Focus On Solutions for ICSE Class 9 History Civics Chapter 1 The Harappan Civilization

Exercises

Question 1. Mention any two sources to reconstruct the Harappan Civilization.
Answer:
1. The remains of the two towns, Mohenjo-daro and Harappan reveal and remarkable sense of town planning—the drainage system, the Great Bath, the Assembly Hall and other public buildings.
2. From Seals we come to know about the physical features, dress, ornaments and religious beliefs of the people.
In simple words: We learn about the Harappan people by looking at their old buildings and the small carved stone stamps (seals) they left behind.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use pictures of Harappan seals in class to show how archaeology helps us understand a culture whose writing we cannot yet read.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always mention "Seals" and "Archaeological remains" as the primary sources for this civilization.

Question 2. Why did the Indus Valley Civilization come to be known as Harappan Civilization?
Answer: Indus Valley Civilization came to be known as Harappan Civilization because this Civilization flourished in the pre-historic cities of Harappan in West Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Sind.
In simple words: It is called the Harappan Civilization because Harappa was the very first city of this culture to be discovered by archaeologists.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain the archaeological tradition of naming a whole culture after the first site where its remains are found.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to specify that Harappa was the first site discovered in 1921.

Question 3. Mention any two important centres of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Answer: Northern and Western parts of India and the present day Pakistan.
In simple words: The civilization was mainly located in what is now modern-day Pakistan and the northern and western regions of India.

📝 Teacher's Note: Show students a map of the Indian subcontinent to identify the locations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro relative to the Indus River.

🎯 Exam Tip: If asked for specific cities, "Harappa" and "Mohenjo-daro" are the most important names to provide.

Question 4. What are the evidences which reveal the skill of the Indus people in town-planning?
Answer:
Streets: The streets divided the entire city into square or rectangular blocks, each of which was further divided by a number of lanes. The main streets were wide and straight and intersected each other at right angles.
Bricks: Fire-burnt bricks were used for paving the streets. The comers of the streets were rounded off : Houses were not allowed to encroach upon the streets.
In simple words: They built their cities like a grid with straight streets that crossed at right angles, and they used strong, baked bricks to make everything neat and durable.

📝 Teacher's Note: Compare Harappan cities to a modern chessboard or a planned city like Chandigarh to help students visualize the grid system.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the keywords "grid system," "right angles," and "burnt bricks" to describe their town planning skills.

Question 5. Mention the main evidences to suggest that the Indus Valley people paid great importance to sanitation and health.
Answer: The elaborate drainage system was there in the city. A brick lined drainage channel flowed alongside every street. The house drains were connected to underground main drains, which opened into large brick culverts on the outskirts of the city. The drains were provided with manholes. This provision of such a systematic drainage system in every city shows that the people paid great attention to sanitation and health.
In simple words: Every house was connected to a clean, covered drainage system that carried waste away from the city, showing they cared a lot about hygiene.

📝 Teacher's Note: Highlight that the Harappan drainage system was more advanced than what many civilizations had even thousands of years later.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "covered drains" and "manholes" to show the advanced nature of their sanitation system.

Question 6. What are the two different types of buildings that were unearthed at the various Industries ?
Answer: Following are the different types select any two of buildings that were unearthed at the various industries:
1. The Dwelling-Houses.
2. The Great Bath.
3. The great granary.
4. The Assembly Hall and other Public-Buildings.
In simple words: Archaeologists found different kinds of buildings like private homes, big public baths, and large halls for meetings.

📝 Teacher's Note: Clarify that "Industries" in this context refers to the various excavation sectors or sites identified by archaeologists.

🎯 Exam Tip: The "Great Bath" and "Granary" are the most significant public buildings to remember for exams.

Question 7. Mention the evidences which suggest that the Harappan people had trade relations with other countries.
Answer: The Harappan people had commercial relations with southern and eastern. India, Kashmir and with other countries of Asia. They imported various metals, precious stones and other articles. They also carried on their trade with Egypt and Crete. Objects of Sumerian origin found at the ruins of the Indus cities indicate that their trade relations between these countries were actively practiced into. Trade was carried on both by land and sea-routes. The seal bearing a mastless ship holds the evidence of the popularity of the sea-routes.
In simple words: We found Harappan items in places like Mesopotamia (Sumeria) and found items from those places in Harappa, showing they traded by land and sea.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that the discovery of a dockyard at Lothal is further proof of their active maritime trade.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "Sumerian objects" and the "ship seal" as specific evidence of international trade.

Question 8. Describe the famous sculpture in metal which was found among the ruins of the city of Mohenjo-daro.
Answer: The most outstanding work in metal is the bronze figure of a dancing girl with her right hand on her hip in a dancing posture. She is shown, wearing necklaces and her left arm is covered with bangles, made of ivory or bone. Her hair is neatly fashioned in the form of a bun and her head is tilted slightly backward.
In simple words: It is a small bronze statue of a girl who looks like she is dancing, wearing many bangles and a necklace.

📝 Teacher's Note: This statue shows that the Harappans knew the "lost-wax" technique of metal casting, which is a very advanced skill.

🎯 Exam Tip: Key features to describe: "bronze metal," "dancing posture," and "arm full of bangles."

Question 9. Give one evidence to show that the Harappan people excelled in the art of sculpture in the following:
(a) In metal (b) In stone (c) In terracotta
Answer: Evidence of Harappan people’s excellent artistry regarding the mentioned heads are as follows:
(a) The figure of the dancing girl carved out of bronze metal.
(b) The two stone-status, one that of a nobleman or a priest and the other that of a Male Torso in red stone stand sufficient evidence of skill of the Harappan people’s sculpture in stone.
(c) The terracotta figurine of the Mother-Goddess and other terracotta figures of a bull, dogs, sheep, birds, men and women.
In simple words: They were great artists who made statues out of bronze (the Dancing Girl), stone (the Bearded Priest), and baked clay (the Mother Goddess).

📝 Teacher's Note: Show images of these three types of artifacts to help students distinguish between the materials used by Harappan craftsmen.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be ready to name one specific example for each material: bronze (Dancing Girl), stone (Priest King), terracotta (Mother Goddess).

Question 10. What evidence has been found to suggest that the Harappan people were familiar with the art of writing?
Answer: The seals discovered at Harappan and Mohenjo-daro are engraved with some sort of pictorial writing. Similar inscriptions have been found engraved on copper tables with figures of men and animals
In simple words: Thousands of seals have been found with picture-like symbols on them, showing they had a way of writing, even if we can't read it today.

📝 Teacher's Note: Clarify that "pictorial writing" means they used pictures or symbols to represent words or ideas.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention that the Harappan script is "pictographic" and found mainly on "seals" and "copper tablets."

Question 11. Mention three different kinds of Seals discovered at the various sites of the Harappan Valley Civilization.
Answer: Three different kinds of Seals discovered are:
1. The Animal Seals.
2. The Unicom Seal.
3. The Shiva Pashupati Seal.
In simple words: They made seals with pictures of animals, mythical creatures like the unicorn, and their gods like Shiva.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that the "Unicorn" seal might represent a mythical creature or a stylistic version of a one-horned rhinoceros.

🎯 Exam Tip: The Pashupati seal is very important as it provides evidence of their religious beliefs.

Question 12. Mention any two probable causes for the decline and disappearance of the Harappan Civilization.
Answer: Floods or earthquakes might have caused the destruction of the cities.
In simple words: Massive natural disasters like big floods from the river or strong earthquakes might have destroyed their homes and made them leave.

📝 Teacher's Note: Mention that there are many theories, including climate change and changes in the course of the Indus River, as no single cause is certain.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use terms like "Natural Calamities" to group causes like floods and earthquakes together.

Question 13. Mention any two features to suggest that the Harappan people enjoyed a higher standard of civic amenities than those of Mesopotamia.
Answer: Harappan people enjoyed a higher standard of civic amenities than those of Mesopotamia. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro and also its many houses with their own water supply, bathrooms and excellent drainage system, all go to say that “the masses enjoyed a degree of comfort and luxury unknown in other parts of the civilized world.”
In simple words: Harappan houses had their own bathrooms and clean water, and the whole city had an amazing drainage system, which was much better than other civilizations at that time.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that "civic amenities" refer to public facilities like water, roads, and waste management.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the "Great Bath" and "Individual house bathrooms" as the best examples of their superior living standards.

Question 14. What is Civilization?
Answer: Civilization implies settlement in definite territories, the building of cities, the evolution of ordered methods of government, the development of trade and commerce and a capacity for progress which is unrestricted.
In simple words: A civilization is a large group of people living in organized cities with a government, trade, and the ability to invent and improve things.

📝 Teacher's Note: Ask students to name things we have today—like laws, money, and cities—that fit this definition of civilization.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keywords to include in your definition: "organized government," "urban living," and "trade."

