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- 7 Highlights Of India's Prehistoric Ages
- 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
- 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
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- 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
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- 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)
7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
Definition & Features
-
Derived from Greek: Chalco (Copper) + Lithic (Stone) = Copper-Stone Age.
-
Marked by the use of copper alongside stone tools.
-
The transitional phase from Neolithic to metal use.
-
First use of copper: ~5000 BCE.
-
Evolution:
Copper → Bronze (Copper + Tin/Zinc/Lead) → Gold/Silver → Iron
Geographical Extent
-
North India: Neolithic → Chalcolithic → Iron Age.
-
South India: Neolithic → directly to Iron Age (Copper largely absent).
II. Chronology of Chalcolithic Cultures
Phase |
Period (BCE) |
Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
|
Pre-Harappan |
3500 – 2500 |
Transitional, local cultures laying the Harappan base |
|
Harappan |
2500 – 1750 |
Urban Copper Age civilization |
|
Post-Harappan |
2000 – 1000 |
Regional Chalcolithic rural cultures |
III. Important Chalcolithic Cultures (Post-Harappan)
Culture |
Region |
Period (BCE) |
Key Sites & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ahar/Banas |
SE Rajasthan |
2100–1500 |
Ahar, Gilund (baked bricks) |
|
Kayatha |
W. Madhya Pradesh |
2000–1800 |
Kayatha, Tripuri, Ujjain |
|
Sawalda |
W. Maharashtra |
2000–1800 |
Sawalda |
|
Prabhaspattan |
SW Gujarat |
1800–1500 |
Prabhaspattan |
|
Malwa/Nevada Toli |
W. MP (Malwa) |
1700–1200 |
Newada Toli, Maheshwar, Nagda |
|
Chirand |
W. Bihar |
1500–750 |
Chirand, Sonpur |
|
Jorwe |
W. Maharashtra |
1400–700 |
Jorwe, Inamgaon, Daimabad, Chandoli |
|
Rangpur |
Mid-Gujarat |
1400–750 |
Rangpur |
IV. Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization
-
(2500 BCE – 1750 BCE) Also called the Indus-Saraswati Civilization
Important Sites and Features
Site |
River |
Features |
|---|---|---|
|
Harappa |
Ravi |
Granaries, cemetery R-37, male torso, wheat, barley |
|
Mohenjodaro |
Indus |
Great Bath, Granary, Dancing girl (bronze), Priest-King, seals |
|
Lothal |
Bhogava |
Dockyard, fire altars, horse figurine, double burial |
|
Kalibangan |
Ghaggar |
Ploughed field, fire altars |
|
Banawali |
Ghaggar |
Toy plough, mother goddess figurine |
|
Dholavira |
Luni |
3-part town, water system, largest inscription, stadium |
|
Surkotada |
— |
Horse remains, oval graves. |
|
Daimabad |
— |
Bronze chariot, ox, elephant, rhinoceros |
Trade
-
Imports: Gold (Kolar), Copper (Khetri), Tin (Afghanistan), Lapis (Badakshan)
-
Exports: Cotton textiles, terracotta, beads, conch shells, ivory
V. Iron Age Transition
Literary Evidence
-
Early Vedic: Ayas = generic metal.
-
Later Vedic:
-
Lohit Ayas = Copper
-
Krishna/Shyama Ayas = Iron
-
-
Iron ploughs referenced in Atharva Veda, Shatapatha Brahmana, Suttanipata
Archaeological Evidence
-
The use of iron began around 1000 BCE in the Gangetic Valley.
-
Extensive by 600 BCE.
-
Enabled second urbanization (1st was Harappan).
Important Iron Sites
State |
Archaeological Sites (Archaeological Remains) |
|---|---|
|
Uttar Pradesh |
Ataranjikhera, Jakhera, Ahichhatra, Hastinapur |
|
Rajasthan |
Noh, Jodhpura |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
Kayatha, Eran, Nagda |
|
Bihar |
Chirand, Sonpur |
|
West Bengal |
Pandu Rajar Dhibi, Mahishadal |
|
Maharashtra |
Naikund, Bahai, Junapani, Mahurjhari |
|
Karnataka |
Hallur |
|
Tamil Nadu |
Paiyyampalli, Adichchanallur |
VI. Iron-Age Cultures (Iron-Using)
Culture |
Period (BCE) |
Features |
Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
PGW |
1000–600 |
Painted Grey Ware pottery |
Punjab, Haryana, UP, N. Rajasthan |
|
NBPW |
600–300 |
Highly polished black ware pottery |
Gangetic plains to Deccan |
|
Megalithic |
800–500 |
Stone burials, iron use |
Mainly South India |
Click to get full-length Content on the Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
Final Thoughts
The Chalcolithic and subsequent ages mark a significant transition in human history, showcasing the evolution from stone tools to the use of metals like copper, bronze, and eventually iron.
Beginning with the Chalcolithic Age—an intermediary phase between the Neolithic and the Iron Age—societies developed regional cultures across the Indian subcontinent, particularly flourishing in North India.
The rise and fall of the Harappan Civilization during this period stands as a hallmark of early urban culture and trade. The eventual advent of iron technology around 1000 BC catalyzed agricultural expansion and urbanization in the Gangetic plains, laying the groundwork for the second urban revolution in India.
This progression from rural settlements to complex cities reflects a deepening of socio-economic and cultural complexity, forming the foundation of historic Indian civilization.
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