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Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation

CBSE · Class 9 · Social Science

NCERT Solutions for Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation — CBSE Class 9 Social Science.

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43 Questions Solved · 6 Sections

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The Big Questions

1How did humans live on Earth before the beginning of civilisation?Show solution
Before civilisation, humans lived as hunter-gatherers. They moved from place to place in search of food, used stone tools, lived in caves or open camps, and later formed temporary settlements near rivers and lakes. In the Palaeolithic period they hunted animals, gathered plants, and depended directly on nature. Over time, they developed tools, techniques, and other forms of technology to survive changing environments.

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2How did humans communicate before writing was invented?Show solution
Before writing was invented, humans communicated through speech, gestures, symbols, paintings, and engravings. Early humans also decorated cave walls and rock shelters with paintings and used symbols and motifs on pottery and seals. Such symbolic communication helped them express ideas before written language developed.

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3How is archaeology helpful in understanding our past?Show solution
Archaeology helps us understand the past by studying material remains such as tools, bones, fossils, pottery, seals, buildings, and cave paintings. Since early history was before writing, these objects are the main sources used to reconstruct how people lived, what they ate, how they worked, and how their societies changed. Archaeologists also make and use similar tools to understand how ancient people used them.

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4How did early civilisations interact with each other?Show solution
Early civilisations interacted through trade, contact between neighbouring regions, and the exchange of goods and ideas. The chapter says that Mesopotamia and the Sindhu–Sarasvatī valley were close to each other, so they had strong contacts and trade. Mesopotamian records mention trade with Dilmun, Magan, and Meluhha, and Meluhha is generally identified with the Harappan civilisation. Civilisations also influenced one another through technologies such as writing, craft production, and water management, though not all had direct contact.

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LET'S EXPLORE

1Observe this seal carefully and discuss why the script has not yet been deciphered. Also, find out what efforts have been made to decipher it.Show solution

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2Let us observe the images given above and answer the following questions.Show solution
Across the early human ancestors, the skulls show gradual changes. The earlier skulls are smaller and more sloping, while later ones become more rounded and closer to the shape of modern humans. Yes, the face also shows a gradual straightening over time. This reflects the evolutionary sequence from earlier ancestors to Homo sapiens.

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3Observe the chart (Fig. 4.14) and identify the animals that were domesticated. Also try and identify the types of human habitats and objects that were used. Are any of these still used in present times?Show solution
The chart shows domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, and possibly pigs in different early farming regions. Human habitats include caves, temporary camps, huts, and village settlements. Objects used include stone tools, pottery, grinding stones, bows and arrows, and microliths. Some of these are still used today, such as village houses, pottery, bows/arrows for sport or hunting in some places, and grinding tools in modified form.

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4Can you find out which countries constitute West Asia in present times?Show solution
The chapter says that modern West Asia includes mainly Iraq and Kuwait, with some parts of Turkey and southwestern Iran. So these are the countries/regions constituting West Asia in present times according to the text.

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5Do you find any similarities between the temples in India and those of the Sumerian civilisation as centres of socio-cultural and economic activity?Show solution
Yes. The chapter says Sumerian temples, especially the ziggurats, were centres of social, cultural, and economic activity. Similarly, many Indian temples have also acted as places of worship and as centres where people gathered, and where economic and social activities took place. In both cases, religious institutions were closely connected with the life of the community, not just with prayer.

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6Explore more examples of Chinese characters that resemble the objects or ideas they represent. Note down at least two such characters and explain how their shapes are connected to their meanings.Show solution

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7Let us now learn more about how the Egyptian civilisation grew. Egypt saw the emergence of city-states around 3000 BCE as population increased and resources became available. The river Nile watered the land along its banks, and every summer the river flooded, leading to annual inundations, with rich mud, ‘kemet’, excellent for growing crops.Show solution
Egypt grew because the Nile made farming possible. Every year the river flooded and left behind rich mud called kemet, which was excellent for crops. Farmers also dug ditches to divert water into fields and stored water in reservoirs. Because of this water and fertile soil, population increased, city-states emerged around 3000 BCE, and organised government developed to manage irrigation and farming.

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8Look at the social hierarchy pyramid in the image. What were the social classes of early Egypt? What were the different kinds of occupations? What could have been a typical daily routine of the people from each class?Show solution
The social hierarchy of early Egypt had the pharaohs at the top, followed by priests, nobles, officials, scribes, artisans, traders, farmers, labourers, and slaves. Different occupations included ruling, religious duties, administration, writing, craftwork, trade, farming, and manual labour. A typical daily routine would differ by class: pharaohs and nobles would govern and attend rituals; priests would perform religious duties; scribes would record information; farmers would work in fields; artisans and traders would make and sell goods; labourers would do heavy work; and slaves would perform the hardest tasks. Thus, daily life depended strongly on social rank.

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9The Chinese script is logographic, with characters representing entire words or morphemes (smallest meaningful units of language), rather than sounds. Person 人人 TreeShow solution

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10Observe this seal carefully and discuss why the script has not yet been deciphered. Also, find out what efforts have been made to decipher it. You can use your textbook, consult your teacher, or refer to online sources.Show solution

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11*The Epic of Gilgamesh*, written during the Mesopotamian civilisation, is one of the earliest stories written. Try and find out more such stories and share them in class.Show solution

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12Let us observe the images given above and answer the following questions.
→ Do you notice any changes in the shape or features of the skulls across different ancestors?
→ Can you observe a gradual straightening of the face?Show solution
Yes. The skulls show changes in shape and features across ancestors. Earlier skulls look more sloping and less developed, while later skulls become more rounded and more like modern human skulls. These changes show the process of human evolution.

