RBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions in English — The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

RBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Question Answer The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

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The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Class 6 Questions and Answers

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Class 6 Question Answer (InText)

Page 85

Question 1.
What is a civilisation?
Answer:
Civilisation : In general, the term is used for an advanced stage of human societies. A civilisation should have at least the following characteristics :
1. Government and administration : To manage a complex society and its various activities, government and administration is necessary.

2. Urbanisation : It is part of a civilisation. It has town planning, the growth of cities and their management which generally includes water management and a drainage system.

3. Art and Craft : It includes the management of raw materials (such as stone or metal) and the production of finished goods (such as ornaments and tools).

4. Trade : Trade is also a feature of civilisation. It includes trading activities within a city or a region and with distant regions or other parts of the world to exchange all sorts of goods.

5. Some form of writing : In a civilisation any form of writing is necessary to keep records and to communicate.

6. Cultural ideas about life and the world : Cultural ideas about life and the world, expressed through art, architecture, literature, oral traditions or social customs is also required in a civilisation.

7. Agricultural Production : Agricultural production is required in a civilisation to feed the people in villages as well as in cities.

Question 2.
What was the earliest civilisation of the Indian Subcontinent?
Answer:
The earliest civilisation of the Indian subcontinent was the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati civilisation. It developed in the vast plains of the Punjab and Sindh which were watered by the Indus River and its tributaries.

Question 3.
What were its major achievements?
Answer:
The Sindhu-saraswati civilisation was indeed remarkable in many ways. It shows how a well balanced community lives. It does not show difference between rich and poor. In essence, the Harappan societal scenario was not that of ‘exploitation’ but of mutual accommodation.

Town planning, development of cities, water management and drainage system were the major features of this civilisation. Various types of crafts, trade, cultural ideas about life and the world etc. were major achievements of the Harappan civilisation. The Harappans also made farming tools, including the plough, some of which continue to be used by modem day farmers.

Page 86

Question 1.
Which of the above (Page-86) characteristics do you think is the most fundamental that is a characteristic essential to the development of all others?
Answer:
We consider ‘a productive agriculture’ a fundamental characteristic essential to the development if all others.

Page 87

Question 1.
For each characteristic in the list above (Page-86). Can you make a list of professions or occupations that might exist in such a society?
Answer:
1. Some form of government and administration : It would include people for maintaining peace and order, security of the city. Similarly, some others would have work of law making, policy making, judges who punish criminals etc.

2. Urbanisation : Under this, there would have been the occupations and jobs of city planners, city managers, water manager, administrator for drainage system, labourers to repair roads and cleaning.

3. A Variety of Crafts : The Harappans used to make tools, weapons, jewellery, utensils from copper and brass. They used to make terracotta toys and utensils.

4. Trade : The Harappan traders exported utensils made of different kinds of metals especially copper and brass, gold-silver ornaments etc. They imported copper also.

5. Some form of Writing : In Harappa, the work of writing was done by scribes who lived in the cities. They used to write on seals.

6. Productive Agriculture : The Harappan farmers used plough in agriculture. Agriculture production included people such as farmers, carpenters etc.

Page 89

Question 1.
Some of the important cities of this civilisation are marked in the map (Fig. 6.3 of the text-book). As a class activity, can you try to match these cities with the modern states or regions in the table given below :

Answer:

Page 95

Question 1.
As a class activity, measure the length of your classroom, a school corridor or a playground with the help of any measuring tape. Compare these lengths with the length of the largest reservoir in Dholavira.
Answer:
Students can measure the length of their school playground or classroom with the help of their teacher. They can compare this length with the largest reservoir measured 73 meters in length.

Page 97

Question 1.
Imagine you cook a meal in a Harappan house. What dish or dishes would you prepare, based on the data given above?
Answer:
We would like to prepare vegetable of raw banana and chapati of wheat flour.

