Prehistoric Period क्या होता है?

Candidates can download and read prehistoric age in India ancient Indian history notes for better preparation.
‘Prehistoric’ शब्द का मतलब है — इतिहास–पूर्व काल यानी वह काल जब लिखित प्रमाण (writing) नहीं थे।
इस समय के लोग पत्थरों, हड्डियों या गुफा-चित्रों के जरिए अपनी बातें जताते थे।
Prehistoric Period को Three Age System में बाँटा गया है:
Palaeolithic Age (पुरापाषाण युग)
Mesolithic Age (मध्यपाषाण युग)
Neolithic Age (नवपाषाण युग)
👉कभी-कभी Chalcolithic Age (ताम्रपाषाण युग) को भी इसमें जोड़ा जाता है, पर वह Protohistoric में भी आता है।

BASIC INTRO ABOUT ALL 4 AGES

🗿 1. Palaeolithic Age (पुरापाषाण काल)

Time Period: लगभग 2 million years ago – 10,000 BC तक।
लोग nomadic hunter-gatherers थे — खाने के लिए जानवर मारते और फल/जड़ें इकट्ठा करते थे।
Tools: मोटे, बिना पॉलिश के पत्थर के औजार — Hand Axe, Chopper, Flakes.
Art: भीमबेटका (MP) में गुफा चित्र मिले हैं।
आग का आविष्कार इसी काल में हुआ।

🔑 Sub-divisions:

Lower, Middle, Upper Palaeolithic — यह tools के development और fossils के आधार पर बाँटा गया है।

🌿 2. Mesolithic Age (मध्यपाषाण काल)

Time Period: लगभग 10,000 BC – 6000 BC
Tools: Microliths (छोटे पत्थर के औजार) — arrowheads, bladelets.
Climate: Ice Age खत्म होने से जलवायु गर्म हुई — लोग कुछ जगहों पर स्थायी बस्तियां बनाने लगे।
Animal Domestication: कुत्ता सबसे पहले पालतू बनाया।
Art: रंगीन गुफा चित्र — जैसे भीमबेटका में शिकार के दृश्य।

🌾 3. Neolithic Age (नवपाषाण काल)

Time Period: लगभग 6000 BC – 1000 BC
Revolution: अब लोग खेती करना सीख गए — इसे Neolithic Revolution कहते हैं।
Tools: पॉलिश्ड पत्थर के औजार, हंसिया।
Animals: गाय, भेड़, बकरी पाली गईं।
Settlements: स्थायी गाँव बनने लगे — मिट्टी के घर।
Example Sites:
- Mehrgarh (Baluchistan, Pakistan) — सबसे पुराना evidence of farming.
- Burzahom (Kashmir) — गड्ढा-बस्ती (Pit-dwellings)।
- Chirand (Bihar) — rice cultivation के प्रमाण।

⚱️ 4. Chalcolithic Age (ताम्रपाषाण काल)

Transition phase: Stone tools के साथ-साथ तांबा (Copper) के औजार।
First use of metals — agriculture + metals.
Sites: Ahar (Rajasthan), Jorwe (Maharashtra), Malwa Culture (MP)।
Painted Grey Ware Culture — कुछ लोग इस काल को Protohistoric भी मानते हैं।

NOW FULL EXPLANATION + PYQs

📜 Palaeolithic Age (पुरापाषाण काल) – Full Detailed Explanation

✅ Meaning & Time Period

‘Palaeo’ = Old (पुराना)
‘Lithic’ = Stone (पत्थर)
मतलब पुरापाषाण = Old Stone Age.
Time Period: लगभग 2 million years ago – 10,000 BC (कभी-कभी 500,000 BC से भी माना जाता है)।

✅ Main Characteristics

1️⃣ Man was Hunter-Gatherer

लोग खानाबदोश (Nomadic) थे — वो शिकार करते थे और जंगली फल, जड़ें आदि इकठ्ठा करते थे।
No permanent settlement.

2️⃣ Tools

सबसे महत्वपूर्ण — Crude stone tools.
Types: Hand Axe, Chopper, Flakes, Cleavers
यह tools Quartzite या Flint पत्थर से बनाते थे — इसलिए इन लोगों को कभी-कभी Quartzite Men भी कहा जाता है।

3️⃣ Fire

आग की खोज इसी काल में हुई — survival और खाना पकाने के लिए।
आग से जंगली जानवरों से भी सुरक्षा होती थी।

4️⃣ Lifestyle

छोटी-छोटी टोलियों में रहते थे।
गुफाओं या open-air sites में रहते थे।
कोई agriculture या domestication नहीं — पूरी तरह शिकार और food gathering पर निर्भर।

5️⃣ Art

भीमबेटका (MP) — Palaeolithic paintings के लिए प्रसिद्ध।
Paintings में animals, hunting scenes दिखाए गए हैं।

6️⃣ Sub-Division
Palaeolithic को 3 भागों में बाँटा गया है — tools और climate change के आधार पर:

Lower Palaeolithic: सबसे पुराना — Hand Axes, Cleavers.
Middle Palaeolithic: Flake tools.
Upper Palaeolithic: Blade tools, art & ornaments का development शुरू।

✅ Major Sites in India

Region	Sites
Central India	भीमबेटका (MP) – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Deccan	Nevasa, Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves
Rajasthan	Didwana
North India	Soan Valley (Punjab-Pakistan Border)
South India	Attirampakkam (TN) – Acheulian tools

✅ Climate & Environment

Ice Age: ज्यादातर Paleolithic Period Glacial Age में रहा।
Man adapted himself — skin clothing, fire use.

