Get summary, textual answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF to NBSE Class 11 (Arts) History (Themes in World History) Section A: Early Societies (Introduction) . However, the educational materials should only be used for reference and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Summary
The “Early Societies” section discusses two themes. The First Theme focuses on the beginning of human existence, examining early human life, shelters, food, and significant developments like the discovery of fire and the use of language. The Second Theme explores early cities, particularly those in Mesopotamia, and the various people who lived there, including craftsmen, scribes, laborers, priests, kings, and queens. The shift from nomadic life to settled agricultural life, which began 10,000 years ago, led to the domestication of animals, the weaving of cloth, and the development of pottery and metal tools. Over time, trade emerged, connecting people from distant places and providing access to various goods. The growth of small cities led to the transformation of human life, which some scholars describe as a revolution.
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. Which regions are some of the world’s earliest cities located in?
Answer: Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).
2. Around what structures did these early cities evolve?
Answer: These cities evolved around temples.
3. What roles did these early cities serve?
Answer: They served as long-distance trade hubs.
4. How are the lives of people in these early cities reconstructed?
Answer: The lives of the various people who lived there – craftspeople, scribes, labourers, priests, kings and queens – are reconstructed using archaeological evidence – remains of old settlements – and an abundance of written material.
5. Who played a significant role in a number of these towns?
Answer: Pastoralists played a significant role in a number of these towns.
6. When did the transition from nomadic life to settled agriculture begin?
Answer: The gradual transition from nomadic life to settled agriculture began around 10,000 years ago.
7. What were some of the crops grown in West Asia?
Answer: Wheat and barley, as well as peas and a variety of pulses, were grown in West Asia.
8. Which crops were easiest to grow in East and Southeast Asia?
Answer: Millet and rice were the easiest crops to grow in East and Southeast Asia.
9. When were domesticated animals harnessed to ploughs and carts?
Answer: Domesticated animals like cattle and donkeys were harnessed to ploughs and carts around 5,000 years ago.
10. What resulted from the development of settled agriculture and domestication?
Answer: People who grew crops were required to remain in the same location until the crops ripened. As a result, settled life became more prevalent. People began to construct more permanent structures to live. With increased trade, the growth of villages and towns, and the movement of people, small states grew in place of the early people’s small communities.
11. Why do some scholars refer to these changes as a revolution?
Answer: Some scholars have referred to this as a revolution because people’s lives were likely altered irreversibly.
12. What types of fibres were woven into cloth by early societies?
Answer: Plant fibres like cotton and flax, as well as animal fibres like wool, were woven into cloth.
13. How long did people spend living in forests, caves, and temporary shelters before transitioning to cities?
Answer: People spent millions of years living in forests, caves, temporary shelters, and rock shelters before transitioning to cities.
14. Describe the significance of the transition from nomadic life to settled agriculture.
Answer: The gradual transition from nomadic life to settled agriculture, which began around 10,000 years ago, was one of the most significant changes. They gradually learned more about different types of plants, such as where they grew, when they produced fruit, and so on. They learned how to grow plants as a result of this. Wheat and barley, as well as peas and a variety of pulses, were grown in West Asia. Millet and rice were the easiest crops to grow in East and Southeast Asia. Millet was grown in Africa as well. People learned how to domesticate animals like sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, and donkeys around the same time. Plant fibres like cotton and flax, as well as animal fibres like wool, were woven into cloth. Domesticated animals like cattle and donkeys were harnessed to ploughs and carts a little later, around 5,000 years ago.
15. Explain the gradual changes and their impact that led to the establishment of the first cities.
Answer: People who grew crops were required to remain in the same location until the crops ripened. As a result, settled life became more prevalent. As a result, people began to construct more permanent structures to live. With increased trade, the growth of villages and towns, and the movement of people, small states grew in place of the early people’s small communities. While these changes occurred gradually over thousands of years, the rate of change accelerated with the establishment of the first cities.
16. What kind of evidence is used to reconstruct the lives of people in early cities?
Answer: The lives of the various people who lived there are reconstructed using archaeological evidence – remains of old settlements – and an abundance of written material.