Page 99

Question 1.
Look at these three Harappan seals (Fig. 6.13.1, 6.13.2, 6.13.3 of the text-book) with some writing signs, What goes through your mind? Would you like to suggest any interpretations? Let your imagination run!
Answer:
In Harappa, the work of writing was done by scribes who must have lived in the cities. They used to write on seals and other objects. The seals must have been used to stamp documents and goods so that they could identify these goods at the ports in their travelling activities.

Page 102

Question 1.
Looking at the objects on pages 100 and 101 of the text-book or any other pictured in this chapter. Can you make out what activities or aspects of life were important for the Harappans?
Answer:
The clay plough depicted in this chapter tells us about the agricultural life of the Harappans. Cameliam beads excavated in Iran and ivory comb found on the coast of Oman show their artisan life. Three seals are shown on page no. 99, stone weights, a bronze chisel show their economic activities. A statuette of ‘Priest King’, seal of showing a swastika or three-faced deity, a bronze figurine of ‘The Dancing Girl’, a terracotta figurine seated in a ‘namaste’ all these depict cultural and social life and their traditions also.

Question 2.
Complete the story found on the Lothal pot. How was such a story remembered for more than 4000 years, in your opinion?
Answer:
The Thirsty Crow : A thirsty crow reaches near a pot in which water was available at the bottom and its beak cannot reach it. In such a situation it found a clever way to drink water. It started putting stone pebbles in the pot and as a result the water reached the top of the pot. Now the crow quenched its thirst with water and flew away. In our opinion, this story is remembered for more than 400 years because to solve a difficult situation cleverness and intelligence along with patience can be helpful.

Question 3.
Consider the ‘Dancing Girl’ figurine. What do you make the attitude the figurine expresses? Observe her bangles covering an entire arm, a practice still visible in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Where else in this chapter can you spot bangles worn in this manner? What conclusion should we draw from this?
Answer:
The expression of the ‘Dancing Girl’ is like a dancer. The figurine are adorned with bangles, covering and entire arm. This style of wearing bangles is observed in Gujarat and Rajasthan. In this chapter at page no. 97 mention of bangles is also given.

We can conclude that due to some climatic and environmental changes Harappan civilisation declined. Probably few people lived there, adopted rural lifestyle in changed environment and they reached till Rajasthan and Gujarat. In this way Harappan culture and technology survived. The presence of similar bangle styles in contemporary Gujarat and Rajasthan suggests a strong cultural continuity from ancient times to the present.

Class 6 SST The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Question Answer (Exercise)

Question 1.
Why does the civilisation studied in this chapter have several names? Discuss their significance.
Answer:
The civilisation which we have studied in this chapter has three names : (1) Sindhu civilisations (2) Sindhu Saraswati civilisation (3) Harappan civilisation. These names were given due to the following reasons :
(1) The civilisation developed in the vast plains of Punjab and Sindh which are watered by the Indus river and its tributaries. Hence this civilisation has the name Indus or Sindhu civilisation.

(2) A little further east, a few millenniums ago, another river, the Saraswati used to flow from the foothills of the Himalayas through Haryana, Punjab, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some cities such as Rakhigarhi, Ganweriwala, Kalibangan, Banawali etc. cities have been found in the excavations done this river. Hence, the civilisation also known as Sindhu Sarasvati civilisation.

(3) The city of Harappa was the first of this civilisation to be excavated, way back in 1920-21 over a century ago. Hence, it is also known as the Harappan civilisation.

Question 2.
Write a brief report (150-200 words) summing-up some of the achievements of the Indus Sarasvati civilisation.
Answer:
Achievements of Indus Sarasvati Civilisation : The Indus Sarasvati Civilisation one of the earliest known in the history of mankind, came up with some remarkable achievements such as :
(1) Development of urban civilisation : It was an urban civilisation with good town planning. Most cities had two distinct parts- the ‘upper town’, where the local elite probably lived, and the ‘lower town’, where common people lived. In Harappan society, differences between rich and the poor not prominent. Societal scenario had mutual accommodation. Wide roads in cities, good drainage system and baked bricks were other achievements of this civilisation.