✅ Technology

Core & Flake technology:
- Core Tools: मोटे पत्थर के टुकड़े (core) को काटकर shape दी जाती थी — जैसे Hand Axe.
- Flake Tools: पत्थर को तोड़कर पतली परत निकाली जाती थी — यह sharper होते थे।

🔥 Most Expected PYQs – SSC / State Exams

📌 Question	✅ Answer
Q1: Palaeolithic Man was?	Nomadic hunter-gatherer
Q2: Who discovered fire?	Palaeolithic man
Q3: Which site is famous for Palaeolithic cave paintings?	Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)
Q4: Who are Quartzite Men?	Palaeolithic men (due to quartzite stone tools)
Q5: First stone tools used in India belong to which period?	Lower Palaeolithic Age
Q6: Soan Valley is related to which age?	Palaeolithic
Q7: Which tools were typical in Lower Palaeolithic Age?	Hand Axe, Cleavers
Q8: Palaeolithic Age man lived mainly in?	Caves and open rock shelters
Q9: Palaeolithic tools were mostly made of?	Quartzite and Flint
Q10: Which Palaeolithic site is also UNESCO Heritage?	Bhimbetka

✨ Revision Tips

✅ Core → Hand Axe → Cleavers → Flakes → Fire → Paintings → Bhimbetka!
✅ याद रखने की trick — “QHCFPB” (Quartzite, Hand Axe, Cleavers, Flakes, Paintings, Bhimbetka)

🌿 Mesolithic Age (मध्यपाषाण काल) — Full Detailed Explanation

✅ Meaning & Time Period

‘Meso’ = Middle (मध्य)
‘Lithic’ = Stone (पत्थर)
मतलब — मध्यपाषाण काल = Middle Stone Age
Time Period: लगभग 10,000 BC – 6,000 BC (कुछ region में यह 8,000 BC – 4,000 BC भी माना जाता है)।
यह काल Palaeolithic से Neolithic में बदलने का transitional phase है।

✅ Main Features

1️⃣ Climate Change

Ice Age खत्म — जलवायु में गर्मी आई।
पशु-पक्षियों की प्रजातियां बदलने लगीं।
मानव जीवन hunting से थोड़ा organized हुआ।

2️⃣ Lifestyle

अभी भी hunter-gatherers थे, लेकिन कुछ जगहों पर छोटे-छोटे seasonal settlements भी बनने लगे।
Fishing और small-scale animal domestication शुरू हुई — कुत्ता (Dog) सबसे पहले पालतू बनाया गया।

3️⃣ Tools

Mesolithic की सबसे बड़ी पहचान — Microliths (छोटे पत्थर के औजार)।
ये Palaeolithic के बड़े औजारों से छोटे और sharp थे।
Tools: Small blades, points, arrowheads — composite tools बनाए जाने लगे।
Microliths को लकड़ी या हड्डी के shafts में फिट कर इस्तेमाल किया जाता था।

4️⃣ Art & Paintings

भीमबेटका में Mesolithic काल के सुंदर रंगीन cave paintings.
इनमें hunting scenes, animal domestication और dance scenes भी मिलते हैं।
ये paintings social life और rituals को दर्शाते हैं।

5️⃣ Important Sites

भीमबेटका (MP): सबसे famous — Paleolithic + Mesolithic दोनों काल के चित्र।
Bagor (Rajasthan): Largest Mesolithic site — evidence of animal domestication, stone structures।
Sarai Nahar Rai (Uttar Pradesh): Human skeletons मिले — seasonal settlements।
Adamgarh (MP) — Microliths tools।
Langhnaj (Gujarat): Skeletons + Microliths + animal bones.

6️⃣ Technology

Bone tools और fishing equipment का उपयोग हुआ।
Bows & arrows widespread हुए — hunting में efficiency बढ़ी।
Storage pits के प्रमाण भी कुछ sites पर मिले हैं — food storing का शुरुआती रूप।

✅ Significance

Mesolithic Age को often कहा जाता है: ‘Foundation of Agriculture’.
यह एक bridge था — Nomadic hunter-gatherers → Settled Farmers.
धीरे-धीरे लोग जानवर पालने और खेती के basic forms सीखने लगे।

🗺️ Major Mesolithic Sites (with Features)

Site	State	Importance
भीमबेटका	MP	Rock shelters, paintings
Bagor	Rajasthan	Largest site, animal domestication
Sarai Nahar Rai	UP	Seasonal settlement, skeletons
Langhnaj	Gujarat	Human burials, tools
Adamgarh	MP	Microliths tools

📌 Important Terms

Microliths: Very small, sharp stone tools.
Domestication: Dog first domesticated animal.
Cave Art: Hunting scenes, community life.