17. How did the learning of plant and animal domestication influence early societies?
Answer: The learning of plant and animal domestication influenced early societies by enabling them to settle and develop agriculture. They gradually learned more about different types of plants, such as where they grew, when they produced fruit, and so on. They learned how to grow plants as a result of this. Wheat and barley, as well as peas and a variety of pulses, were grown in West Asia. Millet and rice were the easiest crops to grow in East and Southeast Asia. Millet was grown in Africa as well. People learned how to domesticate animals like sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, and donkeys around the same time. Plant fibres like cotton and flax, as well as animal fibres like wool, were woven into cloth. Domesticated animals like cattle and donkeys were harnessed to ploughs and carts a little later, around 5,000 years ago. People who grew crops were required to remain in the same location until the crops ripened. As a result, settled life became more prevalent. People began to construct more permanent structures to live. With increased trade, the growth of villages and towns, and the movement of people, small states grew in place of the early people’s small communities. While these changes occurred gradually over thousands of years, the rate of change accelerated with the establishment of the first cities. Furthermore, the changes had far-reaching ramifications.
18. How did the development of trade and permanent settlements influence early societies?
Answer: With increased trade, the growth of villages and towns, and the movement of people, small states grew in place of the early people’s small communities. While these changes occurred gradually over thousands of years, the rate of change accelerated with the establishment of the first cities. Furthermore, the changes had far-reaching ramifications.
19. What major developments occurred in Africa and Europe between 4000-3000 BCE?
Answer: In Africa, there was the domestication of the donkey, cultivation of millet, and the use of copper. In Europe, the use of copper was prominent, particularly in Crete.
20. What were some key developments in Africa and Europe from 3000-2000 BCE?
Answer: In Africa, this period saw plough agriculture, the first kingdoms, cities, pyramids, the calendar, hieroglyphic script, and writing on papyrus in Egypt. In Europe, the domestication of the horse took place in eastern Europe.
21. What advancements occurred in Europe between 2000-1900 BCE?
Answer: In Europe, there were cities, palaces, the use of bronze, the development of the potter’s wheel, and the development of trade, particularly in Crete.
22. What notable development occurred in Egypt between 1500-1400 BCE?
Answer: The use of glass bottles.
23. When was the city of Carthage established and by whom?
Answer: The city of Carthage was established in North Africa by the Phoenicians from West Asia around 800-700 BCE.
24. When did the use of iron begin in Sudan and Egypt?
Answer: The use of iron began in Sudan around 800-700 BCE and in Egypt around 700-600 BCE.
25. Who invaded Egypt between 500-400 BCE?
Answer: The Persians invaded Egypt.
26. When was Alexandria, Egypt established and what was its significance?
Answer: Alexandria, Egypt was established in 332 BCE and became a major center of learning.
27. What notable invention was developed in Crete between 3000-2000 BCE?
Answer: The development of a script.
28. When did the first Olympic Games take place and where?
Answer: The first Olympic Games took place in Greece in 776 BCE.
29. What were two significant events in Greece between 600-500 BCE?
Answer: The use of coins and the establishment of the Roman republic in 510 BCE.
30. What major political development occurred in Athens, Greece between 500-400 BCE?
Answer: The establishment of a ‘democracy’.
31. Who conquered Egypt and parts of West Asia between 336-323 BCE?
Answer: Alexander of Macedonia.
32. What major technological advancements occurred in Asia between 4000-3000 BCE?
Answer: The use of the potter’s wheel, the wheel for transport (3600 BCE), writing (3200 BCE, Mesopotamia), and the use of bronze.
33. What were the major developments in South Asia between 4000-3000 BCE?
Answer: Plough agriculture, cities in Mesopotamia, silk-making in China, domestication of the horse in Central Asia, and cultivation of rice in Southeast Asia.
34. What significant development occurred in the Harappan civilization around 2700 BCE?
Answer: The use of script.
35. What major agricultural and technological advancements took place in China between 1600-1500 BCE?
Answer: Cities, writing, kingdoms during the Shang dynasty, and the use of bronze.
36. When was the Rig Veda composed?
Answer: Between 1200-1100 BCE.
37. What notable events occurred in South Asia between 600-500 BCE?
Answer: The use of coins in Turkey, the Persian empire with its capital at Persepolis, and the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
38. What significant developments happened in China and India between 400-300 BCE?
Answer: The establishment of an empire in China in 221 BCE and the beginning of the construction of the Great Wall, and the establishment of the Mauryan empire in India around 321 BCE.
39. What are the earliest known periods of human activity in the Americas?
Answer: From 6 million years ago to 500,000 years BP.
40. What significant archaeological findings were discovered in Australia and the Pacific Islands around 30,000-10,000 BP?
Answer: Homo sapiens fossils from around 12,000 BP.
