INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION – questions-and-answers-for-competitive-exams-like-ssc-upsc-and-ibps-etc.
SUMMARY NOTES
Introduction
The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE) was the first urban civilisation of the Indian subcontinent, flourishing mainly in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. It is also called the Harappan Civilization after its first discovered site Harappa in 1921.
Chronology and Phases
Pre-Harappan or Early Harappan Phase (c. 3300–2600 BCE): village settlements, rudimentary urban features at sites like Mehrgarh and Kot Diji.
Mature Harappan Phase (c. 2600–1900 BCE): urban planning, trade, crafts, script, flourishing cities such as Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira, Lothal.
Late Harappan Phase (c. 1900–1500 BCE): decline of urban centres, regional cultures, continuity in rural settlements.
Geographical Extent
Largest among ancient civilisations, spread over 12,99,600 sq. km. Important sites include Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan), Mohenjodaro (Sindh, Pakistan), Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Banawali (Haryana).
Town Planning and Architecture
Well-planned cities laid out in grid pattern with streets crossing at right angles. Division into Citadel (for elites and public buildings) and Lower Town (residential). Advanced drainage system with covered drains, soak pits, manholes. Standardised baked bricks used in construction. Public structures include Great Bath at Mohenjodaro, Granaries at Harappa and Mohenjodaro, Dholavira water reservoir, dockyard at Lothal.
Economic Life
Agriculture was the mainstay, with wheat, barley, peas, dates, cotton and evidence of rice at Lothal and Rangpur. Irrigation relied on floodwater and canals. Domestication of animals included cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep and elephants. Crafts included bead-making, pottery, seal-making, metallurgy (copper, bronze, gold, silver, lead). Trade was both internal and external, with Mesopotamia evidenced by Mesopotamian records mentioning Meluhha.
Society and Polity
Social organisation suggested by uniformity of culture and town planning. Possible social stratification indicated by varying house sizes and burials. Polity remains debated; no evidence of kingship or palaces, possibly ruled by merchants or a collective authority.
Religion
Worship of Mother Goddess, Pashupati-like deity (proto-Shiva) on seals, sacred animals (bull, unicorn), trees (peepal), and fertility cult. Fire altars found at Kalibangan. No conclusive evidence of temples. Practice of burying dead with grave goods; little evidence of elaborate rituals.
Script and Language
Harappan script remains undeciphered, written from right to left (boustrophedon in some cases). Found mainly on seals and pottery. Language remains unknown though hypotheses suggest Dravidian or Proto-Dravidian roots.
Decline
Decline around 1900 BCE attributed to multiple factors: ecological changes, shifting rivers (Saraswati, Indus), decline in trade with Mesopotamia, over-exploitation of resources, and possibly Aryan migrations. No single cause accepted universally.
Significance
The Indus Valley Civilization stands out for its advanced urbanism, craft specialisation, trade networks, and cultural continuity, many elements of which persisted into later Indian civilisation.
Conclusion
The Harappan Civilization represents the earliest foundation of Indian urban culture. Its scientific town planning, craft traditions, and symbolic religious life mark it as a significant stage in the evolution of South Asian civilisation.
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION – FACTS FOR PRELIMS
General Facts
Earliest urban civilisation of South Asia (2600–1900 BCE, Mature Phase).
Geographical extent – largest among ancient civilisations, around 1.3 million sq. km. Spread from Sutkagendor (Baluchistan, Pakistan) in west to Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) in east, and from Manda (Jammu & Kashmir) in north to Daimabad (Maharashtra) in south.
First site discovered – Harappa (1921, by Dayaram Sahni).
Largest site (India) – Rakhigarhi (Haryana).
Largest site (Pakistan) – Mohenjodaro.
Town Planning & Architecture
Grid pattern city planning with citadel and lower town.
Great Bath at Mohenjodaro – earliest public water tank.
Granaries – Harappa, Mohenjodaro.
Dockyard – Lothal (Gujarat).
Water reservoir – Dholavira (Gujarat).
Fire altars – Kalibangan (Rajasthan).
Oval burial – Rakhigarhi.
Agriculture & Economy
Main crops – wheat, barley, peas, dates, mustard, cotton.
Rice evidence – Lothal and Rangpur (Gujarat).
