Ancient India
Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
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- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
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- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
The term "Chalcolithic" is the combination of two Greek words: Chalco (Copper) & Lithic (= Stone). Thus, the meaning of the Chalco-Lithic Age is Copper-Stone Age.
Use of Copper and Stone Implements
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In that age, men used copper implements along with stone implements; the age is known as the "Chalco-Lithic Age".
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It is also called the "Neolithic-Chalcolithic Age".
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At first, men used the metal to make implements was copper. It is believed that copper was first used around 5,000 BC.
Transition to Bronze and Other Metals
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In the beginning, copper was discovered.
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Later, copper was mixed with other metals such as tin or zinc and lead to make a new metal or alloy, called bronze.
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In the course of time, men became familiar with the use of gold, silver, and at last with the use of iron.
Geographical Differences in Metal Use
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In North India, after the Lithic Age, the Chalco-Lithic Age appeared, and after the Chalco-Lithic Age, the Iron Age appeared, whereas in South India, the place of the Lithic Age was directly occupied by the Iron Age.
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In other words, in North India, after lithic (stone), copper was used, and after copper, iron was used, but in South India, after stone the iron was directly used.
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Since Copper is not indigenous in South India, therefore, they missed the Copper Age, and the Lithic Age was succeeded directly by the Iron Age.
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It means the extension of the Chalco-Lithic age existed only in North India, not in South India.
Stages of the Chalco-Lithic Age
I Pre-Harappan Age (3,500 BC - 2,500 BC)
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Pre-Harappan sites represent the transitional phase between the Neolithic Age and the Harappan Age.
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Its importance lies in the fact that on the basis of it, the background of Harappan Civilization is clarified, and this is the basis on which the gradual evolution of Harappan Civilization from local/indigenous cultures can be explained.
Regional Extension of Pre-Harappan Culture
Region/State |
Archaeological Sites |
---|---|
South-West Afghanistan |
Mundigak, Deh Morası Ghundai |
Northern Baluchistan (Pakistan) |
Jhob culture: Rana Ghundai, Periano Ghundai, Mughal Ghundai, Dabarkot; Queta culture: Kili Ghul Muhammad, Damb Sadat, Pirak Damb |
Southern Baluchistan (Pakistan) |
Nal Culture: Sor Damb; Kulli culture: Mehi, Roji, Mazera Damb |
Punjab (Pakistan) |
Harappa, Saraikhola, Jalilpur |
Sindh (Pakistan) |
Amari, Kotadizi, Mohenjodaro |
Haryana |
Vanawali, Rakhigarhi |
Rajasthan |
Sothi, Kalibangan-1 |
II. Harappan Age / Indus Civilization (2,500 BC - 1,750 BC)
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Three names are proposed for the civilization of the Harappan Age - Harappan Civilization, Indus Civilization & Indus-Saraswati Civilization.
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According to the archaeological point of view, the most appropriate name is Harappan Civilization, because Harappa was the first site discovered.
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There is a tradition in Archaeology, when we have to do nomenclature of any ancient culture then the site from where the existence of the culture was first known is opted for nomenclature.
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It is notable that the first site discovered of this culture was Harappa.
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Harappan civilization was the civilization of the Copper Age.
Regional Extension of Harappan Civilization
Region/State |
Archaeological Sites |
---|---|
Afghanistan |
Situated in Takhar Province of North-Eastern Afghanistan - Shortughai; Situated in Kandhar province of South-Western Afghanistan - Mundigak |
Baluchistan (Pakistan) |
Mehargarh, Kili ghul Muhammad, Rana Ghundai, Dabarkot, Balakot, Nindo Bari, Anjira, Sutkagendor |
Punjab (Pakistan) |
Harappa, Jalilpur, Sanghariwala, Derawa |
Sindh (Pakistan) |
Mohanjodaro, Amari, Kotdizi, Rehman Dheri, Suku Alhadino, Chanhudaro, Alimurad, Jhukar, Jhang |
J. & K. |
Manda |
Haryana |
Vanawali, Rakhigarhi, Bhagawanpura |
Rajasthan |
Kalibanga, Ganeshwar, Shishawal, Bara, Hanumatgarh, Mithal, Chhupas |
Uttar Pradesh |
Alamghirpur, Manpur, Bargaon, Hulas, Sanauli |
Gujarat |
Dholavira, Lothal, Surkotda, Bhagatrao, Rangpu, Rozdi, Desalpur, Prabhashpattan |
Maharashtra |
Daimabad |
III. Post Harappan Age (2,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
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After 2,000 BC, in the different regions of the Indian subcontinent, the various regional cultures came into existence. These were Chalco-Lithic Cultures.
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These cultures were not an urban culture like the Indus Civilization, but rural cultures.
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The nomenclature of these cultures is based on the type.
Regional Cultures
Region |
Name & Time Period (Location) |
Type Site |
Other Sites |
South-Eastern Rajasthan |
Ahar Culture/Banas Culture: 2,100 BC-1,500 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of the type site Ahar, situated in the Banas river valley of the Udaipur district) |
Ahar/Tambvati, i.e. place that has copper |
Gilund (Only chalco-lithic site from where the remains of baked bricks are found)-situated in Chitradurg district; Balaghat- situated in Udaipur district. |
Western Madhya Pradesh |
Kayatha Culture: 2,000 BC-1,800 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of type site Kayatha situated on the bank of Kali Sindh, a tributary of the Chambal River in the Ujjain district) |
Kayatha |
Tripuri is situated in Jabalpur district, and Ujjain is situated in Ujjain district. |
Western Maharashtra |
Sawalda Culture: 2,000 BC-1,800 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of type site Sawalda situated in Tapti & Prawara valley in Dhuliya district) |
Sawalda |
|
South-Western Gujarat |
Prabhash/Prabhaspattan Culture: 1,800 BC-1,500 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of type site Prabhashpattan situated in Junagarh district) |
Prabhaspattan |
|
Western Madhya Pradesh |
Nevada Toli/Malwa Culture: 1,700 BC 1,200 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of type site Neveda Toli situated on the bank of the Narmada river of Malwa region in Khargon district.) |
Newada Toli |
Maheshwar-situated in Khargon district; Nagada, situated in Ujjain district. |
Western Bihar |
Chirand Culture: 1,500 BC-750 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of the type site Chirand situated in the Saran district.) |
Chirand |
|
Western Maharashtra |
Jorwe Culture: 1,400 BC-750 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of the type site Jorwe situated on the left bank of the Prawara river in the Ahmednagar district.) |
Jorwe |
Situated in Ahmednagar district- Daimabad (Copper-made figures-rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo & chariot with charioteer, terracota figure of mother goddess matridevi) and Newasa (terracota figure of mother goddess/matridevi); Situated in Nasik district-Nasik; Situated in Pune district-Inamgaolo (remain of house with five rooms, terracota figure of mother goddess/matridevi) and Chandoli. A |
Mid Gujarat |
Rangpur Culture: 1,400 BC-750 BC (Nomenclature based on the name of the type site Rangpur situated on the bank of the Bhadar river of Surendranagar district.) |
Rangpur |
|
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