(2) A variety of Crafts : Most of the things that archaeologists have found from Harappan cities were made of stone, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver etc. They also found ornaments and utensils made of gold and silver, seals, claypots, stone beads etc. Stone carving, bead polishing, seals, sculptures making of shell bangles etc. are good examples of their craft skills. They also made farming tools including the plough to use in agriculture.

(3) Urban Life : Rulers, common people, scribes, artisans, traders lived in cities and farmers provided food them. It shows a balance between various social groups with minimum difference between the rich and the poor.

Question 3.
Imagine you have to travel from the city of Harappa to Kalibangan. What are your different options? Can you make a rough estimation of the amount of time each option might take?
Answer:
Harappa is in Punjab of Pakistan and Kalibangan is located in Rajasthan. We have two options to come from Harappa to Kalibangan. These are : (1) Airways (2) Roadways Amount of time each option might take cannot be estimated.

Question 4.
Let us imagine a Harappan man or wr:nan being transported to an average Kitchen in today’s India. What are the four or five biggest surprises awaiting them?
Answer:
A Harappan man or woman is being transported to an average kitchen in today’s India, then the four or five biggest surprises may be

1. Gas Cylinders
2. Electric Stoves
3. Refrigerators
4. Ovens
5. Microwaves

Question 5.
Look at all the pictures in this chapter, make a list of the ornaments/gestures/ objects that still feel familiar in our 21st century.
Answer:

1. A small clay model of a plough
2. Beads of Camelian
3. Bangles
4. Ivory Comb
5. A statuette of the ‘Priest King’
6. Seal showing swastik
7. Three faced deity
8. A terracotta figurine seated in a ‘namaste’
9. Story of the thirsty crow
10. Minor
11. Stone weights
12. A gameboaid
13. Bronze Chisel
14. A terracotta pot
15. Terracotta whistle.

Question 6.
What mindset does the system of reservoirs at Dholavira reflect?
Answer:
At Dholavira at least six large reservoirs were built with stones or even cut into the rock. Most of them were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution. It shows advanced planning and skills of reservoirs to conserve and distribute water resource. It shows that the Harappan had social sense collaboration. They had efficient management for the success of planning. Probably at that time such work was done together on community basis with the help of the administration.

Question 7.
In Mohenjo-daro, about 700 wells built with bricks have been counted. They seem to have been regularly maintained and used for several centuries. Discuss the implications.
Answer:
Mohenjo-daro is a city located on the banks of the Indus’ River which was excavated around 1924. In Mohenjo-daro about 700 wells built with bricks have been counted. It seems that every house in Mohenjo-daro had a well and a bathroom for drinking water and bathing. Water was used from these wells. Hence, these wells were maintained regularly and used for water supply for many centuries.

Question 8.
It is often said that the Harappan had a high civic sense. Discuss the significance of this statement. Do you agree with it? Compare with citizens in a large city of India today.
Answer:
Yes, we agree with the statement that the Harappan had high civic sense. The public works of the city was done on community basis. Although most cities had two distinct parts : the ‘upper town’ were the local elite probably limit and the ‘lower town’ where the local people but their was not much difference between the rich and the poor. All the people had mutual co-operation to complete public welfare works. The Harappan civilisation had a balanced society. Modem cities are different from Harappan cities in many ways.