Cotton first cultivated – Indus Valley (Greek called it “Sindon”).
Domesticated animals – humped bull (zebu), buffalo, goats, sheep, elephant.
Horse remains – disputed (Surkotada, Gujarat).
Crafts – bead-making (Chanhudaro), bronze dancing girl figurine (Mohenjodaro), steatite seals.
Metals – copper, bronze, gold, silver, lead. Iron not known.
Trade
Internal and external trade; evidence of Mesopotamian contacts (Meluhha in Sumerian texts).
Standardised weights – mostly cubical, made of chert stone.
Lothal – bead-making, dockyard, evidence of overseas trade.
Religion
Mother Goddess figurines (fertility cult).
Proto-Shiva (Pashupati seal with animals).
Sacred trees – Peepal.
Sacred animals – bull, unicorn.
No evidence of temples.
Fire altars – Kalibangan.
Script and Administration
Indus script – still undeciphered, mostly pictographic, right-to-left, sometimes boustrophedon.
Uniformity in culture indicates some centralised or collective authority, but no evidence of kingship or palaces.
Decline
After 1900 BCE, urban centres declined due to river shifts (Saraswati drying, Indus changing course), ecological changes, fall of trade, over-exploitation, and possible migrations.
Unique Finds by Sites
Harappa – granary, male torso, cemetery R-37.
Mohenjodaro – Great Bath, dancing girl (bronze), bearded priest (steatite), assembly hall.
Dholavira – water reservoirs, signboard with script.
Lothal – dockyard, rice, bead-making, fire altars.
Kalibangan – ploughed field, fire altars.
Banawali – three-walled settlement, beads.
Rakhigarhi – largest IVC site in India, burials with copper mirrors.
Chanhudaro – bead-making, bangle factory, shell working.
Surkotada – bones of horse.
Alamgirpur – pottery in easternmost site.
Sutkagendor – trade outpost near Arabian Sea.
Daimabad – bronze chariot and figurines.
MCQS FOR UPSC PRELIMS
Q1. The Great Bath is located at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Dholavira
d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
Explanation: Earliest public water tank in history, used possibly for ritual bathing.
Q2. The largest Indus Valley site in India is:
a) Harappa
b) Rakhigarhi
c) Dholavira
d) Lothal
Answer: b) Rakhigarhi
Explanation: Recent excavations confirm Rakhigarhi (Haryana) is the largest site in India.
Q3. The easternmost Harappan site is:
a) Alamgirpur
b) Banawali
c) Surkotada
d) Daimabad
Answer: a) Alamgirpur
Explanation: Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) marks the eastern boundary of Harappan culture.
Q4. Which site is known for its ploughed field with furrows?
a) Harappa
b) Kalibangan
c) Chanhudaro
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: b) Kalibangan
Explanation: Kalibangan shows evidence of a ploughed agricultural field.
Q5. Lothal is famous for:
a) Granary
b) Dockyard
c) Fire altar
d) Great Bath
Answer: b) Dockyard
Explanation: A dockyard used for maritime trade was discovered at Lothal (Gujarat).
Q6. Surkotada is important because:
a) Fire altars were discovered
b) Evidence of horse bones found
c) Signboard with script found
d) Dancing girl figurine found
Answer: b) Evidence of horse bones found
Explanation: Controversial horse remains found here.
Q7. Dholavira’s most unique discovery is:
a) Dockyard
b) Great Bath
c) Water reservoirs and signboard
d) Ploughed field
Answer: c) Water reservoirs and signboard
Explanation: Dholavira (Gujarat) had a large water management system and a signboard with script.
Q8. Which site is called a “single-purpose craft centre” for beads?
a) Chanhudaro
b) Banawali
c) Daimabad
d) Harappa
Answer: a) Chanhudaro
Explanation: Chanhudaro specialised in bead-making and shell work.
Q9. The southernmost Harappan site is:
a) Daimabad
b) Lothal
c) Dholavira
d) Surkotada
Answer: a) Daimabad
Explanation: Daimabad (Maharashtra) marks the southern boundary.
Q10. The site with evidence of three parallel walls and beads is:
a) Harappa
b) Banawali
c) Kalibangan
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: b) Banawali
Explanation: Banawali (Haryana) had defensive walls and beads.
