The Indus Valley Civilization Question and Answer| ICSE Class 6

CHAPTER 5

A.  Answer the following questions:

Question 1: How was the Indus Valley Civilization discovered? Why is it also called the Harappan Civilization?

Answer: The discovery of the ancient ruins of Harappa by Dayaram Sahni in 1921 and of Mohenjo-Daro by Rakhal Das Banerjee in 1922–23, both officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, disproved an age-old myth. It was earlier believed that the history of India began with the arrival of the Aryans. However, the excavation of the highly planned cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro pushed back the history of India by almost 2,000 years.

This discovery proved beyond doubt that a highly advanced urban civilization flourished in India about 4,500 years ago. The civilization belonged to the Chalcolithic Age (Copper Age), as no traces of iron have been found. It is estimated that the Indus Valley Civilization flourished between 2500 BCE and 1500 BCE.

Question 2: How were the Harappan cities planned?

Answer: Excavations at various sites prove that around 4,500 years ago, highly civilized people lived in this region and gave the world its earliest cities, first town planning, first stone and clay architecture, and first examples of engineering and drainage systems.

Town Planning:

The Indus Valley cities were very well planned. The streets ran parallel to each other and intersected at right angles, dividing the city into rectangular blocks. The main roads were straight, very wide, and curved at the corners to allow carts to pass easily.

Buildings:

The Indus Valley people were skilled builders. The buildings were of two types: dwelling houses and public buildings.

• Dwelling Houses: Large blocks of houses were built along the streets. Many houses were double-storied with flat roofs. They varied in size and were made of high-quality baked bricks. An average house had a courtyard surrounded by rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a well.
• Public Buildings:
  • The Great Granary at Harappa was a large building believed to have been used to store surplus food grains. There were two rows of granaries, each containing six granaries. A similar granary was found in Mohenjo-Daro.
  • The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro resembled a large swimming pool. It had six entrances, a central bathing pool, galleries, and dressing rooms. Two flights of steps led to the bottom of the pool. The floor and walls of the pool were made of burnt bricks and made waterproof with a lining of bitumen.

Question 3: Give a brief account of the buildings found in the cities.

Answer:

Public Buildings:

• The Great Granary at Harappa was a large structure believed to have been used for storing surplus food grains. It consisted of two rows of granaries, each containing six granaries. A similar granary was found in Mohenjo-Daro.
• The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro resembled a large swimming pool. It had six entrances, a central bathing pool, galleries, and dressing rooms. Two flights of steps led to the bottom of the pool. The floor and walls were made of burnt bricks and waterproofed with bitumen.

Question 4: Describe the occupations and crafts of the Harappan people.

Answer: The main occupations of the Harappan people were agriculture and domestication of animals.

• Agriculture:
  The main occupation of the Indus Valley people was farming. Farmers grew wheat, barley, fruits, and vegetables. They also cultivated cotton and were the first people in the world to do so. The land was fertile, and farmers produced enough surplus food to feed people in towns and cities.
• Domestication of Animals:
  The Harappans domesticated goats, sheep, buffaloes, elephants, and humped bulls. Dogs and cats were kept as pets.

Question 5: Write short notes on the following:

Trade:

The Indus Valley people carried out flourishing trade both within and outside India. They traded with countries like Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran), and Afghanistan. Trade relations with Mesopotamia have been confirmed by the discovery of Mesopotamian seals in Indus Valley cities and Harappan seals in ancient Mesopotamian cities.

A variety of weights and measures were used, and trade was probably conducted using the barter system. Trade was carried out using both land and sea routes. Bullock carts, boats, and ships were likely used for transportation.

Clothes Worn by the Indus Valley People:

People wore cotton and woolen garments. Both men and women wore two-piece dresses. They adorned themselves with necklaces, amulets, and finger rings. Women also wore headdresses, earrings, bangles, girdles, bracelets, and anklets.

Question 6: What do you know about the religious beliefs and practices of the Harappans?

Answer: Several objects found in the ruins provide insights into the religion of the Harappans.

• No temples have been discovered.
• Numerous smoke-stained clay figures of a female deity have been found, probably representing the Mother Goddess.
• A three-faced figure, seated in a yogic posture and surrounded by various animals, is engraved on some seals. This figure is believed to represent Lord Shiva (Pashupati).
• The Peepal tree was likely regarded as sacred and worshipped.
• The discovery of a large number of amulets suggests that the Harappans believed in protection from evil spirits.

Question 7: How did the Harappan Civilization end?

Answer: The Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished for about a thousand years, came to an abrupt end. Scholars have proposed several theories to explain its decline:

1. Natural Calamities: Earthquakes, floods, or epidemics may have destroyed the cities.
2. Invasion by Foreign Tribes: The Aryans might have attacked and destroyed the civilization.
3. Change in River Course: A shift in the course of the Indus River may have made the land infertile, leading to food shortages.

Despite its decline, the Indus Valley Civilization remains India’s earliest known urban civilization, known for its advanced town planning, engineering, and trade networks.

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B: Fill in the blanks:

1. The main river of the Harappan Civilization was Indus.
2. The Harappan Civilization belongs to the Bronze Age.
3. The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in 1921.
4. The Great Bath is located in Mohenjo-Daro.
5. The rich wore ornaments made of gold, silver, and precious stones.
6. The Harappan seals are made of steatite, terracotta, and copper.
7. The Peepal tree was probably regarded as sacred.

C: Match the following:

D: State whether the following are true or false:

1. The Harappan cities had an elaborate drainage system. → True
2. Domestication of animals was the main occupation of the Harappans. → False (Agriculture and trade were the main occupations.)
3. The Harappans decorated their pottery with various designs. → True
4. The Harappans built strong boats. → False (While they engaged in trade via rivers, there is no strong evidence of them building large, strong boats.)
5. The Indus Valley Civilization was governed by kings and queens. → False (There is no evidence of monarchy; it was likely governed by a group of elites or a ruling class.)