BEGINNING OF INDIAN CIVILISATION

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why are the inhabitants are called ‘Harappans’ in this Civilisation?
Answer:
They are called ‘Harappans’ because of the city Harappa.
Question 2.
Mention a few materials related to Harappan culture.
Answer:
Copper, Bronze, Clay, Terracotta etc.
Question 3.
Note down a few cities of Harappan culture.
Answer:
Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavi¬ra, Lothal, Kalibangan, Rakhgarhi, Gan-weriwala etc.
Question 4.
Note the states of India where the Harappan culture spread over.
Answer:
Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat.
Question 5.
What is Civilisation in general terms?
Answer:
In general, the term Civilisation is used for an advanced stage of human societies.
Question 6.
Mention any two characteristics which are precisely associated with cimlisation?
Answer:
There are many such as government and administration, urbanism, crafts and trade, writing form to
communicate and record, a productive agriculture.
Question 7.
When did the Civilisation begin?
Answer:
Civilisation begin at different times in different parts of the world. For example, Mesopotamia
Civilisation began around 4000 BCE, and Indus Sarasvatl Civilisation began around 2000 BCE.
Question 8.
How Punjab plains are so fertile?
Answer:
The Punjab plains divided between India and Pakistan now is so fertile due to the fact that it is
watered by Indus river and its tributaries.
Question 9.
Mention the flow of Sarasvati river a few millenniums ago.
Answer:
A few millenniums ago the river Sarasvati used to flow from the foothills of the Himalayas through
the modern Haiyana, Punjab and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Question 10.
Where is the Sarasvati river mentioned for the very first time?
Answer:
It is mentioned in the text Rig Veda.
Question 11.
Note down the first two cities to be discovered in Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
Question 12.
Name a large building used for collective purposes.
Answer:
Warehouses for storing and transporting goods.
Question 13.
What are tributaries? Give an example.
Answer:
Tributaries are small rivers that join a bigger river for example – Son is a tributary of river Ganga.
Question 14.
What is Great Bath?
Answer:
Found in Mohenjo-daro, the great bath is a small but elaborate tank surrounded by small rooms.
Question 15.
What did the Harappans eat?
Answer:
Archaeological findings have shown that the Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some
millets, and sometimes rice, in addition to pulses and a variety of vegetables.
Question 16.
Mention a few things which the Harappans use to export.
Answer:
They exported ornaments, timber, some objects of daily use, probably also gold and cotton, and
possibly some food items.
Question 17.
Write any two figures found in Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
A statuette of the Priest King and the bronze figurine of the Dancing Girl.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Why the Harappans might have returned to rural settlements?
Answer:
The Harappans returned to rural settlements because a rural lifestyle gives easier access to food and
water than an urban
lifestyle. Then as even now, cities depended on villages to provide food, and sometimes water.
Question 2.
What caused the decline of the Harappans?
Answer:
The decline of the Harappans was due to two main factors. Archeologists have suggested that
climatic change was first factor. Drought or less rainfall could have reduced the food supply. Second
factor was the drying up of the basin of Sarasvati river which led to abandoning of few cities.
Question 3.
When did the early cities develop in India?
Answer:
About 4700 years ago some of the earliest cities flourished on the banks of the Indus and its
tributaries. Later, other
early cities developed on the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries and along the sea coasts, about
2400 years ago.
Question 4.
How can you say that the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation, was indeed remarkable in
many way?
Answer:
We can say that the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation, was indeed remarkable in many
ways because
1. The differences between the rich and the poor was not glaring.
2. Also the Harappan societal scenario was not that of ‘exploitation’, but of mutual
‘accommodation’.
Question 5.
Write a short note on the Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
The Indus, Harappan or Sindhu- Sarasvati Civilisation is one of the oldest of the world. Its
inhabitants, the Harappans, created planned cities with efficient water management, diverse crafts
and a brisk trade. A productive agriculture brought a variety of crops to the cities. The Civilisation
eventually declined, probably because of climatic and environmental changes and its people
returned to a rural lifestyle.
Question 6.
Who are archaeologists?