Q11. The main crop of Harappans was:
a) Rice
b) Barley
c) Maize
d) Sugarcane
Answer: b) Barley
Explanation: Barley was staple; wheat was also important.
Q12. Rice evidence was first found at:
a) Harappa
b) Rangpur and Lothal
c) Banawali
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Rangpur and Lothal
Explanation: Rice grains recovered from Gujarat sites.
Q13. Which of the following is true about Harappan weights?
a) Cylindrical in shape
b) Cubical and made of chert
c) Circular and made of ivory
d) None
Answer: b) Cubical and made of chert
Explanation: Standardised cubical weights ensured regulated trade.
Q14. Which of the following animals was NOT domesticated by Harappans?
a) Buffalo
b) Elephant
c) Camel
d) Horse
Answer: d) Horse
Explanation: No definite evidence, only disputed remains from Surkotada.
Q15. The Harappans were the first to produce:
a) Silk
b) Cotton
c) Wool
d) Jute
Answer: b) Cotton
Explanation: Cotton cultivation began in IVC; Greeks called it “Sindon.”
Q16. Harappans had overseas trade with:
a) China
b) Mesopotamia
c) Egypt
d) Greece
Answer: b) Mesopotamia
Explanation: Mesopotamian texts mention “Meluhha” (Harappan region).
Q17. Which site provides earliest evidence of rice in IVC?
a) Rakhigarhi
b) Rangpur
c) Kalibangan
d) Daimabad
Answer: b) Rangpur
Explanation: Rice grains from Rangpur (Gujarat).
Q18. Which site is associated with a bead-making factory?
a) Harappa
b) Chanhudaro
c) Rakhigarhi
d) Mohenjodaro
Answer: b) Chanhudaro
Explanation: Important for beads and ornaments.
Q19. Harappan seals were mostly made of:
a) Bronze
b) Gold
c) Steatite
d) Terracotta
Answer: c) Steatite
Explanation: Soft stone used to engrave pictographic script.
Q20. The dockyard of Lothal suggests:
a) River navigation
b) Inland trade
c) Overseas maritime trade
d) Fishing economy
Answer: c) Overseas maritime trade
Explanation: Lothal was a maritime trade centre.
Q21. Which deity was NOT worshipped by Harappans?
a) Mother Goddess
b) Proto-Shiva (Pashupati)
c) Peepal tree
d) Vishnu
Answer: d) Vishnu
Explanation: No evidence of Vishnu worship.
Q22. The Pashupati seal depicts a figure surrounded by:
a) Tigers
b) Rhinoceros, buffalo, elephant, deer
c) Fish
d) None
Answer: b) Rhinoceros, buffalo, elephant, deer
Explanation: Suggests proto-Shiva seated in yogic posture.
Q23. Fire altars were discovered at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibangan and Lothal
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: c) Kalibangan and Lothal
Explanation: Fire rituals were part of Harappan culture.
Q24. Harappans buried their dead with:
a) Gold ornaments
b) Food items, pottery
c) Chariots
d) Temples
Answer: b) Food items, pottery
Explanation: Simple burials, no elaborate rituals.
Q25. Evidence of worship of sacred tree:
a) Banyan
b) Peepal
c) Neem
d) Mango
Answer: b) Peepal
Explanation: Found on seals and figurines.
Q26. Harappan script was:
a) Alphabetic
b) Pictographic
c) Numeric
d) None
Answer: b) Pictographic
Explanation: Symbols mostly represent objects/ideas.
Q27. Direction of Harappan writing:
a) Left to right
b) Right to left
c) Both directions
d) Top to bottom
Answer: c) Both directions
Explanation: Mostly right to left, sometimes boustrophedon.
Q28. Harappan polity was characterised by:
a) Kingship
b) Priestly rule
c) Merchant oligarchy/collective control
d) Military dictatorship
Answer: c) Merchant oligarchy/collective control
Explanation: No palace evidence; collective urban authority possible.
Q29. Which factor is NOT considered a cause for decline?
a) Aryan invasion
b) Decline in trade
c) Ecological imbalance
d) Discovery of iron
Answer: d) Discovery of iron
Explanation: Iron was unknown to Harappans.
Q30. After decline of IVC, continuity seen in:
a) Vedic culture
b) Painted Grey Ware culture
c) Chalcolithic rural settlements
d) Mauryan empire
Answer: c) Chalcolithic rural settlements
Explanation: Rural cultural traits survived in post-Harappan phase.