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers Social Science Chapter 6

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The city of ……………………. was the first of the Indus valley civilisation to be excavated,
(a) Mohenjo-daro
(b) Harappa
(c) Lothal
(d) Dholavira
Answer:
(b) Harappa

2. In which of the following cities the ‘Great Bath’ found?
(a) Kalibanga
(b) Lothal
(c) Mohenjo-daro
(d) Dholavira
Answer:
(c) Mohenjo-daro

3. Which metal was generally used by the people of Harappa?
(a) Bronze
(b) Gold
(c) Silver
(d) Tin
Answer:
(a) Bronze

4. Dholavira had distinct zones :
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Answer:
(b) Three

5. When did the decline of the Harappan cities begin?
(a) 5300 years ago
(b) 4300 years ago
(c) 3300 years ago
(d) 2300 years ago
Answer:
(b) 4300 years ago

6. What was used in the construction of houses in the Harappan civilisation?
(a) Stones
(b) Baked bricks
(c) Soil
(d) None of these
Answer:
(b) Baked bricks

7. In which city of the Indus Valley Civilisation the largest reservoir of 73 meters in length has been found?
(a) Mohenjo-daro
(b) Lothal
(c) Harappa
(d) Dholavira
Answer:
(d) Dholavira

8. In which city of the Harappan civilisation people used to draw water from wells made of bricks?
(a) Harappa
(b) Dholavira
(c) Lothal
(d) Mohenjo-daro
Answer:
(d) Mohenjo-daro

9. The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow ……………………. .
(a) Wheat
(b) Barley
(c) Paddy
(d) Cotton
Answer:
(d) Cotton

10. Harappan ivory comb about 7 cm. long had found on/in
(a) the coast of Oman
(b) excavation at susa
(c) Lothal
(d) Banawali
Answer:
(a) the coast of Oman

11. ……………………. a small settlement in Gujarat has a huge basin measuring 217 metres in length and 36 metres in width.
(a) Banawali
(b) Lothal
(c) Mohenjo-daro
(d) Harappa
Answer:
(b) Lothal

Fill in the blanks

1. In the whole Harappan region, from about ……………………. villages grew into towns.
Answer:
3500 BCE

2. The Harappan civilisation was discovered in ……………………. a century ago.
Answer:
1924 AD

3. Most of the Harappan cities were constructed with ……………………. .
Answer:
Planning

4. Most of the Harappan cities had two parts, the upper town and the ……………………. .
Answer:
lower town

5. Some large buildings of the Indus valley civilisation had been used for collective purposes such as ……………………. .
Answer:
Warehouses

6. The Harappans worked conch shells into beautiful ……………………. .
Answer:
Shell bangles

State whether True or False

1. Harappa is in Pakistan.
Answer:
True

2. In Harappa city, archaeologists excavated the famous ‘Great Bath’.
Answer:
False

3. Mesopotamia Civilisation began in India in about 6000 years ago.
Answer:
False

4. Sarasvati basin includes two major cities : Rakhigarhi and Ganweriwala.
Answer:
True

Match the following

Question 1.

Answer:

Question 2.

Answer:

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
When did the Harappan cities develop?
Answer:
From about 3500 BCE, Villages of the Harappan civilisation grew into towns and around 2600 BCE these towns grew into cities.

Question 2.
Give names of any four cities of the Indus Valley civilisation.
Answer:

1. Harappa
2. Mohenjo-daro
3. Kalibangan
4. Lothal.

Question 3.
Which regions of the Indian subcontinent have Harappan cities?
Answer:
Harappan cities have been found in Punjab and Sind provinces of Pakistan, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab of India.

Question 4.
What was built around the Harappan cities?
Answer:
Most of the Harappan cities seem to have been surrounded by fortifications.

Question 5.
Who lived in the ‘upper towns’ of the Indus Valley civilisation?
Answer:
The local elite probably lived in the ‘upper towns’ of the Indus Valley civilisation.

Question 6.
What was used in the construction of Harappan buildings?
Answer:
Bricks

Question 7.
Mention any one feature of the Harappan drainage system.
Answer:
Most of the harappan cities have underground drain for the flow of sewage.

