by Tiwari Academy Team
Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation NCERT Solutions – Question Answers and Extra Questions for 2026-27 Exam. Chapter 4 of Class 9 Social Science โ Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation – takes students on a journey through the earliest chapters of human history, long before writing was invented. The chapter explores how our ancestors evolved from Homo habilis to Homo sapiens, how they lived as hunter-gatherers and how they gradually shifted to agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution. It traces the development of tools across the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. The chapter then examines four great Bronze Age civilisations – the SindhuโSarasvatฤซ, Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Chinese – exploring their cities, writing systems, trade, social structures and lasting contributions to human culture.
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NCERT Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Solutions
Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Question Answer
Page 61 – The Big Questions
1. How did humans live on Earth before the beginning of civilisation?
Answer:
Before the beginning of civilisation, humans lived as hunter-gatherers. They hunted animals, collected fruits and plants, lived in caves or simple shelters and moved from one place to another in search of food and water.
2. How did humans communicate before writing was invented?
Answer:
Before writing was invented, humans communicated through speech, gestures, signs and cave paintings. They used pictures and symbols to express their ideas and share information.
3. How is archaeology helpful in understanding our past?
Answer:
Archaeology helps us understand our past by studying ancient tools, pottery, buildings, coins and bones. These remains provide information about the lifestyle, culture and activities of early humans.
4. How did early civilisations interact with each other?
Answer:
Early civilisations interacted with each other through trade, travel and the exchange of ideas, culture and technology. These interactions helped them grow and develop.
Page 62 – LET’S EXPLORE
You have studied about the Harappan script in your previous grades. Observe this seal carefully and discuss why the script has not yet been deciphered. Also, find out what efforts have been made to decipher, it You can use your textbook, consult your teacher, or refer to online sources.
Answer:
The Harappan script has not been deciphered because:
- It is a pictographic script with no known bilingual inscription (like the Rosetta Stone for Egyptian) that could serve as a key.
- The language behind the script is unknown, so there is no reference language to compare it with.
- The inscriptions found are very short – mostly on seals – which gives very little text to analyse patterns.
- There is no continuous tradition linking it to any known later script.
Efforts made to decipher it:
Scholars from India and around the world have used computer analysis, pattern recognition and comparison with other ancient scripts like Proto-Dravidian languages. Some researchers like Asko Parpola have proposed it may be related to a Dravidian language, but no conclusion has been universally accepted yet.
Page 65ย – THINK ABOUT IT
Why do you think early humans left Africa to migrate to other regions?
Answer:
Early humans likely left Africa due to several reasons:
- Search for food: As populations grew, food and resources in one area became scarce, pushing groups to explore new territories.
- Climate change: Shifts in climate altered vegetation and animal availability, forcing migration.
- Curiosity and exploration: Human beings are naturally inclined to explore new environments.
- Following prey: Hunter-gatherers may have followed animal herds that moved out of Africa naturally.
Page 66 – LET’S EXPLORE
Let us observe the images given above and answer the following questions.
โ Do you notice any changes in the shape or features of the skulls across different ancestors?
โย Can you observe a gradual straightening of the face
Answer:
Changes in skull shape:
- From Homo habilis to Homo sapiens, the skull becomes progressively rounder and larger, indicating growth in brain size.
- The forehead becomes more vertical and prominent.
- The brow ridges (bone above the eyes) become less prominent.
- The jaw and face become smaller and less protruding.
Gradual straightening of the face:
Yes – Homo habilis had a very forward-jutting face (prognathism). By Homo neanderthalensis, the face is slightly straighter. In Homo sapiens, the face is nearly flat and vertical. This reflects both dietary changes (less need for powerful jaws) and increased cognitive development.
Page 67 – THINK ABOUT IT
Why do you think the shift to farming during the Neolithic period is called a revolutionย rather than a simple change? Discuss with your classmates.
Answer:
The shift to farming during the Neolithic period is called a revolution rather than a simple change because:
- It was a fundamental transformation in every aspect of human life – food, settlement, society and economy.
- It happened relatively quickly in historical terms after millions of years of hunting-gathering.
- It led to permanent settlements, surplus food production, population growth, division of labour and eventually the rise of civilisations – a chain of enormous consequences.
- Just like the Industrial Revolution changed modern society completely, the Neolithic Revolution changed ancient society at its root.
Page 71 – THINK ABOUT IT
Observe the chart (Fig. 4.14) and identify the animals that were domesticated. Also try and identify the types of human habitats and objects that were used. Are any of these still used in present times?
Answer:
Animals domesticated: Cattle (zebu/humped bull), sheep, goats and pigs (visible in chart across regions).
Types of habitats and objects:
- Habitats: Round huts, thatched shelters, early village structures.
- Objects: Pottery vessels, ploughs, grinding stones, storage pots.
Yes – cattle, sheep and goats are still domesticated today. Pottery is still used, especially in rural India. The Rabi and Kharif cropping system (double crop cultivation) mentioned in the chapter continues to this day in India.
Page 76 – THINK ABOUT IT
Harappans had their own standard systems of weight and measurement. This is evident from the meticulously planned settlements and efficient interregional trade practices of the Harappans. They followed a binary multiple (1,2, 4, 8, 16, etc.) system for weighting smaller units and used multiples of ten for larger denominations. Such cubical stone weights have been reported from several sites. Can you imagine how long distance trade would have been affected had the Harappans not followed a standard system of weights?
Answer:
If the Harappans had not followed a standard system of weights, long-distance trade would have been severely disrupted. There would be no common basis for measuring goods being exchanged. Traders from different regions would distrust each other, leading to disputes and breakdown of commerce. The efficiency and scale of Harappan trade with Mesopotamia and other regions would have been impossible without standardised weights.
Page 77 – THINK ABOUT IT
Why were the rivers important in the growth of early civilisation?
Answer:
Rivers were crucial because:
- They provided fresh water for drinking and irrigation.
- The annual flooding deposited fertile silt on the plains, making agriculture highly productive.
- They served as trade and transport routes connecting different settlements.
- The need to manage river water (build canals, dams) encouraged collective organisation and eventually led to the formation of governments and administrative systems.
- Dense populations could be sustained near rivers, which encouraged specialisation of labour and the growth of cities.
Page 79 – LET’S EXPLORE
Can you find out which countries constitute West Asia in present times?
Answer:
Countries that constitute West Asia today include: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey (partially), Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.
Page 80 – LET’S EXPLORE
Do you find any similarities between the temple in India an those of the Sumerian civilisation as centres of socio-cultural and economical activity?
Answer:
Yes, there are interesting similarities:
- Both temples were centres of social, cultural and economic life in their communities.
- In India, temples historically controlled land, managed granaries and were hubs of trade and charity – similar to Sumerian ziggurats which controlled all economic activity.
- Both had restricted access to the holiest inner areas (only priests/priestesses in Sumer; similarly the garbhagriha in Hindu temples is restricted).
- Both served as community gathering points for festivals and rituals.
- Both were architecturally grand and built at the centre of settlements.