Q31. The “Bearded Priest” sculpture is from:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibangan
d) Dholavira
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
Explanation: Steatite bust of priest-king with trefoil design.
Q32. Cemetery R-37 belongs to:
a) Rakhigarhi
b) Harappa
c) Lothal
d) Daimabad
Answer: b) Harappa
Explanation: Important burial site at Harappa.
Q33. The bronze dancing girl figurine was discovered at:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Dholavira
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
Explanation: Bronze lost-wax casting technique used.
Q34. Oval burials have been discovered at:
a) Harappa
b) Rakhigarhi
c) Banawali
d) Daimabad
Answer: b) Rakhigarhi
Explanation: Unique oval burials with copper items.
Q35. The site with evidence of rice cultivation and fire altars is:
a) Kalibangan
b) Lothal
c) Alamgirpur
d) Rangpur
Answer: b) Lothal
Explanation: Lothal had both rice and fire altars.
Q36. A “dockyard” of Harappan times was found at:
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Lothal
c) Banawali
d) Harappa
Answer: b) Lothal
Explanation: Proof of maritime trade.
Q37. Daimabad is famous for:
a) Dockyard
b) Bronze chariot & figurines
c) Painted pottery
d) Granary
Answer: b) Bronze chariot & figurines
Explanation: Daimabad yielded bronze objects.
Q38. The site of Sutkagendor was mainly a:
a) Religious centre
b) Trade outpost near Arabian Sea
c) Agricultural settlement
d) Burial ground
Answer: b) Trade outpost near Arabian Sea
Explanation: Located near Makran coast.
Q39. Which site shows signs of town planning with water reservoirs?
a) Dholavira
b) Harappa
c) Banawali
d) Kalibangan
Answer: a) Dholavira
Explanation: Dholavira had water management system.
Q40. The site of Chanhudaro is unique because:
a) It had citadel
b) No citadel, only craft production
c) Dockyard discovered
d) Largest granary
Answer: b) No citadel, only craft production
Explanation: Pure craft centre.
Q41. Harappan seals usually depict:
a) Hunting scenes
b) Animals, script, sometimes humans
c) Gods with weapons
d) Scenes of battles
Answer: b) Animals, script, sometimes humans
Explanation: Seals were administrative and symbolic.
Q42. The most common animal motif on seals is:
a) Bull
b) Unicorn
c) Elephant
d) Tiger
Answer: b) Unicorn
Explanation: Unicorn motif dominates seals.
Q43. Harappan terracotta figurines were mostly of:
a) Male gods
b) Mother Goddess
c) Kings
d) Animals only
Answer: b) Mother Goddess
Explanation: Fertility cult symbol.
Q44. Which technique was used to make the “dancing girl” figurine?
a) Hammering
b) Lost-wax casting
c) Mould pressing
d) Stone carving
Answer: b) Lost-wax casting
Explanation: Bronze figurine made by cire-perdue method.
Q45. The Harappans did NOT use which metal?
a) Copper
b) Bronze
c) Iron
d) Gold
Answer: c) Iron
Explanation: Iron was unknown.
Q46. Harappan pottery is generally:
a) Black-and-red ware
b) Painted grey ware
c) Ochre coloured pottery
d) Burnished grey ware
Answer: a) Black-and-red ware
Explanation: Distinctive pottery with painted motifs.
Q47. The largest number of Harappan seals are made of:
a) Ivory
b) Terracotta
c) Steatite
d) Bronze
Answer: c) Steatite
Explanation: Easily carved soft stone.
Q48. Harappan script has about how many signs?
a) 26
b) 100
c) 400–600
d) 1000+
Answer: c) 400–600
Explanation: Signs mostly pictorial.
Q49. The “Priest-King” figure has:
a) Trefoil design on robe
b) Crown on head
c) Beads around neck
d) Lotus in hand
Answer: a) Trefoil design on robe
Explanation: Typical of Mohenjodaro figure.
Q50. Harappan toys indicate:
a) Rich child culture
b) Pastoral society
c) Technological creativity
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Toys show cultural aspects of society.
Q51. Consider the following:
Dholavira had water reservoirs.
Lothal had dockyard.
