithic age or the New Stone age was the last phase of the Stone age. It is characterised by the use of polished stone tools and the beginning of cultivation of crops. An important invention of this time was the making of the wheel and the discovery of fire.

Mehrgarh in Baluchistan (Pakistan) is the oldest Neolithic sites in Indian sub-continent (7000BC).