The First Cities

Question 1

What is civilisation?

Answer 1

The term civilisation means a highly advanced culture with towns and cities; trade and craft; literature and organised form of government.

Question 2

Where did the first cities set up?

Answer 2

The first cities were naturally set up near fertile river valleys.

Question 3

What emerged as cities?

Answer 3

Towns which were the centers of trade emerged as cities.

Question 4

When did the Indus Valley Civilisation flourish?

Answer 4

The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished approximately between 2500 BC to 1500 BC. However, traces were also found to exist after 1500 BC.

Question 5

Why is the Indus Valley Civilisation called so?

Answer 5

The first cities of this civilisation were found near the river Indus. Thus, the civilisation came to be known as Indus Valley Civilisation.

Question 6

What is the other name of Indus Valley civilisation? Why is it called so?

Answer 6

The other name of Indus Valley Civilisation is Harappan Civilisation.It is called so because Harappa was the first city to be excavated.

Question 7

What are the important cities of the civilisation?

Answer 7

The important cities of the civilisation are:
-Harappa in Punjab
-Mohenjodaro in Sindh
-Chanhundaro in Sindh 130 km south of Mohenjodaro
-Lothal in Gujarat
-Kalibangan in Northern Rajasthan
-Banavali in ** Hissar district** of Haryana
-Dholavira in Gujarat

Question 8

What is the extent of Indus Valley Civilisation?

Answer 8

The Indus Valley Civilisation spread over north western and some parts central of India, Rajasthan, Sindh and Baluchistan

Question 9

What were the first cities of this civilisation to be excavated?

Answer 9

The first cities of this civilisation to be excavated were of Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

Question 10

Describe the town planning of the civilisation.

Answer 10

Citadel: The western part was built on higher ground called the citadel. It contained important buildings like granaries, fire altars, The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro.
Lower Town: The eastern part was built on a lower level than the citadel but was larger than the citadel. It contained the houses and workplaces of common people.

Question 11

When was the Indus Valley Civilisation discovered?

Answer 11

The Indus Valley Civilisation was accidently discovered in 1856 by two British engineers John and William Burton while laying The East Indian Railway Company line connecting Karachi and Lahore.

Question 12

Explain the use of baked bricks.

Answer 12

Baked bricks gave strength to the buildings of this civilisation. The bricks were fitted tightly making the buildings strong and rigid. The bricks were of standard and uniform size. The use of baked bricks was a unique achievement of the Harappan culture.

Question 13

Describe well planned houses.

Answer 13

The houses in the lower town were strong and sturdy as they were made of baked bricks. The walls were strong and thick. Each house had a bathroom, a large courtyard, a kitchen. Most houses had a well too suggesting that people were aware of water conservation.

Question 14

Explain the drainage system of Harappan Civilisation.

Answer 14

The most special feature of this civilisation was their drainage system. Every house had a drain which was connected to the main drain on the streets. The drains were covered with stone slabs and inspection holes were provided at regular distances to clean them.

Question 15

Describe the broad streets of Indus Valley Civilisation.

Answer 15

The cities had a neat and systematic look because of their straight and broad streets. Houses were built on both sides of the street in a neat and orderly row. Covered drains ran along the streets.

Question 16

Explain the Great Bath Of Mohenjodaro.

Answer 16

A unique structure of this civilisation is the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro. This was a special tank made of bricks. The plaster coated walls were water tight because of finely fitted bricks and a thick layer of natural tar. It was connected to a well for water inlet. Water was drained out through drains built in its walls.

Question 17

What are granaries?

Answer 17

Granaries are used to store surplus grains found in Mohenjodaro, Lothal, Kalibangan, and Harappa.

Question 18

The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro was __________ long, ___________ wide and ___________ deep.

Answer 18

11.88m, 7.01m, 2.43m

Question 19

What was the main occupation of people?

Answer 19

Craft seems to be the main occupation of people

Question 20

Explain pottery making.

Answer 20

Pottery making was a specialised skill. A variety of pots with different shapes and sizes have been found.

Question 21

Explain metal work.

Answer 21

Metal work was another highly advanced craft. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels.

Question 22

Explain making of jewellery.

Answer 22

Making of gold and silver jewellery seems to have been a highly admired craft.

Question 23

Explain bead making.

Answer 23

Bead making was another specialised craft. Beads were made of different materials- stones like carnelian, jasper, crystal; metals like copper, bronze and gold; shells and baked clay or terracotta.

Question 24

What is terracotta?

Answer 24

Terracotta was a reddish brown clay baked to make toys and pots.

Question 25

What is faience?

