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Introduction To Ancient South Asia > Ppt1 > Flashcards

Ppt1 Flashcards

1
Q

When did human evolution begin?

A

Around 60 million years ago with early primates.

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2
Q

What are key traits developed in early primates?

A
  • Flattened molars for plant-based diet
  • Grasping hands and feet
  • Forward-directed eyes for binocular vision and depth perception
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3
Q

What are prosimians and anthropoids?

A

Prosimians (e.g., lemurs) and anthropoids (monkeys, apes, humans) evolved from early primates over 20-30 million years ago.

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4
Q

What are the key traits of hominids?

A
  • Bipedalism
  • Larger brain size
  • Use of complex tools and language
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5
Q

What is notable about Australopithecus afarensis?

A

Lived 3.8 to 2.6 million years ago, adapted for bipedalism and exhibited hand structures like modern humans.

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6
Q

What is a defining characteristic of Australopithecus africanus?

A

Lived 3.2 to 2.3 million years ago, with intermediate jaw and brain sizes between modern humans and apes.

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7
Q

What are the key features of Paranthropus robustus?

A

Strongly built, larger molars for herbivorous diets, lived 2-1.2 million years ago.

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8
Q

What distinguishes Homo habilis?

A

Known as the ‘Handy Man’, first to use tools, lived 2.4-1.6 million years ago.

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9
Q

What are the notable characteristics of Homo erectus?

A
  • Known for upright posture
  • Brain size: 1000 cm3
  • Spread from Africa to Europe and Asia
  • Utilized fire and tools
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10
Q

What is significant about Homo neanderthalensis?

A

Lived 200,000-30,000 years ago, robust physique, with a brain size of 1300 cm3 and capable of toolmaking and burial ceremonies.

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11
Q

What defines Homo sapiens?

A

Originated in Africa 200,000 years ago, migrated globally, replacing other hominids.

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12
Q

What is the Out of Africa Hypothesis?

A

Suggests Homo sapiens originated in Africa and spread worldwide, replacing other hominids.

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13
Q

What does archaeology study?

A

The past through material remains, investigating human behaviors and cultural changes.

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14
Q

What is the aim of archaeology?

A
  • Study past human interaction with the environment
  • Reconstruct life of prehistoric and historic societies
  • Document material remains of human activity
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15
Q

What are the types of archaeology?

A
  • Prehistoric Archaeology
  • Protohistoric Archaeology
  • Historic Archaeology
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16
Q

What is the significance of cultural heritage in archaeology?

A

Preserves awareness of historical and cultural landmarks, identifying and protecting important monuments.

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17
Q

What are the phases of evolution in archaeology?

A
  • Antiquarianism
  • Scientific Archaeology
  • Processual Archaeology
  • Post-Processual Archaeology
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18
Q

What characterized Antiquarianism?

A

Focus on collecting artifacts with little scientific rigor, often viewing them as curiosities.

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19
Q

What defines Scientific Archaeology?

A

Systematic study of material remains with emphasis on stratigraphy and scientific methods.

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20
Q

What is Processual Archaeology?

A

A scientific and positivist approach aiming to explain cultural processes and human behavior.

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21
Q

What is Post-Processual Archaeology?

A

A humanistic approach focusing on subjectivity, multiple interpretations, and cultural specificity.

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22
Q

What major discoveries were made during the colonial period of Indian archaeology?

A
  • Indus Valley Civilization
  • Buddhist sites
  • Contributions to epigraphy and numismatics
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23
Q

What was the focus of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)?

A

Established in 1861, it focused on institutionalizing archaeological research in India.

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24
Q

What was the significance of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A

Known for advanced urban planning, including drainage systems and standardized brick sizes.

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25
Q

What were the major contributions of Egyptian civilization?

A
  • Monumental architecture
  • Hieroglyphic script
  • Contributions to art, astronomy, and governance
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26
Q

What is the timeframe of Mesopotamian civilization?

A

Flourished between 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE.

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27
Q

What key writing system originated in Mesopotamia?

A

Cuneiform script, the earliest known writing system.

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28
Q

What were the notable structures of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A
  • Great Bath
  • Great Granary
  • Dockyard
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29
Q

What is significant about Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty?

A

Marked early historical records and advancements in bronze metallurgy and silk production.

30
Q

What major contributions did Greco-Roman civilizations make?

A
  • Foundations of Western thought
  • Innovations in architecture and law
  • Influence on art and literature
31
Q

What are the general contributions of archaeology to civilizations?

A
  • Monumental architecture
  • Writing systems
  • Economic and trade systems
  • Cultural interactions
32
Q

What is the primary focus of archaeology in the post-independence period in India?

A

Decolonizing interpretations of Indian history and exploring indigenous cultural narratives

This shift emphasizes the protection and conservation of archaeological sites and heritage.

33
Q

Who was Alexander Cunningham?

A

The first director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), known for historical archaeology and publishing Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum in 1877

He documented sites mentioned in Chinese travelogues.

34
Q

What significant act did John Marshall oversee during his tenure?

A

Enactment of the Ancient Monument Preservation Act, 1904

He was the Director-General of ASI from 1902 to 1928.

35
Q

What are the key legislative frameworks established in post-independence India for archaeology?

A
  • Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958
  • Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972

These acts focus on the conservation and management of archaeological heritage.

36
Q

What scientific methods are emphasized in modern archaeology?

A
  • Radiocarbon dating
  • Stratigraphic analysis
  • Bioarchaeology

These methods enhance the precision of archaeological interpretations.

