Arrange the following in correct chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Chalcolithic Age, II. Mesolithic Age, III. Neolithic Age, IV. Paleolithic Age
Arrange the following in correct chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Chalcolithic Age, II. Mesolithic Age, III. Neolithic Age, IV. Paleolithic Age
Options
Official answer
The correct option is (B) IV, II, III, I.
Correct chronological sequence (oldest to most recent):
- IV. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) — earliest, hunting-gathering with crude stone tools
- II. Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age) — microliths, beginnings of domestication
- III. Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) — agriculture, polished tools, settled villages
- I. Chalcolithic Age (Copper-Stone Age) — first use of copper alongside stone
Hence the order is IV → II → III → I, matching option (B).
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark for selecting option (B) IV, II, III, I.
- 2.No partial credit; the entire sequence must be correct.
Hint
Order by tool technology: Old Stone Age first, copper (Chalcolithic) last.
Quick oral answer
The correct chronological order is Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and then Chalcolithic — that is option B, IV, II, III, I.
Common mistakes
- 1.Placing the Chalcolithic (copper) age before the Stone Ages instead of after them.
- 2.Confusing Mesolithic and Neolithic order — Mesolithic (microliths) precedes Neolithic (farming).
- 3.Reading the Roman numerals as the intended order rather than rearranging them chronologically.
Analysis and explanation
This question tests the standard prehistoric time-sequence, where each age is defined by the dominant tool technology and mode of subsistence.
Why (B) is correct: Human technological development moved from the Paleolithic (crude flakes, pure foraging) to the Mesolithic (small microliths, early taming of animals), then the Neolithic (farming, polished axes, permanent settlements), and finally the Chalcolithic, when copper metallurgy began — the transition into the metal ages.
Why the other options are wrong:
- (A) starts with Chalcolithic (the latest) first — an inverted, illogical sequence.
- (C) begins with Mesolithic and ends with Paleolithic, placing the oldest age last.
- (D) starts with Neolithic and scrambles the metal-use phase before the Stone Ages.
Concept anchor: Remember the mnemonic Old → Middle → New Stone → Copper: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic. Copper (Chalco-) always comes after all three Stone Ages.
Interesting facts
The Mesolithic rock paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, depict hunting and dancing scenes from this transitional age.
The Neolithic revolution — the shift to farming around 8000 BCE — is often called the single most important economic change in human history.
The Chalcolithic Age overlaps with the Harappan Civilisation, whose people used copper and bronze tools alongside stone blades.
Question details
Q2 of 41 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 12
- Subject
- History
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- MCQ
- Chapter
- Bricks, Beads and Bones — The Harappan Civilisation
- Topic
- Chronology of Prehistoric Ages
- Bloom's level
- understand
- Syllabus topic
- Theme 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones — Prehistoric Background: Stone Age to Chalcolithic Sequence
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages?
The Neolithic (New Stone Age) is marked by polished stone tools, agriculture and settled village life but no metal use. The Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone Age) that followed saw people begin using copper alongside stone tools, marking humanity's entry into metal technology.
Why does the Chalcolithic Age come last in this sequence?
Because it is the first metal-using phase, coming after all three Stone Ages. 'Chalco' refers to copper, so this age represents a technological advance beyond the purely stone-tool cultures of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods.