Indus Valley Civilization Notes -converted

BISHOP COTTON BOYS’ SCHOOL
SUBJECT – HISTORY

TOPIC – RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION [INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION]

Note – Kindly, neatly write the given notes, in an interleaved 100 pages
notebook.

I. Name the following –

1. The Indian archaeologist who discovered the ruins of Harappa – Mr. Daya
Ram Sahni

2. The city which was discovered by Dr. R.D Bannerjee – Mohenjodaro
3. The rivers on the banks of which the cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa were

located – Indus and Ravi
4. The meaning of the word ‘Mohenjodaro’ – Mound of the Dead
5. The sites in Gujarat where a dockyard and water reservoir were found – Lothal

and Dholavira
6. The parts into which the cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro were divided –

two [ the Upper Part and the Lower Part]
7. The name given to the part of Indus cities which was built on a raised ground –

Citadel or Acropolis
8. The class of people who lived in the Upper part – the Ruling Class
9. The city where the famous Great Bath was discovered – Mohenjodaro
10.The largest building discovered in Mohenjodaro – the Great Granary
11.The structure found at Mohenjodaro which stood on twelve pillars used for

prayer or assembly – Assembly Hall
12.The administrative unit of Indus cities – a committee of rich merchants and

priests
13.Number of classes into which the Indus society was divided – Three
14.The part of the city where the ruling class lived – Citadel
15. The port of which place was used for International trade – Lothal
16.The most important occupation of Indus people – agriculture
17.The greatest artistic creations of the Harappan culture – seals
18.The tree which was regarded as sacred by the Harappan people – Pipal
19.The most important animal to be worshipped by the Indus people – humped

bull
20.The alloy which was discovered by the people of Indus Valley Civilization –

bronze
21.Number of signs found in the Harappan script – 400
22.The name given to the earliest representation of Lord Shiva – Pashupati

II. Answer the following in brief –

1. Why is the Indus valley Civilization also called Harappan Civilization?

Ans. As Harappa was the first city to be discovered in India, Indus valley
Civilization is also called Harappan Civilization.

2. Mention the two facts which came into light after the discoveries of the
ruins of the cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

Ans. a) It nullified the old theory that the history of India began with the coming of
Aryans.

b) History of India began about 4500 years ago with a very advanced civilization.

3. Name some of the archaeological sources of Harappan Civilization.

Ans. The Great Bath, citadel, seals, houses, pots, ornaments etc are some of the
archaeological sources of Harappan Civilization.

4.Why had the granaries been built close to the river- banks?

Ans. The granaries had been built close to the river- bank so that grains could be
easily transported by boats.

5.What was the system of governance in the Indus Valley civilization?

Ans. a) The Indus cities were administered by a committee of people comprising
rich merchants and priests.

b) The committee looked after all aspects of life such as trade, taxes, law and
order.

6. Name a few main crops grown by the Indus people.

Ans. The main crops grown by the Indus people were wheat, rice, mustard,
sesame and barley.

7.Write a short note on the seals in use, during the Harappan civilization?

a) Seals carry short inscriptions with pictures of one-horned bull, buffalo, tiger,
elephant, goat etc.

b) Seals were used by the merchants to mark their goods.

c) The seals are square or rectangular tablets made of clay.

d) Their seals give us an idea of their religion and the script on the seals has not yet
been deciphered.

8.Write a short note on the religion of the Indus people.

Ans. a) The Harappan people worshipped trees and animals. Pipal was regarded as
sacred and the most important animal to be worshipped was the humped bull.

b) They worshipped ‘Mother Goddess’ and Lord Shiva as ‘Pashupati’, but the gods
were not placed in temples.

c) They believed in life after death so they buried their dead with ornaments and
other things of the dead person.

9. What were the probable causes of the decline of Indus Valley
Civilization?

a) Harappan cities were destroyed by the invaders.

b) The natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, epidemics might have destroyed
the civilization.

c) The Indus river might have changed its course and turned the region into a
desert.

III. Answer the following questions in detail -

1. Mention the features of a civilization.

a) Presence of towns and cities.
b) Thriving agriculture resulting in surplus food production.
c) Trade flourishes and people engage in various trading activities.
d) Many religious beliefs are present.
e) People communicated through language in its written and spoken form.
f) Advancement in technology.
g) Presence of a strong centralized Government.

2. Why did the earliest civilizations come up on the banks of rivers?

a) The rivers provided abundant supply of water for agriculture.
b) The land near the rivers was extremely fertile.
c) Rivers provided means of transport and communication.
d) The river valleys had warm and pleasant climate

3. Mention some of the spectacular features of Indus Valley Civilization.

a) The Indus cities were systematically planned.
b) The roads were well planned and had lamp- posts.

c) The houses were planned well.
d) The drainage system was excellent.

4. Write in detail about the ‘Town Planning’ of Indus cities.

a) The cities were divided into the Upper Part and the Lower Part.
b) The Upper part was called ‘Citadel’ or ‘Acropolis’, which had high walls
where the ruling class people lived. Public buildings like granaries and religious
buildings were also built in the Upper Part.

c) Much bigger, Lower Part had houses and workplaces of common people.
Their houses had flat roofs, open courtyard with rooms around it and toilets too.

d) The roads of the Indus Valley Civilization were wide and straight with lamp
posts, intersecting each other at right angles.
5. Describe the ‘Drainage System’ of the Harappan Cities.

Ans. a) The rooms including the kitchen, had sloping floors and had drains
connected to the street drains.

b) The street drains were covered with stone slabs or bricks and had manhole at
regular intervals for regular cleaning.

c) The main drains emptied outside the city which shows that people of the
Indus Valley were conscious of hygiene and sanitation.

6. Describe the three social classes of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Ans. a) The first class or the ruling class consisted of rich merchants and priests
who lived in the citadel.

b) The second class consisted of small merchants, artisans and craftsmen who
lived in the lower town.

c) The third class consisted of labourers and farmers who lived in the outer
limits of the city. Many farmers worked and lived in the villages around the
cities.
7. Explain the ‘Art and Craft’ work of Harappan people.

Ans. a) The bronze figure of a dancing girl found at Mohenjodaro, is a
particularly important piece of work.

b) One of the stone statues of a bearded nobleman or priest, wearing a shawl,
talks a lot about the progress of Harappan people in the field of art and craft.

c) The figures of animals, birds and men painted on pottery, show the artistic
skill of the Harappan people. Some of their pots are highly glazed and painted.

d) They produced tools and weapons like axes, saws, knives and spears.

e) Spinning, brick-laying, boat- making, seal-making and terracotta manufacture
were important crafts.

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