NCERT Class 9 Social Science Understanding Society India and Beyond PART-I: Chapter 4 — Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation
This chapter, 'Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation,' from NCERT Class 9 Social Science's 'Understanding Society: India and Beyond PART-I,' delves into humanity's distant past. It explores the origins of our earliest ancestors, their evolution, diet, and lifestyle before the advent of civilization. The chapter highlights the importance of archaeological evidence in understanding pre-literate history. It introduces early writing systems like the undeciphered Harappan script (Sindhu lipi) and the deciphered cuneiform and hieroglyphic scripts. The text also touches upon the Brahmi script used in ancient India. Understanding these early developments is crucial for grasping the foundations of human history and societal evolution for CBSE students.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 9 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Understanding Society India and Beyond PART-I |
| Chapter | Chapter 4 — Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 423 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the origins and evolution of early humans.
- Learn about the methods used to study pre-historic periods, particularly archaeology.
- Identify and differentiate between early writing systems like Harappan, cuneiform, and hieroglyphic scripts.
- Appreciate the significance of deciphered scripts in marking the beginning of historical periods.
- Recognize the Brahmi script's historical context in India.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Civilisation | The stage of human social and cultural development and organisation that is considered most advanced. |
| Archaeological | Relating to the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artefacts and other physical remains. |
| Deciphered | Convert (a text written in code, or a coded signal) into normal language; succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something). |
| Pictographic | A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase. |
| Cuneiform | An ancient Mesopotamian script characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. |
| Hieroglyphic | A system of writing using pictorial symbols, especially in ancient Egypt. |
| Script | A set of symbols used to write a language. |
| Evolution | The process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. |
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Practice questions
- What is the main source of information about the period before writing was invented? Answer: Archaeological evidence is the main source of information about the period before writing was invented.
- Name two early writing systems besides the Harappan script. Answer: Two early writing systems besides the Harappan script are cuneiform (Sumerians) and hieroglyphic (ancient Egypt).
- Why is the Harappan script difficult to understand? Answer: The Harappan script has not yet been deciphered, making it difficult to understand.
- When was the Brahmi script used in India? Answer: The Brahmi script was used in parts of southern India and the Ganga Valley from about 400 BCE.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of Chapter 4 of NCERT Class 9 Social Science?
Chapter 4 focuses on the lives of early humans before civilisation, their evolution, communication methods, and the beginnings of writing systems.
How do we learn about early humans if they didn't have writing?
We learn about early humans primarily through archaeological evidence, such as tools, artefacts, and remains found at excavation sites.
What is the Harappan script and why is it significant?
The Harappan script, also known as Sindhu lipi, is an early writing system found on seals and pottery from the Indus Valley Civilisation. It is significant because it represents one of the earliest known writing systems, though it remains undeciphered.
Which other early writing systems are mentioned in the chapter?
The chapter mentions the cuneiform script of the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and the hieroglyphic script of ancient Egypt.
What is the Brahmi script?
The Brahmi script is an ancient Indian script used from about 400 BCE, which was later formalised by Emperor Aśhoka.
When did the historical period begin according to the chapter?
The historical period, marked by deciphered scripts, began about 5000 years ago with systems like cuneiform and hieroglyphic.
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NCERT Class 9 Social Science — Understanding Society India and Beyond PART-I — Chapter 4 — Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.