✅ Most Expected SSC / State PYQs

📌 Question	✅ Answer
Q1: Mesolithic Age is also called?	Middle Stone Age
Q2: Mesolithic man was mainly?	Advanced hunter-gatherer
Q3: Most distinctive tools of Mesolithic period?	Microliths
Q4: First domesticated animal?	Dog
Q5: Largest Mesolithic site in India?	Bagor (Rajasthan)
Q6: Bhimbetka caves belong to which periods?	Palaeolithic & Mesolithic
Q7: Evidence of fishing and seasonal settlement?	Sarai Nahar Rai (UP)
Q8: Langhnaj site is located in?	Gujarat
Q9: Mesolithic people practiced?	Semi-sedentary life with seasonal camps
Q10: Which Mesolithic site shows earliest burial practices?	Langhnaj & Sarai Nahar Rai

✨ Revision Trick

👉 “M for Microliths & Middle Stone Age”
👉 “Bagor biggest — Bhimbetka best paintings — Dog domesticated!”

✅ Mesolithic Quick Highlights

Climate: Warmer, Ice Age ends.
Tools: Microliths.
Lifestyle: Seasonal camps, fishing, dog domesticated.
Sites: Bhimbetka, Bagor, Langhnaj, Sarai Nahar Rai.
Art: Hunting scenes, rituals in cave paintings.

🌾 Neolithic Age (नवपाषाण काल) — Full Detailed Explanation

✅ Meaning & Time Period

Neo = New (नया)
Lithic = Stone (पत्थर)
मतलब — नवपाषाण काल = New Stone Age.
Time Period: लगभग 6000 BC – 1000 BC India में (region-wise अलग-अलग)।

✅ Main Features

1️⃣ Agriculture Revolution (Neolithic Revolution)

Neolithic का सबसे बड़ा बदलाव — मानव ने पहली बार खेती की।
लोगों ने जौ, गेहूँ, चावल उगाना शुरू किया।
Surplus food collect करने लगे।

2️⃣ Animal Domestication

गाय, भेड़, बकरी, सुअर पालना शुरू।
कृषि के साथ पशुपालन भी।

3️⃣ Settlements & Houses

Nomadic life से हटकर स्थायी गाँव बने।
घर मिट्टी, लकड़ी, पत्थरों से बनाए जाते थे।
कुछ जगह गड्ढों में भी घर (Pit-dwelling) — जैसे Burzahom (Kashmir)।

4️⃣ Tools

पॉलिश किए गए पत्थर के औजार — polished axes, adzes, chisels।
Grinding stones — अनाज पीसने के लिए।

5️⃣ Pottery & Art

Neolithic में पहली बार हाथ से मिट्टी के बर्तन बनाना शुरू।
कुछ जगह Painted Pottery के प्रमाण भी हैं।

6️⃣ Burials

Dead bodies के साथ tools, pottery आदि रखने की परंपरा — belief in life after death।

✅ Important Neolithic Sites

Site	State	Importance
Mehrgarh	Baluchistan (Pakistan)	सबसे पुराना evidence of agriculture (wheat, barley)
Burzahom	Kashmir	Pit dwellings, dogs buried with humans
Chirand	Bihar	Rice cultivation
Daojali Hading	Assam	Easternmost Neolithic site
Koldihwa & Mahagara	UP	Early rice cultivation
Belan Valley	UP	Early farming evidence

✅ Key Points

Pit Dwellings → Burzahom.
Rice Cultivation → Koldihwa & Mahagara, Chirand.
Earliest Farming Site → Mehrgarh (technically protohistoric for India)।

🔥 Most Expected SSC / State PYQs – Neolithic

📌 Question	✅ Answer
Q1: Neolithic Age is also known as?	New Stone Age
Q2: What was the biggest achievement of Neolithic man?	Agriculture & domestication of animals
Q3: Which site is famous for Pit-dwelling?	Burzahom
Q4: First evidence of rice cultivation in India?	Koldihwa, Mahagara
Q5: First pottery was made in?	Neolithic Age
Q6: Important Neolithic site in Kashmir?	Burzahom
Q7: Mehrgarh site is famous for?	Earliest farming settlement
Q8: Daojali Hading site is in?	Assam
Q9: Polished stone tools belong to?	Neolithic Age
Q10: Neolithic burial practice evidence?	Burzahom

✨ Revision Trick

👉 “N = New = Neolithic = New way of life (Farming + Animals + Pottery)”

⚱️ Chalcolithic Age (ताम्रपाषाण काल) — Full Detailed Explanation

✅ Meaning & Time Period

Chalco = Copper (ताम्र)
Lithic = Stone (पत्थर)
मतलब — ताम्रपाषाण काल = Stone + Copper Age.
Time Period: लगभग 3000 BC – 1000 BC (region-wise)।
यह Neolithic के बाद और Bronze Age / Harappan Civilisation से पहले का phase माना जाता है।

✅ Main Features

1️⃣ Metals + Stones

इस काल में लोगों ने पत्थर के औजारों के साथ तांबा (Copper) के औजार बनाना सीखा।
Tools: Copper axes, knives, spearheads.