41. When did the earliest indications of sea-faring appear in Australia/Pacific Islands?
Answer: Around 45,000 BP.
42. What were some agricultural advancements in the Americas between 8000-7000 BCE?
Answer: The cultivation of squash.
43. What significant event in agriculture occurred in the Americas between 5000-4000 BCE?
Answer: The cultivation of beans.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. When did the gradual transition from nomadic life to settled agriculture begin?
A. 15,000 years ago
B. 10,000 years ago
C. 5,000 years ago
D. 2,000 years ago
Answer: B. 10,000 years ago
2. Which crop was grown in East and Southeast Asia during the early agricultural period?
A. Wheat
B. Barley
C. Rice
D. Peas
Answer: C. Rice
3. What animal was domesticated around the same time as early agricultural developments?
A. Dog
B. Horse
C. Pig
D. Donkey
Answer: D. Donkey
4. When were cattle and donkeys harnessed to ploughs and carts?
A. 10,000 years ago
B. 7,000 years ago
C. 5,000 years ago
D. 3,000 years ago
Answer: C. 5,000 years ago
5. Where was the city of Carthage established?
A. Mesopotamia
B. North Africa
C. East Asia
D. Southeast Asia
Answer: B. North Africa
6. Which region saw the use of iron around 800-700 BCE?
A. Mesopotamia
B. Crete
C. Egypt
D. Sudan
Answer: D. Sudan
7. What significant event occurred in Greece in 776 BCE?
A. Establishment of Alexandria
B. Use of iron
C. First Olympic Games
D. Establishment of the Roman republic
Answer: C. First Olympic Games
8. When was the Persian Empire established?
A. 546 BCE
B. 500 BCE
C. 450 BCE
D. 400 BCE
Answer: A. 546 BCE
9. What writing system was developed in Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE?
A. Hieroglyphics
B. Cuneiform
C. Alphabetic script
D. Pictographs
Answer: B. Cuneiform
10. When was the Shang dynasty, which used bronze and had cities and kingdoms, in power in China?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1000 BCE