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13Do you notice any changes in the shape or features of the skulls across different ancestors?Show solution
Yes. The skulls show gradual changes across different ancestors. The shape becomes more modern over time, with a larger and more rounded head and less pronounced features compared to earlier ancestors.

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14Can you observe a gradual straightening of the face?Show solution
Yes. There is a gradual straightening of the face across the skulls. Earlier ancestors have a more projecting face, while later humans show a flatter, straighter facial profile.

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THINK ABOUT IT

1Why do you think early humans left Africa to migrate to other regions?Show solution
Early humans likely left Africa because of changing climate and environmental conditions, and in search of food, water, and better living conditions. As populations grew and resources changed, they moved into other regions over long periods of time. The chapter says the spread happened in waves, including a major one around 125,000 years ago with early *Homo sapiens*.

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2Why do you think the shift to farming during the Neolithic period is called a revolution rather than a simple change? Discuss with your classmates.Show solution
The shift to farming is called a revolution because it brought a major and lasting transformation in human life, not just a small change. People moved from hunting and gathering to food production, domesticated plants and animals, settled in permanent villages, made pottery and new tools, and eventually created the conditions for civilisation. Such a change affected economy, society, settlement, and technology all at once.

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3Can you imagine how long-distance trade would have been affected had the Harappans not followed a standard system of weights?Show solution
Without a standard system of weights, long-distance trade would have become much harder. Buyers and sellers would not agree easily on quantity and value, so trade would be slow, unfair, and less trustworthy. The Harappans’ binary and decimal weight system made exchange and transport of goods more efficient.

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4Why were rivers important in the growth of early civilisations?Show solution
Rivers were important because they provided water for farming, fertile soil through floods, and help in transport and trade. Civilisations like those of the Sindhu–Sarasvatī, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China all grew in river valleys because rivers supported agriculture, settlement, and economic growth. Rivers also helped people manage irrigation and develop cities.

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5Why do you think there is a scale with a heart on one side and a feather on the other (fig. 4.29)? What can this papyrus tell us about early Egyptian beliefs?
6Can you locate the River Nile on the given map? Why do you think the northern part is called Lower Egypt and the southern part Upper Egypt?
7Observe the images given above. What do they tell you about Egyptian fashion?
8What could have been the other reasons for building the Great Wall of China? Explore and share your findings on the Great Wall through a model or presentation.
9Why do you think the cuneiform writing system was contemporary to the Harappan script, but while cuneiform has been deciphered, the Harappan script has not yet been deciphered? Do you think our understanding of a civilisation changes when its script is deciphered compared to when it is not?
10Observe the images given above. What do they tell you about Egyptian fashion?
- Which social classes do you think used these items?
- What clues in the images help you to make this guess?

Try to explain your reasoning based on the materials, designs, or accessories shown in the pictures.

Questions and activities

1Do you think life became easier or more challenging after humans started farming? Give two reasons for your answer.
2The environment offers human societies both opportunities as well as challenges. Explain with reference to early farming communities and river-valley civilisations.
3Why do historians divide early human history into different ages such as Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age? What does this classification tell us about human progress?
4Imagine you are a Neolithic farmer. Describe one day of your life. What challenges would you face that a hunter-gatherer would not?
5Imagine that the Harappan script gets deciphered tomorrow. What new types of information do you think historians might learn?
6Prepare a table with three columns—Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic—and fill in their distinctive features: tools, settlements, art, and subsistence.
7“Bronze Age civilisations developed independently but shared common features.” Examine this statement with reference to the civilisations given in the chapter.
8Although rivers provided many benefits, they also created challenges for early societies. Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of settling near rivers.
9With the help of your teacher, find out more about the Code of Hammurabi. Why was it important? Do you think it was fair to all sections of society? Give reasons for your answer.
10If you had to choose one major innovation from early civilisations that changed the world permanently, what would it be and why?
11Compare the social hierarchy and daily life of people in the Egyptian civilisation with those in Mesopotamia or China. What similarities and differences do you notice?
12Activity: Using maps, locate the major rivers and civilisations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Sindhu–Sarasvatī Valley. Mark the trade links between them.
13Activity: Choose one early civilisation (Mesopotamia, Egypt, or China) and prepare a mini-scrapbook or a presentation showing their innovations in tools, writing, art, and architecture. Include pictures, brief descriptions, and explain their significance.

DON'T MISS OUT

1The cuneiform writing system was contemporary to the Harappan script, but while cuneiform has been deciphered, the Harappan script has not yet been deciphered. Do you think our understanding of a civilisation changes when its script is deciphered compared to when it is not?

LET'S RECALL

1Do you remember studying about the Silk Route in Grade 7? How was India connected with it? Can you recollect China’s contact with India with reference to Buddhism that you studied in Grade 7?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation for CBSE Class 9 Social Science?
Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation covers several key topics that are frequently asked in CBSE Class 9 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
How to score full marks in Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation — CBSE Class 9 Social Science?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 76 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.
Where can I get free NCERT Solutions for Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation Class 9 Social Science?
This page has free step-by-step NCERT Solutions for every exercise question in Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation (CBSE Class 9 Social Science) — written the way examiners award marks: given, formula, working, answer.

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