Answer 25

Faience is a man made material which was glazed to give glass a shiny surface.

Question 26

Explain seals.

Answer 26

Seals were another special contribution to this civilisation. They were flat rectangular objects made of burnt clay or terracotta. They usually had animal carvings on them. They were probably used by merchants to stamp goods.

Question 27

Explain cotton weaving

Answer 27

Cotton weaving was also practiced. Spindle whorls used to spin thread have been found in some Harappan sites.

Question 28

What accounts for the craftsmen excellent craftmanship?

Answer 28

The craftsmen were specialised in one particular craft. That accounts for their excellent craftsmanship.

Question 29

Explain Trade

Answer 29

Trade and commerce must have been important features of those time. Harappans traded to get raw materials.

Question 30

Where did the Harappans get copper from?

Answer 30

They got copper from Rajasthan and Oman.

Question 31

Where did the Harappans get tin from?

Answer 31

They got tin from Afghanistan and Iran.

Question 32

Where did Harappans get gold from?

Answer 32

They got gold from Karnataka.

Question 33

Where did Harappan get precious from?

Answer 33

They got precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

Question 34

Seals of Harappan culture have been found in _________________ indicating trade contacts with them.

Answer 34

Mesopotamia

Question 35

How was bronze made?

Answer 35

Tin was blended with copper to get bronze.

Question 36

A dockyard has been found in ___________ where boats and ships came from the sea and river channels, perhaps goods were loaded and unloaded here.

Answer 36

Lothal

Question 37

Charred grains found at Harappan sites include _________, ___________, ___________, ___________ etc.

Answer 37

wheat, barley, lentils, sesame

Question 38

Millets have been found from sites in __________

Answer 38

Gujarat

Question 39

Farmers living in villages had to grow a lot of crops to supply food to ______________________.

Answer 39

city dwellers

Question 40

Harappans produced ___________, __________, _________, ________, __________, ___________, and ________.

Answer 40

wheat, barley, lentils, sesame, peas, linseed, mustard

Question 41

What suggests that Harappans must have used ploughs for farming?

Answer 41

The toy models of ploughs found at Harappan sites suggests that Harappans used ploughs for farming.

Question 42

Bones of what animals have been found at Harappan sites?

Answer 42

Bones of cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo, and pig have been found at Harappan sites indicating that they were domesticated.

Question 43

How was the Harappan civilisation governed?

Answer 43

The cities were administrated by a committee of people consisting of rich merchants. A stone statue has been found which archaeologists have labelled as priest king. So, priests played an important role in administrating the cities.

Question 44

Define social classes.

Answer 44

The Ruling Class
The ruling class consisted of rich merchants and priests who enjoyed privilege and lived in The Citadel.

The Producing Class
The producing class consisted of craftsmen, merchants and scribes who lived in the lower town.

The Class Of Labourers and Peasants
Farmers were the food producers and lived in and around the city. Labourers who did the hard physical work lived in the outskirts of the village.

Question 45

What toys have been found at Harappan sites?

Answer 45

Many toys such as small clay carts, animal figures, marbles, rattles, dolls, and whistles have been found. They also played a game similar to modern day chess.

Question 46

What was the Harappan script? What was it used for?

Answer 46

The Harappan script was pictographic. It had pictures like signs representing objects, ideas and words. It was used to write down laws, rules and regulations. However, the script has not been deciphered yet.

Question 47

Harappans may have worshipped ____________________.

Answer 47

Mother Goddess

Question 48

In some seals, a male god has been shown surrounded by tigers, rhinoceros, buffalo etc. Historians believe these were the early images of ______________ or _______________.

Answer 48

Shiva, Pashupati

Question 49

What does Pashupati mean

Answer 49

Pashupati means the Lord of Animals.

Question 50

Indians consider the ________ tree as sacred.

Answer 50

peepal

Question 51

Many seals have been found depicting the ________ tree which was worshipped.

Answer 51

peepal

Question 52

_____________ or _____________ have been found indicating that people wore them to bring good fortune or avert bad luck.

Answer 52

Amulets, tavij

Question 53

Did the Harappans believe in life after death? Why or why not?

Answer 53

Graves and burial sites have been found, indicating that people believed in life after death. The graves have been found with articles such as jewellery, and pottery.

Question 54

What were the reasons of decline of the Harappan civilisation?

Answer 54

The reasons for the decline of the civilisation were:
-The unique drainage system broke down.
-Raw materials stopped being brought from outside.
-The rivers started drying up.
-Deforestation had begun.
-A final blow to the civilisation was given by the invasion of Aryans.
-The decline occurred due to natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, droughts, or epidemics.