37
Q

What is the significance of epigraphy in archaeology?

A

Study of inscriptions that help decipher historical events and cultural traditions

It is essential for understanding ancient languages and governance.

38
Q

What does the term ‘prehistory’ refer to?

A

The period before the advent of written records

Primary sources include archaeological excavations, artifacts, and environmental evidence.

39
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ Age is characterized by the use of polished stone tools and the beginning of agriculture.

A

Neolithic

This age spans from 6000 to 1000 BCE.

40
Q

What was the focus of the Temple Survey Project?

A

Study and documentation of temple architecture, iconography, and cultural narratives

It helps preserve historical and cultural knowledge embedded in temple structures.

41
Q

True or False: The focus of colonial archaeology in India was on regional histories and indigenous narratives.

A

False

Colonial archaeology emphasized documentation and exploration of major sites.

42
Q

Who is known as the ‘Father of Modern Archaeology’?

A

Flinders Petrie

He developed a sequential dating method using pottery fragments.

43
Q

What did V. Gordon Childe contribute to archaeology?

A

Coined the terms ‘Neolithic Revolution’ and ‘Urban Revolution’

He focused on transitions in human society.

44
Q

What is the significance of underwater archaeology?

A

Study of submerged archaeological sites, including shipwrecks and ports

It provides insights into ancient maritime trade and navigation.

45
Q

List the three distinct phases of the Indian Stone Age.

A
  • Paleolithic Age
  • Mesolithic Age
  • Neolithic Age

These phases are characterized by different tool technologies and subsistence patterns.

46
Q

What advanced techniques did Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler introduce to Indian archaeology?

A

Scientific methods, particularly stratigraphy

He trained a generation of Indian archaeologists at the Taxila training school.

47
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ Age is characterized by the emergence of microlithic tools and early domestication.

A

Mesolithic

This age spans from 10,000 to 6,000 BCE.

48
Q

What was the impact of the work of S.R. Rao in archaeology?

A

Discovered Lothal and contributed to deciphering the Indus script

He also excavated Dwarka, linked to the legendary city of Krishna.

49
Q

What does the term ‘behavioral archaeology’ emphasize?

A

The formation processes of the archaeological record and the impact of human behavior on material culture

Founded by Michael Brian Schiffer.

50
Q

What is the primary characteristic of the Paleolithic Age?

A

Humans were hunters and gatherers using unpolished stone tools

This age spans from 500,000 to 10,000 BCE.

51
Q

What is the timeframe of the Mesolithic Age?

A

10,000 BCE to 6,000 BCE

52
Q

What are the key characteristics of the Mesolithic Age?

A
  • Transitional period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages
  • Emergence of microlithic tools
  • Gradual domestication of animals and rudimentary cultivation began
53
Q

What social structure characterized the Mesolithic Age?

A
  • Semi-nomadic lifestyle
  • Early evidence of settled communities
54
Q

What technological advancements were made during the Mesolithic Age?

A
  • Use of microliths for hunting and fishing
  • Early attempts at food storage
55
Q

Name three significant sites from the Mesolithic Age.

A
  • Langhnaj (Gujarat)
  • Bagor (Rajasthan)
  • Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
56
Q

What is the timeframe of the Neolithic Age?

A

6,000 BCE to 1,000 BCE

57
Q

What are the key characteristics of the Neolithic Age?

A
  • Transition from hunting-gathering to settled agriculture
  • Widespread domestication of plants and animals
  • Introduction of polished stone tools and pottery
58
Q

What social structure characterized the Neolithic Age?

A
  • Permanent settlements
  • Construction of houses
  • Beginnings of social stratification
59
Q

What technological advancements were made during the Neolithic Age?

A
  • Polished tools like axes and sickles
  • Use of pottery for storage and cooking
  • Development of weaving and textiles
60
Q

Name three significant sites from the Neolithic Age.

A
  • Mehrgarh (Pakistan)
  • Burzahom (Kashmir)
  • Piklihal (Karnataka)
61
Q

What does the Stone Age highlight regarding human evolution?

A

Cognitive and cultural evolution of early humans

62
Q

True or False: The Stone Age marks the beginning of human civilization.

A

True

63
Q

What significant dietary shift occurred during the Neolithic Age?

A

From a diet of wild fruits and hunted animals to domesticated plants and animals

64
Q

What is the timeframe of the Chalcolithic Age?

A

Circa 2000 BCE to 700 BCE

65
Q

What characterizes the Chalcolithic Age?

A
  • Use of copper tools alongside stone tools
  • Transitional phase between the Neolithic and Iron Age
66
Q

What are the economic characteristics of Chalcolithic cultures?

A
  • Primarily agricultural
  • Supplemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering
  • Evidence of cattle herding
67
Q

Name two major Chalcolithic cultures in India.

A
  • Ahar-Banas Culture
  • Malwa Culture
68
Q

What burial practices were common in Chalcolithic cultures?

A
  • Burials in pits
  • Inclusion of grave goods
69
Q

What likely contributed to the decline of Chalcolithic cultures?

A
  • Environmental factors
  • Technological transition to iron tools
  • Cultural assimilation with Vedic culture
70
Q

What technological advancement marked a significant step in Chalcolithic cultures?

A

First use of metal tools in India

71
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ Age is characterized by the use of copper tools alongside stone tools.

A

Chalcolithic

72
Q

What is a notable artifact discovered at Daimabad?

A

A bronze chariot

Introduction To Ancient South Asia (1 decks)

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