Introduction
Ever wondered how people lived thousands of years ago—before there were schools, smartphones, or even houses? Life back then was very different from ours today. In this article, we’ll take a fun and informative journey into “The Early Human Life”—a topic from Class 5 EVS/Social Science that feels just like a time-travel adventure!
So, grab your imagination cap, and let’s explore how early humans lived, survived, learned, and grew—because understanding their journey helps us appreciate our present. And hey, teachers and students—this is perfect for revision, classroom discussions, or just learning in a super simple way.
Click On The Name To Go To A Specific Topic:
Life in the Stone Age
What was it like?
Early humans lived in the Stone Age, a period when people made tools and weapons mainly out of stone. They didn’t have fancy gadgets or machines. Instead, they used stones, bones, and wood for everything—from hunting animals to building shelters.
Types of Stone Age:
- Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age): They lived in caves and used sharp stones as tools.
- Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age): Tools became better, and they started domesticating animals.
- Neolithic Age (New Stone Age): Farming began, people made pottery and lived in small villages.
Takeaway:
Next time you use a knife or tool, think about how early humans made everything from scratch with just stone and wood!
Discovery of Fire – A Game Changer
What happened?
Early humans discovered fire by rubbing stones together or by lightning hitting trees. At first, they were scared of it—but soon they learned that fire gives light, warmth, and helps cook food. It also protected them from wild animals.
Benefits of Fire:
- Cooked meat made it easier to chew and digest.
- Kept them warm during cold weather.
- Helped in crafting better tools and pottery.
Takeaway:
Imagine eating only raw vegetables and meat—yikes! Fire was a huge upgrade for early humans, making food tastier and life safer.
Hunting and Gathering – Survival Mode ON!
What did they eat?
Before farming started, early humans were hunter-gatherers. This means:
- Hunted animals for meat.
- Gathered fruits, nuts, roots, and seeds from the forests.
Tools They Used:
- Sharp stones, bows and arrows, spears.
- Traps and pits to catch animals.
Takeaway:
They had no supermarkets! Early humans had to walk long distances and work hard just to find food. It teaches us to be grateful for the food on our plate today.
Farming – The Great Discovery
Why was it important?
After years of wandering, humans noticed that seeds grow into plants. So, they began growing their own food. This is when farming began—a major turning point in human life.
What Changed?
- People started settling in one place.
- They built mud houses and began living in small villages.
- Domesticated animals like cows, goats, and sheep.
Takeaway:
Thanks to farming, we have a steady food supply and homes to live in. Agriculture laid the foundation for civilization!
From Caves to Homes
Where did early humans live?
At first, they lived in natural caves or rock shelters to protect themselves from weather and wild animals. As time passed, they learned to make huts using mud, straw, and wood.
Types of Shelters:
- Caves (Old Stone Age)
- Tents from animal skin (Middle Stone Age)
- Mud huts (New Stone Age)
Takeaway:
Home wasn’t always a comfy place with fans and furniture. It took generations for humans to learn how to build proper homes. Appreciate the walls around you!
Cave Paintings – The First Art
Why did they draw?
Early humans loved to draw on cave walls using natural colors made from crushed stones, charcoal, and plants. These drawings told stories of their life—hunting scenes, animals, and daily activities.
Famous Sites in India:
Bhimbetka Caves (Madhya Pradesh) show ancient cave paintings that are thousands of years old!
Takeaway:
Even without language, they found ways to express thoughts and stories—just like how we love drawing and doodling today!
Tools and Weapons – DIY Life
What did they make?
Early humans were creative! They made tools and weapons for hunting, cutting, digging, and sewing.
Made from:
- Sharp stones
- Animal bones
- Wood
Types:
- Hand axe
- Spear
- Bow and arrow
- Scrapers
Takeaway:
There were no toolkits! They were their own engineers and blacksmiths. This shows the power of human creativity and problem-solving.
Community Life Begins
Why was it important?
As humans began to live in villages, they started working together, sharing food, and helping each other. This is how the idea of society was born.
Activities in Villages:
- Farming
- Cooking
- Tool making
- Sharing responsibilities
Takeaway:
Living together helped early humans stay safe and grow as a group. We still live in societies and communities today—it all started back then!
Summary – What We Learned
Let’s quickly revise what we explored:
- Early humans lived in the Stone Age and used stone tools.
- Fire helped in cooking, safety, and warmth.
- They survived by hunting animals and gathering food.
- Farming changed everything—leading to settled life.
- They built homes, made tools, and expressed through art.
- Community life and cooperation helped them grow stronger.
Final Thoughts
The journey of early human life teaches us how curiosity, survival skills, and teamwork helped mankind grow from cave dwellers to the smart society we live in today.
If you found this article helpful, do share it with your classmates and teachers! Teachers can use this in class discussions and students can revise before exams.
Comment below your favorite fact about early humans or ask any questions—let’s learn together!