Kalibangan had fire altars.
Which are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation: All are correct.
Q52. Harappans traded with Mesopotamia, which called them:
a) Magan
b) Meluhha
c) Dilmun
d) Sumer
Answer: b) Meluhha
Explanation: Mesopotamian texts mention Meluhha = IVC.
Q53. Which of the following were NOT known to Harappans?
Iron
Horse (definite)
Silver
Cotton
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2, 3 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1 only
Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Iron and definite horse unknown.
Q54. Harappan town planning included:
a) Grid pattern
b) Underground drainage
c) Citadel and lower town
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Q55. Painted Grey Ware culture succeeded IVC. True or False?
Answer: False
Explanation: PGW comes later; immediate successor was Chalcolithic cultures.
Q56. The main Harappan burial practice was:
a) Cremation
b) Pit burials with goods
c) Mummification
d) Rock-cut caves
Answer: b) Pit burials with goods
Q57. The first Harappan site discovered was:
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Harappa
c) Rakhigarhi
d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Harappa (1921)
Q58. Harappans did not use which script system?
a) Right to left
b) Left to right
c) Boustrophedon
d) Numerical system of place value
Answer: d) Numerical system of place value
Q59. Which site provides the earliest evidence of ploughed agriculture in India?
a) Kalibangan
b) Banawali
c) Dholavira
d) Daimabad
Answer: a) Kalibangan
Q60. Which cultural feature distinguishes Harappans from Neolithic cultures?
a) Pottery
b) Copper use
c) Urbanisation with drainage system
d) Agriculture
Answer: c) Urbanisation with drainage system
Q61. Harappans used weights and measures for:
a) Land division
b) Standardised trade
c) Ritual purposes
d) Tax collection
Answer: b) Standardised trade
Q62. Which of the following was NOT found in IVC?
a) Beads
b) Bronze mirrors
c) Cotton cloth impressions
d) Iron weapons
Answer: d) Iron weapons
Q63. The town planning of IVC indicates:
a) Lack of central authority
b) Highly centralised planning
c) Independent village life
d) Nomadic settlement
Answer: b) Highly centralised planning
Q64. Which is true about Harappan society?
a) Patriarchal
b) Matriarchal
c) Evidence unclear
d) Caste-based
Answer: c) Evidence unclear
Q65. Which of the following was the staple diet of Harappans?
a) Wheat & Barley
b) Rice & Maize
c) Millets & Sugarcane
d) None
Answer: a) Wheat & Barley
Q66. The granary of Harappa indicates:
a) Temple storage
b) Collective storage and distribution system
c) Military base
d) Palace
Answer: b) Collective storage and distribution system
Q67. Which among the following did NOT decline after IVC?
a) Agriculture
b) Urbanisation
c) Long-distance trade
d) Use of copper
Answer: a) Agriculture
Q68. The Harappan civilisation is also called:
a) Bronze Age civilisation
b) Copper Age civilisation
c) Iron Age civilisation
d) Chalcolithic civilisation
Answer: a) Bronze Age civilisation
Q69. Which of the following sites yielded a “signboard” with script?
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Harappa
c) Dholavira
d) Lothal
Answer: c) Dholavira
Q70. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
a) Harappans cultivated cotton
b) Iron tools were common
c) Mohenjodaro had a Great Bath
d) Kalibangan had fire altars
Answer: b) Iron tools were common
Explanation: Iron was unknown.
Q71. Harappan religion was primarily:
a) Monotheistic
b) Polytheistic
c) Atheistic
d) Based on ancestor worship
Answer: b) Polytheistic
Explanation: Harappans worshipped Mother Goddess, proto-Shiva, animals, trees, fertility cult.
Q72. The “Pashupati seal” is interpreted as:
a) A king seated on throne
b) Proto-Shiva in yogic posture
c) Priest with crown
d) Astronomical symbol
Answer: b) Proto-Shiva in yogic posture
Explanation: Surrounded by animals, interpreted as early Shiva.
Q73. Evidence of phallic worship (linga) and yoni comes from:
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjodaro
c) Kalibangan
d) Chanhudaro
Answer: b) Mohenjodaro
Explanation: Terracotta objects interpreted as linga-yoni.