Question 15. State the probable period of the existence of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Answer: The probable period of the existence of the Indus Valley Civilization is between \( 3250 \) and \( 2750 \) B.C.
In simple words: This civilization existed roughly between \( 3250 \) and \( 2750 \) years before the birth of Christ.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that dates in B.C. (Before Christ) or B.C.E. count backwards as they get closer to the year 1.

🎯 Exam Tip: Different textbooks might give slightly different dates; always follow the range provided in your specific curriculum.

Question 16. Mention three main occupations of the Indus Valley people.
Answer:
1. Agriculture
2. Domestication of Animals and
3. Trade and Commerce
In simple words: Most people were farmers, raised animals for food and work, or were merchants who bought and sold goods.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remind students that while they were an urban civilization, their food and wealth came from the surrounding fertile farmland.

🎯 Exam Tip: Agriculture was the primary occupation because the fertile Indus silt made farming very successful.

Question 17. Mention any two features of the Harappan script.
Answer: Two features of the Harappan script are:
1. The Harappan script is pictorial.
2. The script has been engraved on the seals and on copper tables.
In simple words: They used pictures to represent ideas, and they carved this writing onto small stone seals and metal plates.

📝 Teacher's Note: Mention that the script is still undeciphered, which means we cannot yet read what they wrote.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the word "pictographic" to describe the script for better marks.

Question 18. Mention the evidences which suggest that the Harappan people worshiped: (a) The Mother Goddess, (b) The Shiva Pashupati, and (c) The trees and animals.
Answer: On the basis of the following evidences we can say that the Harappan people worshipped different deities and objects:
(a) Many terracotta figurines and seals discovered, bear the picture of a female deity, identified as the Mother Goddess. The female figures are semi nude, they wear elaborate head dresses and ornaments. Some of the figures are smoke-stained which may mean that the people burnt incense before the deity at the time of worship. People worshiped this Goddess believing in the female energy as the source of all creation.
(b) A particular seal discovered, bears remarkable figure of a male deity, identified as Lord Shiva. The figure is tri-faced with horns one either side of his head dress, is seated in a yogic posture on a throne surrounded by animals.The discovery of a large number of conical and cylindrical stones that resemble the Shiva Linga, suggest that the Harappan people worshiped Lord Shiva.
(c) A certain religious seals discovered are found to bear designs, which means that they worshiped trees and animals. They considered Pipal tree sacred as it was a source of wisdom as they believed. Also, they worshiped the bull, the rhinoceros, the tiger and the crocodile. The figure of a deity with a hooded cobra over its head and a worshiper on either side signifies that some form of Naga-worship was in fashion.
In simple words: They worshiped a female creator (Mother Goddess), a male god surrounded by animals (Shiva), and sacred things in nature like trees and animals.

📝 Teacher's Note: This question shows the roots of modern Indian religious practices, like the worship of Shiva and sacred trees like the Pipal.

🎯 Exam Tip: For the Pashupati seal, remember to mention he is "seated in a yogic posture" and "surrounded by animals."

Question 19. What is the evidence to suggest that the Harappan people worshipped trees and animals?
Answer: The seals are valuable source of information regarding the physical features of the people, their religious beliefs etc. The designs on certain religious seals show that people worshipped trees and animals.
In simple words: Many seals have carvings of trees like the Pipal and animals like the bull, which tells us these were special or sacred to them.

📝 Teacher's Note: Connect this to how many cultures today still find spiritual meaning in nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Specify the "Pipal tree" and the "Humped Bull" as the most common nature symbols on seals.

Question 20. What is meant by the word ‘Mesopotamia’?
Answer: The word ‘Mesopotamia’ means the region between the two rivers
In simple words: It is an ancient word that describes a land located between two major rivers (the Tigris and the Euphrates).

📝 Teacher's Note: This civilization was a contemporary of the Harappan civilization and they traded with each other.

🎯 Exam Tip: This is a factual definition; knowing the names of the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) adds value to your answer.

Question 21. What evidences are found for us to know about the following: (a) Food of the Indus Valley people. (b) Dress and Ornaments worn by the people.
Answer: In context of the mentioned headlines in the questions evidences that are found are described below:
(a) The principal diet of the Indus Valley people consisted of wheat and barley which were regularly cultivated. Rice and dates were also eaten. Milk, vegetables and fruits were also there. Beef, mutton, poultry, turtle, tortoise, river-fish and shell-fish were commonly used.
(b) The various sculptured figures show that people used to wear simple dress. Men used two pieces of cloth; the upper garment, that was a shawl which was drawn over the left shoulder and under the right arm; the lower garment resembled a modem dhoti. Female dress did not differ much from that of the male. Women used a loin cloth bound by a girdle. Common fabrics were commonly used, perhaps wool was also used. Male and female both were fond of wearing ornaments. Gold, silver, coppe, other metals and precious stones were used for making various ornaments of different designs. Men and women used to wear necklaces, finger-rings and armlets. Women decorated themselves with a head-dress, earrings, bangles, bracelets, girdles and anklets.
In simple words: They ate grains like wheat and meat like fish; they wore simple cloth wraps (like shawls and dhotis) and loved wearing jewelry made of gold, silver, and stones.

📝 Teacher's Note: Point out that the "shawl over the left shoulder" style can still be seen in many traditional Indian sculptures and costumes today.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing food, mention both plant-based (wheat, barley) and animal-based (fish, poultry) sources for a complete answer.

Question 22. Why did the Indus Valley Civilization come to be known as Harappan Civilization?
Answer: The archaeologists made various excavations in the north-western region of India which led to the discovery of the mins of the pre-historic cities of Harappan in West Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Sind. The sites of early excavations were found on the river Indus and its tributaries. Therefore, Indus Valley Civilization came to be known as Harappan Civilization.
In simple words: It was named after Harappa, the first city of this ancient culture that archaeologists dug up.

📝 Teacher's Note: This is a repeat of Question 2; reinforce the idea that the name often comes from the first site discovered.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the geographical location: "North-western region of India."

Structured Questions

Question 1. Harappan Civilization was a highly developed urban civilization. Discuss the significant features of this Civilization with reference to: (a) The Town Planning. (b) The Drainage System. (c) The Dwelling Houses.
Answer: In context of the given headings the significant features of Harappan Civilization are discussed below:
(a) The Town Planning: The ruins of the sites, reveal that the Harappan people were primarily urban and their cities were designed skillfully The streets divided the entire city into square or rectangular blocks, each of which was further divided by a number of lanes. The main streets were wide and straight and intersected each-other at right angles. Fire-burnt bricks were used for paving the streets. The corners of the streets were rounded- off to make it easy for the movement of heavy carts. Houses were pot allowed to encroach upon the streets.
(b) The Drainage System: The city was equipped with elaborate drainage system. A brick lined drainage channel flowed alongside every street. The house-drains were connected to the underground main drains, which opened into large brick-culverts on the outskirts of the city. The drains were provided with manholes.
(c) The Dwelling-Houses: On either side of the streets, a number of dwelling-houses were constructed. The houses were of different sizes and were built on raised platforms as a protection against the danger of expected floods. The houses were got built with that of burnt-bricks and were furnished with paved floors. The rooms were built around an open courtyard which was an important feature of their house planning. The houses maintained wells and bathrooms and were provided with covered drains connected with street drains. The bathroom was placed on the street-side and its floors sloped to the comer where the drain carried off the waste water.
In simple words: Harappan cities were very organized with grid-like streets, a hidden drainage system to keep things clean, and houses made of strong bricks with their own courtyards and bathrooms.

📝 Teacher's Note: Encourage students to draw a simple bird's-eye view of a Harappan city block to understand the "grid" and "drainage" layout.

🎯 Exam Tip: For "Dwelling Houses," always mention the "open courtyard" and "raised platforms" as they were unique features.

Question 2. The Harappan Civilization reveals the architectural skill of the people; Substantiate this statement by a brief mention of the following: (a) The Great Bath. (b) The Assembly Hall, the Citadel and other Public Buildings.
Answer: The architectural skill of the Harappan people is revealed as under:
(a) The Great Bath: The Great Bath consisted of an open quadrangle with verandahs on its four sides, and at the back of the three of the verandahs various galleries and rooms. There was a large swimming enclosure in the center of the quadrangle measuring \( 12 \times 7 \) meters, its depth was \( 2.5 \) meters. At either end, there was a raised platform with a flight of steps leading down to the pool. The pool was filled with water taken from a well, situated nearby. After periodic cleaning of the pool, the water was discharged into a huge drain connected to the main drain on the street. The walls of the pool were made watertight using specially-made bricks and gypsum mortar.
(b) The Assembly Hall, the Citadel and other Public Buildings: There were spacious buildings which must have been used as palaces or assembly halls. A pillared-hall with long corridors and low benches was perhaps used as an Assembly Hall or was the place where the ruler carried out ceremonial and administrative duties. The Citadel was possibly occupied by members of the ruling class. Of the other public buildings, something resembling a market place and the group of cottages, “marshaled like a military cantonment” deserve attention.
In simple words: They built a huge, waterproof public pool (Great Bath) and large halls for meetings and government work on a high, fortified area called the Citadel.