2️⃣ Agriculture & Settlements

Farming well-established थी — जौ, गेहूँ, बाजरा।
Permanent villages और huts बने — कुछ जगह mud walls और stone structures।

3️⃣ Pottery

Chalcolithic की पहचान — Painted Pottery (Black & Red Ware, Ochre Coloured Pottery)।

4️⃣ Burials

Burial practices — dead bodies के साथ pottery और ornaments।

5️⃣ Regional Cultures

India में अलग-अलग Chalcolithic cultures — हर जगह की अपनी खासियत।
- Ahar Culture — Rajasthan.
- Malwa Culture — MP.
- Jorwe Culture — Maharashtra.

6️⃣ Important Sites

Site	Region	Features
Ahar (Banas Valley)	Rajasthan	Black & Red Ware pottery
Jorwe	Maharashtra	Jorwe Ware pottery
Kayatha	MP	Copper objects
Daimabad	Maharashtra	Largest Chalcolithic site; bronze horse figure

🔥 Most Expected SSC / State PYQs – Chalcolithic

📌 Question	✅ Answer
Q1: Chalcolithic Age is also known as?	Copper-Stone Age
Q2: Main feature of Chalcolithic culture?	Use of copper tools with stone tools
Q3: First metal used by man?	Copper
Q4: Ahar Culture is famous for?	Black & Red Ware pottery
Q5: Malwa Culture sites found in?	MP
Q6: Daimabad is famous for?	Largest Chalcolithic site, bronze horse
Q7: Which age shows transition to metal use?	Chalcolithic Age
Q8: Which pottery types are common?	Black & Red Ware, Ochre Coloured Pottery
Q9: Which age shows earliest use of metals?	Chalcolithic
Q10: Important site for Copper hoards?	Ganeshwar (Rajasthan)

✅ Comparison: Neo vs Chalco

Feature	Neolithic	Chalcolithic
Tools	Polished stone only	Stone + Copper
Farming	Started	Widespread
Pottery	Hand-made, painted	Painted, wheel-made
Metal	No metal	Copper used
Settlements	Permanent villages	Bigger villages, sometimes fortified

🔥 Important Points in Short:

Age	Main Features	Sites
Palaeolithic	Hunter-gatherers, hand axe, flakes, fire discovery	Bhimbetka
Mesolithic	Microliths, domestication of dog, cave art	Bhimbetka, Bagor
Neolithic	Farming, pottery, settled villages	Mehrgarh, Burzahom, Chirand
Chalcolithic	Stone + Copper tools, early villages	Ahar, Jorwe, Malwa

✅ Most Expected Questions (PYQs + Important)

1️⃣ Q: भीमबेटका किस काल से संबंधित है?
✅ A: Palaeolithic & Mesolithic (Gufa चित्र) — UNESCO Heritage Site.

2️⃣ Q: किस काल में पहली बार खेती की गई?
✅ A: Neolithic Age.

3️⃣ Q: Palaeolithic Age में इंसानों ने सबसे बड़ा आविष्कार कौन सा किया?
✅ A: Fire (आग)।

4️⃣ Q: भारत में किस site पर सबसे पुराने खेती के प्रमाण मिले हैं?
✅ A: Mehrgarh.

5️⃣ Q: Mesolithic period का प्रमुख औजार कौन सा है?
✅ A: Microliths.

6️⃣ Q: Chalcolithic cultures के प्रमुख स्थल कौन-कौन से हैं?
✅ A: Ahar, Jorwe, Malwa region.

7️⃣ Q: Burzahom site क्यों प्रसिद्ध है?
✅ A: Pit dwellings और domesticated dogs के लिए।

✨ Prehistoric Period याद रखने की Trick

👉 “P M N C” — Palaeolithic → Mesolithic → Neolithic → Chalcolithic

🌏 Indus Valley Civilisation (Bronze Age)

📜 Basic Introduction

कब: 2500 BCE – 1750 BCE (approx.)
कहाँ: Sindh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Western UP तक फैली थी।
क्यों Bronze Age? क्योंकि इस सभ्यता में कांस्य (Bronze) के औजार व मूर्तियाँ इस्तेमाल होती थीं।

नाम:

Indus Valley Civilisation — क्योंकि पहली बार यह सिंधु नदी घाटी में खोजी गई थी।
Harappan Civilisation — क्योंकि पहला site Harappa (1921 में) में excavate हुआ।

