Chapter 4 Solutions — Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation

Questions and activities

1. 1.
   Do you think life became easier or more challenging after humans started farming? Give two reasons for your answer.
2. 2.
   The environment offers human societies both opportunities as well as challenges. Explain with reference to early farming communities and river-valley civilisations.
3. 3.
   Why 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?
4. 4.
   Imagine you are a Neolithic farmer. Describe one day of your life. What challenges would you face that a hunter-gatherer would not?
5. 5.
   Imagine that the Harappan script gets deciphered tomorrow. What new types of information do you think historians might learn?
6. 6.
   Prepare a table with three columns—Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic—and fill in their distinctive features: tools, settlements, art, and subsistence.
7. 7.
   "Bronze Age civilisations developed independently but shared common features." Examine this statement with reference to the civilisations given in the chapter.
8. 8.
   Although rivers provided many benefits, they also created challenges for early societies. Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of settling near rivers.
9. 9.
   With 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.
10. 10.
    If you had to choose one major innovation from early civilisations that changed the world permanently, what would it be and why?
11. 11.
    Compare 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?
12. 12.
    Activity: Using maps, locate the major rivers and civilisations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Sindhu–Sarasvatī Valley. Mark the trade links between them.
13. 13.
    Activity: 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.