Beginnings of Indian Civilization – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 6
Social Science
Theme B — Tapestry of the Past
Chapter 6
CBSE Class 6 Social Science — Chapter 6
Beginnings of Indian Civilization (Indus Valley)
Beginnings of Indian Civilization (Indus Valley)
Short Answer Questions & Answers — NCERT-aligned for deeper revision and CBSE practice
CBSE Board Examination Guidance:
- Practice writing concise answers (50–80 words) using key terms from the chapter.
- Learn important sites, town-planning features and economic activities for structured answers.
- Map skills and artifact interpretation are often tested — practise both.
Content Bank (Chapter 6)
Topics included: Origins & timeline; Major Harappan sites; Town planning & public buildings; Economy, trade & crafts; Social life, religion & writing; Crafts & technology; Decline & legacy; Map and source skills.
Overview & Timeline (Questions 1–6)
Q1. What does the term 'Harappan Civilization' mean?
A1. The Harappan Civilization refers to the Bronze Age urban culture of the Indus Valley, named after Harappa, one of its major archaeological sites. It denotes a civilisation known for planned cities, craft specialisation and long-distance trade that flourished in the third millennium BCE.
Q2. Outline the broad timeframe of the Indus Valley Civilization.
A2. The Indus Valley Civilization developed from early farming communities around 3300 BCE, reached its mature urban phase between c.2600–1900 BCE, and gradually declined by c.1300 BCE. These dates reflect regional variation and different phases of development.
Q3. How did early farming communities contribute to urban growth?
A3. Farming communities produced food surpluses, which supported larger populations and craft specialisation. Over time, surplus production encouraged trade, administrative needs and the growth of settlements into larger, organised towns with public buildings and specialised workshops.
Q4. What evidence shows continuity from villages to towns?
A4. Archaeological evidence such as remains of early huts, storage pits, pottery styles and continued farming practices indicate that many Harappan towns evolved from earlier village settlements rather than appearing suddenly.
Q5. Why is the Indus Valley Civilization important for study in Class 6?
A5. It introduces students to early urban life, showing how people organised towns, produced goods and traded. The chapter builds basic historical skills like interpreting artefacts, understanding economic activities and mapping ancient sites, aligned with NCERT learning goals.
Q6. What methods do historians use to study the Harappan past?
A6. Historians rely on archaeology — excavations of sites, study of artefacts (pots, seals, weights), architectural remains and environmental data. Because the script is undeciphered, material culture and settlement patterns are primary sources for reconstruction.
Major Harappan Sites (Questions 7–14)
Q7. Describe the importance of Harappa as a site.
A7. Harappa was one of the first sites excavated and lent its name to the civilisation. Excavations revealed planned streets, houses, granaries and craft areas, helping scholars define the Harappan urban pattern and cultural traits.
Q8. What is the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro and why is it significant?
A8. The Great Bath is a large, watertight public structure at Mohenjo-daro, possibly used for ritual bathing or communal gatherings. It signifies public architecture and advanced water management in Harappan towns.
Q9. How does Lothal provide evidence of trade?
A9. Lothal in Gujarat has a dock-like structure and evidence of beads and seals, indicating maritime activities and trading connections with regions across the sea as well as inland exchanges, showing the Harappans' participation in long-distance trade.
Q10. What distinctive features were found at Dholavira?
A10. Dholavira is notable for its elaborate water management systems, reservoirs and unique town layout. Its inscribed signs and well-planned public works show regional sophistication within the Harappan world.
Q11. Why is Rakhigarhi important for modern excavations?
A11. Rakhigarhi is among the largest Harappan sites in present-day India; recent excavations have unearthed extensive urban remains, burials and craft areas, enriching our knowledge of regional variations and daily life within the civilisation.
Q12. Mention one smaller settlement and its significance.
A12. Kalibangan is an example of a smaller Harappan settlement with evidence of fired-brick structures, farmed fields and burnt layers possibly indicating early fire events. Smaller sites help us understand rural-urban connections.
Q13. How do regional differences affect our understanding of Harappan culture?
A13. Regional differences in craft styles, town layouts and resource use show that the Harappan civilisation was diverse; local traditions and environments influenced how towns developed and specialised in certain crafts or trades.
