NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 2 – From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food (Notes)

Chapter 2 – From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

These NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 2 notes explain how early humans lived as hunter-gatherers and how they gradually learned farming and domestication of animals. This chapter helps students understand the transition from nomadic life to settled life, which is an important foundation topic for school exams and BPSC preparation.

1. Early human life: hunters and gatherers

The earliest humans lived by hunting animals and gathering food from plants.
These early humans are called hunter-gatherers.
They hunted animals such as deer and wild cattle.
They gathered roots, fruits, nuts, and seeds from forests.
Early humans depended completely on nature for survival.
Just like forest dwellers today, early humans collected food from their surroundings.

2. Why did people move from place to place?

Early people were nomadic, meaning they moved from one place to another.
Animals moved in search of grass, so humans followed them.
The availability of plants changed with seasons.
People moved to escape harsh climate conditions.
They also moved in search of water sources.

3. Tools used by early humans

Early humans mainly used tools made of stone.
Stone tools were used for cutting meat, digging roots, and scraping animal skin.
During the Palaeolithic Period or Old Stone Age, tools were rough and unpolished.
The Mesolithic Period came between the Old Stone Age and New Stone Age.
In the Mesolithic Period, tools became smaller and sharper.

4. Fire: a major discovery

Early humans discovered fire, which brought major changes in life.
Fire was used for cooking food, making it easier to eat.
It provided protection from wild animals.
Fire gave light and warmth, especially in cold regions.
Fire changed human life just as electricity changed modern life.

5. Beginning of domestication

Domestication means taming animals and growing plants for human use.
Early humans began to domesticate animals slowly.
The dog was probably the first animal to be domesticated.
Other domesticated animals included sheep, goat, and cattle.
Domestication made human life more secure and stable.

6. Transition to growing food

Humans gradually learned farming and herding animals.
This marked the shift from food gathering to food production.
People began to depend on crops grown by themselves.
Humans started living at one place for longer periods.
This led to the formation of villages.

7. Important archaeological site: Mehrgarh

Mehrgarh is an important archaeological site.
It is located in present-day Pakistan.
It is one of the earliest sites of farming and herding.
Crops such as wheat and barley were grown here.
Farming at Mehrgarh began around c. 6000 BCE.

8. Neolithic age (New stone age)

The Neolithic Age means the New Stone Age.
During this age, people used polished stone tools.
Humans began living in permanent settlements.
Farming and herding became the main occupations.
People also learned pottery making.

9. Changes in human life

Farming led to an increase in population.
Humans learned to store food for future use.
Social life became more organised.
People began settling near fertile land.
Just like today people settle near jobs, early humans settled near good farmland.

10. Important dates (NCERT focus)

The Mesolithic Period existed around 12,000–10,000 years ago.
The beginning of domestication was around 12,000 years ago.
The Neolithic Period began around 10,000 years ago.
Settlement at Mehrgarh started around c. 6000 BCE.
These dates help historians understand early human development.

11. Important keywords

Hunter-gatherers refers to people who hunted animals and gathered plants.
Domestication means taming animals and growing plants.
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic are stages of the Stone Age.
Mehrgarh is an early farming site.
These terms are important for exams.

12. Why this chapter is important

This chapter explains the origin of agriculture.
It shows how humans shifted from nomadic life to settled life.
It helps us understand the beginning of villages.
It provides the base for understanding cities and civilisations.
It is very important for NCERT exams and BPSC foundation.

This chapter explains the early stages of human life, including the use of stone tools, discovery of fire, and the beginning of agriculture at places like Mehrgarh. These developments led to the formation of villages and stable societies.

Continue reading Class 6 History Chapter 3 – In the Earliest Cities to learn about the rise of the Harappan civilisation and early urban life.

FAQs

Q1. What is the main idea of Class 6 History Chapter 2?
It explains how humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming and settled life.

Q2. Why is Chapter 2 important for competitive exams?
It introduces early human development, agriculture, and domestication, which are basic concepts for BPSC and other exams.