Early Societies Writing and City Life Class 11 History Chapter 1 CBSE Notes 2025-26

The first chapter of CBSE Class 11 History, titled "From the Beginning of Time," introduces students to the study of human evolution and the emergence of early societies. 

This chapter covers the development of human beings from early hominids to the formation of hunter-gatherer communities. It highlights how prehistoric discoveries help us understand the growth of human civilization.

Archaeologists and anthropologists gather information about early humans by studying fossils, stone tools, cave paintings, and remains of food and structures. Fossils provide evidence of changes in the physical features of hominids. 

Stone tools reveal how early humans lived, hunted, and adapted to their environment. Cave paintings, such as those at Bhimbetka, show early humans’ ways of expression and communication.

The human lineage is traced back millions of years. Hominids are the family of primates that includes modern humans, extinct human species, and all our immediate ancestors. 

Within hominids, hominins refer specifically to humans and their direct forebears after the split from the common ancestor with chimpanzees. The earliest human-like creatures, called Australopithecines, lived in Africa about 4 million years ago.

• Australopithecus afarensis (famous example: Lucy) appeared around 3.9 – 2.8 million years ago.
• Homo habilis, known as ‘handy man’ for tool-making, lived around 2.4 – 1.4 million years ago.
• Homo erectus, who learned to use fire, lived about 1.8 million to 400,000 years ago.
• Homo sapiens, modern humans, emerged around 300,000 years ago.

The gradual development of bipedalism (walking upright), increased brain size, and the use of tools mark the journey of hominids to modern humans. These changes were crucial for survival and adaptation.

Early humans made tools from stone, bone, and wood. The first stone tools were simple flakes and cores, discovered in Olduvai Gorge, Africa. Over time, humans developed more complex tools, like hand axes and blades. 

Stone tool-making techniques improved, marking new periods like the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age).

• Oldowan tools: Simple, unshaped flakes used for cutting and scraping.
• Acheulian tools: Bifacial hand axes, sharper and more versatile.
• Microliths: Small, sharp tools attached to handles, common in the Mesolithic age.

These tools helped early humans hunt animals, process food, build shelters, and protect themselves from predators. Continuous advancement in tool making reflects the growing intelligence and adaptability of humanity.

For a long period, humans lived as hunter-gatherers. They survived by hunting wild animals and collecting plant foods. 

Hunter-gatherer groups were small, mobile, and relied on nature's resources. Their knowledge of plants, animals, weather, and geography was deep, acquired over generations through observation and experience.

• Food was shared within the group, ensuring survival for all.
• Tools and techniques were passed down orally through stories and teaching by elders.
• Seasonal movement was important to find food and water.

The shift from food gathering to food production (agriculture) marked the beginning of settled life. This is known as the Neolithic Revolution and led to the development of villages, domestication of animals, and the growth of permanent communities.

Cave paintings in places like Bhimbetka in India and Altamira in Spain provide evidence of early human creativity. These paintings often depict hunting scenes, animals, and symbolic figures. 

They suggest early humans not only hunted and gathered, but also celebrated aspects of daily life, religious beliefs, and group identity through art.

• Paintings were made using natural colours from minerals, plants, and charcoal.
• Art may have served ritual purposes, social bonding, or storytelling.

Other cultural developments included burial practices, fire control, and the introduction of language. Burial sites have been found with tools and ornaments, showing respect for the dead and possibly belief in an afterlife.

Modern humans migrated from Africa to other continents about 100,000 years ago. During these migrations, they encountered different environments and developed unique adaptations. 

Contact with other human species, like Neanderthals in Europe, led to some genetic mixing and exchange of ideas and technologies.

• Social roles were flexible but based on skills and age.
• Division of labour ensured group survival.
• Gatherers had wide knowledge of edible plants, seeds, and roots.
• Hunters developed traps, tools, and cooperative hunting strategies.
• Settlements grew near water sources and fertile lands once agriculture began.

Early humans faced frequent challenges like harsh climates, scarcity of food, and danger from wild animals. They adapted through innovation, group cooperation, and learning from their environment. Mastery over fire helped in cooking, protection, and warmth, greatly improving living standards.

• Human evolution involved changes in body structure, tools, and social life over millions of years.
• Archaeological findings give clues about early human life and culture.
• Hunter-gatherer lifestyles were sustainable for long periods.
• With agriculture, permanent settlements, villages, and early forms of society developed.
• Early humans showed creativity through art, rituals, and language.

Understanding “From the Beginning of Time” helps students appreciate the journey from simple beginnings to the foundation of complex societies. This knowledge sets the stage for all further study in history, revealing patterns of change and continuity in human life.

Class 11 History Chapter 1 Notes – From the Beginning of Time: Key Summary for Quick Revision

These Class 11 History Chapter 1 revision notes offer a clear summary of the journey from early humans to the rise of agriculture. By going through important points, time periods, and discoveries, students can quickly grasp the chapter’s core facts and concepts for efficient exam preparation.

Use these History Class 11 Chapter 1 notes to review key developments like the evolution of tools, social changes, and the impact of agriculture. These notes are structured for easy revision, saving time and building a solid foundation for advanced history topics.