Section A : Fill in the Blanks
Q 1 – Fill in the blanks: [8]
1. The earliest cities in the Indian subcontinent emerged during the __________
Civilization.
2. The site of Harappa is located in present-day __________ on the banks of River
________.
3. The first archaeologist to recognize the significance of Harappa was __________.
4. The Harappan script is written from __________ to __________ direction.
5. The standard Harappan brick ratio was __________ : __________ : __________.
6. The dockyard of the Harappan Civilization has been found at __________.
7. The practice of burying the dead along with objects is known as __________.
8. The Harappans used seals mostly made of __________ stone.
9. The famous “Dancing Girl” statue was found at __________.
10. M.R. Mughal begins explorations in ______________
11. The city known for its water reservoirs and dam-like structures is __________.
12. The Harappan Civilization flourished around __________ BCE to __________ BCE.
13. The weights used by Harappans followed a __________ system.
14. The site of __________ provides evidence of a ploughed field.
15. In ______ year __________ and __________ begin excavations at Kalibangan.
16. The animal frequently depicted on Harappan seals but not yet identified is the
__________.
1. Indus Valley
2. Pakistan, Ravi
3. Daya Ram Sahni
4. Right, Left
5. 4 (Length): 2 (Breadth): 1(Height)
6. Lothal
7. Burial
8. Steatite
9. Mohenjodaro
10. 1974
11. Dholavira
12. 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE
13. Binary for Lower Denominations and Decimal for Higher Denominations.
14. Kalibangan
15. 1960–61, B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar
16. Unicorn
Section B: Assertion & Reasoning
Q 2 – Assertion & Reasoning:
Directions:
For each question, choose the correct option:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
1. Assertion (A): The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro indicates the importance of ritual bathing.
Reason (R): It was the largest structure found at the site.
2. Assertion (A): Harappan script has not been deciphered yet.
Reason (R): There is no bilingual inscription available for comparison.
3. Assertion (A): Seals were mainly used for religious purposes.
Reason (R): Seals have animal motifs and inscriptions.
4. Assertion (A): Lothal is unique among Harappan cities.
Reason (R): It had elaborate water conservation systems . There was walled separation of Citadel and Lower town.
5. Assertion (A): Kalibangan provides evidence of agricultural practices.
Reason (R): A ploughed field pattern has been discovered there.
6. Assertion (A): Standardized weights indicate a regulated economic system.
Reason (R): The weights followed a uniform binary system.
7. Assertion (A): Harappan cities lacked proper town planning.
Reason (R): Houses were built randomly without any grid pattern.
8. Assertion (A): Lothal was an important center of trade.
Reason (R): It had a dockyard connected to waterways.
9. Assertion (A): Most Harappan houses had wells.
Reason (R): Water supply was decentralized and locally managed.
10. Assertion (A): Harappan burials indicate social differences.
Reason (R): Some graves contain more objects than others.
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11. Assertion (A): The Harappan script was written on palm leaves.
Reason (R): Organic materials decay over time and are not preserved.
12. Assertion (A): The unicorn motif is the most common on Harappan seals.
Reason (R): It represents a real animal found in the Indus region.
13. Assertion (A): The granaries suggest centralized storage.
Reason (R): They were large structures possibly used to store surplus grain.
1. B
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. A
6. A
7. D
8. A
9. A
10. A
11. D
12. C
13. A
Section C: True or False
Q 3 – Write True (T) or False (F) for each statement.
1. The Harappan Civilization was discovered after the excavations at Mohenjo-daro.
2. Baked bricks were used more frequently in Harappan cities than unbaked bricks.
3. The Harappan drainage system indicates a high level of civic planning and
administration.
4. The Great Bath had no system of water drainage or inlet.
5. The script of the Harappan Civilization has been partially deciphered.
6. Harappan seals were mostly made of steatite and then fired to acquire a glossy
finish.
7. The presence of standardized weights suggests the absence of trade regulation.
8. Evidence of irrigation canals has been clearly found in Harappan sites.
9. The discovery of ploughed fields at Kalibangan indicates knowledge of agriculture.
10. The “Priest-King” statue proves that Harappans had a monarchic political system.
11. The absence of monumental temples suggests that religion was not important in
Harappan society.
12. The Harappan people used copper and bronze but were unfamiliar with iron.
13. Most Harappan houses opened directly onto the main streets.
14. The decline of the Harappan Civilization was caused by a single factor.
15. Mesopotamian records referring to “Meluhha” are believed to indicate contact with the Harappan region.
1. F
2. T
3. T
4. F
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. T
9. T
10. F
11. F
12. T
13. F
14. F
15. T
Section C: 2 Marks Questions
Q 4. What is meant by the term “Harappan Civilization” and what is culture ?
Harappan Civilization:
It refers to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization that flourished around 2600–1900 BCE in areas like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
Culture:
Culture means the way of life of people, including their customs, traditions, beliefs, art, and practices.