Question 8.
How many reservoirs were constructed in Dholavira by cutting stones and rocks.
Answer:
Six reservoirs

Question 9.
How were the reservoirs at Dholavira connected?
Answer:
Most of reservoirs were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution.

Question 10.
What did the Harappan grow?
Answer:
The Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets and sometime rice, in addition to pulses and variety of vegetables.

Question 11.
What did Harappan cooking pots contain?
Answer:
Harappan cooking pots contain daily products turmeric, ginger, banana, vegetables, meat etc.

Question 12.
What was the most favourite ornament of the Harappans?
Answer:
The most favoured ornaments were beads of Carnelian.

Question 13.
How did the Harappans make bangles?
Answer:
The Harappans made bangles with beautiful shells.

Question 14.
Name the metal exchanged by the Harappans for exported,good.
Answer:
Copper.

Question 15.
What were the trading routes used by the Harappans?
Answer:
To conduct such a trade, they used land routes and rivers and the sea for more distant destinations.

Question 16.
Name the material used in Harappan seals. .
Answer:
These seals were generally made of steatite, a soft stone that would be hardened through heating.

Question 17.
What could have been the use of seals found in excavation of Harappan cities?
Answer:
These seals were related to trading activities by which merchants used to identify their goods in the warehouse.

Question 18.
Who provided food to the people living in the cities of Harappa?
Answer:
Fanners and Herders.

Question 19.
What were the major occupations of the Harappans living in villages?
Answer:
The Harappans living in villages were engaged in agricultural activities and domestication of animals.

Question 20.
What were the occupations of the Harappans living in villages besides agriculture and animal rearing?
Answer:
To collect fruits, fishing and hunting of animals like deer.

Question 21.
Write the major factor responsible for the decline of the Indus valley civilisation.
Answer:
The Indus valley civilisation declined due to climatic and environmental changes.

Question 22.
After the decline of the Harappan civilisation, what type of lifestyle did the people accept?
Answer:
The Harappan people returned to rural lifestyle.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Enlist the three major ancient civilisations of the world and their time period.
Answer:
Civilisation began at different times in different parts of the world. The three major ancient civilisations are :

1. The Mesopotamian civilisation – It began about 6000 years ago.
2. The Egyptian civilisation – It began about 5000 years ago.
3. The Indus- Sarasvati civilisation – It began about 4600 years ago.

Question 2.
Mention any four features of the Indus Sarasvati civilisation.
Answer:

1. Archaeologists gave this civilisation several names – Indus, Harappan, Sindhu- Sarasvati civilisation.
2. Its inhabitants are called Harappan’s.
3. It is one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
4. This development is also called the ‘First Urbanisation of India’.

Question 3.
Where have the cities of Harappan civilisation been found?
Answer:
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were the first two cities of this civilisation, Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan respectively. Later on, other major cities, such as Dholavira in (Gujarat), Rakhigarhi (in Haryana), Ganweriwala (in the Cholistan desert of Pakistan) and hundreds of smaller sites such as Lothal in Gujarat were discovered, some of them excavated. Besides this Farmana and Banawali were discovered in Haryana and Kalibangan were found in Rajasthan.

Question 4.
What do you know about water management of the Harappans?
Answer:
Houses of the Harappans had separate areas for bathing. These were connected to a larger network of drains. These drains generally ran below the streets and took the waste water away.

Question 5.
What were the sources of getting water of the Harappan’s?
Answer:
In Mohenjo-daro, people drew water from wells made of bricks. But in other regions, people may have been taken water form ponds, streams or human male reservoirs.

Question 6.
Define the term ‘Reservoir’. How were the huge reservoirs at Dholavira built?
Answer:
Reservoir : A large natural or artificial place where water is stored.

At least six large reservoirs were built with stones or even cut into the rock at Dholavira. Most of them were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution.

Question 7.
Why did the Harappans create many of their settlements along the banks of rivers?
Answer:
The Harappans created many of their settlement along the banks of rivers due to two major causes :

1. Water was available easily from rivers.
2. These places were suitable for agriculture since rivers enriched the soil around them.

