Samacheer Kalvi Class 5 Social Science Solutions Term 1 Chapter 2 Towards History

Evaluation

I. Choose the best Answer:

Question 1. Palaeolithic humans,
(a) Wore cotton clothes
(b) Wore woolen clothes.
(c) Wore leaves and skin of animals
Answer: (c) Wore leaves and skin of animals
In simple words: Early humans from the Old Stone Age wore clothes made from leaves and animal skins. They used these natural materials because they did not know how to make cloth.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Palaeolithic humans lived a very basic life, using only what was available in nature for their needs.

Question 2. was the first pet animal of man.
(a) Cow
(b) Horse
(c) Dog
Answer: (c) Dog
In simple words: Dogs were the first animals people made friends with and kept as pets. They were helpful for hunting and guarding.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding the sequence of animal domestication helps in tracing human development and their early interactions with nature.

Question 3. What was the first metal discovered by early human?
(a) Iron
(b) Copper
(c) Gold
Answer: (b) Copper
In simple words: Copper was the first metal early humans found and started using. This discovery was a big step forward, allowing them to make new tools.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing the first metal discovered is key to understanding the transition from the Stone Age to the Metal Age.

II. Fill in the blanks.

Question 1. Early man lived in ____.
Answer: caves and holes of big tree
In simple words: Early people lived in caves and big tree holes. These natural shelters protected them from animals and bad weather.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that early humans relied on nature for shelter before they learned to build their own homes.

Question 2. The Stone Age is the period in which Stones were used as ____.
Answer: weapons
In simple words: In the Stone Age, stones were mainly used as weapons and tools. These stone tools were essential for hunting and gathering.

🎯 Exam Tip: The term 'Stone Age' directly tells you the main material used for tools during that period.

Question 3. ____ was used to produce fire.
Answer: Scratching two stones
In simple words: People made fire by rubbing two stones together. This created sparks for warmth and protection.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing how fire was produced helps understand its significance for warmth, cooking, and protection in early human life.

Question 4. ____ is the first scientific invention of man.
Answer: Stone wheels
In simple words: Stone wheels were the first scientific invention made by people. They changed how people moved and made things.

🎯 Exam Tip: The wheel is a foundational invention that significantly changed human capabilities and progress in history.

Question 5. At the end of New Stone Age, ____ was invented.
Answer: copper
In simple words: Copper was invented at the end of the New Stone Age. This led to a new era of tool-making.

🎯 Exam Tip: The discovery of copper marked a transition from using only stone tools to early metal tools.

III. Answer the following.

Question 1. What is Stone Age?
Answer: The Stone Age refers to a long period in history when humans mainly used stones to make their tools and weapons. This era is divided into different stages based on the type and sophistication of stone tools.
In simple words: The Stone Age was a time when people mostly used stones to make their tools and weapons.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining historical ages, always mention the key material or technology that characterized that period.

Question 2. Write a short note on Nomadic Life.
Answer: Nomadic life describes how early humans lived before they learned farming. They constantly moved from one place to another, searching for food like wild fruits, vegetables, and animals to hunt. They also drank water from natural sources and did not build permanent homes. This constant movement was a defining feature of their survival strategy.
In simple words: Nomadic life means early people moved around a lot. They did not farm and kept moving to find food and water.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the key characteristics of nomadic life: movement, food gathering, and lack of permanent settlement.

Question 3. Define Neolithic age.
Answer: The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, was a period when humans used more refined tools and weapons made from bones, horns, stones, animal skin, tree branches, and sticks. This era saw significant advancements like the start of farming and settled communities.
In simple words: The Neolithic Age was a time when people used better tools from bones, stones, and wood. It is also called the New Stone Age.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the variety of materials used for tools and mention its alternative name, "New Stone Age," in your definition.

Question 4. Write a short note on Pottery.
Answer: Pottery was a major invention by humans, allowing them to create strong, beautiful containers by baking clay. These pots were essential for cooking, storing food, and carrying water. Stone Age people skillfully made these household items themselves.
In simple words: Pottery was a big invention for humans. People made strong, beautiful pots from clay to use in their homes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the significance of pottery for cooking and storage, showing its impact on daily life.

Question 5. Name some Archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu.
Answer: Some important archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu include Athichanallur, Arikkamedu, and Keeladi. These sites offer valuable insights into ancient human settlements and cultures in the region.
In simple words: Athichanallur, Arikkamedu, and Keeladi are archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing examples, ensure correct spelling of proper nouns and add a brief context if possible.

IV. Answer in detail:

Question 1. How can we classify the Stone Age?
Answer: The Stone Age is divided into three main periods based on advancements in stone tool technology and human development. These are the Palaeolithic Age (Old Stone Age, dating around 10,000 BCE years ago), the Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age, dating before 8,000 BCE), and the Neolithic Age (New Stone Age, approximately 10,000-4,000 BCE). This classification helps us understand the gradual changes in human civilization over time.