Q14. What role does map practice play in this chapter?
A14. Map practice helps students locate major sites, visualise the spread of settlements and demonstrate understanding of geographic factors that influenced urban growth — a common CBSE exam requirement.
Town Planning & Public Buildings (Questions 15–22)
Q15. Explain the grid pattern commonly seen in Harappan towns.
A15. Many Harappan towns show streets laid out at right angles forming a grid. This allowed organised plots, efficient traffic flow and zoning for residential, craft and public areas, reflecting central planning and urban management.
Q16. What is the Citadel and what purpose might it have served?
A16. The Citadel is an elevated part of the city containing major public buildings, possibly used for administrative, communal or ritual purposes. Its raised location may have protected important structures from floods.
Q17. Describe Harappan drainage systems.
A17. Harappan towns had covered drains beside streets connecting to soak pits, showing sophisticated waste disposal and concern for hygiene. These drains demonstrate organised civic services and engineering skills.
Q18. What kinds of public buildings are commonly found?
A18. Public buildings include granaries for storage, assembly halls, baths like the Great Bath, dock-like structures and specialised workshops, suggesting coordinated communal functions and resource management.
Q19. How did standardised brick sizes aid construction?
A19. Standard bricks ensured uniformity, speed of construction and structural stability. They point to standard measures and organised craft production, easing the building of houses, drains and public structures.
Q20. Were private wells and bathrooms common in Harappan houses?
A20. Yes, many larger houses had private wells and bathing areas, indicating concern for household water needs and personal hygiene among urban residents.
Q21. What evidence suggests planning at an urban scale?
A21. Consistent town layouts, similar brick sizes, systematic drainage and presence of public buildings across different towns indicate shared planning principles and possible communication between settlements.
Q22. How might granaries reflect economic organisation?
A22. Granaries indicate surplus storage, central management of food resources and preparedness for lean periods. They reflect organised agricultural production and possibly collective control of stored grain.
Economy, Trade & Crafts (Questions 23–32)
Q23. What were the main crops cultivated by the Harappans?
A23. Main crops included wheat, barley, pulses like peas and possibly rice in some regions. Crop choices reflect local soils and irrigation practices supporting settled agriculture.
Q24. How did animal husbandry support Harappan economy?
A24. Animal rearing provided meat, milk, hides and draught power for ploughing and transport. Animals complemented farming and craft activities, contributing to a mixed agricultural economy.
Q25. Why are standardized weights important for trade?
A25. Standard weights ensured consistent measurement in trade, making transactions fair and facilitating long-distance exchange by providing commonly accepted units of value and quantity.
Q26. Describe one example of a craft specialised in Harappan towns.
A26. Bead-making was a specialised craft involving cutting and polishing semi-precious stones and faience. Such crafts required skill, workshops and contributed goods for local use and export.
Q27. What evidence supports Harappan long-distance trade?
A27. Finds of Harappan seals and goods in Mesopotamia, dock structures at Lothal and standardised weights suggest trade networks extending beyond the subcontinent to West Asia and within the region.
Q28. How did craftsmen and traders depend on agriculture?
A28. Agriculture supplied food and raw materials, enabling craftsmen to specialise and traders to exchange surplus produce for crafted goods. Surplus agricultural produce sustained urban populations and markets.
Q29. What role did pottery play in Harappan economy?
A29. Pottery served domestic needs (storage, cooking), was widely produced and traded, and helps archaeologists date sites and understand daily life and craft distribution in the Harappan economy.
Q30. Explain the importance of Lothal's dock-like structure.
A30. The dock suggests planned maritime activity, loading and unloading of goods and connections with coastal and overseas trade routes, underlining the Harappans' participation in maritime commerce.
Q31. How did trade influence cultural exchange?
A31. Trade moved not only goods but also ideas, techniques and cultural influences; contacts with Mesopotamia and other regions could introduce new materials, designs and technologies into Harappan towns.
Q32. What do seals tell us about economic practices?
A32. Seals likely marked ownership or goods and were used in trade administration. Their motifs and inscriptions suggest identification, control of goods and involvement in commercial transactions.
