Pre Historic Period Races And Culture

by

<<–2/”>a >body>



Prehistoric Period :- Races and culture

The distant past when there was no paper or language or the written word, and hence no books or written document, is called as the Prehistoric period. It was difficult to understand how Prehistoric people lived until scholars began excavations in Prehistoric sites.Piecing together of information deduced from old tools, habitat, bones of both animals and human beings and drawings on the cave walls scholars have constructed fairly accurate knowledge about what happened and how people lived in prehistoric times.Paintings and drawings were the oldest Art Forms practiced by human beings to express themselves using the cave wall as their canvas.

The drawings and paintings can be catagorised into seven historical periods. Period I, Upper Palaeolithic; Period II, Mesolithic; and Period III, Chalcolithic. After Period III there are four successive periods. But we will confine ourselves here only to the first three phases. Prehistoric Era art denotes the art (mainly rock paintings) during Paleolithic Age, Mesolithic Age and Chalcolithic Age.

Paleolithic Age Art

The prehistoric period in the early development of human beings is commonly known as the ‘Old Stone Age’ or ‘Palaeolithic Age’.

We did not get any evidence of paintings from lower or middle paleolithic age yet. In the Upper Palaeolithic period, we see a proliferation of artistic activities. Subjects of early works confined to simple human figures, human activities, geometric designs, and symbols. First discovery of rock paintings in the world was made in India (1867-68) by an Archaeologist, Archibold Carlleyle, twelve years before the discovery of Altamira in Spain (site of oldest rock paintings in the world). In India, remnants of rock paintings have been found on the walls of caves situated in several districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. Some of the examples of sites early rock paintings are Lakhudiyar in Uttarakhand, Kupgallu in Telangana, Piklihal and Tekkalkotta in Karnataka, Bhimbetka and Jogimara in Madhya Pradesh etc. Paintings found here can be divided into three categories: Man, Animal, and Geometric symbols.


Mesolithic period Art:

  • The largest number of paintings belongs to this period.
  • Themes multiply but the paintings are small in size.
  • Hunting scenes predominate
  • Hunters in groups armed with barbed spears pointed sticks, arrows, and bows.
  • Trap and snares used to catch animals can be seen in some paintings.
  • Mesolithic people loved to point animals.
  • In some pictures, animals are chasing men and in others, they are being chased by hunter men.
  • Animals painted in a naturalistic style and humans were depicted in a stylistic manner.
  • Women are painted both in nude and clothed.
  • Young and old equally find places in paintings.
  • Community dances provide a common theme.
  • Sort of family life can be seen in some paintings (woman, man, and children).


Chalcolithic period Art:

  • Copper Age art.
  • The paintings of this period reveal the association, contact and mutual exchange of requirements of the cave dwellers of this area with settled agricultural communities of the Malwa Plateau.
  • Pottery and Metal tools can be seen in paintings.
  • Similarities with rock paintings: Common motifs (designs/patterns like cross-hatched squares, lattices etc)
  • The difference with rock paintings: Vividness and vitality of older periods disappear from these paintings.

 

 

Some of the general features of Prehistoric paintings

  • Used colours, including various shades of white, yellow, orange, red ochre, purple, brown, green and black.
  • But white and red were their favourite.
  • The paints used by these people were made by grinding various coloured rocks.
  • They got red from haematite (Geru in India).
  • Green prepared from a green coloured rock called Chalcedony.
  • White was probably from Limestone.
  • Some sticky substances such as animal fat or gum or resin from trees may be used while mixing rock powder with water.
  • Brushes were made of plant fiber.
  • It is believed that these colours remained thousands of years because of the Chemical Reaction of the oxide present on the surface of rocks.
  • Paintings were found both from occupied and unoccupied caves.
  • It means that these paintings were sometimes used also as some sort of signals, warnings etc.
  • Many rock art sites of the new painting are painted on top of an older painting.
  • In Bhimbetka, we can see nearly 20 layers of paintings, one on top of another.
  • It shows the gradual development of the human being from period to period.
  • The symbolism is inspiration from nature along with slight spirituality.
  • Expression of ideas through very few drawings (representation of men by the stick like drawings).
  • Use of many geometrical patterns.
  • Scenes were mainly hunting and economic and social life of people.
  • The figure of Flora, Fauna, human, mythical creatures, carts, chariots etc can be seen.
  • More importance for red and white colours.

 

 


,

The prehistory of the world is the period of time before the invention of writing. This period is often divided into three main eras: the Paleolithic, the Mesolithic, and the Neolithic. The Paleolithic era is the longest of these eras, and it is characterized by the use of stone tools. The Mesolithic era is a transitional period between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic, and it is characterized by the development of new technologies, such as the use of bows and arrows. The Neolithic era is the last of the three main eras, and it is characterized by the development of agriculture.

The prehistory of the world is a vast and complex topic, and it is impossible to do Justice to it in a short ARTICLE. However, I will attempt to provide a brief overview of the major events and developments that took place during this time period.