📝 Teacher's Note: The use of "gypsum mortar" to make the Great Bath watertight is a key detail that shows their advanced chemical and building knowledge.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the dimensions of the Great Bath (\( 12 \times 7 \times 2.5 \) meters) and that it was likely used for religious ceremonies.

Question PQ. Describe the social life of the Harappan people with reference to: (a) Their Diet. (b) Their Dress. (c) Their Ornaments. (d) Sports and Games.
Answer: The social life of the Harappan people with reference to the given heads is discussed as under:
(a) Their Diet: The principal diet of the people consisted of wheat and barley. Rice and dates were also consumed. Milk, vegetables and fruits were also eaten. Beef, mutton, poultry, turtle, tortoise, river-fish were commonly used.
(b) Their Dress: The Harappan people wore simple dress. The dress of men constituted two pieces of cloth the upper garment was a shawl which was drawn over the left shoulder and under the right arm ; the lower garment resembled a modern Women used a loin cloth bound by a girdle. The cotton and woolen garments were commonly worn.
(c) Their Ornaments: Both men and women whether rich or poor were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments were guided out of gold, silver, copper and other well-known metals, and precious stones were used for making various ornaments of different designs. Both men and women wore necklaces, finger-rings and armlets. Women also decorated themselves with a head-dress, earrings, bangles, bracelets, girdles and anklets.
(d) Their Sports and Games: Dicing was a popular game among the people. Marbles and balls were used for games. The Harappan people were fond of music and dancing. Clay-modelling was popular among children. Crude models of men, women, animals and whistles, rattles and dolls have been found in abundance. People loved hunting and fishing.
In simple words: They ate grains and meat, wore simple cotton or wool clothes, loved jewelry, played games like dice, and enjoyed music and dancing.

📝 Teacher's Note: Mention that the discovery of many toys (clay carts and whistles) shows that Harappan society valued the play and development of children.

🎯 Exam Tip: For social life, highlight that both rich and poor people wore ornaments, though the materials (gold vs. shell/terracotta) likely differed.

Question 3. What do you know about the trade and commercial activities of the Harappan people ?
Answer: The Harappan people had commercial tie-ups with southern and eastern India, Kashmir and with other countries of Asia. They imported various precious stones and other articles. They also carried on trade with Egypt and Crete. Trade was carried on both by land and sea-routes. The representation of a mastless ship on a seal suggests the popularity of the sea-routes.
In simple words: They were active traders who traveled to other parts of India and even to far-off places like Egypt to buy and sell things using land and sea paths.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that "commercial tie-ups" simply means business partnerships or trading agreements.

🎯 Exam Tip: The "mastless ship seal" is a vital piece of evidence for maritime trade.

Question 4. With reference to the art and craft of the Harappan people, explain their achievements in the following fields : (a) The Art of Sculpture. (b) The Art of Carving.
Answer: The art and craft of the Harappan people with reference to the fields mentioned, is explained below:
(a) The Art of Sculpture: The Harappan people were very skillful at the art of Sculpture. They were very much acquainted with different metals like- gold, silver, copper, bronze etc. Also, they had a vast knowledge of precious stones. They used all these metals and stones in making different kinds of statues and figurines. The bronze figure of a dancing girl is one of the commendable pieces of art of sculpture. Then, their sculpture in stone is no less by any means. The statue of a nobleman or a priest and a Male Torso in red stone speak volumes of their art of sculpture. Sculpture in terracotta is yet another master-piece of their art, the terracotta figurine of the Mother-Goddess is an exquisite of sculpture. Several other terracotta figures of a bull, dogs, sheep, birds, men and women hold evidence of their skill at sculpture.
(b) The Art of Carving: The Indus people excelled in the art of carving. The figures of animals carved on the seals, show a high degree of excellence. A variety of figures of animals such as bull, the buffalo, the bison, the elephant and the mythological unicorn is worth seeing.
In simple words: They were amazing at making statues out of metal and clay, and they could carve incredibly detailed animals into small stone seals.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use the "Dancing Girl" as the best example of sculpture and the "Unicorn Seal" as the best example of carving excellence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between sculpture (3D figures) and carving (designs cut into a flat surface like seals).

Question 5. India is well-known for her deep-rooted tradition in arts and crafts. Substantiate this statement by a brief mention of the following: (a) The Harappan Pottery, (b) Harappan art of Spinning. (c) Harappan Metal-craft
Answer: Indians have learnt quite a lot in the field of art and craft from the Harappan art and craft which is discussed as under:
(a) The Harappan Pottery: The workmanship of the Harappa potters is admirable. They made pottery of various shapes and sizes on a potter’s wheel. Different types of pots, jars and vases were made. Pots meant for daily use were plain and those which were used for preserving valuables, were glazed and painted. The discovery of pottery kilns reveals that pottery was fired with great care and skill.
(b) Harappan art of Spinning: A huge number of spindles have been discovered in their houses which indicates that spinning of cotton and wool was common among the people. Spindles and spindles- whorls were made of terracotta or porcelain.The discovery of a dyer’s vat on the site reveals that they were familiar with the art of dyeing their fabrics.
(c) Harappan Metalcraft: The Harappan people were quite familiar with the art of using metals like—gold, silver and copper. Smiths of various kinds possessed technical skill in producing beautiful jewelry ; in boring carnelian beads ; in casting metals and in creating alloys. A high aesthetic sense is revealed in the exquisite designs of gold ornaments like—necklaces, armbands, bangles, girdles, silver bracelets and earrings worn by the Harappan women.The artisans smelted bronze and produced vessels of fine quality. Copper vessels were made from sheet-metal.
In simple words: Harappans were experts at making clay pots on wheels, spinning cotton into thread, and crafting beautiful jewelry from gold and copper.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that a "kiln" is like a giant oven used to bake pottery so it becomes hard and strong.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "potter's wheel" and "spindles" as tools that prove their skill in pottery and spinning.

Question 6. The Seals may be considered as the most valuable finds of the Harappan Civilization. Concentrate on the picture given below and answer the following questions. (a) What does this Seal depict? (b) How important are the Seals as sources of information about the Harappan Culture?
Answer:
(a) The Seal depicts the three faced deity seated in a yogic posture with a homed head dress and surrounded by animals.
(b) Importance of the Seal: The Seals are valuable sources of information about the culture and civilization of the Harappan people.
1. From the figure on the seals we come to know about the physical features, dress, ornaments and hair-styles of the people and we also learn about the animals they used.
2. They throw light on the religious faith and beliefs of the people.
3. They give us an idea about their commercial activities.
4. They reveal the remarkable skill of the artists.
5. They show the scripts prevalent in those days.
In simple words: The seals show their gods, the clothes they wore, the animals they knew, and how they traded with other people.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that since we can't read their books, these seals act like "miniature snapshots" of their daily life and religion.

🎯 Exam Tip: List at least three points for the importance of seals: religion, trade, and script.

Question PQ. Write a note on the religious beliefs and practices of the Harappan people with reference to: (a) Worship of the Mother Goddess. (b) Worship of Shiva Pashupati. (c) Worship of Trees and Animals.
Answer: The religious beliefs and practices of the Harappan people on the basis of the mentioned headings are described below:
(a) Worship of the Mother Goddess: The Harappan People worshiped the female deity (Mother Goddess). A number of terracotta figurines and seals of this Goddess have been brought to light. The female figures are semi nude, wearing elaborate head dress and ornaments. It is believed, the people worshiped the Mother Goddess. Some of the figures are smoke-stained, giving an indication that the people burnt incense before the deity at the time of worship. It was generally believed that Mother Goddess had been the source of female energy as the source of all creation.
(b) Worship of Shiva Pashupati: The remarkable figure of a male deity, depicted on a particular seal is identified as Lord Shiva. It is a three-faced figure, with horns on either side of his headdress, is seated in a yogic posture on a throne surrounded by animals. It is also described as Trimukha, Mahavogi and Pashupati. A large number of conical and cylindrical stones, which resemble to the Shiva-Linga, affirms that the Harappan people worshiped Lord Shiva.
(c) Worship of Trees and Animals: A certain religious seals depict the designs, which show that the people had faith in the doctrine of animism i.e., they worshiped trees and animals. They worshiped the Pipal tree believing it to be source of wisdom.The bull, the rhinoceros, the tiger and the crocodile were worshiped. The figure of the deity with a hooded-cobra over its head and a worshiper on either side, signifies that some form of Naga-worship was practiced. Some of these animals still figure as the vehicles of the Hindu deities for instance ; the bull of Shiva, the lion of Durga, the ram of Brahma, the elephant of Indra and the wild boar of Gauri.
In simple words: They believed in a powerful female goddess, a male god of animals (Shiva), and found divinity in nature, like the Pipal tree and the bull.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use the term "continuity" to explain how these ancient practices evolved into modern Hinduism.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the term "Mother Goddess" as the source of creation and "Pashupati" as the lord of animals.