Question 8.
Mention the major crops that the Harappan grew.
Answer:
The Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets, rice, pulses and a variety of vegetables. They also grew cotton which they used to weave into clothes.

Question 9.
What kind of unique things were found by the archaeologists from the Harappan cities?
Answer:
Archaeologists have found many objects made and used by Harappans such as beautiful reddish clay pottery with different designs, a few stone weights, a bronze chisel, a gamesboard engraved on a stone, a terracotta whistle, a statuette of a ‘Priest King’, a seal showing swastika, a seal depicting a three face deity, the dancing girl, a bronze figurine etc.

Question 10.
Describe about the huge basin found in Lothal.
Answer:
A huge basin measuring 217 meters in length and 36 meters in width has been found in Lothal. This basin must have been a dockyard that is a structure used to receive and send boats for further transportation of goods.

Question 11.
Explain about beads excavated from the Harappan civilisation.
Answer:
Many attractive beads have been found from various archaeological sites of the Harappan civilisation. Many of them were beads of camelian it was a reddish stone. Harappan craftspeople developed special techniques to drill them, so a string could pass through them and to decorate them in various ways.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Highlight the main features of Great Bath found in Mohenjo-daro.
Answer:
Great Bath : In Mohenjo-daro

1. The famous ‘Great Bath’ in Mohenjo-daro was a small but elaborate tank which measured about 12 × 7 meters..
2. It had water proofing material (such as natural bitumen) applied on top of bricks.
3. The Tank was surrounded by small rooms, one of which contained a well.
4. There was a drain in one corner of the tank to empty it from time to time.
5. It was refilled with fresh water time to time.
6. Probably it was used for religious rituals.

Question 2.
Explain the process of urbanisation of the Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation.
Answer:
Indus-Sarasvati civilisation developed in the vast plains of Punjab and Sindh which got from Indus River and its tributaries. A little further east in the region of the Sarasvati river many cities developed such as Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat From about 3500 BCE or 6000 years ago villages of this region grew into towns. Due to increase in trade and other exchanges towns grew into cities. This happened around 2600 BCE or 5000 years ago. The development of Indus civilisation is also called the First Urbanisation of India.

Question 3.
Describe in brief the agricultural practices of the Harappans.
Answer:

1. The Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, millets, rice, pulses and a variety of vegetables.
2. They were also the first in Eurasia to grow cotton which was used to weave into clothes by them.
3. They made farming tools such as plough. Some of these tools are also used by modem day farmers.
4. Intense agricultural activities were managed by hundreds of villages.

Question 4.
How were the seals found in the Indus valley civilisation made? Write their possible uses.
Answer:
Thousands of small seals have been excavated from many settlements of the Indus valley civilisation. These seals were generally made of steatite a soft stone that would be hardened through heating. They measure only a few centimeters. They had animal figures above them along with signs that are part of writing system.

These seals were related to trade activities. These seals were used to put stamp on bags which were transported from one place to another. It was easy to identify material with the help of stamp.

Question 5.
The Harappans were engaged in external and internal active trade. Explain the statement with example.
Answer:
The Harappans exported ornaments, timber, some objects of daily use such as- camelian beads, ivory comb, shell bangles, gold, cotton, some food items also.

The Harappans probably imported copper since this metal was not so common back home.

Question 6.
Why did the Harappan civilisation decline?
Answer:
Factors responsible for the decline of the Harappan civilisation :

1. Earlier, it was thought that invasions may have destroyed the cities, but there is no trace of invasion.
2. Climatic changes from 2200 BCE also affected the world, it reduced rainfall and a drier phase started. It reduced agricultural production and could have reduced food supply to the cities.
3. The Sarasvati river dried up, hence cities such as Kalibangan or Banawali were abandoned.

