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Class 12 History Chapter 1 Harappan Civilization English Medium
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. Where was the Indus Valley Civilization first discovered? H. S.’18
Ans: At Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.
2. Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts? H. S. ’17
Ans: James Prinsep.
3. Write the names of the two archaeologists who brought the Harappan Civilization to the notice of the world. H. S. ’15
Ans: John Marshall and Dayaram Sahni.
4. Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts? H. S. ’17
Ans: James Prinsep.
5. Where was the Indus Valley Civilization first discovered? H. S.’18
Ans: The Indus Valley Civilization was first discovered at Harappa in 1921 and Mohenjo-daro in 1922, both now in Pakistan.
6. The oldest Ahom coins discovered so far belong to the reign of which Ahom king? H. S. ’20
Ans: Suklenmung (Gargaya Raja).
7. What was a grinding stone?
Ans: The slab on which the people of the Indus Civilization ground spices into powder was called a ‘grinding stone.’
8. Write the names of the places covered by the Indus or Harappan Civilization.
Ans: The places covered by the Indus Civilization were Afghanistan, Baluchistan (Pakistan), Gujarat, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
9. How many graves of the Indus Civilization period have been discovered so far?
Ans: 57.
10. How many brick-lined wells are estimated to have existed in Mohenjo-daro?
Ans: 700.
11. What is meant by the term ‘Meluhha’?
Ans: The term ‘Meluhha’ refers to the Harappan Civilization.
12. What name have archaeologists given to the stone statue discovered so far?
Ans: Priest-King.
13. What is meant by ‘Haza bird’?
Ans: Peacock.
14. Who is regarded as the father of the Archaeological Department of India?
Ans: Alexander Cunningham.
15. Who was Alexander Cunningham?
Ans: Alexander Cunningham was the first British officer of the Archaeological Department of India.
16. From when is the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization believed to have begun?
Ans: After 2000 BCE.
17. When did excavation at Mohenjo-daro begin?
Ans: In 1922.under Rakhaldas Banerji.
18. When did exploration beneath the surface at Mohenjo-darobegin?
Ans: In 1980.
19. When did Madho Sarup Vats begin excavation at Harappa?
Ans: In 1921.
20. How many symbols were there in the longest inscription discovered at Harappa?
Ans: 26.
21. Who discovered the first seal at Harappa?
Ans: Alexander Cunningham.
22. Who solved the problem of the stratigraphic excavation method?
Ans: R. E. M. Wheeler.
23. Further Excavation at Mohenjo-daro was written by whom? H. S. ’15
Ans: Ernest Mackay, an English writer.
24. Who was the first Director-General of the Archaeological
Department of India? H. S. ’14, ’16
Or
Who is regarded as the father of the Archaeological Department of India? H. S. ’15
Ans: Alexander Cunningham.
25. What type of tool was used to grind grains in the Harappan Civilization?
Or
What method was used to grind grains in the Harappan Civilization? H. S. ’14
Ans: In the Harappan Civilization, a grinding device made by placing one flat stone over another, known as a quern, was used.
26. What is the name of the ancient civilization that developed in India?
Ans: Indus Civilization.
27. By what other name is the Indus Valley Civilization known?
Ans: Harappan Civilization.
28. In which year was the Harappan Civilization discovered?
Ans: In 1921.
29. What were the archaeological materials discovered at Harappa?
Ans: The archaeological materials discovered at Harappa included houses, ornaments, various types of pottery, weapons, and tools.
30. What was the period of development of the Indus Civilization?
Ans: The period of development of the Indus Civilization was between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE.
31. What was the main basis of livelihood of the inhabitants of the Indus Civilization?
Ans: Agriculture.
B. Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 2)
1. Who discovered the Harappan Civilization and when?
Ans: DThe discovery of the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization is mainly credited to Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji in the early 1920s.
2. In which present-day regions were the cities of the Harappan Civilization located?
Ans: At present, the cities of the Harappan Civilization were located in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, parts of Uttar Pradesh, and in Sindhand Baluchistan of Pakistan.
3. What metals were used in the Harappan Civilization?
Ans: The metals used in the Harappan Civilization were gold, silver, copper, bronze, lead, crystal, quartz, and white stone.
4. What were the two types of bricks used at Lothal?
Ans: Baked bricks and sun-dried bricks were used at Lothal.
5. What were the main industrial centers of Harappa?
Ans: The main industrial centers of Harappa were Rajputana, South India, Persia, Afghanistan, and Gujarat.
6. Mention two characteristics of the Harappan script.
Ans: Two characteristics of the Harappan script are:
(a) The inscriptions were brief.
(b) A large number of symbols were used.
7. What were the main food items of the Harappan Civilization? H. S. ’14
Ans: The main food items were wheat, barley, peas, grapes, dates, and watermelon. They also domesticated cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats. However, it is not clearly known whether they consumed their meat as food.
8. Mention two features of the system of weights and measures of the Harappan Civilization were:
Ans: Two features of the system of weights and measures of the Harappan Civilization.
(a) The weights used for measurement were made of a type of stone called chert.
(b) The weights had no marks or symbols.
9. How did the people of the Harappan Civilization collect the raw materials required for their industries? H. S. ’14
Ans: The people of the Harappan Civilization collected raw materials both from nearby areas and from distant regions. For example, they obtained lead and copper from Rajasthan, gold from the Deccan, shells from coastal regions, and copper from Oman across the Arabian Sea.
10. Mention two features of the Harappan Civilization. H. S. ’17
Ans: Two features of the Harappan Civilization.
(a) The people of the Harappan Civilization worshipped idols.
(b) They had trade relations with foreign countries.
1. Write about the seals of the Harappan Civilization.
Ans: The seals of the Harappan Civilization were engraved with inscriptions. Most seals were square in shape, though some were rectangular. They bore designs and figures. These seals were made mainly of steatite.