Additional Questions

Question 1. What is meant by the term, ‘Civilisation’ ?
Answer: Civilisation is defined as an advanced stage of human cultural development. It implies the use of superior technology and complex economic relationships. There are a number of traits which mark a civilisation. Some of these are:
1. Evolution of cities
2. Surplus food
3. Division of labour
4. System of writing
5. Monumental public buildings
6. Development of technology.
In simple words: It is an advanced way of living where people have cities, extra food, different jobs, and writing.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain "Division of Labour" by showing how in a city, some people are builders, some are bakers, and some are rulers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize at least 4 out of the 6 traits of a civilization for a complete answer.

Question 2. Mention any three features that led to the emergence of civilisation.
Answer:
1. The ruins of the sites reveal that the Harappan people were primarily urban and their cities were designed skillfully.
2. The unique features of the city was its elaborate drainage system. A brick-lined drainage channel flowed alongside every street.
3. The Great Bath was also unearthed. The pool was filled with water taken from a well nearby.The walls of the pool were made watertight using specially-made bricks and gypsum mortar.
4. The Great Granary consisted of two blocks with an aisle between them. Each block had six halls with corridors. It was used for storing food grains.
In simple words: Organized cities, great drains, public baths, and large buildings to store extra food helped this civilization grow.

📝 Teacher's Note: Emphasize that "surplus food" (stored in granaries) was the most important factor because it allowed people to do jobs other than farming.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "Granaries" as evidence of a successful agricultural economy.

Question 3. What are known as Bronze Age Civilisations ?
Answer: Man learnt the art of mixing copper with tin or zinc to produce the alloy called Bronze. Bronze is hard and more ductile than copper and is, therefore, more suitable for the manufacture of tools and weapons. Because of the importance of bronze in the growth of the civilisations, these civilisations are known as the Bronze Age Civilisation.
In simple words: These were cultures that learned to mix metals to make bronze, which was much stronger and better for making tools than just copper.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remind students that bronze is an "alloy"—a mixture of two or more metals.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be sure to name the two metals mixed to make bronze: "copper" and "tin."

Question 4. Name two important sources of information on the Harappan Civilisation.
Answer: The discovery of Indus Valley Civilization by \( 2500 \) BC, the evidences of Harappan Civilisation were obtained, because Harappan site was first to be discovered in \( 1921 \) at the modern site of Harappa situated in the province of west in Punjab in Pakistan. Due to the bronze things of that time, it is also called the Bronze Age Civilisation. Such knowledge and skills enabled people to advance to a new stage in the progress of civilisation.
In simple words: We know about them because we found the city of Harappa and many bronze tools they made.

📝 Teacher's Note: This answer focuses on the site itself as a source of information. Archaeological artifacts are the key.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the year \( 1921 \) as the date of discovery.

Question 5. Why did ancient man start using bronze for making tools and weapons ?
Answer: Ancient man started using bronze for making tools and weapons because bronze is harder and more ductile than cooper. Therefore, it is more suitable for the manufacture of tools and weapons.
In simple words: Bronze was better because it was stronger than copper and didn't break as easily.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that "ductile" means the metal can be easily shaped or pulled into wires without breaking.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the keywords "harder" and "more durable" to explain the advantage of bronze.

Question 6. By whom was the city of Mohenjo-daro discovered ?
Answer: In \( 1922 \), R.D. Banerjee, discovered the city of Mohenjo-daro,by excavating a mound, thinking it to be a Buddhist Stupa. This was the city of Mohenjo-daro, the ‘mound of the dead’, as the name implies.
In simple words: A man named R.D. Banerjee found it in \( 1922 \). The name means "mound of the dead."

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that a "stupa" is a dome-shaped structure used by Buddhists for meditation, which is why he was initially interested in the site.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the name "R.D. Banerjee" and the meaning of the word Mohenjo-daro.

Question 7. Who discovered the city of Harappa ?
Answer: Under Lord Curzon in \( 1901 \), Sir John Marshall was the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, who revealed the Harappan Civilisation around the city of Harappa.
In simple words: Sir John Marshall, who was the head of archaeology in India, led the efforts to uncover the city of Harappa.

📝 Teacher's Note: While Dayaram Sahni did the actual digging in \( 1921 \), John Marshall was the overall leader who announced the discovery to the world.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Sir John Marshall" is the key figure for the discovery of the civilization as a whole.

Question 8. Why is the Harappan Civilisation called so ?
Answer: The Harappan civilisation is called so because the Harappan site was the first to be discovered in \( 1921 \) at the modern site of Harappa situated in the province of West Punjab in Pakistan.
In simple words: It’s called Harappan because Harappa was the very first place where archaeologists found traces of this civilization.

📝 Teacher's Note: This is a key convention in archaeology—always name the culture after the first site found.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the year \( 1921 \) to show precision.

Question 9. State two chief features of residential houses in Mohenjo-daro.
Answer: The residential houses were made on high mound to protect them from floods. The houses were equipped with spacious rooms, wells, bathrooms with covered drains.
In simple words: Houses were built on high ground to stay safe from floods and had their own bathrooms and wells.

📝 Teacher's Note: Building on "mounds" is like building a house on a small artificial hill for safety.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "high mounds" and "covered drains" as the two most important features.

Question 10. What types of weights and measures did the Indus people use ?
Answer: The Indus people used sets of Cubical Stone weights. The basic unit was \( 16 \) (equal to modern \( 14 \) grams). The larger weights were multiples of \( 16 \) like \( 32, 48, 64, 128 \) and so on. The smaller ones were all fractions of \( 16 \).
In simple words: They used little stone cubes as weights, and they measured things in groups of \( 16 \).

📝 Teacher's Note: Point out that their system of weights was incredibly accurate and standardized across the entire civilization.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "unit of \( 16 \)" to score full marks on this topic.

Question 11. Name one important public building of Indus Valley Civilisation and its importance.
Answer: Citadel: The raised area of each city was called the ‘Citadel’. The platform was built of mud-bricks. All important buildings like the Great Bath, the granary, the assembly hall and workshops were located on the Citadel.
In simple words: The Citadel was a high, fortified part of the city where all the most important buildings were kept.

📝 Teacher's Note: The Citadel shows that there was likely a ruling class or a group of leaders who managed the city.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define the "Citadel" as the "raised part of the city."

Question 12. Name the process by which sculpture in metal was done.
Answer: The cities like Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and Lothal were important centers of metallurgy. With the help of mud frames, the people built metal statues and other items like jewelry, e.g. dancing girl statue.
In simple words: They used clay or mud molds to shape molten metal into beautiful statues and jewelry.

📝 Teacher's Note: This process is known as the "lost-wax" method (cire perdue).

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the example of the "Dancing Girl" to illustrate their metalworking skill.

Question 13. What do you know about the Indus Script ?
Answer: The Indus Script has not been deciphered as yet. So, the only source of script are some seals and copper tablet. Seals display some sort of pictorial writing. Besides this, similar inscriptions have been found engraved on copper tablets with figures of men and animals.
In simple words: They wrote using pictures on seals and copper, but today no one knows how to read it.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that "deciphered" means figured out or translated.

🎯 Exam Tip: The key point is that the script is "pictorial" and "undeciphered."

Question 14. Mention the types of dress worn by the Indus Valley people.
Answer: Most people used cotton clothes. Rich people also used woolen clothes in winter. The women’s dress included skirts, cloaks and scarfs and the men’s dress was dhoti and shawl. Spinning wheels and needles of that time prove the art of spinning was practiced by the people.
In simple words: They mostly wore cotton, but some wore wool in winter; men wore dhotis and shawls, and women wore skirts.

📝 Teacher's Note: The presence of "spindle whorls" proves they were growing and spinning their own cotton locally.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "cotton" as the primary material for their clothing.

Question 15. State two features of the trade in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Answer: The elaborate social structure and standard of living confirmed the presence of Trade in the Indus Valley Civilisation, e.g., the cities like Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and Lothal were important centers of metallurgy. Balakot and Chanhudaro were centres for shell-working and bangle-making.
In simple words: Different cities specialized in making different things, like metal tools or shell bangles, and then traded them with each other.

