About
10,000 years ago, during Mesolithic period (period between
end of Paleolithic and beginning of Neolithic period) man
was hunter and food gatherer (in India places in Gujrat,
M.P, Maharashtra, Gangetic plains, West Bengal, A.P, Karnataka,
are associated with Mesolithic sites) During this period
Mesolithic hunters domesticated dogs. These dogs helped
hunters to get animals easily. During this period they used
to collect variety of leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, etc.
This process increased the supply of food which might have
led to increase in population. Knowledge of selection of
animals and plant food material formed the basis for man
of Neolithic period (7500 BC to 1710BC)
to start cultivation in fields and gardens along with domestication
of more animals like sheep, goat, etc.
Archeological
research reveled that 3000 to 6000 years ago along with
rice several other crops were cultivated. Oil seeds like
sesame, linseed, sunflower, mustard and c astor; legumes
like mung, beans, black gram, horse gram, pigeon pea etc;
fiber crops like cotton and fruits like jujube, grapes,
dates, jack fruit, mango, mulberry, balck plum etc. similarly,
animals such as livestock, sheep, goats, asses, dogs, pigs,
horses, etc. were domesticated.
The evolution of agriculture laid the foundation of civilizations
like Harappan or Indus valley civilization. Around 1600
BC waves of Aryans reached India and settled in Indus valley.
By 1000 BC Aryans reached Western Uttar Pradesh. The areas
where Aryans spread are the areas of fertile soil of India,
even today.
Aryans were nomads, moving in search of
water and pasture land for their animals, while native Indians
had developed agriculture. The confluence of two cultures
helped Aryans to began peaceful, settled and prosperous
life, which resulted in development of cultivation and domestication
of animals.
