Questions and Answers: The Beginning of Indian Civilization

 


1. One of the oldest cities of the Indian subcontinent is

  • Correct Answer: (c) Harappa

2. The earliest cities developed around

  • Correct Answer: (b) 4,700 years ago

     

  • 3. Who planned the construction of the special buildings in the city?
    • Correct Answer: (c) The rulers
  • 4. Harappan seals are generally of ______
    • Correct Answer: (b) rectangular shape
  • 5. The Harappan city—Dholavira was divided into ______
    • Correct Answer: (a) three parts

  • B. Mark the option that matches Column A with Column B

  • 1. Mohenjo-daro  (iii) Great Bath
  • 2. Lothal (iv) Dockyard
  • 3. Dholavira (ii) Large letters of Harappan script
  • 4. Harappa (i) Discovered by Daya Ram Sahni
  • Correct Option: (c) 1.-(iii), 2.-(iv), 3.-(ii), 4.-(i)

  • C. Fill in the blanks

  • The Egyptian civilisation flourished along the Nile river.
  • R.D. Banerji discovered the ruins of Mohenjo-daro in 1922.
  • Mohenjo-daro means Mound of the Dead.
  • Banawali is situated in the state of Haryana.
  • The Citadel was situated in the western side of the city.

  • D. State True or False

  • A very special tank, 'the Great Public Bath' was found in Mohenjo-daro during excavation. True
  • Fire altars have been found in Kalibangan and Lothal. True
  • A specialist is a person who is trained to do several kinds of work. False (A specialist is trained to do only one specific kind of work)
  • The raw materials like copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stone used by Harappans, were available locally.  False (Many of these raw materials were imported from distant places like Rajasthan, Oman, Afghanistan, and Karnataka)

  • The cities of Dholavira and Lothal give glimpses of Harappan culture. True

    II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

  • 1. Discuss the main features of the Great Public Bath in Mohenjo-daro.
    • Answer: It was a large rectangular tank in the citadel made watertight with baked bricks, plaster, and natural tar. It had steps leading down on two sides and changing rooms around it.
  • 2. List the uses of copper and bronze for the Indus-Saraswati people.
    • Answer: They were used to make tools (axes), weapons (spears), utensils (pots), and ornaments (bangles).
  • 3. How do we know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation?
    • Answer: Actual pieces of woven cotton cloth were found attached to a silver vase at Mohenjo-daro, and spindle whorls used for spinning thread were excavated.
  • 4. When and where was cotton first grown?
    • Answer: Around 7,000 years ago at Mehrgarh (in modern Pakistan).
  • 5. Who was a specialist in the Harappan civilisation?
    • Answer: A person trained to do only one specific craft, such as cutting beads, polishing seals, or carving stone.

  • III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

  • 1. Discuss the extent of the Indus-Saraswati civilisation.
    • Answer: It spread across modern Pakistan and Northwest India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab). Key urban centers included Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, and Lothal.
  • 2. How were the cities planned in the Harappan cities? Describe its divisions and important buildings.
    • Answer: Cities were divided into a higher western Citadel (for public buildings) and a lower eastern Lower Town (for houses). Streets were laid out in a straight grid, and key buildings included the Great Bath and granaries.
  • 3. Write a note on the dress and ornaments of the Indus-Saraswati people.
    • Answer: They wore simple clothes made of woven cotton and wool. Both men and women wore necklaces, rings, and armlets made of gold, silver, copper, and precious beads.
  • 4. Describe the main features of the Harappan religion.
    • Answer: They worshipped a Mother Goddess, a male deity (Pasupati/Shiva), and elements of nature like the pipal tree and the humped bull.
  • 5. Discuss the main reasons for the decline of the Indus-Saraswati civilisation.
    • Answer: The main reasons were severe environmental changes, including deforestation (from baking bricks), flooding, and the drying up of vital rivers.

  • IV. PICTURE STUDY

  • 1. Identify the civilisation from the ruins in the picture.
    • Answer: The Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan Civilisation).
  • 2. When and by whom were the ruins of this civilisation discovered?
    • Answer: Harappa was discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni, and Mohenjo-daro in 1922 by R.D. Banerji.
  • 3. These ruins show the excellent (a) town planning; and (b) drainage system of this period. Write a few lines on both of them.
    • Answer:
      • (a) Town Planning: Houses were constructed with durable baked bricks and arranged along a neat, geometric grid.
      • (b) Drainage System: Covered street drains connected to individual house drains and had regular manholes for easy cleaning.

  • 4. What were the main reasons for the decline of this civilisation?

    • Answer: Ecological decay caused by major floods, widespread deforestation, and rivers changing their courses.