The first humans evolved in Africa around 200,000 years ago. These early humans were hunter-gatherers, and they lived in small groups. They were not very advanced technologically, and they did not have a written language.

Around 10,000 years ago, humans began to develop agriculture. This was a major turning point in human history, as it allowed people to settle down in one place and build permanent communities. Agriculture also led to the development of new technologies, such as pottery and metalworking.

The development of agriculture also led to the rise of the first civilizations. Civilizations are complex societies that are characterized by a number of features, including a System of Government, a written language, and a division of labor. The first civilizations arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China.

The prehistory of the world is a fascinating and important topic. It is the story of how humans evolved from simple hunter-gatherers to complex civilizations. It is also the story of how humans developed the technologies that have shaped the world we live in today.

The following are some of the major races that existed during the prehistory of the world:

The following are some of the major cultures that existed during the prehistory of the world:

The prehistory of the world is a fascinating and important topic. It is the story of how humans evolved from simple hunter-gatherers to complex civilizations. It is also the story of how humans developed the technologies that have shaped the world we live in today.

Pre-Historic Period

  1. What is the pre-historic period?
    The pre-historic period is the time before written records began. It is a long and complex period of human history, and there is still much that we do not know about it.

  2. What are some of the major events that happened during the pre-historic period?
    Some of the major events that happened during the pre-historic period include the development of agriculture, the rise of the first civilizations, and the invention of writing.

  3. What are some of the key figures from the pre-historic period?
    Some of the key figures from the pre-historic period include Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and Cro-Magnons.

  4. What are some of the major advances that were made during the pre-historic period?
    Some of the major advances that were made during the pre-historic period include the development of fire, the invention of the wheel, and the domestication of animals.

Races and Culture

  1. What is race?
    Race is a social construct that is used to categorize people based on their physical appearance. There is no scientific basis for race, and it is a very complex and controversial topic.

  2. What is culture?
    Culture is the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people. It is passed down from generation to generation and is constantly evolving.

  3. What are some of the major differences between different cultures?
    Some of the major differences between different cultures include language, religion, food, and art.

  4. How do race and culture interact?
    Race and culture are often intertwined, and they can have a significant impact on a person’s life. For example, people of color may face discrimination based on their race, and people from different cultures may have different values and beliefs.

  5. What are some of the challenges that people of different races and cultures face?
    Some of the challenges that people of different races and cultures face include discrimination, prejudice, and racism. These challenges can make it difficult for people to live together in peace and harmony.

  6. What are some of the ways to overcome these challenges?
    Some of the ways to overcome these challenges include Education, understanding, and Tolerance. It is important for people to learn about different cultures and to respect each other’s differences.

  1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Paleolithic period?
    (A) Humans lived in small, nomadic groups.
    (B) Humans were hunter-gatherers.
    (C) Humans used stone tools.
    (D) Humans lived in permanent settlements.

  2. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Neolithic period?
    (A) Humans began to domesticate animals.
    (B) Humans began to farm.
    (C) Humans began to live in permanent settlements.
    (D) Humans began to make pottery.

  3. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Bronze Age?
    (A) Humans began to use bronze tools and weapons.
    (B) Humans began to build cities.
    (C) Humans began to write.
    (D) Humans began to trade with other cultures.

  4. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Iron Age?
    (A) Humans began to use iron tools and weapons.
    (B) Humans began to build roads and bridges.
    (C) Humans began to develop new technologies.
    (D) Humans began to expand their territory.

  5. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Classical period?
    (A) The Greeks and Romans developed advanced civilizations.
    (B) The Greeks and Romans made significant contributions to art, literature, and philosophy.
    (C) The Greeks and Romans spread their culture throughout the Mediterranean world.
    (D) The Greeks and Romans were conquered by the Germanic tribes.

  6. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Middle Ages?
    (A) The Christian Church was the dominant force in Europe.
    (B) Feudalism was the dominant social system in Europe.
    (C) The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims.
    (D) The Black Death killed millions of people in Europe.

  7. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Renaissance?
    (A) There was a renewed interest in classical Learning.
    (B) There was a flowering of art, literature, and science.
    (C) The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to other parts of Europe.
    (D) The Renaissance was a time of great social and political upheaval.

  8. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Age of Exploration?
    (A) Europeans began to explore and colonize new lands.
    (B) The Americas were discovered by Christopher Columbus.
    (C) The slave trade began.
    (D) The Renaissance ended.

  9. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Industrial revolution?
    (A) There was a shift from agriculture to manufacturing.
    (B) There was a rise in the use of machines.
    (C) There was a Growth in the size of cities.
    (D) There was a decline in the standard of living for most people.

  10. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Modern Period?
    (A) The World Wars were fought.
    (B) The Cold War was fought.
    (C) The computer revolution began.
    (D) The world Population has grown rapidly.

Table of Contents

→ Index
Exit mobile version