NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 2 From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food Notes

April 30, 2022

NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 2 From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food

Textbook	NCERT
Class	6^th
Subject	Social Science (History)
Chapter	2^nd
Chapter Name	From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food
Category	Class 6th History Notes
Medium	English
Source	Last Doubt

NCERT Solution Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 2 From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food Notes What are the 3 types of hunting?, What is the main reason for hunting?, What are the 5 stages of hunting development?, What are the 3 animals that hunt humans?, What is bird hunting called?, What are the 4C of hunting?, What are the 4 main causes of hunting accidents?, Why do men hunt animals?, Why hunting is a sport?, What animal is most hunted?, What types of animals are hunted?

NCERT Solutions Class 6th Social Science History Chapter – 2 From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food

Chapter – 2

From Hunting Gathering to Growing Food

Notes

Hunter-gatherers – The name comes from the way in which they got their food. Generally, they hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, gathered fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, leaves, stalks and eggs.

Why Hunter-gatherers moved from place to place

(i) they would have eaten up all the available plant and animal resources. Therefore, they would have had to go elsewhere in search of food.
(ii) animals move from place to place – either in search of smaller prey, or, in the case of deer and wild cattle, in search of grass and leaves. That is why those who hunted them had to follow their movements.
(iii) plants and trees bear fruit in different seasons. So, people may have moved from season to season in search of different kinds of plants.
(iv) people, plants and animals need water to survive. Water is found in lakes, streams and rivers. While many rivers and lakes are perennial (with water throughout the year), others are seasonal. People living on their banks would have had to go in search of water during the dry seasons.

A changing environment

Around 12,000 years ago, there were major changes in the climate of the world, with a shift to relatively warm conditions. In many areas, this led to the development of grasslands. This in turn led to an increase in the number of deer, antelope, goat, sheep and cattle, i.e. animals that survived on grass.

It is likely that this helped people to start thinking about herding and rearing these animals themselves. Fishing also became important.

The beginning of farming and herding

• This was also a time when several grain bearing grasses, including wheat, barley and rice grew naturally in different parts of the subcontinent.

• Men, women and children probably collected these grains as food, and learnt where they grew, and when they ripened. This may have led them to think about growing plants on their own. In this way people became farmers.

• The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog. Later, people encouraged animals that were relatively gentle to come near the camps where they lived.

• These animals such as sheep, goat, cattle and also the pig lived in herds, and most of them ate grass. Often, people protected these animals from attacks by other wild animals. This is how they became herders.

A new way of life

This may be for several days, weeks, months and in some cases years. When people began growing plants, it meant that they had to stay in the same place for a long time looking after the plants, watering, weeding, driving away animals and birds – till the grain ripened. And then, the grain had to be used carefully.

As grain had to be stored for both food and seed, people had to think of ways of storing it. In many areas, they began making large clay pots, or wove baskets, or dug pits into the ground.

Rearing animals – Animals multiply naturally. Besides, if they are looked after carefully, they provide milk, which is an important source of food, and meat, whenever required. In other words, animals that are reared can be used as a ‘store’ of food.

Finding out about the first farmers and herders

• Each marks a site from where archaeologists have found evidence of early farmers and herders. These are found all over the subcontinent. Some of the most important ones are in the north-west, in present-day Kashmir, and in east and south India.

• One of the most exciting finds includes remains of burnt grain. (These may have been burnt accidentally or on purpose).

• Scientists can identify these grains, and so we know that a number of crops were grown in different parts of the subcontinent. They can also identify the bones of different animals.

Domestication – The taming of animals for various purposes is referred to as Domestication.

Fossil Wood – Ancient wood that has hardened into stone is called Fossil Wood.

Levels – Layers of a mound formed by various waste material over hundreds of years, are called Levels.

Neolithic Age – The part of history after about 10,000 years ago is referred to as the Neolithic Age.

Tribes – Many farmers and herders lived in groups, which are called Tribes.

About 12,000 years ago – the beginning of Domestication.

About 10,000 years ago – the beginning of the Neolithic Age.

About 8,000 years ago – the beginning of settlement at Mehrgarh.

Q1. Why do farmers grow some crops in some areas/ and not in other areas?

Ans – Farmers do this because different plants grow in different conditions.

Q2. Which was the first animal to be tamed?

Ans – The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog.

Q3. Which animals were considered relatively gentle?

Ans – Sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs were considered relatively gentle.

Q4. Mention the two purposes for which grains had to be stored.

Ans – Grains had to be stored for food and seed.

Q5. What did people do to store grains?

Ans – People made large clay pots or wove baskets, or dug pits into the ground.

Q6. Name some important sites where archaeologists have found evidence of farmers and herders.

Ans – These sites can be found in the northwest, in present-day Kashmir and in East and South India.

Q7. How do scientists help in finding out whether the discovered sites were settlements of farmers and herders?

Ans – Scientists study evidence of plants and animal bones, in order to find out whether the discovered sites were settlements of farmers and herders.