Bonus: Quick Recap Points for Exam
- Stone Age: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic
- Fire: Discovered in Paleolithic Age
- Tools: Stone, bone, wood tools
- Shelter: Caves → Mud huts
- Occupation: Hunting-gathering → Farming
- Art: Cave paintings (Bhimbetka Caves)
- Society: Started with farming villages
Activity (Exercise):
A. Very Short Answer Questions – Answers
1. What was the main material used by early humans to make tools?
Answer
Stone
2. Name one place in India where ancient cave paintings have been found.
Answer
Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh)
3. In which age was fire discovered?
Answer
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
4. What kind of life did early humans live before farming?
Answer
Hunter-gatherer life
5. Which animal was first domesticated by early humans?
Answer
Dog
B. Short Answer Questions – Answers
1. How did the discovery of fire help early humans?
Answer
Fire gave warmth in cold weather, protected from wild animals, and helped cook food which made it easier to eat and digest.
2. Why did early humans live in caves?
Answer
Caves provided shelter from bad weather, protection from wild animals, and a safe place to live.
3. What is meant by ‘hunter-gatherers’?
Answer
Hunter-gatherers were early humans who hunted animals and gathered wild fruits, nuts, and roots for food instead of growing crops.
4. Name the three stages of the Stone Age and write one feature of each.
Answer
Paleolithic Age: Used rough stone tools and lived in caves.
Mesolithic Age: Started domesticating animals and improved tools.
Neolithic Age: Began farming and living in villages.
5. Why did early humans start living in groups?
Answer
For safety from wild animals, to hunt together, share food, and help each other in daily tasks.
C. Long Answer Questions – Answers
1. Describe the life of early humans before and after the discovery of farming.
Answer
Before farming, early humans wandered in forests, lived in caves, and survived by hunting and gathering. After discovering farming in the Neolithic Age, they began growing crops, settling in villages, building homes, and living in groups, which led to the start of civilization.
2. Explain how early humans made tools. What were they used for?
Answer
Early humans made tools by sharpening stones or bones. These were used for hunting animals, cutting meat, digging the ground, and protecting themselves. Tools improved over time and became more specialized.
3. Write a short note on cave paintings. What do they tell us about early humans?
Answer
Cave paintings were drawings made on cave walls using natural colors. These paintings showed scenes of hunting, animals, and daily life. They tell us that early humans were creative and used art to express their thoughts.
4. Discuss the importance of community life in the early human period.
Answer
Community life helped early humans live safely in groups. They shared food, protected each other, helped in farming and building houses. It was the beginning of cooperation and social living, which led to the development of society.
5. How did early humans discover farming, and how did it change their life?
Answer
Early humans observed that seeds grew into plants. They started growing crops, which gave them a steady food supply. Farming made them settle in one place, build homes, store food, and start village life. It was a big step towards civilization.
D. Fill in the Blanks – Answers
- Early humans lived in caves to protect themselves from wild animals.
- The discovery of fire was a turning point in human life.
- Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh have ancient cave paintings.
- Early humans used sharp stones and bones to make tools.
- Farming began in the Neolithic Stone Age.
E. Match the Columns – Answers – Answers
| A | B |
|---|---|
| 1. Paleolithic Age | c. Stone tools |
| 2. Mesolithic Age | a. Domestication began |
| 3. Neolithic Age | b. First farming |
| 4. Bhimbetka | d. Cave paintings |
| 5. Fire | e. Cooking and warmth |
F. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- What did early humans use to make their tools?
a) Plastic
b) Steel
c) Stone
d) Iron
Answer: c) Stone - Where did early humans mostly live?
a) Apartments
b) Tents
c) Caves
d) Igloos
Answer: c) Caves - The Bhimbetka caves are located in which Indian state?
a) Gujarat
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Rajasthan
Answer: b) Madhya Pradesh - Which was one of the earliest animals to be domesticated?
a) Elephant
b) Dog
c) Tiger
d) Snake
Answer: b) Dog - Early humans painted pictures of:
a) Cars
b) Gods
c) Animals and Hunting
d) Buildings
Answer: c) Animals and Hunting
Quiz:
Coming Soon…
Supplementary Materials:
Provide downloadable materials for learners to review:
- – PDF Guide: “Coming Soon”
- – Cheat Sheet: “Coming Soon”
- – Video Source: “JNG ACADEMY“
- – Articles: “Blog Page“
FAQs:
Q1. Who were early humans?
Q2. What is the Stone Age?
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
Q3. How did early humans discover fire?
Q4. Why was the discovery of fire important?
1. Cook food
2. Stay warm during cold weather
3. Scare away wild animals
4. See in the dark
Q5. How did early humans get their food?
Hunted animals for meat
Gathered fruits, nuts, roots, and seeds from forests
Q6. What led to the beginning of farming?
Q7. Where did early humans live?
Natural caves for protection (Old Stone Age)
Tents or huts made from animal skins (Middle Stone Age)
Mud huts and small villages (New Stone Age)
Q8. What were early human tools made of?
Stone
Wood
Bones
They used these tools for hunting, cutting meat, digging, and building.
Q9. What are cave paintings?
Q10. Why is the study of early human life important for students?
a) How human society evolved
b) The importance of inventions like fire, farming, and tools
c) Our history, roots, and progress over time