✅ 1️⃣ Discovery & Archaeologists

Year	Site	Excavator
1921	Harappa	Daya Ram Sahni
1922	Mohenjodaro	R.D. Banerjee
Concept of IVC	John Marshall (first called it a civilisation)

Important fact: Sir John Marshall ने पहली बार इसे Bronze Age Civilisation कहा था।

✅ 2️⃣ Geographical Extent

North → Manda (Jammu & Kashmir)
South → Daimabad (Maharashtra)
East → Alamgirpur (UP)
West → Sutkagendor (Baluchistan, Pakistan)

Area: ~12,99,600 sq.km (Mesopotamia & Egypt से कहीं ज़्यादा बड़ा)।

✅ 3️⃣ Town Planning & Features

👉 Well-planned cities:

Grid pattern (सड़कों का जाल काटने जैसा)
Streets at right angles — well-drained system.

👉 Town Divisions:

Citadel (Acropolis): ऊँचा भाग — Granary, Administrative buildings.
Lower Town: सामान्य लोग रहते थे।

👉 Building Material:

Baked bricks (पकी ईंटें) — standard size 1:2:4 ratio.
Mortar का कम इस्तेमाल — interlocking system.

👉 Drainage System:

Covered drains with inspection holes — सबसे advanced.

👉 Granaries:

Largest at Mohenjodaro & Harappa.

👉 Great Bath:

Mohenjodaro — सबसे बड़ा public structure — ritual bathing.

👉 Dockyard:

Lothal (Gujarat) — Artificial dockyard.

👉 Fortification:

हर city के चारों तरफ defensive walls.

✅ 4️⃣ Economy

🔹 Agriculture:

Wheat, Barley, Dates, Sesame, Mustard.
Rice — rare evidence at Lothal & Rangpur.
Ploughed field evidence — Kalibangan.

🔹 Domesticated Animals:

Humped bull (Zebu), buffalo, sheep, goat, dogs.
Horse — no clear evidence (bones disputed).

🔹 Trade:

Internal & external trade — barter system.
Export: Cotton, beads, pottery.
Foreign trade — Mesopotamia (Meluha = Indus region), seals found there.
Evidence of dockyard → Lothal.

🔹 Weights & Measures:

Binary system — 1:2:4:8:16.
Cubical stone weights.

✅ 5️⃣ Art & Craft

🎨 Seals:

Most important artifact — made of Steatite.
Animals engraved: Unicorn, Bull, Rhino, Tiger, Elephant.
Purpose: Trade mark, identification.

🎨 Terracotta Figurines:

Mother Goddess (fertility symbol).
Toy carts, whistles, animal figurines.

🎨 Bronze Sculptures:

Dancing Girl — Mohenjodaro — lost wax technique.

🎨 Pottery:

Red pottery with black designs — wheel-made.

🎨 Bead-making:

Chanhudaro — Bead-making factory.

✅ 6️⃣ Script & Religion

🔡 Script:

Pictographic — Right to Left (boustrophedon).
Undeciphered till date.

🛕 Religion:

Mother Goddess — fertility worship.
Pashupati Seal — Proto-Shiva figure — surrounded by animals.
Trees worshipped — Peepal.
Animal worship — Unicorn, Bull.
Fire altars at Kalibangan.

⛔ No temples, no clear idol worship like Vedic.
⛔ No evidence of horse sacrifice or chariot.

✅ 7️⃣ Decline

Multiple theories:
1. Floods
2. Earthquakes
3. Drying of rivers (Saraswati)
4. Aryan invasion theory (disputed now)
5. Ecological imbalance

✅ 8️⃣ Major Sites & Special Features

Site	Location	Special
Harappa	Punjab, Pakistan	First site, Granaries, Cemetery H
Mohenjodaro	Sindh, Pakistan	Great Bath, Dancing Girl, Granary
Lothal	Gujarat	Dockyard, Rice evidence, Fire Altars
Kalibangan	Rajasthan	Ploughed field, Fire altars
Banawali	Haryana	Both pre-Harappan & Harappan phases
Dholavira	Gujarat	Unique water reservoir system
Chanhudaro	Sindh, Pakistan	Bead-making, no citadel
Rakhigarhi	Haryana	Largest site in India
Surkotada	Gujarat	Only site with horse bones

✅ 9️⃣ Bronze Age — Why?

Extensive use of Bronze (Copper + Tin).
Bronze tools & weapons.
Bronze figurines → Dancing Girl best example.

