Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
The Harappan Civilisation
- The Harappan (or Indus Valley) Civilisation developed about 4700 years ago.
- It grew along the river Indus and its tributaries.
- It is one of the earliest city civilisations of the world.
Important Cities
| City | Where it is today |
|---|---|
| Harappa | Punjab, Pakistan |
| Mohenjodaro | Sindh, Pakistan |
| Lothal | Gujarat (had a dockyard) |
| Dholavira | Gujarat |
| Kalibangan | Rajasthan |
Special Features of Harappan Cities
1. Planning — streets ran in a grid (crossing at right angles), so the city was well planned. 2. Citadel and Lower Town — many cities had a raised, fortified part (the citadel) and a lower town where people lived. 3. Baked bricks — houses were built of baked bricks of a standard size. 4. Drainage — houses had bathrooms and drains connected to covered street drains — a very advanced system.
Houses
- Built of baked bricks, with one or two storeys.
- Houses had rooms, a courtyard, a well and a bathroom.
- Drains from bathrooms ran into covered street drains.
The Great Bath
- Mohenjodaro had a special tank called the Great Bath, built of baked bricks and made waterproof with a lining.
- It was probably used for special baths, maybe for religious purposes.
People of the Cities
| Group | Work |
|---|---|
| Rulers | Planned the city and sent people to distant lands for raw materials |
| Scribes | Did the writing on seals (the script is still undeciphered) |
| Craftspeople | Made beads, seals, pottery, shells, cloth and metal objects |
| Traders | Traded goods within and outside the civilisation |
Seals and Trade
- The Harappans made square seals of stone, showing animals (like the unicorn/one-horned bull) and a script that cannot yet be read.
- Seals were used to stamp goods and mark ownership — a sign of organised trade.
- Lothal had a dockyard, showing trade by river/sea.
What They Traded
- Brought in: copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones from distant places.
- Sent out: beads, pottery, ornaments and cotton cloth.
Farming and Food
- They ploughed the fields and used irrigation.
- Crops: wheat, barley, peas, sesame and cotton (the first to grow it).
- They stored grain in granaries.
Decline
- The civilisation slowly declined about 3900 years ago.
- Possible reasons: rivers dried up or changed course, less rainfall, flooding, or the soil became less fertile.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Civilisation | An advanced stage of human society with cities, writing and organised life |
| Citadel | The raised, fortified part of a Harappan city |
| Lower town | The part of the city where ordinary people lived |
| Grid | Streets laid out in straight crossing lines |
| Seal | A stamped object used to mark goods in trade |
| Great Bath | A large waterproof tank at Mohenjodaro |
| Granary | A storehouse for grain |
| Dockyard | A place for loading and unloading boats (Lothal) |
Exam Tips
- The Harappan Civilisation is about 4700 years old, along the Indus — a common 1-mark question.
- The planned cities with grid streets, baked-brick houses and covered drains are its signature features.
- Mohenjodaro = Great Bath; Lothal = dockyard; Harappa and Mohenjodaro are in present-day Pakistan — map facts often asked.
- The Harappan script is still undeciphered — a standard fact.
- Harappans were the first to grow cotton (Sindon) — a favourite 1-mark point.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 4700 years ago, in the flood plains of the river Indus and its tributaries. Major cities were Harappa and Mohenjodaro (now in Pakistan) and Lothal and Dholavira (in Gujarat).