Q74. Which tree was sacred to Harappans?
a) Neem
b) Banyan
c) Peepal
d) Mango
Answer: c) Peepal
Explanation: Seals show peepal tree worship.
Q75. Which animal was NOT worshipped by Harappans?
a) Bull
b) Rhinoceros
c) Tiger
d) Horse
Answer: d) Horse
Explanation: No definite evidence of horse.
Q76. The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro is considered a place for:
a) Administrative meetings
b) Ritual bathing
c) Storage of water
d) Palace pond
Answer: b) Ritual bathing
Explanation: Suggests purification rituals.
Q77. Harappans believed in life after death. True or False?
Answer: True
Explanation: Burials contained grave goods.
Q78. Which Harappan practice resembles later Vedic rituals?
a) Fire altars at Kalibangan and Lothal
b) Granaries
c) Urban planning
d) Dockyard at Lothal
Answer: a) Fire altars at Kalibangan and Lothal
Q79. Harappan terracotta figurines of women symbolise:
a) Royal queens
b) Mother Goddess fertility cult
c) Priestesses
d) Dancers
Answer: b) Mother Goddess fertility cult
Q80. Harappan religion lacked evidence of:
a) Animal worship
b) Temple architecture
c) Fertility worship
d) Ritual baths
Answer: b) Temple architecture
Explanation: No massive temples unlike Mesopotamia.
Q81. Harappan economy was primarily:
a) Hunting-gathering
b) Agrarian with craft and trade
c) Pastoral only
d) Based on conquest
Answer: b) Agrarian with craft and trade
Q82. The main crops of Harappans were:
a) Rice & maize
b) Wheat & barley
c) Sugarcane & maize
d) Millets & jowar
Answer: b) Wheat & barley
Q83. Earliest evidence of cotton comes from:
a) Egypt
b) Harappa
c) Mesopotamia
d) China
Answer: b) Harappa
Explanation: Harappans grew cotton (locally called ‘Karpaas’).
Q84. Harappan society was divided into:
a) Caste system
b) Rich and poor classes
c) Well-defined rulers, priests, merchants, labourers
d) Unclear social divisions
Answer: d) Unclear social divisions
Explanation: No certain evidence of political hierarchy.
Q85. Harappan administration is inferred from:
a) Seals and standardised weights
b) Inscriptions
c) Palaces
d) Literary texts
Answer: a) Seals and standardised weights
Q86. Which evidence suggests foreign trade of Harappans?
a) Persian Gulf seals
b) Mesopotamian texts mentioning Meluhha
c) Dockyard at Lothal
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Q87. Harappan seals have been found in:
a) Egypt only
b) Mesopotamia only
c) Oman & Mesopotamia
d) Greece
Answer: c) Oman & Mesopotamia
Q88. Harappan tools were generally made of:
a) Iron
b) Bronze & copper
c) Aluminium
d) Stone only
Answer: b) Bronze & copper
Q89. Which Harappan site shows bead-making industry?
a) Harappa
b) Chanhudaro
c) Mohenjodaro
d) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Chanhudaro
Q90. The main purpose of seals was:
a) Decoration
b) Amulets & trade authentication
c) Religious symbols only
d) Coinage
Answer: b) Amulets & trade authentication
Q91. Harappan civilisation declined around:
a) 3000 BCE
b) 2600 BCE
c) 1900 BCE
d) 1000 BCE
Answer: c) 1900 BCE
Q92. Which of the following is NOT a theory for decline?
a) Floods & earthquakes
b) Invasion by Aryans
c) Climatic change & river shift
d) Discovery of iron
Answer: d) Discovery of iron
Q93. The drying up of which river is linked with Harappan decline?
a) Ganga
b) Saraswati / Ghaggar-Hakra
c) Indus
d) Yamuna
Answer: b) Saraswati / Ghaggar-Hakra
Q94. The invasion theory of Harappan decline was given by:
a) John Marshall
b) Mortimer Wheeler
c) Stuart Piggott
d) R. D. Banerjee
Answer: b) Mortimer Wheeler
Explanation: “Massacre at Mohenjodaro” theory.