✅ SSC / State PYQs – Indus Valley Civilisation

📌 Question	✅ Answer
First discovered site of IVC?	Harappa
Who called IVC a Civilisation?	John Marshall
Great Bath found at?	Mohenjodaro
Largest site in India?	Rakhigarhi
Dockyard found at?	Lothal
Evidence of ploughed field?	Kalibangan
Dancing Girl bronze statue?	Mohenjodaro
Pashupati seal found at?	Mohenjodaro
Which site has horse bones?	Surkotada
Bead making factory?	Chanhudaro
Unique water reservoir?	Dholavira
Script of Harappan?	Undeciphered, pictographic
Main metal used?	Bronze
Animal not known to Harappans?	Horse (clear evidence disputed)
Peepal tree worshipped?	Yes
Painted pottery type?	Red ware with black designs

✅ Quick Revision Keywords

🗝️ “Harappa-Mohenjodaro-Lothal-Kalibangan-Dholavira”
🗝️ Great Bath, Granary, Dockyard, Fire Altars, Beads, Dancing Girl, Pashupati Seal, Seals-Steatite, Bronze Tools.

✨ Bonus — One-Liner SSC Tips

👉 First city excavated → Harappa (Daya Ram Sahni)
👉 Dancing Girl → Bronze → Mohenjodaro
👉 Great Bath → Ritual bathing → Mohenjodaro
👉 Largest Indian site → Rakhigarhi (Haryana)
👉 Only site with horse bones → Surkotada
👉 Dockyard → Lothal
👉 Fire altars + Ploughed field → Kalibangan
👉 Mother Goddess → Terracotta figurine
👉 Script → Undeciphered pictographic
👉 Trees worshipped → Peepal

🌏 Indus Valley Civilisation – Major Sites (Complete Bilingual Details)

✅ 1️⃣ Harappa

🔹 Location: Montgomery District, Punjab, Pakistan
🔹 Excavated by: 1921 – Daya Ram Sahni
🔹 Special Features:

First site discovered → इसलिए पूरी civilisation को Harappan Civilisation कहते हैं।
दो Granaries (Great Granary) → Food storage.
Cemetery H Culture — later phase burial site.
Beads, toys, seals, male torso statue.

Hindi Key Points:

सबसे पहले खोजी गई site → पूरी सभ्यता को Harappan कहा गया।
दो बड़े अनाज भंडार।
Cemetery H → शवदाह संस्कार।

✅ 2️⃣ Mohenjodaro

🔹 Location: Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan
🔹 Excavated by: 1922 – R.D. Banerjee
🔹 Special Features:

‘Mound of Dead’ कहा जाता है।
Great Bath — सबसे बड़ा सार्वजनिक जल कुंड — ritual bathing.
Largest Granary.
Dancing Girl (Bronze statue) — Lost Wax Technique.
Pashupati Seal (Proto-Shiva surrounded by animals).
Assembly Hall & Priest King statue.

Hindi Key Points:

मृतकों का टीला — ‘Mound of Dead’.
सबसे प्रसिद्ध Great Bath — स्नानागार।
Dancing Girl (नृत्य करती लड़की) — कांस्य की मूर्ति।
पशुपति मुहर — शिव का प्राचीन रूप।

✅ 3️⃣ Kalibangan

🔹 Location: Hanumangarh, Rajasthan
🔹 Excavated by: A Ghosh
🔹 Special Features:

Kalibangan = Black Bangles.
Ploughed field का सबसे पहला प्रमाण — agriculture evidence.
Fire Altars → ritualistic fire worship.
No drainage system like Mohenjodaro.

Hindi Key Points:

‘काली कंगन’ का मतलब — Black Bangles.
Jutayi खेतों का प्रमाण — सबसे पुराना ploughed field।
अग्निकुंड — हवन के प्रमाण।

✅ 4️⃣ Lothal

🔹 Location: Ahmedabad District, Gujarat
🔹 Excavated by: S.R. Rao (1954)
🔹 Special Features:

Artificial Dockyard — maritime trade.
Rice husk evidence → Rice cultivation.
Fire Altars → ritual practices.
Bead-making factory → famous for beads export.

Hindi Key Points:

बंदरगाह — समुद्री व्यापार का प्रमाण।
Dockyard = जहाज़ बांधने की जगह।
चावल के भूसी के प्रमाण — चावल की खेती।
मनके बनाने की फैक्ट्री।

✅ 5️⃣ Dholavira

🔹 Location: Kutch District, Gujarat
🔹 Excavated by: R.S. Bisht
🔹 Special Features:

Island city in Rann of Kutch.
Unique water conservation system → Reservoirs, step wells.
Division: Citadel, Middle Town & Lower Town → triple division (unique).
Signboard with Harappan script — largest inscription.

Hindi Key Points:

पानी संग्रह प्रणाली — Reservoirs.
Harappan Script की सबसे लंबी पट्टिका।
तीन हिस्सों में बंटा शहर।

✅ 6️⃣ Banawali

🔹 Location: Fatehabad District, Haryana
🔹 Excavated by: R.S. Bisht
🔹 Special Features:

Both pre-Harappan & Harappan phase.
Streets at right angles — typical grid pattern.
Barley cultivation.