📝 Teacher's Note: Specialized centers of production are a sign of a very advanced and organized economy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention specific centers like "Lothal" for trade and "Chanhudaro" for bangles.

Question 16. How do we say that the Harappan people had certain religious beliefs ?
Answer: Although no remains of temples or worship-places have been found except the fire altars at Kalibangan ; but the seals and figurines etc. reveal many features of Hinduism such as the worship of the Mother Goddess, Pashupati Shiva, sacred animals and trees etc.
In simple words: We know they were religious because we found statues of goddesses, carvings of gods on seals, and altars for fire rituals.

📝 Teacher's Note: Note that religion doesn't always require a "temple" building; it can be practiced at home or outdoors.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "fire-altars at Kalibangan" as evidence of rituals.

Question 17. How do we know that the Harappans believed in animal worship ?
Answer: The Harappans worshiped the animals. Animal worship as a part of religious beliefs is indicated by the representation of animals on the seals and in terracotta and stone figurines.
In simple words: They carved many animals onto their stone seals and made clay models of them, which shows these animals were respected as holy.

📝 Teacher's Note: Many of these animals, like the bull, are still considered sacred in modern Indian culture.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify "seals" as the main source of information for their animal worship.

Question 18. Name any three animals worshiped by the Harappans.
Answer: Animals worshiped by the Harappans are humped bull, elephant, buffaloes, tiger, bison, etc.
In simple words: They worshiped the humped bull, the elephant, and the tiger.

📝 Teacher's Note: Show images of the "Bulls" on Harappan seals to show how powerful and majestic they were depicted.

🎯 Exam Tip: The "humped bull" is the most frequently depicted animal on Harappan seals.

Question 19. State any two causes that led to the decline of the Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
(a) Deforestation: Enormous quantity of wood was used in the first civilisation to produce bronze. Jewellery was also made by wood. Wood was needed to bake bricks, pottery, stoneware and to make boats and furniture. These activities lead to deforestation resulting in changes in the climate.
(b) Earthquake: Earthquakes caused changes in the course of the Indus river which led to the inundation of the hinterland of Mohenjo-daro
In simple words: They might have cut down too many trees for wood, ruining the environment, or earthquakes might have changed the river's path and flooded their cities.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that "inundation" is a fancy word for big, destructive floods.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mentioning "ecological change" (like deforestation) is a very strong point to explain the civilization's end.

Question 20. In what two respects is Harappan Civilisation our greatest heritage ?
Answer: The Harappan Civilisation present a basic ground of indispensable heritage which imparts a solid imprint on the latter civilsations, e.g. the way of making baked pottery, bricks, beads, jewelry etc. The cultivation of cotton was adopted by the Egyptians after several centuries.
In simple words: They taught the world how to make strong bricks, beautiful pottery, and how to grow cotton to make clothes.

📝 Teacher's Note: Heritage means things we have inherited from the past that are still valuable today.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on "cotton cultivation" and "brick making" as their lasting contributions to humanity.

Question 21. Mention the evidences which suggest that the Harappan people had trade relations with other countries.
Answer: The Harappan people had commercial relations with southern and eastern. India, Kashmir and with other countries of Asia. They imported various metals, precious stones and other articles. They also carried on their trade with Egypt and Crete. Objects of Sumerian origin found at the ruins of the Indus cities indicate that their trade relations between these countries were actively practiced into. Trade was carried on both by land and sea-routes. The seal bearing a mastless ship holds the evidence of the popularity of the sea-routes.
In simple words: We found Harappan items in foreign lands and foreign items in Harappa, which proves they were active global traders.

📝 Teacher's Note: This is a repeat of Question 7; use it to reinforce the concept of "cultural exchange" through trade.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "Sumer" (ancient Iraq) specifically as a major trading partner.

Question 22. Describe the famous sculpture in metal which was found among the ruins of the city of. Mohenjo-daro.
Answer: The most outstanding work in metal is the bronze figure of a dancing girl with her right hand on her hip in a dancing posture. She is shown, wearing necklaces and her left arm is covered with bangles, made of ivory or bone. Her hair is neatly fashioned in the form of a bun and her head is tilted slightly backward.
In simple words: It's the famous bronze statue of a girl standing in a confident dancing pose, wearing many bangles on her arm.

📝 Teacher's Note: This is a repeat of Question 8; focus on the high level of artistic detail found in such a small object.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention that the statue is made of "bronze."

Question 23. Give one evidence to show that the Harappan people excelled in the art of sculpture in the following: 1. In metal 2. In stone 3. In terracotta
Answer: Evidence of Harappan people’s excellent artistry regarding the mentioned heads are as follows:
(a) The figure of the dancing girl carved out of bronze metal.
(b) The two stone-status, one that of a nobleman or a priest and the other that of a Male Torso in red stone stand sufficient evidence of skill of the Harappan people’s sculpture in stone.
(c) The terracotta figurine of the Mother-Goddess and other terracotta figures of a bull, dogs, sheep, birds, men and women
In simple words: They could make statues out of metal (the Dancing Girl), stone (the Priest-King), and clay (the Mother Goddess).

📝 Teacher's Note: Repeat of Question 9. Use this repetition to quiz students on the names of these famous artifacts.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be precise with the names: "Mother Goddess" for terracotta and "Priest King/Noble" for stone.

Question 24. What evidence has been found to suggest that the Harappan people were familiar with the art of writing?
Answer: The seals discovered at Harappan and Mohenjo-daro are engraved with some sort of pictorial writing. Similar inscriptions have been found engraved on copper tables with figures of men and animals.
In simple words: Thousands of seals have been found with picture-symbols on them, proving they had a system for writing things down.

📝 Teacher's Note: Repeat of Question 10. Reinforce that "seals" were the main "paper" of that time.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention both "seals" and "copper tablets" as objects containing writing.

Question 25. Mention any two features of the Harappan script.
Answer: Two features of the Harappan script are:
1. The Harappan script is pictorial.
2. The script has been engraved on the seals and on copper tables.
In simple words: Their writing looked like pictures and was mostly found carved onto small stone stamps and metal plates.

📝 Teacher's Note: Repeat of Question 17 (p.4). Remind students that despite thousands of examples, it remains a mystery.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Pictorial" is the most important word to describe the script.

Question 26. Mention three different kinds of Seals discovered of the various sites of the Harappan Valley Civilization.
Answer: Three different kinds of Seals discovered are:
1. The Animal Seals.
2. The Unicorn Seal.
3. The Shiva Pashupati Seal.
In simple words: Seals showed regular animals, a mysterious one-horned creature (unicorn), and their main god, Shiva.

📝 Teacher's Note: Repeat of Question 11. Ask students what each type of seal might have been used for (e.g., trade, identification, religion).

🎯 Exam Tip: The "Pashupati Seal" is the most famous for its religious significance.

Question 27. Mention the evidences which suggest that the Harappan people worshiped
(a) The Mother Goddess
(b) The Shiva Pashupati, and
(c) The trees and animals.
Answer: On the basis of the following evidences we can say that the Harappan people worshiped different deities and objects:
(a) Many terracotta figurines and seals discovered, bear the picture of a female deity, identified as the Mother Goddess. The female figures are semi nude, they wear elaborate head dresses and ornaments. Some of the figures are smoke-stained which may mean that the people burnt incense before the deity at the time of worship. People worshiped this Goddess believing in the female energy as the source of all creation.
(b) A particular seal discovered, bears remarkable figure of a male deity, identified as Lord Shiva. The figure is tri-faced with horns one either side of his head dress, is seated in a yogic posture on a throne surrounded by animals. The discovery of a large number of conical and cylindrical stones that resemble the Shiva Linga, suggest that the Harappan people worshipped Lord Shiva.
(c) A certain religious seals discovered are found to bear designs, which means that they worshiped trees and animals. They considered Pipal tree sacred as it was a source of wisdom as they believed. Also, they worshiped the bull, the rhinoceros, the tiger and the crocodile. The figure of a deity with a hooded cobra over its head and a worshiper on either side signifies that some form of Naga-worship was in fashion.
In simple words: We know about their religion through statues of a Mother Goddess and seals showing a figure like Lord Shiva; they also respected nature by worshiping pipal trees and various animals.

📝 Teacher's Note: Help students connect these ancient practices to modern Indian traditions, such as the continued worship of the Pipal tree and Lord Shiva, to show the continuity of culture.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mentioning "terracotta figurines" and "yogic posture" are key descriptive details that examiners look for in questions about religious beliefs.

Question 28. What is the evidence to suggest that the Harappan people worshiped trees and animals?
Answer: The seals are valuable source of information regarding the physical features of the people, their religious beliefs etc. The designs on certain religious seals show that people worshiped trees and animals.
In simple words: Designs carved into stone seals prove that the people had religious respect for nature, including specific trees and wild animals.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remind students that seals were like the "books" or "documents" of that time, recording what people valued and believed in.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the word "seals" as your primary evidence; it is the most significant archaeological source for Harappan religion.