D. 1000-1 BCE
Answer: C. 2000-1000 BCE
11. What was domesticated in Central Asia around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Dog
B. Horse
C. Sheep
D. Goat
Answer: B. Horse
12. When did the Mauryan Empire begin in South Asia?
A. 500 BCE
B. 400 BCE
C. 321 BCE
D. 250 BCE
Answer: C. 321 BCE
13. Which civilization used the potter’s wheel around 4000-3000 BCE?
A. Mesopotamian
B. Egyptian
C. Harappan
D. Greek
Answer: A. Mesopotamian
14. What major architectural feature was begun in China around 221 BCE?
A. Forbidden City
B. Great Wall
C. Terracotta Army
D. Summer Palace
Answer: B. Great Wall
15. Which philosopher lived around 551 BCE in China?
A. Laozi
B. Confucius
C. Sun Tzu
D. Zhuangzi
Answer: B. Confucius
16. What significant structure was established in Egypt in 332 BCE?
A. The Pyramids
B. The Sphinx
C. Alexandria
D. Karnak Temple
Answer: C. Alexandria
17. When did Alexander of Macedonia conquer Egypt and parts of West Asia?
A. 336-323 BCE
B. 500-450 BCE
C. 400-350 BCE
D. 300-250 BCE
Answer: A. 336-323 BCE
18. In which region was the use of glass bottles recorded around 1500-1400 BCE?
A. Greece
B. Egypt
C. Mesopotamia
D. India
Answer: B. Egypt
19. When did the use of iron begin in West Asia?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1000 BCE
D. 1000-1 BCE
Answer: C. 2000-1000 BCE
20. What notable cultural event began in Athens around 510 BCE?
A. First Olympic Games
B. Establishment of a democracy
C. Persian Wars
D. Construction of the Parthenon
Answer: B. Establishment of a democracy
21. When did the use of coins begin in Turkey?
A. 600-500 BCE
B. 500-400 BCE
C. 400-300 BCE
D. 300-200 BCE
Answer: A. 600-500 BCE
22. What was a major technological advancement in transportation around 3600 BCE?
A. Bronze tools
B. Potter’s wheel
C. Wheel for transport
D. Iron plough
Answer: C. Wheel for transport
23. What crop was cultivated in Southeast Asia around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Wheat
B. Barley
C. Rice
D. Peas
Answer: C. Rice
24. When did the domestication of the one-humped camel occur in Arabia?
A. 2000-1000 BCE
B. 1500-1000 BCE
C. 1200-1100 BCE
D. 1100-1000 BCE
Answer: B. 1500-1000 BCE
25. What script was developed in Crete around 1900-1800 BCE?
A. Cuneiform
B. Hieroglyphics
C. Linear A
D. Alphabetic script
Answer: C. Linear A
26. When did the domestication of guinea pigs occur in the Americas?
A. 3000-2000 BCE
B. 2000-1900 BCE
C. 1900-1800 BCE
D. 1800-1700 BCE
Answer: A. 3000-2000 BCE
27. What significant structure was begun during the reign of the first emperor of China?
A. Forbidden City
B. Great Wall
C. Terracotta Army
D. Summer Palace
Answer: B. Great Wall
49. What was a major architectural development in ancient Egypt around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Pyramids
B. Sphinx
C. Karnak Temple
D. Alexandria
Answer: A. Pyramids
29. Which material was first used in Crete around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Iron
B. Bronze
C. Glass
D. Steel
Answer: B. Bronze
30. When was the script of the Harappan civilization used?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1000 BCE
D. 1000-1 BCE
Answer: B. 3000-2000 BCE
31. What was a major crop in Africa during the early agricultural period?
A. Wheat
B. Millet
C. Barley
D. Rice
Answer: B. Millet
32. When was the calendar and hieroglyphic script used in Egypt?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1000 BCE
D. 1000-1 BCE
Answer: B. 3000-2000 BCE
33. What was the primary writing material used in Egypt around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Clay tablets
B. Papyrus
C. Parchment
D. Stone
Answer: B. Papyrus
34. When did the use of the potter’s wheel start in Mesopotamia?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1000 BCE
D. 1000-1 BCE
Answer: A. 4000-3000 BCE
35. What material was first used in Egypt around 1500-1400 BCE?
A. Iron
B. Glass
C. Bronze
D. Steel
Answer: B. Glass
36. When was the city of Alexandria established?
A. 500 BCE
B. 400 BCE
C. 332 BCE
D. 250 BCE
Answer: C. 332 BCE
37. What was a significant trade product from China around 4000-3000 BCE?
A. Spices
B. Silk
C. Porcelain
D. Tea
Answer: B. Silk
38. When did the establishment of states and first use of iron occur in the Deccan and South India?
A. 1200-1100 BCE
B. 1100-1000 BCE
C. 1000-900 BCE
D. 900-800 BCE
Answer: C. 1000-900 BCE
39. What was the significant animal domesticated in East Asia around 2000-1000 BCE?
A. Water-buffalo
B. Horse
C. Camel
D. Llama
Answer: A. Water-buffalo
40. When did the domestication of llama and alpaca occur in the Americas?
A. 3000-2000 BCE
B. 2000-1900 BCE
C. 1900-1800 BCE
D. 1800-1700 BCE
Answer: B. 2000-1900 BCE
41. What was the major writing system used in ancient Egypt?
A. Cuneiform
B. Hieroglyphics
C. Linear B
D. Alphabetic script
Answer: B. Hieroglyphics
42. When was the city of Carthage established in North Africa?
A. 1000-1100 BCE
B. 900-800 BCE
C. 800-700 BCE
D. 700-600 BCE
Answer: B. 900-800 BCE
43. What was a major technological advancement in ancient Crete around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Use of iron
B. Use of bronze
C. Use of glass
D. Use of steel
Answer: B. Use of bronze
44. When was the use of iron recorded in Egypt?
A. 900-800 BCE
B. 800-700 BCE
C. 700-600 BCE
D. 600-500 BCE
Answer: B. 800-700 BCE
45. What was a significant cultural event in Greece around 510 BCE?
A. Establishment of a democracy in Athens
B. First Olympic Games
C. Persian Wars
D. Construction of the Parthenon
Answer: A. Establishment of a democracy in Athens
46. When did the domestication of the donkey occur in Africa?
A. 4000-3000 BCE
B. 3000-2000 BCE
C. 2000-1900 BCE
D. 1900-1800 BCE
Answer: A. 4000-3000 BCE
47. What was a major agricultural development in West Asia around 3000-2000 BCE?
A. Use of iron
B. Plough agriculture
C. Domestication of horse
D. Use of glass
Answer: B. Plough agriculture
48. When did the first Olympic Games take place in Greece?
A. 1000 BCE
B. 800 BCE
C. 776 BCE
D. 500 BCE
Answer: C. 776 BCE
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