Hindi Key Points:

Harappan से पहले की सभ्यता के प्रमाण।
जौ की खेती।
योजनाबद्ध सड़कों का जाल।

✅ 7️⃣ Chanhudaro

🔹 Location: Sindh, Pakistan
🔹 Excavated by: N.G. Majumdar
🔹 Special Features:

No Citadel — only lower town.
Bead-making factory — famous for bangles & beads.
Ink pots, seals.

Hindi Key Points:

कोई दुर्ग (Acropolis) नहीं — unique.
मनके, कंगन बनाने का उद्योग।

✅ 8️⃣ Rakhigarhi

🔹 Location: Hisar District, Haryana (India’s largest site)
🔹 Special Features:

Largest Harappan site in India.
Multi-cultural layers — early, mature & late Harappan.
Massive settlements with granaries.

Hindi Key Points:

भारत की सबसे बड़ी site।
हरप्पा के हर चरण के प्रमाण।

✅ 9️⃣ Surkotada

🔹 Location: Kutch District, Gujarat
🔹 Special Features:

Fortified settlement.
Only site with horse bones → disputed evidence.

Hindi Key Points:

घोड़े की हड्डियों का प्रमाण।
किलेबंदी वाला गाँव।

✅ 1️⃣0️⃣ Sutkagendor

🔹 Location: Baluchistan (Pakistan-Iran border)
🔹 Special Features:

Western-most Harappan outpost.
Fortified coastal town — sea trade with Mesopotamia.

Hindi Key Points:

पश्चिमी सीमा पर स्थित।
समुद्री व्यापार का प्रमाण।

✅ 1️⃣1️⃣ Alamgirpur

🔹 Location: Meerut, UP
🔹 Special Features:

Eastern-most site.
Pottery — Painted Grey Ware overlap.

Hindi Key Points:

सबसे पूर्वी site।
मिट्टी के पात्र — Harappan + Painted Grey Ware।

🗂️ Quick SSC / MPESB PYQs (Sites Based)

Question	Answer
Great Bath कहाँ मिला?	Mohenjodaro
Dockyard कहाँ मिला?	Lothal
Ploughed field किस site से?	Kalibangan
Dancing Girl bronze statue?	Mohenjodaro
Fire Altars के प्रमाण कहाँ?	Kalibangan, Lothal
Largest Indian site?	Rakhigarhi
Horse bones कहाँ से?	Surkotada
Bead factory?	Chanhudaro
Unique water system?	Dholavira
Eastern-most site?	Alamgirpur
Western-most site?	Sutkagendor
First site excavated?	Harappa

✨ 1-Page Revision Trick:

HMK-LBDCRSA
(Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Banawali, Dholavira, Chanhudaro, Rakhigarhi, Surkotada, Alamgirpur, Sutkagendor)

🗝️ याद रखो:
Mohenjodaro = Great Bath + Dancing Girl + Pashupati Seal
Lothal = Dockyard + Rice
Kalibangan = Ploughed field + Fire Altar
Dholavira = Water Reservoir + Longest Inscription
Rakhigarhi = Largest Indian site
Surkotada = Horse bones

🕉️ Vedic Period – Complete Detailed Notes

✅ 1️⃣ Introduction (परिचय)

काल अवधि (Time Period): लगभग 1500 BCE – 600 BCE
आर्यों के आगमन से लेकर महाजनपद काल तक माना जाता है।
दो भाग:
- Early Vedic Period (Rig Vedic) → 1500–1000 BCE
- Later Vedic Period → 1000–600 BCE

Sources:

चार वेद – Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda
Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads
Vedangas, Puranas

✅ 2️⃣ Aryan Migration (आर्यों का आगमन)

Aryans came from Central Asia (Steppes), most accepted theory: Max Muller → Central Asian Theory.
Early Aryans settled in Sapta Sindhu Region → area between Saraswati & Drishadvati rivers.
Later Aryans expanded eastwards towards Ganga-Yamuna Doab.

✅ 3️⃣ Early Vedic (Rig Vedic) Period

🌾 a) Polity (राजनीति)

Tribes (जन) were basic units — no big kingdoms.
राजा (Raja): Chief of the tribe, not an absolute king.
Sabhā & Samiti: Tribal assemblies to advise the king.
Purohita: Priest; e.g., Vishvamitra & Vashishtha.
Senani: Military commander.
No hereditary monarchy yet.

Important Tribes: Bharatas, Purus, Yadus, Turvashas.

🌾 b) Economy (अर्थव्यवस्था)

Pastoral economy — cattle rearing main occupation.
Cattle = Wealth. Cow → Aghnya (not to be killed).
Agriculture secondary — barley main crop.
No coins, barter system prevailed.
No trade or urban centres yet.

🌾 c) Society (समाज)

Patriarchal, joint family.
Women had respect, could attend assemblies — Gargi, Lopamudra.
No purdah, no child marriage.
Varna system based on occupation, flexible — only Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra rudimentary division.
Gotra system not developed.