The civilisation eventually declined, probably due to climatic and environmental changes, people returned to rural lifestyle.

Essay Type Questions

Question 1.
Explain the features of town – planning in the the Harappan civilisation.
Answer:
Many cities such as Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Ganweriwala, Lothal, Kalibangan etc. were discovered in the Indus Valley Civilisation. Most of the cities were well planned. Their major features were :
(1) Wide streets : The Harappan cities had wide streets which were often oriented to the cardinal directions.

(2) Fortification : Most cities seem to have been surrounded by fortifications for security purpose.

(3) Two distinct parts : Cities had two distinct parts : the ‘upper town’, where the local elite probably lived, and the ‘lower town’ where common people lived.

(4) Buildings were generally made of bricks.

(5) Houses of this civilisation had separate bathing area. These were connected to a larger network of drains, which ran below the streets and took the waste water away.

(6) Some cities had special buildings. Such as the ‘Great Bath’ of Mohenjo-daro.

(7) People of these regions may have been arranged water from ponds, streams or reservoirs. Houses of Dholavira had reservoirs while in Mohenjo-daro, water was taken from wells.

Question 2.
Describe in brief the features of urban life in the Harappan. cities.
Answer:
Life in the Harappan cities :

1. Probably Harappawas a busy place.
2. There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city. These were rulers.
3. The rulers may have used valuable objects such as ornaments of gold and silver or beautiful beads for themselves.
4. The Harappans expressed themselves through their art, craft, sculptures, literature, traditions etc.
5. Scribes used to write on seals.
6. Cities had craft persons; included both men and women. They made all kinds of things either in their own homes or in special workshops.
7. Food included grains, milk, meat, fish, green vegetables, pulses, grains etc.
8. The Harappans were engaged in external and internal trade. They used land and sea routes.
9. Archaeologists have also found many terracotta toys. These were used for entertainment.
10. The farmers and herders supplied food to people living in cities.

Question 3.
Describe the new crafts developed in the Harappan cities.
Answer:

1. Archaeologists have found many craft items from the Harappan cities which were made of stone, shell and metal including copper, bronze, gold and silver.
2. The Harappans made tools and weapons from copper and bronze.
3. People used to make beautiful beads, chisel, bronze mirror, stone weights etc.
4. The Harappans made seals from stone. They usually have an animal carved on them.
5. People made beautiful glazed pottery with different designs.
6. The Harappans made many toys, games for entertainment of all.
7. Stone carving, beads making, sculpture craft etc. were special art work of people.
8. Shell bangles, camelian beads, clay pots etc. were made by the Harappans.

Question 4.
‘Dholavira is the most important Indus Valley site in India’. Explain the statement with example.
Answer:
Dholavira :

1. It was located in the Runn of Kutchch, Gujarat.
2. Most of the Harrapan cities were divided into two parts but Dholavira was divided into three parts. Each part was surrounded with a massive stone wall.
3. Most of the buildings of city had stone foundation.
4. Entrances were made to move into the city.
5. The largest reservoir measured 73 meters in length has been found in Dholavira. Six reservoirs were built with stones or even cut into the rock. Most of them were connected through underground drains for water management.
6. Many unique objects have been found from Dholavira. Such as a bronze mirror, a terracotta pot, bronze chisel, a gameboard engraved stone etc.

Question 5.
Explain the essential characteristics a civilisation should have.
Answer:
A civilisation should have the following features :
Civilisation : In general, the term is used for an advanced stage of human societies. A civilisation should have at least the following characteristics :
(1) Government and administration : To manage a complex society and its various activities, government and administration is necessary.

(2) Urbanisation : It is part of a civilisation. It has town planning the growth of cities and their management which generally includes water management and a drainage system.

(3) Art and Craft : It includes the management of raw materials (such as stone or metal) and the production of finished goods (such as ornaments and tools).

(4) Trade : Trade is also a feature of civilisation. It includes trading activities within a city or a region and with distant regions or other parts of the world to exchange all sorts of goods.

