NCERT History Class 6 Chapter 2 Summary

NCERT History Class 6 Chapter 2 Summary: On the Trail of the Earliest People

NCERT History Class 6 Chapter 2 Summary: NCERT History Class-6 Chapter-2: On the Trail of the Earliest People explores the life of the earliest humans. It examines their tools, living conditions, and food habits. Chapter-2 explores the gradual changes in the environment that shaped human history. ‘On the Trail of the Earliest People‘ delves into how historians and archaeologists reconstruct this distant past.

The Earliest People: Hunter-Gatherers

People who lived in the Indian subcontinent about 2 million years ago were known as hunter-gatherers.

They hunted wild animals, caught fish and birds, and gathered fruits, roots, nuts, eggs, and berries.
Food resources were limited. That’s why hunter-gatherers used to move constantly from one place to another in search of food.
To gather plant food, they required knowledge of seasons and edible plants.
Their lifestyle depended entirely on nature, making them highly adaptable.

Stone Age Periods

Human history is divided into different Stone Age periods based on the type of tools used.

1. Palaeolithic Period (Old Stone Age)

Time period: 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago
Characterized by large stone tools
Divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Palaeolithic

2. Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

Time period: 12,000 to 10,000 years ago
Tools were small, sharp, and light, called Microliths

3. Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

Began around 10,000 years ago
Marked the beginning of growing plants and domesticating animals

Tools: Making and Uses

Early humans made tools from stone, wood, and bone.

Uses of Stone Tools

Cutting meat and bones
Scraping tree bark and animal hides
Chopping fruits and roots

Techniques of Tool Making

Stone-on-stone technique: One stone used to shape another
Pressure flaking: Applying pressure to give sharp edges

Where Did Early Humans Live?

Early humans chose places carefully:

Near rivers and lakes for water
Areas with good quality stone for making tools
Natural shelters like caves and rock shelters

Habitation and Factory Sites

Factory-sites: Places where stone tools were made
Habitation-cum-factory sites: Places where people lived and made tools

📍 Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) is an important example with caves and rock shelters.

Rock Paintings

Many caves have rock paintings depicting:

Wild animals
Hunting scenes

These paintings show great accuracy and artistic skill and provide insights into early human life.

Discovery and Use of Fire

Evidence of fire has been found in the Kurnool caves (Andhra Pradesh).

Fire was used:

As a source of light
To cook meat
To scare away wild animals

Changing Environment and New Ways of Life

Around 12,000 years ago, climate change led to:

Warmer conditions
Development of grasslands

This encouraged:

Herding and rearing of animals
Fishing
Growth of grain-bearing grasses like wheat, barley, and rice
Gradual shift towards agriculture

Important Archaeological Sites

Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh) – habitation sites and rock paintings
Hunsgi (Karnataka) – early Palaeolithic sites with limestone tools

Key Terms to Remember

Term	Meaning
Hunter-Gatherers	Early humans who hunted and gathered food
Palaeolithic	Old Stone Age (2 million–12,000 years ago)
Mesolithic	Middle Stone Age
Microliths	Small stone tools of Mesolithic age
Habitation	Place where people lived
Factory-site	Place where tools were made
Habitation-cum-factory	Living and tool-making site
Grasslands	Fertile lands suitable for grazing and crops