Q95. Which later culture is regarded as a successor to IVC in some areas?
a) Painted Grey Ware
b) Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
c) Vedic Aryan
d) Mauryan
Answer: b) Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
Q96. Harappan legacy includes:
a) Town planning concepts
b) Weight & measure system
c) Cotton cultivation
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Q97. Harappan trade with Mesopotamia ended due to:
a) Rise of Egypt
b) Decline of Harappan civilisation
c) Discovery of iron
d) Persian invasion
Answer: b) Decline of Harappan civilisation
Q98. Harappan script remains undeciphered because:
a) Too many signs
b) Lack of bilingual inscription
c) Short length inscriptions
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Q99. Which among the following is considered the largest Harappan site?
a) Harappa
b) Rakhigarhi
c) Dholavira
d) Mohenjodaro
Answer: b) Rakhigarhi (in Haryana)
Q100. Which Harappan feature survived into later Indian civilisation?
a) Iron metallurgy
b) Urban planning and drainage
c) Horse domestication
d) Script
Answer: b) Urban planning and drainage
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(FOR MAINS)
Q1. Discuss the salient features of urban planning in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Answer: IVC cities show remarkable town planning: streets laid in grid pattern, division into citadel & lower town, advanced drainage system with covered brick drains, standardized baked bricks, public buildings like Great Bath, granaries, dockyard (Lothal) and water reservoirs (Dholavira). This uniformity reflects central authority and scientific civic sense.
Q2. “The drainage system was the most unique feature of Harappan cities.” Comment.
Answer: Covered drains with inspection holes, soak pits, brick-lined channels, house-to-street connectivity, slope-based water flow made drainage a hallmark of Harappan cities. It ensured hygiene and reflects urban engineering far ahead of its time.
Q3. Compare the town planning of Mohenjodaro and Dholavira.
Answer: Mohenjodaro had citadel, grid streets, Great Bath, granary, while Dholavira in Gujarat displayed water reservoirs, unique 3-part division (citadel, middle town, lower town) and signboard with script. Dholavira was more adapted to semi-arid ecology with water management.
Q4. Examine the evidence for social stratification in the IVC.
Answer: Uniform housing and standardized planning suggest egalitarian outlook, but variation in house size (single-room huts vs multi-room mansions), differential burials, specialized craft production, and seal ownership suggest stratified society with elites, artisans, traders, and commoners.
Q5. What do seals reveal about Harappan socio-economic life?
Answer: Seals were used for trade authentication, amulets, and symbols of authority. They depict animals, script, possibly deities. Mesopotamian finds prove long-distance trade. Seals reflect literacy, administration, trade links, and religious beliefs.
Q6. Discuss the significance of public buildings like the Great Bath.
Answer: Great Bath at Mohenjodaro indicates ritual bathing, public life, organized civic construction, and advanced water management. It points to ritualistic purification practices akin to later Indian traditions.
Q7. Write a note on the importance of granaries in Harappan economy.
Answer: Granaries at Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan and Lothal show centralized food storage, surplus agriculture, state control, and organised distribution. They reflect an agrarian-based economy with state supervision.
Q8. Examine the evidence of education and literacy in IVC.
Answer: Script found on seals, pottery, amulets shows Harappans were literate. Standardised signs indicate widespread use, but undeciphered nature limits full understanding. Writing was mostly short, possibly used for trade and rituals.
Q9. How does Harappan art reflect their social life?
Answer: Terracotta figurines, bronze dancing girl, stone male torso, bearded priest show advanced art, symbolic rituals, attire, ornaments, hairstyles. Beads and ornaments highlight fashion and trade. Art reflects sophistication and cultural richness.
Q10. “The IVC was an urban civilisation, not rural.” Critically analyse.
Answer: Large cities with advanced planning justify urban status. However, agriculture was rural backbone. Many small villages coexisted with cities. Thus, IVC was a combination of urban centres supported by rural hinterlands.
Q11. Discuss the agricultural practices of the Indus Valley people.
Answer: Wheat, barley, sesame, mustard, peas were staple. Cotton cultivation is earliest in world. Rice found at Lothal, Rangpur. Ploughed fields at Kalibangan, irrigation with wells, canal evidence disputed. Surplus supported urbanism.
Q12. Explain the importance of craft production in Harappan economy.
Answer: Craft specialisation included bead-making (Chanhudaro), shell & ivory work, metallurgy, pottery. Standardised designs and mass production indicate organised industry and foreign demand.
Q13. Describe the role of trade in Harappan prosperity.