12. Who was Alexander Cunningham?
Ans: Alexander Cunningham was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India. He discovered the first seal at Harappa and presented a clear picture of the Harappan and Indus Valley Civilization to the world.
13. Mention the names of the deities worshipped by the people of the Indus Civilization.
Ans: The people of the Indus Civilization worshipped Shiva, the Mother Goddess, trees, and animals.
14. Write the names of four places in India that were part of the Indus Civilization. H. S. ’15
Ans: Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
15. How did the discovery of the seals of Harappa help archaeologists?
Ans: During excavation, some seals of the Harappan Civilization were discovered. These seals helped in determining the correct time period of the civilization. Moreover, by studying the seals, archaeologists learned about the use of metals, artistic practices, crafts, religious beliefs, and rituals of that time.
15. Write about the stone used for grinding grains in the Harappan Civilization. H. S. ’17
Ans: In the Harappan Civilization, a stone quern was used to grind grains. They placed one stone over a larger stone and pressed the grains between them to grind them into powder.
16. What animals’ meat did the people of the Harappan Civilization eat?
Ans: The people of the Harappan Civilization ate the meat of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels.
17. Name three foreign countries that had relations with India during the Harappan period.
Ans: Oman, Dilmun, and Mesopotamia.
18. What were the archaeological materials discovered in the Harappan Civilization?
Ans: The archaeological materials discovered included houses, ornaments, pottery, stone statues, seals, and stone weapons.
19. How were the citadels in the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization different from the lower towns? H. S. ’19
Ans: The citadels in the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were high and constructed with bricks and wood so that enemies could not easily enter. On the other hand, the lower towns had earthen fortifications and were not built as high as the citadels.
C. Medium Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. Discuss the house construction system of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. H. S. ’20
Ans: The houses of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were constructed with bricks. Some of the bricks were baked, while others were sun-dried. Bamboo was also used in house construction. There were courtyards in the middle of the houses, and rooms were built around the courtyard. Some houses were double or triple-storeyed. There were no windows on the ground floor. The main entrance was placed in the middle. The multi-storeyed houses were very strong and durable.
2. Write a note on the agricultural system of the Indus Civilization.
Ans: The main basis of the economy of the Indus Civilization was agriculture. As the soil was very fertile, a large quantity of food grains was produced. The crops grown included wheat, barley, jowar, pulses, bajra, lentils, peas, mustard, cotton, sesame, etc. They used the plough in agricultural activities. They also dug canals from rivers to supply water to their fields.
3. What was the nature of the drainage system of the Harappan Civilization? H. S. ’15
Ans: The Harappan Civilization was an advanced urban civilization. The cities of this civilization had a well-developed drainage system. There was proper arrangement for carrying dirty water out through drains. Generally, the drains were constructed along the sides of the roads. The drains were built with bricks and were well-paved. Even along the smaller streets, there were drains. Through these drains, the water of the city was carried away to some place outside the city.
4. What contributions did Sir John Marshall make to Indian archaeology? H. S. ’15
Ans: Sir John Marshall made remarkable contributions to Indian archaeology. Due to his efforts and enthusiasm, excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro became possible. Before working in India, he had conducted excavations in Greece and Crete, and he applied that experience in India. As a result, the civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro became known to the world. For this contribution, he is regarded as an important figure in the Archaeological Department of India.
5. Discuss the religious beliefs of the Harappan Civilization. H. S.’18
Ans: The people of the Harappan Civilization believed in various gods and goddesses and practised idol worship. They worshipped Shiva. The various structures and idols discovered at Harappan sites indicate that they believed in multiple deities and that a priestly class existed.
6. Describe the town planning of the Harappan Civilization. H. S.’18
Ans: The Harappan Civilization was urban in nature. The cities were well-planned. The people used baked and sun-dried bricks. The houses ranged from single-storeyed to three-storeyed buildings and were constructed of bricks. The cities had an efficient drainage system. There was proper arrangement for carrying away dirty water through drains. Usually, the drains were built along the sides of the roads and were made of bricks. Even along narrow lanes, there were drains. Through these drains, water was carried outside the city. There was also a public bath in the city.
7. Write about the Great Bath discovered at Mohenjo-daro. H. S.’19
Ans: Mohenjo-daro was a well-planned urban centre. In the middle of the city, a Great Bath was discovered. It was 180 feet long and 108 feet wide. It was a public bath. Near the bath there was a large well from which water was supplied to the bath. There was a proper system for draining out excess water. There were well-built steps to descend into the bath.
D. Essay-type Questions: (Marks for each – 6)
1. Discuss the main features of the city of Mohenjo-daro.
Ans: The main features of the city of Mohenjo-daro were as follows:
(a) Mohenjo-daro was a completely planned city.
(b) The city had an excellent drainage system.
(c) Through pipes and drains, the water of the city was carried outside the city.
(d) The houses of the city were constructed with both baked and unbaked bricks.
(e) For the protection of the city, there was a citadel.
(f) The city had a large public bath.
2. Discuss the causes of the decline of the Indus (Harappan)Civilization. H. S. ’16
Ans: Scholars have suggested several causes for the destruction or decline of the Indus Civilization. For example:
(a) Some scholars believe that the main basis of the economy was agriculture, but gradually the fertility of the soil declined, leading to reduced agricultural production and ultimately to the decline of the civilization.
(b) Others suggest that severe earthquakes or floods destroyed the civilization.
(c) Some argue that large-scale cutting of trees and killing of animals disturbed the ecological balance of the region, leading to its decline.
(d) According to another view, foreign invasions, particularly by the Dravidians or the Aryans, led to the destruction of the cities of this civilization.
