Early Humans & Civilisation Class 9 PPT Free Download | USP

Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 – Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation

Long before cities, writing, or governments existed, early humans survived as wandering hunter-gatherers, slowly learning to make tools, control fire, and eventually build the first great civilisations. In this chapter, "Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation," Class 9 CBSE Social Science (History) students trace the journey of humankind from the Stone Age to the rise of the earliest river-valley civilisations. This free PPT and notes download covers the complete NCERT 2026–27 syllabus in a simple, exam-focused format so you can revise quickly before tests.

Human Evolution and the Hunter-Gatherer Way of Life

Modern humans evolved over millions of years through several stages, from early ancestors like Homo habilis to Homo erectus, and finally to Homo sapiens, the modern human species. Early humans were hunter-gatherers who moved from place to place in search of food, hunting animals and gathering wild fruits, roots, and plants. They gradually migrated out of Africa and spread across different continents of the world, adapting to a wide variety of environments and climates.

• Homo habilis: one of the earliest tool-using human ancestors
• Homo erectus: learned to control fire and travel long distances
• Homo sapiens: modern humans, with advanced tool-making and language skills

The Stone Age

The Stone Age refers to the long period during which early humans made tools primarily out of stone, and it is divided into three main phases based on the type of tools used and way of life.

• Palaeolithic (Old Stone) Age: Humans used simple, rough stone tools and lived as hunter-gatherers, and this period also saw the discovery of fire.
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone) Age: Humans made smaller, sharper stone tools called microliths and began domesticating animals like dogs.
• Neolithic (New Stone) Age: Humans developed polished stone tools, began farming, and started living in permanent settlements.

The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution was one of the most important turning points in human history, marking the shift from a nomadic hunting-gathering lifestyle to a settled agricultural way of life. Humans learned to cultivate crops such as wheat and barley and domesticate animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle for food, milk, and labour. This ability to produce a stable food supply allowed people to settle permanently in one place, leading to the growth of the earliest villages and, eventually, towns.

Rise of River-Valley Civilisations

As farming villages grew larger and more organised, they gradually developed into the world's first civilisations, almost all of which arose along the fertile banks of great rivers. These early civilisations developed features such as planned cities, writing systems, organised governments, and social classes.

• Mesopotamian Civilisation: Developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known for cuneiform writing and early law codes.
• Egyptian Civilisation: Developed along the river Nile, famous for pyramids and hieroglyphic writing.
• Chinese Civilisation: Developed along the Huang He (Yellow) river, known for early writing on oracle bones.
• Sindhu-Sarasvati (Harappan) Civilisation: Developed along the Indus and Sarasvati rivers in the Indian subcontinent, known for advanced town planning.

The Harappan Civilisation and the Legacy of Mesopotamia

The Sindhu-Sarasvati (Harappan) Civilisation is especially important in Indian history, known for its well-planned cities with a grid layout, covered drainage systems, and standardised weights and measures. Its unique script has still not been deciphered by historians, making it one of the great unsolved mysteries of ancient history. Mesopotamia, meanwhile, left behind a lasting legacy that includes the cuneiform script (one of the earliest forms of writing), the Code of Hammurabi (one of the earliest written law codes), and the sexagesimal (base-60) number system, which is still used today to measure time in hours, minutes, and seconds.

Comparison of the Four River-Valley Civilisations

Real-Life Applications

Studying early human history and civilisations helps us understand the roots of many things we use today, such as the sexagesimal number system from Mesopotamia, which still shapes how we tell time. Archaeologists and historians use excavation techniques developed from studying these civilisations to uncover new historical sites even today. Understanding the Neolithic Revolution also helps explain the origins of modern agriculture and settled societies, while lessons on ancient town planning from the Harappan civilisation continue to influence urban planning and sanitation systems in modern cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the Neolithic Revolution?
The Neolithic Revolution was the shift from a nomadic hunting-gathering lifestyle to a settled agricultural way of life, marked by the beginning of farming and animal domestication.

Q2. What are the three phases of the Stone Age?
The three phases of the Stone Age are the Palaeolithic (Old Stone) Age, the Mesolithic (Middle Stone) Age, and the Neolithic (New Stone) Age.

Q3. Which are the four major river-valley civilisations?
The four major river-valley civilisations are the Mesopotamian (Tigris-Euphrates), Egyptian (Nile), Chinese (Huang He), and Sindhu-Sarasvati or Harappan (Indus-Sarasvati) civilisations.

Q4. Has the Harappan script been deciphered?
No, the Harappan script has not yet been deciphered by historians, and it remains one of the unsolved mysteries of ancient history.

Q5. What is Mesopotamia famous for?
Mesopotamia is famous for the cuneiform script, one of the earliest forms of writing, the Code of Hammurabi, and the sexagesimal (base-60) number system still used to measure time.

What's Included in This Free Download

• 193-slide PPT covering the complete chapter with diagrams and real-life examples
• Complete notes based on the new NCERT 2026–27 syllabus
• Practice worksheet with important questions

Prepared by Sumeet Sahu, Unique Study Point, Indore. Free for all Class 9 CBSE students.