📖 Open Your History Textbook to Page Number 11
GRADE 6 • HISTORY • SSC MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD
Chapter 2: Prehistoric Period
Page 11 — Easy Page-wise Explanation
🪨 The Stone Age
📜 Textbook Paragraph
The period in which tools made by humans
were primarily of stone is termed as the
‘Stone Age’.
🌟 Simple Explanation
There was a period when humans made most of their tools from stone. Stone was the main material used for making these tools. Therefore, this period is called the Stone Age.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Period – a particular length of time. | काळ – ठरावीक कालावधी. | काल – समय की एक निश्चित अवधि. |
| Primarily – mainly or mostly. | प्रामुख्याने – मुख्यतः किंवा बहुतांश. | मुख्य रूप से – अधिकतर या प्रमुख रूप से. |
| Termed – given a particular name. | म्हटले जाते – विशिष्ट नाव दिले जाते. | कहा जाता है – कोई विशेष नाम दिया जाता है. |
💡 Useful Information
The name “Stone Age” comes from the main material used for making tools.
🎯 Clear Concept
The period when humans mainly used stone tools is called the Stone Age.
🤔 Think about it
For what purpose did Stone Age humans
use stone tools?
🌟 Simple Explanation of the Question
The question asks about the activities for which Stone Age humans used their stone tools.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose – the reason for using or doing something. | उद्देश – एखादी गोष्ट वापरण्याचे किंवा करण्याचे कारण. | उद्देश्य – किसी वस्तु का उपयोग करने या कोई काम करने का कारण. |
✅ Textbook-based Answer
Stone Age humans may have used stone tools to break fruits having hard shells and to extract bone marrow.
📜 Making and Using Stone Tools
Stone tools were made by chipping and
shaping stone pebbles. The early humans
might have used these stone tools for
breaking the fruits with hard shells, or to
extract the bone marrow. These stone tools
are known as ‘chopper-chopping tools’.
Shaping a stone is the sign of development
of human intellect. The Stone Age is broadly
divided into three periods: Palaeolithic
Age, Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- Early humans made tools by striking and removing small pieces from stone pebbles.
- They shaped the stones so that the tools could be used for particular activities.
- They may have used these tools to break fruits with hard outer shells.
- They may also have used them to extract the soft marrow found inside bones.
- These early tools are called chopper-chopping tools.
- The ability to shape stone shows the development of human intelligence.
- The Stone Age is divided into three broad periods.
- These are the Palaeolithic Age, Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Chipping – removing small pieces from stone by striking it. | टवके काढणे – दगडावर आघात करून त्याचे छोटे तुकडे काढणे. | टुकड़े निकालना – पत्थर पर प्रहार करके छोटे टुकड़े हटाना. |
| Shaping – giving something a particular form. | आकार देणे – एखाद्या वस्तूला ठरावीक रूप देणे. | आकार देना – किसी वस्तु को विशेष रूप देना. |
| Stone pebbles – small, smooth and rounded stones. | दगडी गोटे – छोटे, गुळगुळीत आणि गोलाकार दगड. | पत्थर के कंकड़ – छोटे, चिकने और गोल पत्थर. |
| Extract – to take something out. | बाहेर काढणे – एखादी गोष्ट आतून काढणे. | निकालना – किसी वस्तु को अंदर से बाहर करना. |
| Bone marrow – soft material inside bones. | अस्थिमज्जा – हाडांच्या आतील मऊ पदार्थ. | अस्थि-मज्जा – हड्डियों के अंदर का मुलायम पदार्थ. |
| Human intellect – the human ability to think and understand. | मानवी बुद्धिमत्ता – विचार करण्याची आणि समजण्याची मानवी क्षमता. | मानव बुद्धि – सोचने और समझने की मानवीय क्षमता. |
🎯 Clear Concept
Early humans developed their intelligence by learning to shape stones into useful tools.
🪨 Palaeolithic Age
📜 Life During the Palaeolithic Age
People in the Palaeolothic Age were
entirely dependent on nature. In this
period they stayed either in caves or on
the branches of large trees. The early tools
of the Palaeolothic period were rough.
They were used for hunting, scraping and
digging. The most significant discovery
in human history is the discovery of using
fire. It was discovered in this period.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- Palaeolithic people depended completely upon nature for their needs.
- They stayed in caves or on the branches of large trees.
- Their early stone tools were rough and not finely finished.
- They used these tools for hunting.
- They also used them for scraping and digging.
- The use of fire was a very important discovery in human history.