Q 5. What does the term “Citadel” refer to?
The citadel was the elevated (raised) part of a Harappan city, where important buildings like granaries and public structures were located, possibly used by rulers or elites.
Q 6. What is the significance of standardized weights?
Standardized weights show that the Harappans had:
- Uniform system of trade and measurement
- Well-organized administration and commerce
Q 7. What is meant by craft specialization?
Craft specialization means that people focused on specific skills or occupations, such as pottery, bead-making, or metalwork, instead of doing all types of work.
Q 8. Name two factors responsible for the decline of the Harappan Civilization.
- Climate change / drying of rivers
- Natural disasters like floods or earthquakes
Section D: 3 Marks Questions
Q 9. Describe any three features of Harappan town planning.
- Grid Pattern Layout – Cities were planned in a systematic grid with roads intersecting at right angles.
- Division of City – Each city had two parts: citadel (upper town) and lower town.
- Well-built Houses – Houses were made of baked bricks with proper ventilation and courtyards.
Q 10. Write three features of the drainage system.
- Covered Drains – Drains were covered with slabs for safety and cleanliness.
- Well-connected System – Drains from houses were connected to main street drains.
- Regular Cleaning – Inspection holes/manholes were provided for cleaning.
Q 11. Mention three uses of Harappan seals.
- Trade and Commerce – Used to stamp goods for identification.
- Ownership Marks – Indicated the owner or trader.
- Administrative Use – Possibly used for official or record-keeping purposes.
Q 12. Mention three features of Dholavira.
- Unique Water Management System – Large reservoirs and water storage structures.
- Division into Three Parts – Citadel, middle town, and lower town.
- Use of Stone – Unlike other cities, buildings were made of stone.
Q 13. Write three causes of decline of Harappan Civilization.
- Climate Change – Drying of rivers and reduced rainfall.
- Natural Disasters – Floods, earthquakes, etc.
- Decline in Trade – Reduced economic activity affected cities.
Q 14. State three features of Harappan agriculture.
- Irrigation by Rivers – Farming depended on river water and seasonal floods.
- Variety of Crops – Wheat, barley, pulses, and cotton were grown.
- Use of Tools – Simple tools like plough were used for cultivation.
Q 15. Mention three types of crafts practiced by Harappans.
- Bead-making – Using stones like carnelian.
- Pottery – Making painted and decorated pots.
- Metalwork – Working with copper, bronze, etc.
Section E: 5 Marks Questions
Q 16. Discuss the significance of the Great Bath.
The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro is one of the most important structures of the Harappan Civilization.
Significance:
- Religious Importance – It was likely used for ritual bathing, showing the importance of purity in their culture.
- Advanced Engineering – Built with baked bricks and waterproof materials like bitumen, showing technical skill.
- Public Structure – Indicates organized civic life and community activities.
- Water Management – Had proper inlet and outlet system, showing advanced planning.
- Social Importance – Possibly used by elites or for special ceremonies.
Q 17. Explain the economic life of Harappans.
The economic life of the Harappan Civilization was well-developed and organized.
- Agriculture – Main occupation; crops like wheat, barley, and cotton were grown.
- Trade and Commerce – Internal and external trade (with regions like Mesopotamia).
- Craft Production – Skilled artisans made beads, pottery, jewelry, and metal tools.
- Use of Standardized Weights – Ensured fair trade and uniformity.
- Animal Husbandry – Domestication of cattle, sheep, and goats supported economy.
Q 18. Explain the burial practices and what they reveal about the social differences.
The burial practices of the Harappan Civilization provide insights into society.
- Different Burial Types – Extended burials, urn burials, etc.
- Grave Goods – Items like pottery, ornaments, and tools were buried with the dead.
- Variation in Graves – Some graves had more goods than others.
What they reveal:
- Presence of social differences or inequality
- Some people had higher status or wealth
- Belief in life after death
Q 19. Why is the Harappan script still undeciphered?
The script of the Harappan Civilization is still not understood because:
- No Bilingual Inscription – No equivalent of Rosetta Stone has been found.
- Short Inscriptions – Most writings are very brief, making interpretation difficult.
- Unknown Language – The underlying language is not known.
- Lack of Continuity – The script disappeared without clear links to later scripts.
- Limited Material – Found mainly on seals and tablets, not long texts.
Q 20. What is New Old Civilisation Concept.
The “New Old Civilization Concept” refers to the idea that the Harappan Civilization is both:
- Old – One of the earliest civilizations (around 2600 BCE).
- New – Continuously rediscovered through modern archaeological excavations.
Explanation:
- New sites like Dholavira and Rakhigarhi are still being explored.
- Our understanding keeps improving with new findings.
- Hence, it is called a “new-old” civilization—ancient yet newly understood.