Chapter 3, Harappan Civilisation

A. Define.

1. Barter System - It is a system of exchange where goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange such as money.

 2. Great Bath - It is the most remarkable discovery at Mohenjodaro. It was quite big and rectangular in shape. The Great Bath was meant for ritual bathing

Terracotta figurines found at Harappa

3. Terracotta - Termracotta is a clay - like carthenware cenamic that can be either glazed or unglazed It is used for water and sewage pipes, bricks and sculptures.

4. Pictograph - A pictograph is way of showing data using images. It uses pictures or symbols to show the value of the data.

B. Write short answer for the following questions.

Q.1. How did the barter system begin?

Ans. The thriving agricultural economy supported a harming trade both within the northern and western area, of the sub continent and between the people of Indus valley and those of the Persian and Gulf and Mesopotamia. Those who were engaged in various crafts exchanged their goods and services for food grown by other That was the beginning of the barter system.

Q.2. Name the first excavated Indus Valley sites.

Ans. The first excavated Indus valley sites were Harappa and Mohenjodaro

Q.3. Why is Indus Valley Civilisation called so?

Ans. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were situated in the Indus valley Therefore, this civilization came to be known as the Indus Valley Civilization.

Q.4. How was the drainage system of the Indus Valley people?

Ans. Every house had a narrow drain to carry water outside The drains of the houses were connected with the street drain, which ran along the sides of the street.

C. Answer the following questions in detail.

Q.1. Discuss the food and dress of the Indus Valley people.

Ans. People of the Indus valley had simple food habits. They ate wheat, barley. rice and vegetables. They also ate meat and fish They were very fond of fruits, particularly bananas and pomegranates. The women wore short skirts and used a sort of belt around their waists and the men wrapped a long piece of cloth around themselves. The clothes were made up of cotton, though some wool was also used.

Q.2. What is your opinion about the town planning by the Indus Valley people?

Ans. The most characteristic feature of the Indus Valley Civilization was its town planning The others show evidence of an advanced sense of planning and organization. Each city was divided into Citadel area where the essential institutions of civic and religious life were located and the residential area where the urban population lived. The other parts of the towns were also extremely well planned. The streets ran straight and bisected each other at right angles. The streets were very wide and the houses made of backed bricks lined both sides of the street A well organised drainage system kept the cities clean.

Q.3. Discuss the religious belief of the Harappan people.

The religious beliefs of the Indus people are following:-

a. The Indus people probably worshiped Mother Goddess.

b. The figure of a male god on a small stone seal has also been discovered. The God has three faces.

c. The historians believe that this God was Shiva Pashupati, Pipal tree and the bull.

Q.4. How did the Harappan Civilisation decline?

Ans. Some historians believe that floods occurring on the banks of river Indus wiped out Harappan civilization. A few historians think that the Aryans invaded this civilisation a number of times, defeated the Indus Valley people and destroyed them. Earthquakes are also thought to be a reason for the disappearance of this civilization It is also believed that farnines and epidemics brought its end.

Q.5. Discuss the crafts and occupations of the Indus Valley people.

Ans. Agriculture was the major occupation of the Indus people

. They were also good in arts and crafts. They stitched clothes from cotton and woollen cloth. Beautiful pottery was produced.

D. Fill in the blanks.

1. Craftsmen started living together as trade flourished.

2. Great bath was meant for ritual bathing.

3. The part built on the higher ground was called the Citadel.

4. Seals of mohenjodaro have been found at archeological sites in Sind.

5. A piece of cotton was first discovered at Mohenjodaro.

E. Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements.

1. In a barter system, one thing is exchanged for another.

Ans. T

2. The people of Harappan Civilisation abandoned their nomadic life and started to lead a settled life.

Ans. T

3. It is believed that the Indus Valley people were a rural Civilisation.

Ans. F

4. The people of Indus Valley Civilisation had trade links with some foreign countries.

Ans. T

5. At present, Harappan is situated in Pakistan.

Ans. T

F. Match the column's.

Ans. 1. (ii)

         2. (v)

         3. (iv)

         4. (i)

         5. (iii)

G. MCQS.

Ans. 1. (d).      2. (d).     3. (a).       4. (c).     5. (b)