Question 29. Mention any two probable causes for the decline and disappearance of the Harappan Civilization.
Answer: Floods or earthquakes might have caused the destruction of the cities.
In simple words: Great natural disasters, like huge floods or strong earthquakes, probably destroyed the cities and forced the people to leave.

📝 Teacher's Note: Mention that there is no single proven reason for the decline; theories also include climate change, drought, and even the changing course of rivers.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing about the decline, use words like "probable" or "likely" because historians are still debating exactly what happened.

Question 30. What is meant by the word ‘Mesopotamia’?
Answer: The word ‘Mesopotamia’ means the region between the two rivers.
In simple words: Mesopotamia is an ancient name for a land that sat right between two big rivers (the Tigris and the Euphrates).

📝 Teacher's Note: This is a literal translation from Greek—'mesos' meaning middle and 'potamos' meaning river. It is similar to the Indian term 'Doab'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keep the definition brief and precise. Mentioning "between two rivers" is the core answer.

Question 31. Mention any two features to suggest that the Harappan people enjoyed a higher standard of civic amentities than those Mesopotamia.
Answer: Harappan people enjoyed a higher standard of civic amenities than those of Mesopotamia. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro and also its many houses with their own water supply, bathrooms and excellent drainage system, all go to say that “the masses enjoyed a degree of comfort and luxury unknown in other parts of the civilized world.”
In simple words: Harappan cities had better public facilities like the Great Bath and advanced drainage systems that kept the houses clean, which other ancient cities did not have.

📝 Teacher's Note: Emphasize the "Drainage System." The Indus Valley Civilization is famous for being the first to have planned underground sewers.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Planned drainage system" and "Great Bath" are the two best examples to use when comparing civic life with other civilizations.

Question 32. What evidences are found for us to know about the following:
(a) Food of the Indus Valley people.
(b) Dress and Ornaments worn by the people.
Answer: In context of the mentioned headlines in the questions evidences that are found are described below:
(a) The principal diet of the Indus Valley people consisted of wheat and barley which were regularly cultivated. Rice and dates were also eaten. Milk, vegetables and fruits were also there. Beef, mutton, poultry, turtle, tortoise, river-fish and shell-fish were commonly used.
(b) The various sculptured figures show that people used to wear simple dress. Men used two pieces of cloth, the upper garment, that was a shawl which was drawn over the left shoulder and under the right arm; the lower garment resembled a modem dhoti. Female dress did not differ much from that of the male. Women used a loin cloth bound by a girdle. Common fabrics were commonly used, perhaps wool was also used. Male and female both were fond of wearing ornaments. Gold, silver, copper, other metals and precious stones were used for making various ornaments of different designs. Men and women used to wear necklaces, finger-rings and armlets. Women decorated themselves with a head-dress, earrings, bangles, bracelets, girdles and anklets.
In simple words: They ate grains like wheat and barley along with fish and meat; they wore simple draped clothes and were very fond of jewelry made from metals and stones.

📝 Teacher's Note: Discuss how archaeologists know about food (through charred seeds and animal bones) and dress (through statues like the "Priest King"). This helps students understand the work of an archaeologist.

🎯 Exam Tip: For sub-part (b), make sure to distinguish between ornaments worn by both men and women and those worn specifically by women.

Question 33. Why did the Indus Valley Civilization come to be known as Harappan Civilization?
Answer: The archaeologists made various excavations in the north western region of India which led to the discovery of the mins of the pre-historic cities of Harappan in West Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Sind. The sites of early excavations were found on the river Indus and its tributaries. Therefore, Indus Valley Civilization came to be known as Harappan Civilization.
In simple words: It is called Harappan Civilization because Harappa was the very first city discovered by archaeologists when they began digging in this region.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that in archaeology, a civilization is often named after the "type-site," which is the first site where evidence of that culture was found.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clarify that while it is found near the Indus River, the name "Harappan" is used specifically to honor the first site discovered.

II. Structured Questions

With reference to the emergence of civilisation, answer the following questions:

Question 1. What is meant by Civilisation ? What are the main traits which mark a civilisation ?
Answer:
(a) Civilisation is defined as an advanced stage of human cultural development. It implies the use of superior technology and complex economic relationships. There are a number of traits which mark a civilisation.
Some of these are:
1. Evolution of cities
2. Surplus food
3. Division of labour
4. System of writing
5. Monumental public buildings
6. Development of technology.

(b) The period between 4000 and 3000 BC saw remarkable progress. Man acquired greater knowledge and skill in mastering the forces of nature. He took to agriculture and began to make more efficient tools and started living more or less a settled life on the banks of rivers. So a number of dispersed farming villages evolved first into towns and then into cities. The river valleys had the agricultural potential needed to support a dense population and produce surplus food. The surplus food freed some people from the task of producing their own food. Such individuals gradually became specialists and developed a substantial range of new skills such
dense population and produce surplus food. The surplus food freed some people from the task of producing their own food. Such individuals gradually became specialists and developed a substantial range of new skills such as writing, using metals and making their alloys, seal making and large-scale construction. Such knowledge and skill Is enabled people to advance to a new stage in the progress of civilisation.

Question 2: With reference to the sources of information about the Harappan Civilisation, describe the significance of each of the following: (a) Great Bath (b) Cemeteries (c) Script
Answer:
(a) The Great Bath: The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro is a massive structure which throws light on the life of the people and culture of the Harappan Civilisation :
1. The construction of the Great Bath indicates that the art of building had reached a high degree of perfection at that time.
2. The massive structure points out that there might have existed a ruling class that could mobilize labour, collect taxes and build such a huge structure for the public.
3. Most of the scholars agree that the Great Bath might have been used for religious purposes. This indicates the importance attached to ceremonial bathing in sacred tanks, pools and rivers since time immemorial.The design of the Great Bath portrays the efficient planning in the structural features relating to water supply and sewage disposal.
(b) Cemeteries: Cemeteries throw light on the burial practices of the people. The burial practices and the objects found in the graves reveal many aspect like their religious beliefs, customs, economic position, social hierarchy and whether the people died due to an invasion or a natural calamity.
(c) Script: The Harappans used a script which is regarded as pictographic since its signs represent birds, fish and varieties of the human form. The number of signs of Harappan script is known to be between 375 and 400. The script is found inscribed on a number of seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper and terra-cotta tablets, jewelry and on an ancient signboard
These historical sources tell us how organized and advanced the Harappan society was in their daily lives. By studying these remains, scientists can understand how they built their cities and what they believed about life and death.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine the Great Bath as a very old version of a public swimming pool used for special festivals.
Exam Tip: Use the keyword "pictographic" when describing the Harappan script to show it used pictures instead of letters.

Question 3: With reference to Harappan Culture, answer the following questions: (a) Discuss briefly how the Harappan Civilisation was discovered.
Answer:
Under Lord Curzon in 1901, Sir John Marshall, the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, revealed the Harappan Civilisation near Harappa in Punjab. In 1921, Dayaram Sahni, an officer in the Archaeological. Survey of India got ruins dug out, around Harappa. In 1922, R.D. Banerjee along with a Buddhist monk found the city of Mohenjo-daro under a mound. Later, Sir John Marshall ordered large-scale excavations.
The discovery happened because archaeologists started digging up old mounds and found buried cities made of high-quality bricks. It proved that a very old and smart civilization existed in India long before people previously thought.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the initials: D.S. for Dayaram Sahni (Harappa) and R.D.B. for R.D. Banerjee (Mohenjo-daro).
Exam Tip: Make sure to mention the specific years 1921 and 1922 to show you have accurate historical knowledge.

(b) Describing the extent of civilisation, name the chief cities.
Answer: The entire area of the Harappan civilisation is triangular in shape covering an area of about $1, 299, 600 \text{ sq. km}$, extending from Sutkagendor in Baluchistan in the west to Alamgirpur, in Ganga Yamuna Doab and from Manda in Jammu in north to Bhagatrav in Narmada estuary in the south. This tells us that the civilization was massive and stretched across parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. The triangular shape helps us visualize how the major settlements were positioned relative to the river systems.
Teacher's Tip: Draw a simple triangle on a map of India to remember the four outer limits of the Harappan culture.
Exam Tip: Mention the specific names of the boundary locations like Manda and Alamgirpur to show you have studied the map thoroughly.

