Class 6 Social Studies Chapter Beginning of Indian Civilization Excercise 

A. Darken the Correct Option in the OMR Sheet

The Harappan Civilisation flourished between:

(a) 2500 BC to 1500 BC ✅

The Chinese Civilisation was located in the river valley:

(c) Hwang-Ho–Yangtse-Kiang ✅

The Granary of Mohenjodaro has the measurement:

(c) 53 × 33 m ✅

The high-class people lived in the:

(a) Citadel buildings ✅

Answer Key

1. (a) | 2. (c) | 3. (c) | 4. (a)

B. Write 'T' for True and 'F' for False

Indus Valley Civilisation was located in the river Kaveri. — F

The Indus Valley Civilisation lasted for nearly 1000 years. — T

The Great Bath and a huge granary have been discovered at Harappa. — F

The Indus Valley cities were ruled by kings. — F

C. Answer the Following Questions in Short

1. Who was Dayaram Sahni?

Dayaram Sahni was an Indian archaeologist who led the excavations at Harappa in 1921. His discovery helped bring the Harappan Civilisation to the attention of historians.

2. Where was the Indus Civilisation located?

The Indus Civilisation was mainly located in the Indus River valley and its surrounding regions, covering parts of present-day India and Pakistan. Important sites included Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira and Lothal.

3. What do you mean by 'Citadel'?

A citadel was a raised and fortified part of a Harappan city where important public buildings were located. It was generally built on a higher platform than the lower town.

4. What did the Harappan people eat?

The Harappan people mainly ate wheat, barley, rice, pulses, fruits and vegetables. They also consumed milk, fish and meat.

5. Where did the lower-class people live?

The lower-class people generally lived in the lower town, in houses that were smaller and simpler than those in the citadel area.

D. Answer the Following Questions in Detail

1. What do you mean by civilisation? Write its salient features in detail.

Civilisation refers to an advanced stage of human society in which people develop organised settlements, agriculture, trade, administration, arts, crafts and other social institutions.

The main features of a civilisation are:

1. Permanent settlements: People live in organised towns and villages.

2. Agriculture: Farming becomes an important occupation and provides a regular food supply.

3. Urban development: Well-planned cities, roads, houses and public buildings are developed.

4. Division of labour: People take up different occupations such as farming, pottery, weaving, metalworking and trading.

5. Trade: People exchange goods within their region and with distant areas.

6. Government and administration: Systems develop to maintain law, order and public works.

7. Arts and crafts: Pottery, sculpture, jewellery and other artistic activities flourish.

8. Writing: A system of writing may develop for communication and record-keeping.

2. Describe the archaeological sources of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Much of our knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilisation comes from archaeological remains, because its script has not yet been fully deciphered.

Important archaeological sources include:

Buildings: Houses, streets, wells, drains, granaries and public structures show the advanced town planning of the Harappans.

Great Bath: The Great Bath at Mohenjodaro provides evidence of their public and possibly religious practices.

Seals: Many seals made of stone have been found. They contain animals, symbols and inscriptions.

Pottery: Painted pottery provides information about their artistic skills and daily life.

Tools and weapons: Copper, bronze and stone tools reveal their technology and occupations.

Jewellery: Gold, silver, copper, beads and precious stones show their craftsmanship and trade.

Terracotta objects: Figurines, toys and models provide information about their culture and entertainment.

Burials and skeletons: These provide information about burial practices and aspects of their society.

3. Write a note on the Great Bath.

The Great Bath is one of the most remarkable structures discovered at Mohenjodaro. It was built with carefully fitted bricks and was made watertight.

The Bath had:

A large rectangular bathing tank.

Steps leading down into the tank.

Rooms and passages surrounding it.

A system for supplying and draining water.

The Great Bath shows the Harappans' excellent knowledge of architecture, construction and drainage. It may have been used for ritual or ceremonial bathing.

4. Write a note on the administration of the Indus Valley people.

The exact form of government of the Harappans is not known because their script has not been deciphered. However, archaeological evidence suggests that they had an organised system of administration.

The cities were carefully planned, with straight roads, standard-sized bricks, drainage systems, wells and public buildings. Similar standards of weights and measures were used across many settlements. Such uniformity suggests that there was some form of central or organised authority.

There is no definite evidence proving that the cities were ruled by kings. The rulers may have been a group of officials, priests or other powerful people.

5. Describe the trade, occupations and entertainment of the Harappan people.

Trade:

The Harappans carried out both internal and external trade. They traded goods such as beads, pottery, cotton textiles, metals and ornaments. Evidence suggests that they had trade contacts with regions such as Mesopotamia. Seals and standard weights were probably used in trade.

Occupations:

Agriculture was an important occupation. The main crops included wheat and barley, while other crops were also grown in different regions. People were also engaged in pottery-making, weaving, metalworking, bead-making, carpentry, fishing and trading.

Entertainment:

The Harappan people enjoyed various forms of entertainment. Archaeologists have found terracotta toys, carts, dolls, animal figures, dice and gaming objects. These discoveries suggest that children and adults had different forms of recreation. Dancing and music may also have been part of their cultural life.