Evolution of Human Life

As pointed out earlier, the history of the human race has been constructed through many years of research and the scientific tools, in absence of clear historic records. This part is therefore called the pre-historic period. The construction of this period is based on two main theories as under, that are based on the anthropological evidences collected from the fossils:-

• Radian Theory that claims origination of the human race in Africa and its spread throughout the world by migration (radiation).
• Parallel Evolutionary Theory that claims evolution of humans from Apes in all parts of the world simultaneously.

The following table gives the evolutionary process as believed by the anthropologists:

Table 1.2: Evolution of Man

The table below gives a further clarification on the way development of man was effected from the Old Stone Age to the Metal Age.

Table 1.3: Development of Man in the past 2 Million Years

Diagrammatically, the human evolution can be represented as under:

Highlights of the Ancient Culture:

• The Paleolithic man had short built, wooly haired, flat nosed and muscular. He hailed from Negreto race and had dark skin.
• Initially the man was of migratory nature and lived in the caves. He hunted and gathered his food. He left the dead to decay in the forests. Cannibalism was known to exist.
• The Paleolithic man made tools of quartzite stone.
• Later, as development started, the man appears to have made refined tools (Megaliths).
• In the middle Paleolithic stage, he appears to have discovered fire and its use.
• Towards the later part of Paleolithic age, he appears to have learnt to make pots and cook food.
• The Mesolithic period indicates cattle keeping. The transition period also reveals use of Granite for tool making. The smaller tools have been found (Microliths). 
• The Neoliths made houses. They commenced agricultural activities and settled down as a society. This ushered in an era of economic development. Painting, sculpting and pottery-making was known to the neoliths. The Neolithic sites in India are not older than 7,000 BC. Advent of Wheat and Barley is supposed to be around 7000 BC. Around 4700 BC, the neoliths used hand made pottery. Wheel-made pottery appears to have been invented around 4000 BC. The polished black ware has been evidenced around 700 BC.
• Excavation Sites:   The Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic sites have been excavated in India at Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat.

 

The Age of Metals:

In India, the Chalcolithic Age started with use of Copper and Bronze. The Iron Age followed the Copper and Bronze Age. The Iron Age is around 1000 BC. The Iron megaliths have been found in Upper Gangetic Plain, Malwa Plateau, Baluchistan Plains, Peshawar Region, South and Central India.

Advent of Iron impacted the society economically and led to commencement of industrial base and greater urbanization.

More than 50 Chalcolithic sites have been found in India