- According to the textbook, humans discovered the use of fire during this period.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Entirely dependent – completely relying on something. | पूर्णपणे अवलंबून – संपूर्णपणे दुसऱ्या गोष्टीवर आधारलेले. | पूरी तरह निर्भर – पूर्ण रूप से किसी दूसरी चीज पर आश्रित. |
| Rough – not smooth or finely finished. | ओबडधोबड – गुळगुळीत किंवा नीट तयार नसलेले. | खुरदरे – चिकने या अच्छी तरह तैयार न किए गए. |
| Scraping – removing material by rubbing with a sharp edge. | खरवडणे – धारदार कडेने घासून पदार्थ काढणे. | खुरचना – नुकीले किनारे से रगड़कर पदार्थ हटाना. |
| Digging – making a hole in the ground. | खोदणे – जमिनीत खड्डा करणे. | खोदना – जमीन में गड्ढा बनाना. |
| Significant discovery – a very important finding. | महत्त्वपूर्ण शोध – अतिशय महत्त्वाची सापडलेली गोष्ट. | महत्त्वपूर्ण खोज – बहुत महत्त्वपूर्ण रूप से खोजी गई बात. |
💡 Useful Information
Palaeolithic humans depended upon nature, used rough tools and stayed in caves or on large tree branches.
🎯 Clear Concept
Rough stone tools and the discovery of using fire were important features of the Palaeolithic Age.
🔥 Think about it
What changes might have occurred in
human life as a result of use of fire?
Think about it and write it down.
🌟 Simple Explanation of the Question
Think about how the use of fire may have changed the food, safety and daily life of early humans.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Occurred – happened or took place. | घडले – एखादी घटना झाली. | हुआ – कोई घटना घटित हुई. |
| Digest – to break down food inside the body. | पचवणे – शरीरात अन्नाचे पचन होणे. | पचाना – शरीर के अंदर भोजन का पाचन होना. |
✅ Suggested Answer
- It became possible to cook food, and cooked food was easier to digest.
- Fire provided warmth during cold weather.
- Fire helped keep dangerous wild animals away from the living place.
- Fire provided light during darkness.
📜 Palaeolithic Sites in Maharashtra
Palaeolithic tools are found along the banks of rivers or streams. Among the Palaeolithic
sites in Maharashtra, Gangapur (near
Nashik) and Chirki - Nevasa are wellknown.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- Palaeolithic tools have been found near the banks of rivers and streams.
- Gangapur, located near Nashik, is a well-known Palaeolithic site in Maharashtra.
- Chirki-Nevasa is another well-known Palaeolithic site in Maharashtra.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Banks – land along the sides of a river. | काठ – नदीच्या बाजूचा भूभाग. | किनारे – नदी के दोनों ओर की भूमि. |
| Streams – small, narrow flows of water. | ओढे – पाण्याचे छोटे आणि अरुंद प्रवाह. | छोटी धाराएँ – पानी के छोटे और संकरे प्रवाह. |
| Sites – places where historical remains are found. | स्थळे – ज्या ठिकाणी ऐतिहासिक अवशेष सापडतात. | स्थल – वे स्थान जहाँ ऐतिहासिक अवशेष मिलते हैं. |
🎯 Clear Concept
Gangapur near Nashik and Chirki-Nevasa are important Palaeolithic sites in Maharashtra.
⏳ 2.3 Mesolithic to Neolithic
🪨 Mesolithic Age
📜 Life During the Mesolithic Age
During this period, Homo sapiens
sought shelter in natural caves and rock
shelters. A rock shelter is an open space
under a mountain cliff. Humans began
to stay at such places together in groups.
Important progress was made during this
period in the technique of manufacturing
stone tools. The tools became smaller in
size. Humans now began to utilize various
types of stone for tool-making. These tools
proved useful for a wide range of activities,
including hunting, fishing, harvesting.
They also began to make sharp tools by
grinding and polishing horns and bones.
Humans began to domesticate animals
such as dogs, goats and sheep. Dog was
the first animal to be domesticated. Fishing
also began during this period. After that,
humans began to live either in caves or in
temporary seasonal camps. This period
marks a transitional phase in the journey
from a nomadic way of life to a settled one.
In Maharashtra, Patne located in Jalgaon
district is an important Mesolithic site.
🌟 Simple Explanation
- During the Mesolithic Age, Homo sapiens searched for shelter in natural caves and rock shelters.
- A rock shelter is an open space below a mountain cliff.
- Humans began staying together in groups at such places.
- The method of making stone tools improved greatly during this period.
- Stone tools became smaller in size.
- Humans began using different kinds of stones for making tools.
- These tools were useful for hunting, fishing and harvesting.
- Humans made sharp tools by grinding and polishing horns and bones.
- They began domesticating animals such as dogs, goats and sheep.
- The dog was the first animal to be domesticated.
- Fishing also began during this period.
- Humans lived in caves or temporary camps used during particular seasons.
