Source-Based Questions with Answers
CBSE Class 12 – History
Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones – The Harappan Civilisation
Part I: Themes in Indian History – Part I (Ancient India)
Source-Based / Case-Based Questions | NCERT Based | CBSE Board Examinations
These Source-Based Questions are framed strictly according to the NCERT textbook. They help students practise interpretation of archaeological evidence, sources, and historical reasoning as required in the CBSE Class 12 History Board Examination.
1. Archaeological Discovery and Interpretation
“Archaeologists use material remains such as buildings, tools, pottery, seals, and bones
to reconstruct the Harappan Civilisation because the script remains undeciphered.”
Q1. Why are material remains crucial for understanding the Harappan Civilisation?
- The Harappan script is undeciphered.
- No written historical records are available.
- Material remains provide evidence of daily life, economy, and beliefs.
Q2. What challenges do historians face while interpreting archaeological sources?
- Limited and incomplete material evidence.
- Multiple interpretations of the same remains.
- Absence of written explanations.
2. Harappan Town Planning
“Most Harappan cities were divided into a citadel and a lower town. Streets were laid out
in a grid pattern, and drains were covered and well connected to houses.”
Q3. What does the division of cities into citadel and lower town suggest?
- Planned urban development.
- Administrative or ceremonial importance of the citadel.
- Social organisation within cities.
Q4. How does the drainage system reflect Harappan civic sense?
- Covered drains ensured cleanliness.
- Connection with houses shows systematic planning.
- Indicates concern for hygiene and public health.
3. Subsistence Strategies
“Evidence of ploughed fields, granaries, and plant remains suggests that agriculture was
the main occupation of the Harappan people.”
Q5. What evidence supports agriculture as the main occupation?
- Ploughed fields at Kalibangan.
- Granaries for storage.
- Plant remains of wheat and barley.
Q6. How did agriculture support Harappan urban life?
- Provided food surplus.
- Supported population growth.
- Enabled trade and urbanisation.
4. Craft Production and Trade
“Beads made of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and agate have been found at Harappan sites,
indicating specialised craft production and long-distance trade.”
Q7. What does bead-making reveal about Harappan craftsmanship?
- High level of technical skill.
- Use of semi-precious stones.
- Presence of specialised artisans.
Q8. How does archaeological evidence prove long-distance trade?
- Raw materials not locally available.
- Standardised seals and weights.
- Foreign artefacts found at Harappan sites.
5. Seals and Administration
“Most seals were made of steatite and had animal motifs along with short inscriptions.
They were possibly used for trade and administrative purposes.”
Q9. What information do Harappan seals provide?
- Evidence of trade regulation.
- Clues about religious symbols.
- Indication of administrative control.
Q10. Why are inscriptions on seals difficult to interpret?
- The script is undeciphered.
- No bilingual inscriptions exist.
- Meanings remain unknown.
6. Social and Religious Life
“Terracotta figurines of women and the Pashupati seal suggest religious beliefs connected
with fertility and nature worship.”
Q11. What do terracotta figurines suggest about Harappan religion?
- Fertility worship.
- Importance of female deities.
- Nature-based religious beliefs.
Q12. How is the Pashupati seal interpreted by historians?
- Associated with proto-Shiva.
- Shows yogic posture and animals.
- Indicates early religious ideas.
7. Decline of the Harappan Civilisation
“By about 1900 BCE, many Harappan cities were abandoned, and urban features gradually
disappeared.”
Q13. What does abandonment of cities indicate about the decline?
- The decline was gradual.
- No evidence of sudden destruction.
- Urban centres turned rural.
Q14. Mention environmental factors responsible for the decline.
- Climate change.
- Shifting river courses.
- Floods and droughts.
8. Archaeological Methods
“Techniques such as stratigraphy and carbon dating help archaeologists establish the
chronology of Harappan sites.”
Q15. How does stratigraphy help archaeologists?
- Determines sequence of occupation layers.
- Helps establish relative chronology.
Q16. Why is carbon dating important in archaeology?
- Determines age of organic remains.
- Helps fix historical timelines.
9. Revision-Based Source Questions
“Uniform bricks and weights were used across Harappan settlements.”
Q17. What does standardisation indicate about Harappan administration?
- Centralised control.
- Efficient administration.
- Regulated economic system.
Q18. How does this source reflect urban planning and trade regulation?
- Uniformity in construction.
- Standard weights for trade.
- Scientific management of cities.