In simple words: The Stone Age has three parts: Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age). Each part shows how humans and their tools changed over time.

🎯 Exam Tip: For classification questions, clearly list the categories and their approximate time periods, along with a brief description of each.

Question 2. Write about Chalcolithic Age and Iron Age.
Answer: The Chalcolithic Age, or Copper Age, marks a period when humans began using copper alongside stone for tools. This era came at the end of the New Stone Age. Following this, the Iron Age began with the discovery of iron. During the Iron Age, people started making durable tools and weapons from iron, which greatly improved household items and farming equipment.
In simple words: The Chalcolithic Age was when people used both stone and copper tools. After that, in the Iron Age, people found iron and used it to make stronger tools and weapons for farming and daily life.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between the two ages by mentioning the characteristic material used for tools in each period.

InText Activity

Question 1. What were the food eaten by early humans?
Answer: Early humans ate a variety of foods gathered from their environment. Their diet included the flesh of animals they hunted, along with green leaves, edible roots, and various grains. They were hunter-gatherers, relying on what nature provided.
In simple words: Early humans ate animal meat, green leaves, roots, and grains, all gathered from nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing foods of early humans, remember they were primarily hunter-gatherers, utilizing available natural resources.

Question 2. Why did early humans live in caves?
Answer: Early humans lived in caves mainly to protect themselves. These natural shelters offered safety from dangerous wild animals and harsh weather conditions like rain, wind, and cold.
In simple words: Early humans lived in caves to stay safe from wild animals and bad weather.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the primary needs for shelter: protection from threats and the elements of nature.

Question 3. Why did they eat raw flesh?
Answer: Early humans ate raw flesh because they had not yet discovered or learned how to control and use fire for cooking. Once fire was harnessed, cooking became possible.
In simple words: They ate raw meat because they did not know how to use fire to cook their food.

🎯 Exam Tip: Link the lack of cooked food directly to the non-discovery or non-mastery of fire by early humans.

Additional Question and Answers

I. Choose the best answer:

Question 1. Humans tamed ____ as their pet at first.
(a) dog
(b) cow
(c) fox
(d) elephant
Answer: (a) dog
In simple words: The dog was the first animal humans tamed as a pet. They were useful for hunting and protection.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that domestication of animals was a gradual process, starting with animals beneficial for hunting and protection.

Question 2. Palaeolithic age is in ____ years ago.
(a) 10,000 BCE
(b) 8,000 BCE
(c) 100 BCE
(d) 4,000 BCE
Answer: (a) 10,000 BCE
In simple words: The Palaeolithic age began more than 10,000 years ago. It was the earliest and longest part of the Stone Age.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be careful with BCE/CE distinctions and the order of historical periods, as exact dates are important in such questions.

Question 3. Mesolithic age is known as ____.
(a) Old stone age
(b) Middle stone age
(c) New stone age
(d) None of the options
Answer: (b) Middle stone age
In simple words: The Mesolithic Age is also called the Middle Stone Age. It was a time between the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age.

🎯 Exam Tip: Learning the alternative names for each Stone Age period is crucial for questions like these.

Question 4. Civilisations started around ____ years ago.
(a) 200
(b) 300
(c) 400
(d) 500
Answer: (b) 300
In simple words: Early civilisations began to emerge roughly 300 years ago. These were societies with complex rules and settled living.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keep in mind that the formation of early civilizations is a key milestone in human history, often associated with agricultural surplus and population growth.

II. Fill in the blanks.

Question 1. Early humans used the ____ tools to protect themselves.
Answer: stone
In simple words: Early humans used stone tools to keep themselves safe. These tools were their main way to defend themselves.

🎯 Exam Tip: The type of tools used directly reflects the technological capabilities and survival strategies of early humans.

Question 2. ____ stone is used for making tools and weapons.
Answer: Quartzite
In simple words: Quartzite stone was used to make tools and weapons. It was chosen for its hardness.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing specific materials like quartzite highlights the resourcefulness and ingenuity of early tool-makers.

Question 3. ____ stone was used to produce fire.
Answer: Flint
In simple words: Flint stone was used to make fire. Striking it would create sparks.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize flint as a crucial material in early fire-making techniques, essential for warmth and cooking.

Question 4. Study of coins is called ____.
Answer: Numismatics
In simple words: Numismatics is the name for studying coins. It helps us learn about past leaders and economies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define specialized terms clearly, as they are often direct recall questions in history and social studies.