Answer:
Archaeologists study the remains of the past, like objects, remains of build¬ings etc. They explore
and excavate tools, weapons pots, pans, coins etc. and study paintings and sculptures. They look for
bones of animals to find what people ate in the past.
Question 7.
What is called as the – First Urbanisation of India?
Answer:
From about 3500 BCE, in the region of modern Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan, villages
grew into towns, and with increasing trade and other exchanges, those towns further grew into cities.
This transition happened around 2600 BCE. Archaeologists have given several names to one of the
oldest Civilisation of the world such as ‘Indus’, ‘Harappan’, ‘Indus-SarasvatT or ‘Sindhu- SarasvatT
Civilisation and its inhabitants are called ‘Harappans’. This development is also known as the ‘First
Urbanisation of India’.
 Long Answer Questions
Question l.
Describe the features of Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
Some of the striking features of the Harappan Civilisation are as follows:
1. The Harappan cities show a level of sophistication and advancement not seen in any of the
other contemporary Civilisations. Most cities had similar patterns – as divided into two parts: a
upper town and the lower town.
2. Most cities had a Great Bath.
3. There were also granaries, two storied houses made of burnt bricks, closed drainage lines,
excellent water system, and wastewater management system, weights for measurements, toys,
pots, etc. A large number of seals have also been discovered.
4. Agriculture was the most important occupation and the first Civilisation to cultivate cotton. We
see that animals were
domesticated like sheep, goats, and pigs. Crops were wheat, barley, cotton, ragi, dates, and
peas.
5. Trade was a part of their financial system. Metal products were produced including those with
copper, bronze, tin, and lead. Gold and silver were also known but Iron was not known to
them.
6. Civilisation also was advanced in making artworks. A statuette named ‘Dancing Girl’ has been
found from Mohenjo-daro and is believed to be 4000 years old. A figure of a bearded Priest-
King has also been found from Mohenjo-daro.
Question 2.
The Harappan cities were well planned cities. Do you agree? Explain.
Answer:
Yes we agree to the above statement that the Harappans cities were well planned cities because
1. The main streets ran parallel to each other cut at right angles by smaller streets dividing the
cities into rectangular blocks.
2. The main roads were straight and very wide. The streets were, often paved with baked bricks.
3. Dwelling houses were building that people live in. They were in different sizes. They were
made of baked bricks of very good quality.
Question 3.
Describe the reasons why and how the Harappan Cimlisation disap peared.
Answer:
Archeologists have suggested many theories to describe the reasons why and how the Harappan
Civilisation disappeared.
There might be two main factors for Harappans disappearance:
1. First factor was climate change which caused drought due to less rainfall.
2. Second factor was drying up of Sarasvatl river, again due to reduced rainfall.
3. Both above factors led to drought with less agriculture, reducing food supply to the cities.
4. There might also have been a pandemic (may be caused by severe drought) with breakout of a
disease causing huge number of deaths at that time.
There could have been other factors, but these two remind us of how much we depend on climate
and the environment for our well-being.
Question 4.
What lessons can modern India learn from cities of Harappan Civilisation?
Answer:
The ancient Harappan Civilisation offers valuable insights into hygienic and well-planned urban
living. Here are some key lessons we can learn from the Harappans:
1. Urban Planning: Harappan cities were well planned which facilitated efficient movement
within the cities and allowed for the systematic allocation of residential, commercial, and public
spaces.
2. Sanitation Systems: One of the most remarkable features of Harappan cities was their
sophisticated sanitation systems.
3. Water Management: The Harappans were adept at managing water resources, essential for
sustaining urban life.
4. Hygienic Practices: Archaeo logical excavations have uncovered evidence of public baths
highlighting the importance of personal hygiene in Harappan society. Additionally, the
presence of well-built toilets in houses suggests a concern for sanitation and cleanliness q.t the
individual household level.
5. Waste Management: The Harappans practiced waste segregation, with different types of waste
likely disposed of in. designated areas.
6. Community Living: The layout of Harappan cities suggests a strong sense of community living,
with shared amenities and public spaces. In the context of our self-sustainable city initiative,
learning from the Harappans’ urban planning and sanitation practices can inform modern
urban development strategies.
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