Question 4: In respect of the chief features of the Harappan Civilisation, write short notes on each of the followin (a) Town planning.
Answer: Town planning: It is the most remarkable feature of the Harappan Civilisation. The Indus cities were set up on a grid-pattern, consisting of regular planning with divisions, alignment of streets, planning of the houses and public buildings with the provision of thoroughfares. The grid-pattern means that the streets were laid out in straight lines that crossed each other at right angles. This made the cities look very organized, much like the blocks we see in modern cities today.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a chessboard when you imagine their grid-pattern; everything was straight and perfectly aligned.
Exam Tip: Use the term "thoroughfares" when describing their roads to demonstrate a higher level of vocabulary.

Question 4(b): Special features of the houses of the people.
Answer: The houses at street corners were rounded to allov cartsto pass easily and the house drains emptied all waste water into the street drains. Rounding the corners was a smart engineering choice to make sure that large bullock carts didn't get stuck while turning. The connection between house drains and street drains shows that they cared deeply about keeping their living areas clean and hygienic.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine a toy car track with rounded corners—it helps the cars move faster and safer just like the ancient carts.
Exam Tip: Highlighting the sanitation aspect of the drains will help you score extra marks for understanding the purpose of the house design.

Question 4(C): Common elements between Mohanjo-daro and Harappan Civilisations.
Answer: Common elements between Mohanjo-daro and Harappan Civilisation are as follows:
1. Both are located on the banks of the Indus river i.e. Mohenjo- daro on the right and Harappa on the left banks.
2. Both acquire a circuit of $5.0 \text{ km}$.
3. Ground plans of construction were the same.
4. Water supply, drainage, granaries were common in management.
5. Some of the unique features were common, g. indoor plumbing, brick-lined drain pipes and sewage channels. These similarities suggest that both cities were part of a single, well-organized empire with shared rules for building. It is amazing to see that they had indoor plumbing and complex drainage systems thousands of years ago.
Teacher's Tip: Remember that "Mohenjo-daro" and "Harappa" were like twin capital cities with nearly identical designs.
Exam Tip: Listing the shared "circuit" size of $5.0 \text{ km}$ is a specific detail that shows you have read the text carefully.

Question 5: With reference to public buildings of Harappan Civilisation, answer the following questions: (a) State the importance of Great Bath. (b) How were the granaries built and what was their importance?
Answer: (a) Great Bath: The Great Bath is one of the most famous structures found at Mohenjo-daro and serves as a major piece of evidence for their advanced architecture. It was likely used for religious ceremonies or special community bathing events.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Great Bath as a massive public swimming pool that was used for sacred rituals.
Exam Tip: Always specify that the Great Bath was located in Mohenjo-daro to avoid confusion with other cities.

It is one of the largest public-buildings of Mohenjo-daro, measuring \( 108 \times 180 \) feet with a bathing pool 39 feet long and 28 feet wide and 8 feet deep with two organisation of steps on the north and south sides. The water was provided by a well in an adjacent room. There were portico and rooms and a stairway leading to an upper story, which are supposed to be used for some priesthood or changing the clothes. It might be used for a ritual bath. This giant pool shows how smart the Harappans were at building and managing water systems. It was likely a special place where people gathered for holy traditions and religious cleansing.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remember "Bath" goes with "Mohenjo-daro" - they both have many 'o's and 'a's!

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention that the Great Bath was "watertight" to show you know about their advanced construction technology.

(b) Granaries:s
These measured 45.71 meters in length and 15.23 meters in breadth in Mohenjo-daro. In Harappa, there were two rows of six granaries, each measuring \( 15.23 \times 6.09 \) meters with adjoining working floors meant for threshing grains, as wheat and barley have been found in the crevices of the floors. There were barracks for accommodating laborers. These big buildings were like giant cupboards for storing grain so people would not go hungry during bad times. They were built near rivers to make it easy to transport food by boat to other cities.

📝 Teacher's Note: Think of a "Granary" as a "Grain-Factory" or a safe for food.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "wheat and barley" specifically when writing about what was stored inside to show detailed knowledge.

Question 6: With reference to art and sculpture of the Indus Valley people answer the following questions:

(a) Mention the three important objects of sculpture made by the Harappans.
Answer: A large number of stone images have been found; out of these the statue of a yogi draped with a shawl is well- known. Bronze statues of a dancing gill, animals and carts etc. are noteworthy. These sculptures prove that ancient artists were very good at working with both hard stone and melted metal. They captured everyday life and spiritual figures with great detail and skill.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use the "B.S.Y." trick to remember: Bronze dancing girl, Stone yogi, and Yak-like animals!

🎯 Exam Tip: Be sure to distinguish between the materials: the "Dancing Girl" is bronze and the "Yogi" is stone.

(b) How did Indus pottery reflect great variety ?
Answer: Three important objects of sculpture made by Harappans are \( 17.5 \text{ cm} \) long statue of limestone of a yogi, bronze statue of a dancing girl and models of carts. Harappan pottery came in many shapes and was often painted with beautiful patterns of trees or geometric designs. Some pots were used for simple cooking, while others were fancy and glazed to look beautiful on display.

📝 Teacher's Note: Think of "Pottery" as their version of paper and plastic - they used it for absolutely everything!

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the use of the "potter's wheel" to show that they used tools to create smooth, even shapes.

Question 7: With reference to the religious belief of the Harappans, state the following :

(a) The sources of information about the religious beliefs of the Harappans.
Answer: The information about the religious beliefs mostly comes from the seals, seal impressions, terracotta and metal figurines, cemeteries, etc. On the basis of the knowledge obtained from the seals, figurines it has been inferred that the Harappan people had many features of later Hinduism. Since there are no temples or big holy books, archaeologists look at small clay dolls and carved stones to understand their faith. These items show us that many modern Indian traditions started thousands of years ago in these cities.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remember S-S-T-C: Seals, Statues, Terracotta, and Cemeteries.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "seals" as the most important source because they have detailed pictures of gods and holy animals.

(b) Their belief in Mother Goddess.
Answer: They worshiped the Mother Goddess who bears some resemblance to the one that was worshiped in the Middle East and Europe. The Harappans looked upon the earth as the Goddess of Fertility. A plant is shown growing out of the body of a woman resembling the Goddess of earth. People believed that the Earth was like a mother who provided food and life for every living creature. They made many small clay figures of this Goddess to keep in their homes for blessing and protection.

📝 Teacher's Note: Earth = Mother = Source of Life.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the phrase "Goddess of Fertility" to score full marks on her significance to ancient farming people.

Question 7: (c) Worship of Nature.
Answer: The Harappans worship the elements of nature. They worship trees, fire and water. Besides, animal worship was also a part of religious beliefs. It is indicated by the representation of animals on the seals and in terracotta and stone figurines. Living near big rivers and forests made the Harappans respect the power of the natural world around them. They even considered certain animals, like the bull and the tiger, to be holy messengers or symbols of power.

📝 Teacher's Note: Think "T-A-N-E": Trees, Animals, Nature, and Elements.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always list the "Pipal tree" as a specific example of nature worship mentioned in historical finds.

Question 8: Study the picture of the seal and answer the questions that follow:
(a) Why were the seals used ?
Answer: Ans. The seals were used for trade in vast area of Indus valley,as these have been found from various spots spread over the civilisation sites. The seals with short inscriptions give some messages which cannot be deciphered yet. Seals acted like modern-day stamps or signatures to show who owned a bag of goods being sold. They helped traders identify their items when they were shipped far away to other lands across the sea.

📝 Teacher's Note: Think of a Seal as an ancient version of a "Made in India" stamp or a barcode.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention that the script on seals is still "undeciphered," which means we still cannot read what they wrote.

(b) Of what material were these seals made ?
Answer: Ans. The seals were made of terra-cotta, steatite, agate etc. Most seals were made of a soft stone called steatite that became hard and strong after being baked in a fire. These materials were tough enough to last for thousands of years buried deep underground.

📝 Teacher's Note: Remember "T-S-A": Terracotta, Steatite, and Agate.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Steatite" is the most common material used; make sure to include this specific word in your list.

(c) What do they reveal about the Harappans ?
Answer: Ans. The seals reveal the mythical and religious beliefs. The figures carved in the seals depict the worship of Mother Goddess and Pashupatinath and various animals, trees etc. These tiny artifacts are like windows into the past that show us what the Harappan people thought was important. They tell us about their clothing styles, their pets, and their powerful gods like the Lord of Animals.

📝 Teacher's Note: Seals are like "ancient postcards" that tell us stories about their daily lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the name "Pashupatinath" when talking about the male deity shown on the seals to show advanced knowledge.

Question 9: Describe the social life of the Harappan people with reference to:

(a) Their Diet.
Answer: The principal diet of the people consisted of wheat and barley. Rice and dates were also consumed. Milk, vegetables and fruits were also eaten. Beef, mutton, poultry, turtle, tortoise, river-fish were commonly used. The Harappans were excellent farmers and fishermen who enjoyed a very healthy and varied menu every day. They ate a mix of grains they grew in fields and animals they raised or caught in the river.

