Who Were Hunter-Gatherers?

Who Were They?

• Hunter-gatherers were early humans who lived by hunting animals and gathering plants, fruits, and roots for food.
• They moved from one place to another in search of food.

Why Did They Keep Moving?

• Food Availability → Once resources were used up, they had to move.
• Seasons Changed → Different fruits and animals were available at different times.
• Safety from Wild Animals → They avoided dangerous places.
• Water Needs → They moved to places with lakes, rivers, and rain.

How Did Early Humans Survive?

Food

• Hunted animals (deer, wild boar, fish).
• Gathered wild fruits, nuts, seeds, and honey.

Tools and Weapons

• Made stone tools for cutting, hunting, and digging.
• Used wooden sticks and bones for hunting small animals.

Shelter and Clothing

• Lived in caves, rock shelters, and open grounds.
• Used animal skins and tree leaves for clothing.

Why Did People Start Farming and Herding?

• Around 12,000 years ago, people began to observe plant growth and animal behavior.
• Climate changes led to the growth of grasses, wheat, barley, and rice, which encouraged farming.
• Animals like goats, sheep, and cattle started living near humans.

Why Did They Shift to Farming?

• More food security than hunting.
• No need to keep moving; could stay in one place.
• Domesticated animals for food, milk, and labor.

How Did Agriculture Change Human Life?

1. Permanent Settlements

• People started building homes near farms.
• Small villages developed, leading to the first communities.

2. Surplus Food Production

• Farming produced extra food, which could be stored.
• This led to food security and a better diet.

3. Population Growth

• More food → More people survived → Families grew.

4. New Professions

• Some people became farmers, while others became tool makers, potters, and traders.

Domestication of Plants and Animals

What is Domestication?

• Domestication means taming wild plants and animals for human use.
• It started around 12,000 years ago.

Domesticated Plants

• Wheat and Barley (First crops grown).
• Rice, Millets, and Pulses (Grown in different regions).

Domesticated Animals

• Dogs → Helped in hunting.
• Sheep, Goats, and Cattle → Provided meat, milk, and wool.
• Horses and Donkeys → Used for transport.

Settled Life and the First Villages

• With farming, people started living in one place, forming villages.
• Early villages had huts made of mud, wood, and straw.
• People began storing grains in clay pots and baskets.
• They also made granaries (large storage areas for grains).

Advantages of Settled Life

• Farming provided regular food.
• People lived in groups for safety.
• New crafts like pottery and tool-making began.

Tools and Pottery of Early Farmers

1. Stone and Bone Tools

• Better stone tools (sharper and polished).
• Sickles for harvesting crops.
• Grain grinding stones.

1. Pottery

• Handmade pots for storing grains and water.
• Decorated pottery showed creativity.

Important Archaeological Sites Related to Early Farming

Conclusion

• Early humans were hunter-gatherers who moved frequently for food.
• Around 12,000 years ago, people started farming and domesticating animals.
• Farming led to permanent villages, surplus food, and new jobs.
• Domestication provided food, labor, and transportation.
• Pottery and tools improved food storage and agriculture.
• Archaeological sites like Mehrgarh and Burzahom provide evidence of early farming.