Social Life, Religion & Writing (Questions 33–38)
Q33. What do variations in house sizes suggest about Harappan society?
A33. Different house sizes indicate social differentiation — wealthier families had larger houses with more facilities, while smaller houses suggest modest living; but exact political structure remains unclear due to limited textual evidence.
Q34. Describe one type of religious artefact found in Harappan sites.
A34. Terracotta figurines, often interpreted as Mother Goddess figures, suggest fertility worship or household rituals. Animal figurines and symbolic motifs on seals also point to religious or ritual practices.
Q35. Why is the Harappan script significant and what is its status?
A35. The Harappan script appears on seals and pottery and could reveal administrative and social details. However, it remains undeciphered, limiting direct knowledge of Harappan language and governance.
Q36. How might public buildings relate to ritual life?
A36. Structures like the Great Bath may have had ritual functions, while assembly areas and courtyards could host communal activities, indicating intertwined civic and religious uses of public architecture.
Q37. What evidence is there for household industries?
A37. Finds of pottery kilns, bead-making workshops and tools within residential areas indicate household-based production and small-scale industries supporting urban economies.
Q38. Why can't we clearly identify Harappan rulers?
A38. The lack of deciphered written records and absence of monumental inscriptions naming rulers means political hierarchies are inferred indirectly from architecture and artefact distribution rather than confirmed by texts.
Crafts & Technology (Questions 39–44)
Q39. What techniques were used in Harappan bead-making?
A39. Bead-makers used drilling, cutting and polishing techniques on semi-precious stones, steatite and faience to produce uniform beads, demonstrating skilled manual craft and specialised workshops.
Q40. How was metalworking important in Harappan life?
A40. Metalworking produced tools, ornaments and weapons using copper and bronze, enhancing agricultural efficiency, craft production and personal adornment, and pointing to metallurgical knowledge.
Q41. Describe the role of pottery in technological terms.
A41. Potters used wheel-made techniques, fired kilns and standard shapes for storage and cooking vessels; technological consistency in pottery helps archaeologists identify trade and cultural links between sites.
Q42. What does standardisation of brick sizes indicate about technology?
A42. Standard brick sizes reveal planned production methods, administrative control over measurements and shared construction knowledge facilitating durable and uniform building practices.
Q43. How did Harappans dye and prepare textiles?
A43. Evidence of spinning and weaving tools indicates textile production; dyes and woven fabrics were likely produced for local use and possibly trade, though direct textile remains are rare due to perishability.
Q44. Why are craft specialisations important for economy?
A44. Specialised crafts allowed efficient production of high-quality goods, supported trade networks, and created occupations beyond farming, contributing to urban economic complexity and social organisation.
Decline & Legacy (Questions 45–48)
Q45. List two theories that explain the decline of Harappan urban centres.
A45. Theories include environmental changes (river shifts, droughts), decline of long-distance trade, and internal social transformations. Most scholars argue for a combination of factors rather than a single cause.
Q46. How did river shifts affect Harappan settlements?
A46. If rivers changed course or dried, irrigation and agriculture would suffer, undermining food production and making major urban sites less viable leading to population movement and regional reorganisation.
Q47. What aspects of Harappan civilisation continued in later periods?
A47. Craft techniques, agricultural practices, and certain settlement patterns persisted, influencing subsequent cultures in the region even as urban centres declined or transformed.
Q48. Why is the Harappan legacy valuable to historians?
A48. It provides early examples of urban planning, craft specialisation and trade which help historians trace the development of complex societies in South Asia and understand ancient human adaptations.
Map & Source Skills (Questions 49–50)
Q49. What should you include on a map answer for this chapter?
A49. Mark major Harappan sites (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Rakhigarhi), indicate the Indus river basin and note one special feature for at least two sites to show understanding.
Q50. How do you approach a source-based question about an artefact?
A50. Identify the object, state what it was used for, link it to daily life or economy (e.g., a seal used in trade) and write 3–4 lines explaining the evidence it provides about Harappan society.
Note: These 50 Short Answer Type Questions and Answers are strictly aligned with the NCERT Class 6 History chapter "Beginnings of Indian Civilization" and tailored for CBSE Class 6 exam preparation. Use them for written practice, oral testing and revision.