(5) Some form of writing : In a civilisation any form of writing is necessary to keep records and to communicate.

(6) Cultural ideas about life and the world: Cultural ideas about life and the world, expressed through art, architecture, literature, oral traditions or social customs is also required in a civilisation.

(7) Agricultural Production : Agricultural production is required in a civilisation to feed the people in villages as well as in cities.

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Class 6 Notes Social Science Chapter 6

What is Civilisation?
In general, the term civilisation is used for an advanced stage human societies. A civilisation should have at least the following characteristics :

1. Same form of government and administration
2. Urbanism
3. Different varieties of craft
4. Trade
5. Some form of writing
6. Cultural ideas about the life in the world
7. A productive agriculture

The time of the beginning of some major ancient civilisations.
1. Civilisation began at different times in different parts of the world. Civilisation began in Mesopotamia about 6000 years ago. It started in Egypt about 5000 years ago. Civilisation of Sindhu-Sarasvati also developed about 5000 years ago.

2. Sindhu civilisation, Harappan civilisation or Indus Sarasvati civilisation :

1. It is one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
2. Indus river and its tributaries made the plains of Punjab and Sindh fertile, favourable to agriculture. The Saraswati river made the areas of Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan fertile.
3. In the whole region from about 3500 BCE villages grew into towns, these towns grew into cities. This transition happened around 2600 BCE. This developmental phase is also known as ‘First Urbanization of India’.

Town Planning : Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (Now in Pakistan) were the first two cities of this civilisation to be discovered in 1924 AD. Most of the Harappan cities were built according to precise plans. The major features of this town planning were wide streets, fortified cities, two parts of cities – the upper town where the local elite lived and the lower town where common people lived, Some large buildings used for collective purpose, buildings made of bricks etc. Mohenjo-daro’s great bath used for religious rituals most of the houses of city had separate bathing area etc.

Water Management: The Harappans gave much importance to water management and cleanliness. The major features of water management were

1. Bathing areas were connected to large network of drains
2. People drew water from wells made up of bricks, in other regions people collected water from ponds, streams or human made reservoir.

Food and Agriculture :

1. There were diversity in the food habits of the people of this civilisation. The Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets, rice, pulses and a variety of vegetables. They domesticated various animals for meat consumption and fished in rivers and in the sea.
2. They had clay pots for cooking food : Some remains of turmeric, ginger, banana, and dairy products have been found.
3. They grew cotton and used it weave clothes. They made many farming tools such as plough.

Brisk Trade

1. The Harappans were engaged in active trade not only in their own civilisation but with other civilisation and cultures within and outside India.
2. They exported ornaments timber, daily use objects, gold, cotton etc and imported copper.
3. To conduct such trade they use land routes, rivers and the se^ for more distant destinations. This was the first intensive maritime activity in India
4. In the coastal regions of Gujarat and Sindh a few Harappan settlement are located which were used for export and import activities.
5. Thousands of small seals have been excavated from many settlements. These were used to identify the goods.

The Lives of the Harappans :

1. Archaeologists have excavated many objects made and used by Harappans such as a bronze mirror, a terracotta pot, few stone weights, bronze chisel, a games board, a terracotta whistle about 4 cm in length.
2. Some cultural and symbolic objects also have been found such as statuette of Priest King, A seal showing a swastik, A seal depicting a three face deity, the dancing’ girl bronze figurine, a terracotta figurine citadel in ‘Namaste’.

On the basis of these objects it can be concluded that the lives of Harappans were full of diversity.

The End of Harappan Civilisation : Around 1900 BCE the Harappan civilisation began to decline. Two factors are agreed upon for its decline :

1. Climate change reduced rainfall and it made agriculture difficult. It reduced food supply to the cities.
2. The Saraswati river dried up in its central basin. Cities such as Kalibangan or Banawali were abandoned.