CBSE Class 6 - History - CH4 - IN THE EARLIEST CITIES

IN THE EARLIEST CITIES

Q & A

A Harappan Seal
credits: phillipmartin.info

Q1: Where is the site of Harappa located?

Answer: Near the Punjab border ( site is Pakistan), on the banks of the Indus River.

Q2:  Who discovered the Harappan civilization?

Answer: Harappan civilization was discovered in 1921-22 by Sir John Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats.


Q3: Name any two towns found from Indus Civilization.

Answer: Towns found from Indus Civilization are:

(i) Harrapa Town, located in Larkana district on the bank of the Indus river (now in Pakistan).
(ii) Mohen-Jo-Daro town in Punjab on the bank of Ravi river.
(iii) Kalibangan Town in Rajasthan.
(iv) Dholavira Town in Kutch (Gujarat).




Q4: What are the unique objects found by Archaeologists common to all cities of the Indus Civilization?

Answer: Archaeologists have found a set of unique objects in almost all the cities of Indus civilization are:

• red pottery painted with designs in black, 
• stone weights, seals, special beads, 
• copper tools, and
• long stone blades.

Q5: Where were the cities of Indus civilization found?

Answer:  These cities were found in the Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan, and in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab in India.


Q6: Why do Archaeologists find Indus Civilization cities (e.g. Harappa and Mohen-Jo-Daro) important?

Answer: These cities indicate "urban civilization" and are the very ancient heritage of India.

Bake Brick from Mohanjodaro
credits: wikimedia

Q7: What is the speciality of bricks found in Indus civilization cities?

Answer: Baked bricks were used. The bricks were so well made that they have lasted for thousands of years. The bricks were laid in an
interlocking pattern and that made the walls strong.


Q8: Where is the Great Bath" located? Why it is important?

Answer: It is located at Mohenjo-Daro of Indus civilization. Perhaps it is also known as the earliest public water tank of the ancient world.


Q9: From where did the Harappans get tin?

Answer: From Afghanistan and Iran.


Q10: Name the metals used by dwellers of Indus civilizations to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels.

Answer: Copper, Bronze, gold and silver.


Q12: What type of material was used to prepare Spindle whorls by Indus people?

Answer: Terracotta and faience


Q13: Give one example that the Harappans knew the art of weaving.

Answer: Archeologists found spindle whorls at the sites.


Q14: Name the cities where fire altars have been discovered.

Answer:  Kalibangan and Lothal


Q15: What are the findings at site Lothal indicate that people of Lothal did trading via shipping also?

Answer: Lothal is situated beside a tributary of the Sabarmati, in Gujarat, close to the Gulf of
Khambat. A dockyard found at Lothal indicates that boats and ships might come in from the sea and through the river channel.


Q16: Describe the town planning of Indus valley cities.

Answer: The Town-planning of Indus Valley cities was very well-planned and exhibit a good state of engineering art and skills. The main streets run parallel to each other curt at right angles by smaller streets. It divides the cities into rectangular blocks. The main roads were wide and straight. There was a proper drainage system and had wells to supply water.



Q17: What type of plants were grown by Harrapan people?

Answer: wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard.


Q18: What is a seal? For what purpose it was used by Harappans.

Answer: Seals are the clay tablets used by Harappan traders to stamp their goods.