- This period formed a transition from a nomadic life towards a settled life.
- Patne in Jalgaon district is an important Mesolithic site in Maharashtra.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Sought shelter – searched for a safe place to stay. | आश्रय शोधला – राहण्यासाठी सुरक्षित जागा शोधली. | आश्रय खोजा – रहने के लिए सुरक्षित स्थान ढूँढा. |
| Rock shelter – an open sheltered space below a mountain cliff. | शैलाश्रय – डोंगराच्या कड्याखालील उघडी संरक्षित जागा. | शैलाश्रय – पहाड़ी चट्टान के नीचे का खुला सुरक्षित स्थान. |
| Manufacturing – the process of making something. | निर्मिती – एखादी वस्तू तयार करण्याची प्रक्रिया. | निर्माण – किसी वस्तु को बनाने की प्रक्रिया. |
| Harvesting – gathering fully grown crops. | पीक कापणी – तयार झालेले पीक गोळा करणे. | फसल कटाई – तैयार फसल को काटकर इकट्ठा करना. |
| Grinding and polishing – rubbing to shape and smooth a material. | घासणे आणि गुळगुळीत करणे – वस्तूला आकार देऊन गुळगुळीत करण्यासाठी घासणे. | घिसना और चमकाना – वस्तु को आकार देकर चिकना करने के लिए रगड़ना. |
| Domesticate – to tame an animal and keep it for human use. | माणसाळवणे – प्राण्याला पाळीव बनवून उपयोगासाठी ठेवणे. | पालतू बनाना – पशु को वश में करके मनुष्य के उपयोग के लिए रखना. |
| Temporary seasonal camps – camps used for a short time during certain seasons. | तात्पुरत्या हंगामी छावण्या – विशिष्ट ऋतूत थोड्या काळासाठी वापरलेली राहण्याची ठिकाणे. | अस्थायी मौसमी शिविर – किसी विशेष मौसम में थोड़े समय के लिए उपयोग किए गए शिविर. |
| Transitional phase – a period of change from one condition to another. | संक्रमणाचा टप्पा – एका स्थितीतून दुसऱ्या स्थितीकडे बदलण्याचा काळ. | संक्रमणकालीन चरण – एक अवस्था से दूसरी अवस्था में बदलने का समय. |
| Nomadic way of life – a life of moving from place to place. | भटके जीवन – एका ठिकाणाहून दुसऱ्या ठिकाणी फिरत राहण्याचे जीवन. | घुमंतू जीवन – एक स्थान से दूसरे स्थान पर घूमते रहने का जीवन. |
💡 Useful Information
The Mesolithic Age connected the nomadic way of life with the later settled way of life. Smaller tools, fishing and animal domestication were important developments.
🎯 Clear Concept
During the Mesolithic Age, tools improved, humans lived in groups, domesticated animals and gradually moved towards settled life.
💬 Tell me!
Observe the given image. Discuss it in
the classroom
🌟 Simple Explanation of the Question
Look carefully at the textbook picture. Identify the shelter, fire, tools, people and activities visible in it. Discuss these observations in class.
🖼️ Explanation of “A Natural Cave”
🌟 What Is Visible in the Image?
- A group of early humans is living together near a natural cave.
- The cave provides them with a natural shelter.
- Some people are sitting together around a fire.
- One person is carrying a bundle of wood towards the group.
- Two people in the foreground appear to be making or shaping stone tools.
- Other group members are working with stones and collected materials.
- The picture shows that different people are performing different activities together.
| Meanings | मराठी अर्थ | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| Observe – to look at something carefully. | निरीक्षण करणे – एखादी गोष्ट काळजीपूर्वक पाहणे. | निरीक्षण करना – किसी वस्तु को ध्यान से देखना. |
| Discuss – to talk about a topic with others. | चर्चा करणे – एखाद्या विषयावर इतरांशी बोलणे. | चर्चा करना – किसी विषय पर दूसरों के साथ बात करना. |
| Natural cave – a naturally formed hollow space in rock or a mountain. | नैसर्गिक गुहा – खडकात किंवा डोंगरात नैसर्गिकरीत्या तयार झालेली पोकळ जागा. | प्राकृतिक गुफा – चट्टान या पहाड़ में प्राकृतिक रूप से बनी खोखली जगह. |
✅ Suggested Classroom Discussion
The image shows early humans living together near a natural cave. The cave provides shelter. Some people sit around a fire, while others collect wood, work with stones and make tools. The picture shows group life and the different activities performed by early humans.
💡 Useful Information
The illustration connects with the textbook description of humans living together in natural caves and rock shelters.
🎯 Clear Concept
Early humans used natural caves for shelter and worked together for their daily needs.