Answer: Internal trade ensured distribution of goods. External trade with Mesopotamia (Meluhha), Oman, Bahrain included beads, cotton, ivory, carnelian. Cubical weights and seals confirm regulated trade. Dockyard at Lothal shows maritime trade.
Q14. Discuss Harappan metallurgy and its significance.
Answer: Copper, bronze, gold, silver, lead used. Tools, ornaments, vessels made. Dancing girl (bronze) shows lost-wax technique. No iron use. Metallurgy indicates technological advancement and artisan skills.
Q15. Analyse the role of standardised weights and measures in Harappan trade.
Answer: Cubical chert weights ensured uniform trade practices across sites. Standardisation implies central control, credibility, and long-distance commerce reliability.
Q16. How did geographical spread help Harappan economy?
Answer: Spread from Baluchistan to Gujarat and Punjab plains enabled diverse resource access: copper (Rajasthan), lapis lazuli (Afghanistan), shells (coast), stones (Gujarat). Integration created prosperity.
Q17. Discuss the role of agriculture in supporting Harappan urbanism.
Answer: Agricultural surplus stored in granaries sustained non-food-producing artisans, traders, rulers. This surplus enabled cities, crafts, trade to flourish.
Q18. Write a note on Harappan textile production.
Answer: Harappans produced cotton cloth (earliest). Evidence from impressions, Mesopotamian texts. Dyeing and weaving skills present. Garments indicated social identity.
Q19. Examine the maritime trade of Harappans.
Answer: Dockyard at Lothal, seals in Mesopotamia, boats depicted on seals prove maritime links. Harappans exported beads, cotton, ivory; imported copper, tin, semi-precious stones.
Q20. How did crafts reflect social organisation in Harappan civilisation?
Answer: Craft specialisation (beads, pottery, metallurgy) suggests division of labour, artisan guilds, and integration with trade networks.
Q21. Examine the features of Harappan religion.
Answer: Polytheistic, worship of Mother Goddess, proto-Shiva, fertility cult, animals, peepal tree. Fire altars at Kalibangan, ritual baths. No temples. Religious life tied to fertility and nature.
Q22. Assess the importance of the Pashupati seal in understanding Harappan religion.
Answer: Seal shows figure in yogic posture, surrounded by animals, interpreted as proto-Shiva or Lord of Beasts. Suggests roots of later Hindu traditions in Harappan beliefs.
Q23. Discuss the evidence of burial practices in Harappan civilisation.
Answer: Burials simple, included grave goods like pottery, ornaments. Extended and fractional burials practiced. Belief in afterlife implied.
Q24. Critically analyse the undeciphered nature of Harappan script.
Answer: 400+ signs, mostly pictographic, short inscriptions. Lack of bilingual evidence, small samples hinder decipherment. Script remains undeciphered, limiting understanding of polity, society.
Q25. Examine the decline theories of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Answer: Theories include Aryan invasion (Wheeler), floods, tectonic activity, drying of Saraswati, decline in trade, climate change. Current view: multi-causal decline around 1900 BCE.
Q26. What role did geography play in the decline of Harappan cities?
Answer: Shifting Indus & Saraswati rivers, drying up, floods, desertification disrupted agriculture and settlement sustainability. Environmental stress key cause.
Q27. Was there a political collapse in Harappan decline? Discuss.
Answer: Uniformity in weights, seals declined post-1900 BCE. Suggests central authority weakened. Trade collapse, ruralisation followed. Political organisation unable to manage ecological stress.
Q28. How did the Harappan civilisation influence later Indian cultures?
Answer: Town planning concepts, drainage, weights, cotton cultivation, ritual bathing, fertility worship influenced later Vedic, urban and religious practices. Continuity is evident in cultural ethos.
Q29. “The decline of IVC was transformation, not abrupt end.” Explain.
Answer: Post-1900 BCE, urban centres declined, but rural settlements continued. Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), Painted Grey Ware (PGW) cultures evolved. Continuity in pottery, rituals, crafts shows transformation, not total collapse.
Q30. Assess the contributions of Indus Valley Civilization to world civilisation.
Answer: Advanced urban planning, drainage, metallurgy, agriculture, craft industries, trade networks, cotton production were Harappan contributions. Their legacy influenced later Indian and world civilisations through technology and culture.