Question 5. ____ people used bones, horns, stones, skin, branches of trees.
Answer: Neolithic age
In simple words: Neolithic Age people used bones, horns, stones, skin, and tree branches. They crafted many different kinds of items.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the variety of tool materials to the advancements and increased resourcefulness of the Neolithic period.

Question 6. ____ was the greatest inventions by humans.
Answer: Pottery
In simple words: Pottery was one of the greatest inventions by humans. It allowed better food storage and cooking.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider the broad impact of an invention on daily life and progress when judging its significance in human history.

Question 7. The period which has written documents are called ____ period.
Answer: Historical
In simple words: The time when we have written records is called the Historical period. These records give us direct information about the past.

🎯 Exam Tip: Differentiate clearly between prehistory (before written records) and history (with written records).

III. Answer the following:

Question 1. What are the uses of fire?
Answer: Fire had several crucial uses for early humans. It helped them scare away dangerous animals, provided light to see their way in the dark at night, and offered warmth to protect them from the cold during winter. Fire was truly a multi-purpose tool for survival.
In simple words: Fire was used to stay safe from animals, to see at night, and to keep warm in winter.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the practical benefits of fire, which cover protection, visibility, and comfort, in the context of early human survival.

Question 2. What is the help of historical period document?
Answer: Historical documents are very helpful because they give us detailed information about the past. They allow us to understand how people lived, the important events that happened, their food habits, culture, art, architecture, and literature of that time. These written records are a direct link to history.
In simple words: Historical documents help us learn about how people lived, important events, their food, culture, art, and writings from the past.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the breadth of information historical documents provide, covering various aspects of past societies and their daily lives.

Question 3. What is stone wheels?
Answer: Stone wheels refer to the earliest form of wheels invented by humans. The idea likely came from observing round stones rolling down hills. Initially, these wheels were made of stone, but later, wood became a common material. The invention of the wheel was a groundbreaking scientific innovation, transforming transportation and other tasks.
In simple words: Stone wheels were the first wheels people made, likely after seeing stones roll. They were first made of stone, then wood. This was a very important invention.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe both the inspiration for the wheel and its initial composition, highlighting its significance as a scientific breakthrough.

Question 4. What is Numismatics?
Answer: Numismatics is the study of coins and currency, including both metal coins and paper money. This field helps historians learn about the rulers of a period, the symbols and art of their time, and the economic conditions or wealth of a society. Coins act as small historical records.
In simple words: Numismatics is the study of coins. It helps us learn about old kings and how people traded money in the past.

🎯 Exam Tip: Go beyond a simple definition by explaining *why* numismatics is important for historical research and understanding past economies.

Question 5. What is inscription?
Answer: Inscriptions are writings carved onto hard surfaces like rocks or temple walls. These writings often record details about a king's rule, important events, or aspects of society. They serve as direct historical evidence from the past.
In simple words: Inscriptions are writings carved on rocks or walls, often about kings or people's lives. They are found on temple walls too.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define inscriptions by their physical form (carved on hard surfaces) and their content (historical records of events or societal information).

Question 6. Classify Palaeolithic and Neolithic tools.
Answer: Palaeolithic tools were primarily made from Quartzite stone, which early humans shaped into basic implements for hunting and gathering. In contrast, Neolithic Age tools showed greater variety and refinement, crafted from materials such as bones, animal horns, different types of stones, animal skins, and tree branches and sticks. This evolution reflects growing human skill.
In simple words: Palaeolithic tools were mostly made of quartzite stone. Neolithic tools were made from many things like bones, horns, skin, and wood, showing more skill.

🎯 Exam Tip: When classifying, focus on the primary materials and the complexity of tools to distinguish between the periods.

Question 7. What are the sources that help us to learn history?
Answer: Many types of evidence and traces help us learn about history. These include artifacts, pottery, coins, idols, ornaments, weapons, and written documents. All these sources provide valuable information to understand and reconstruct past events and lives.
In simple words: Things like old tools, pots, coins, statues, jewelry, weapons, and old writings help us learn about history.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide a diverse list of archaeological and literary sources to show a comprehensive understanding of historical evidence.

Question 8. What is a museum?
Answer: A museum is a special place where rare objects and items used by our ancestors are carefully preserved. These preserved items offer important information and insights into the lives, cultures, and histories of past societies and people.
In simple words: A museum is a place that keeps old and rare things used by people long ago. These things teach us about their lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the dual role of a museum: preservation of artifacts and education about the past.

Question 9. Why were paintings drawn on rocks?
Answer: Early humans drew paintings on rocks for several reasons. They might have wanted to record their daily activities, such as hunting, and possibly to share their way of life with future generations. These paintings served as a form of early communication and historical documentation.
In simple words: Paintings were drawn on rocks to show how people lived and to record their activities for the future.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider rock paintings as a form of early communication, art, and historical record-keeping, reflecting the life and beliefs of early humans.