🌾 d) Religion (धर्म)

Nature worship → Indra (Rain, War god, most mentioned), Agni (Fire), Varuna (Cosmic order).
No temples, no idol worship.
Yajna & sacrifices common.
Simple rituals, no priestly dominance yet.

🌾 e) Literature (साहित्य)

Rigveda → oldest text in world, 1028 hymns.
Written in Old Sanskrit, composed on banks of Saraswati.

✅ 4️⃣ Later Vedic Period

👉 Settlements shifted from Sapta Sindhu to Ganga-Yamuna Doab.

🌾 a) Polity

Small tribes merged → emergence of Mahajanapadas.
Kingship became hereditary.
Important titles: Rajan, Samrat, Rajasuya Yajna.
Powerful kings → Janaka, Ajatashatru.
Sabha, Samiti weakened — power shifted to king.

🌾 b) Economy

Agriculture became main occupation.
New crops: Rice (Vrihi) very common.
Iron use → iron ploughshare → cleared dense forests.
Painted Grey Ware culture (PGW).
Trade, crafts grew, surplus production.
Beginning of coins: Nishka, Satamana (metal pieces).

🌾 c) Society

Complex Varna System → more rigid.
Brahmanas gained supremacy.
Women lost status → child marriage, no right to assemblies.
Gotra & Ashrama systems emerged (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa).
Concept of untouchability appeared.

🌾 d) Religion

Rituals became complex → dominance of priests (Brahmanas).
Yajnas like Ashvamedha, Rajasuya, Vajapeya.
Upanishads → philosophical texts → Karma, Moksha.
Rise of new gods: Prajapati (Creator), Rudra (Destroyer), Vishnu (Preserver).
Idol worship still absent, but speculation started.

🌾 e) Literature

Text	Features
Samaveda	Music & chants
Yajurveda	Rituals & sacrifices
Atharvaveda	Spells, charms, domestic rituals
Brahmanas	Ritual explanation
Aranyakas	Forest texts, philosophy
Upanishads	Highest philosophy (Vedanta)

✅ 5️⃣ Comparison: Early vs Later Vedic

Aspect	Early Vedic	Later Vedic
Settlement	Punjab, NW	Ganga-Yamuna Doab
Economy	Pastoral	Agriculture main
Society	Women respected	Women lost status
Polity	Tribal, semi-democratic	Kingdoms, hereditary kingship
Religion	Nature worship	Ritualistic, philosophical shift
Literature	Rigveda	Other Vedas, Upanishads

✅ 6️⃣ Important Vedic Tribes

Tribe	Region	Note
Bharatas	Punjab	Rigvedic hymns
Purus	Punjab	Allied with Bharatas
Kurus	Haryana	Later Vedic prominence
Panchalas	UP	Later Vedic centre
Videhas	Bihar	King Janaka

✅ Most Expected PYQs – Vedic Period

📌 Question	✅ Answer
Oldest Veda?	Rigveda
Which Veda is musical?	Samaveda
Which Veda has spells?	Atharvaveda
Gotra system started in?	Later Vedic
Sabha & Samiti belong to?	Early Vedic polity
Ashrama system started in?	Later Vedic period
Who is most important god in Rigveda?	Indra
Ganga-Yamuna Doab settled in?	Later Vedic
Rajasuya Yajna performed by?	Later Vedic kings
Painted Grey Ware culture?	Later Vedic phase
Purus, Bharatas are tribes of?	Rigvedic era
Women allowed in assemblies?	Early Vedic
Varna system rigid?	Later Vedic

✨ Quick Tricks:

Rigveda = Early Vedic = Indra = Sapta Sindhu
Later Vedic = Rice, Iron, Painted Grey Ware, Upanishads, Ashrama

✅ Revision Chart – Must Remember

🔹 4 Vedas: Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva
🔹 Sapta Sindhu → Ganga-Yamuna Doab
🔹 Sabha, Samiti → weakened later
🔹 Gotra, Ashrama, Upanishads → Later Vedic
🔹 New deities → Prajapati, Rudra, Vishnu
🔹 PGW Culture → Later Vedic
🔹 No temples → Ritual sacrifices instead

Prehistoric Period क्या होता है?

🌏 Indus Valley Civilisation – Major Sites (Complete Bilingual Details)

✅ 1️⃣ Harappa

✅ 2️⃣ Mohenjodaro

✅ 3️⃣ Kalibangan

✅ 4️⃣ Lothal

✅ 5️⃣ Dholavira

✅ 6️⃣ Banawali

✅ 7️⃣ Chanhudaro

✅ 8️⃣ Rakhigarhi

✅ 9️⃣ Surkotada

✅ 1️⃣0️⃣ Sutkagendor

✅ 1️⃣1️⃣ Alamgirpur

🗂️ Quick SSC / MPESB PYQs (Sites Based)

✨ 1-Page Revision Trick:

🕉️ Vedic Period – Complete Detailed Notes

✅ 1️⃣ Introduction (परिचय)

✅ 2️⃣ Aryan Migration (आर्यों का आगमन)