📝 Teacher's Note: Diet = Grains + Meat + Sweets (like Dates!).

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "wheat and barley" first as they were the most important crops grown by these people.

(b) Their Dress
Answer: The Harappan people wore simple dress. The dress of men constituted two pieces of cloth ,the upper garment, was a shawl which was drawn over the left shoulder and under the right arm; the lower garment resembled a modern dhoti. Women used a loin cloth bound by a girdle. The cotton and woolen garments were commonly worn. Their clothes were designed to be cool and comfortable for the warm climate of the river valley. Both men and women used fabric made from cotton, which India became famous for all over the world.

📝 Teacher's Note: Men's dress = Shawl + Dhoti. It looks a lot like traditional Indian wear today!

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the "left shoulder" detail for the shawl to show you have carefully studied the ancient statues.

(c) Their Ornaments.
Answer: Both men and women whether rich or poor were fond of wearing ornaments. The ornaments were guilded out of gold, silver, copper and other well known metals, and precious stones were used for making various ornaments of different designs. Both men and women wore necklaces, finger-rings and armlets. Women also decorated themselves with a head-dress, earrings, bangles, bracelets, gird less and anklets. Even thousands of years ago, people loved to look stylish by using jewelry made from shiny metals and colorful beads. This shows that the Harappans had very skilled craftsmen who could make tiny and beautiful things.

📝 Teacher's Note: Jewelry was for everyone - rich or poor! It shows they had a great sense of beauty.

🎯 Exam Tip: List at least three materials (Gold, Silver, Copper) to show the variety of their metalwork craft.

Question 9: (d)Their Sports and Games.
Answer: Dicing was a popular game among the people. Marbles and balls were used for games. The Harappan people were fond of music and dancing. Clay-modelling was popular among children. Crude models of men, women, animals and whistles, rattles and dolls have been found in abundance. People loved hunting and fishing. Life was not just about work; Harappan families enjoyed many of the same toys we use today, like marbles and whistles. These discoveries show that they valued play, music, and creativity in their community.

📝 Teacher's Note: Dicing and Dancing - the two 'D's of Harappan fun!

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "clay modeling" to explain how we know what their toys looked like after so many years.

Question 10: What do you know about the trade and commercial activities of the Harappan people?
Answer: The Harappan People had commercial tie-ups with southern and eastern India, Kashmir and with other countries of Asia. They imported various precious stones and other articles. They also carried on trade with Egypt and Crete. Trade was carried on both by land and sea-routes. The representation of a mastless ship on a seal suggests the popularity of the sea-routes. Harappan merchants were world travelers who swapped their products for beautiful stones and metals from far-away places. Their amazing trade network helped their cities grow very wealthy and powerful.

📝 Teacher's Note: Trade = Travel (by both Land and Sea). They were the best businessmen of their time!

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention "Egypt" or "Crete" as international trade partners to show the wide reach of their business.

Question 11: With reference to the art and craft of the Harappan people, explain their achievements in the following fields:
(a) The Art of Sculpture.
Answer: The Harappan people were very skillful at the art of Sculpture. They were very much acquainted with different metals like-gold, silver, copper bronze etc. Also, they had a vast knowledge of precious stones. They used all these metals and stones in making different kinds of statues and figurines. The bronze figure of a dancing girl is one of the commendable pieces of art of sculpture. Then, their sculpture in stone is no less by any means. The statue of a nobleman or a priest and a Male Torso in red stone speak volumes of their art of sculpture. Sculpture in terracotta is yet another master piece of their art, the terracotta figurine of the Mother- Goddess is an exquisite of sculpture. Several other terracotta figures, of a bull, dogs, sheep, birds, men and women hold evidence of their skill at sculpture. Harappan artists used a wide variety of materials, from soft clay to hard stone and shiny bronze. Their ability to make realistic human and animal shapes shows they had very advanced artistic training and imagination.

📝 Teacher's Note: Three S's of Sculpture: Stone, Silver (and other metals), and Soil (Terracotta).

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the "Dancing Girl" as bronze and the "Priest King" as stone to show you understand their different techniques.

(b) The Art of Carvin.
Answer: The Indus people excelled in the art of carving. The figures of animals carved on the seals, show a high degree of excellence. A variety of figures of animals such as bull, the buffalo, the bison, the elephant and the mythological unicorn is worth seeing. Carving was mostly done on tiny seals, where artists managed to fit huge amounts of detail onto a very small surface. The realistic muscles and shapes of the animals on these seals still amaze people who see them today.

📝 Teacher's Note: Carving = Beautiful animal pictures on small stone Seals.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "Unicorn" as a famous mythological animal often found carved on these ancient seals.

Question 12: India is well-known for her deep-rooted tradition in arts and crafts. Substantiate this statement by a brief mention of the following:
(a) The Harappan Pottery.
Answer: The workmanship of the Harappan potters is admirable. They made pottery of various shapes and sizes on a potter’s wheel. Different types of pots, jars and vases were made. Pots meant for daily use were plain and those which were used for preserving valuables, were glazed and painted. The discovery of pottery kilns reveals that pottery was fired with great care and skill. Harappan pottery was often bright red and decorated with black designs like circles, trees, or birds. This craft was so well-done that it influenced Indian pottery styles for many thousands of years afterward.

📝 Teacher's Note: Plain = Daily kitchen use; Painted = Special use or decoration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the "Potter's Wheel" to prove they had technical tools for manufacturing goods.

(b) Harappan art of Spinning.
Answer: A huge number of spindles have been discovered in their houses which indicates that spinning of cotton and wool was common among the people. Spindles and spindle-whorls were made of terracotta or porcelain. The discovery of a dyer’s vat on the site reveals that they were familiar with the art of dyeing their fabrics. Because archaeologists found so many spindles, we know that Harappan families were masters at making their own yarn. They even knew how to use colorful dyes to make their clothes look bright and vibrant.

📝 Teacher's Note: Spindles are the tools used for spinning raw cotton into thread.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the discovery of "dyer's vats" to prove that they knew how to make colored fabrics.

(c) Harappan Metalcraft.
Answer: The Harappan people were quie familiar with the art of using metals like-gold, silver and copper. Smiths of various kinds possessed technical skill in producing beautiful jewelry; in boring camelian beds; in casting metals and in creating alloys. A high aesthetic sense is revealed in the exquisite designs of gold ornaments like-necklaces, armbands, bangles, girdles, silver bracelets and earrings worn by the Harappan women. The artisans smelted bronze and produced vessels of fine quality. Copper vessels were made from sheet-metal. Metalworkers, called smiths, were very clever at melting and mixing metals to make strong tools and pretty decorations. Their ability to make bronze by mixing copper and tin was a major step forward for human technology in that age.

📝 Teacher's Note: Smiths = Metal Masters. They were the engineers of the ancient world!

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention that bronze is an "alloy" (a mix of metals) to show you understand their scientific skills.

Question 13: The Seals may be considered as the most valuable finds of the Harappan Civilization. In this context give (a) Details of the Animals Seals, the Unicorn Seal and the Pashupati Seal.
Answer: More than 2000 seals of different types have been discovered from the various sites. These are usually square or oblong and made of terracotta, steatite or ivory. Some seals are engraved with the figures of animals the buffalo, bull, elephant, tiger and antelope. The best engravings are those of the humped-bull, the buffalo and the bison. Another figure shown on the Seals is that of the Unicorn with a single protruding horn. A particular object is placed in front of the unicorn, which may have some religious significance with ceremonial worship. The Pashupati-Seal depicts three-faced deity, seated in a yogic posture with a homed head-dress and surrounded by animals. Later excavations revealed two more seals of Shiva-one seal depicts a three-faced deity seated on low dais; the other shows only one face with flowers springing from the head between the horns. Seals are the most important clues we have because they show both real animals and magical creatures. The Pashupati seal is especially famous because it shows a god that looks a lot like the Lord Shiva people worship today.

📝 Teacher's Note: Seals = Pictures of the Past. They show us things that have long since rotted away.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the Pashupati figure as "seated in a yogic posture" to score high marks on your answer.

Question 13: (b) Reasons why the Seals are important.
Answer: The importance of the Seals can not be underestimated. The figures engraved on the Seals provide information about the physical features, dress, ornament and hair-style of the people and also we learn about the animals they kept. They throw light on the religious faith and beliefs of the people. They give us an idea about their commercial activities. They reveal remarkable skill of the artists. They show the script of the people. Seals are like ancient photographs that tell us what people looked like and how they ran their businesses. They are also the only place where we can see the mysterious Harappan writing, even if we cannot read it yet.

📝 Teacher's Note: Seals are the ultimate "evidence" for everything archaeologists know about this civilization!

🎯 Exam Tip: Note that seals are a key source for seeing the "script," which is a major part of historical research.