Harappan Civilization
1. List three features of urban planning in Harappan Civilization.
2. Name three major cities of Harappan Civilization.
3. Cite two evidences to show the Harappans were concerned about health and hygiene.
4. State two uses of Harappan seals with examples for each.
5. State three reasons for the decline of Harappan Civilization.
6. State the importance of Lothal in Harappan Civilization.
Answers
Answer:
1 : i) Each city was divided into two parts-the raised area called the 'Citadel' and the 'lower town. ' ii) The main streets followed a grid pattern running from north to south or from east to west. iii) The houses at street corners were rounded to allow carts to pass easily.
2 : These cities include Harappa, Ganeriwala, and Mohenjo-daro in modern-day Pakistan, and Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Rupar, and Lothal in modern-day India. In total, more than 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Indus River and its tributaries.
3 :
Answer:
1.) Features of Urban Planning -
i) Each city was divided into two parts-the raised area called the 'Citadel' and the 'lower town. ' ii) The main streets followed a grid pattern running from north to south or from east to west. iii) The houses at street corners were rounded to allow carts to pass easily.
2.) These cities include Harappa, Ganeriwala, and Mohenjo-daro in modern-day Pakistan, and Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Rupar, and Lothal in modern-day India. In total, more than 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Indus River and its tributaries.
3.)
• They had drains in each house and they kept the streets clean and neat.
• ll the small drains were connected to the main drain in the main Street.
• The drains were covered and were kept clean and pure.
• They had seperate dustbins and drains for different kinds of wastes.
• There roads were built in such a way that they automatically get cleaned by the prevailing winds.
4.) Seals have been used for their pelts, their flesh, and their fat, which was often used as lamp fuel, lubricants, cooking oil, a constituent of soap, the liquid base for red ochre paint, and for processing materials such as leather and jute.
Seals were used to make a sealing, or positive imprint, like this modern resin one made from the original seal. Sealings were used in ancient times for trade. They would be made on ceramics or the clay tags used to seal the rope around bundles of goods.
5.) The reasons for the Decline of the Harappan civilization
(i) Floods and earthquakes
⇒ It is said by the scholars that floods have led to the decline of the settlement.
⇒ Mohenjo Daro was found covered with silty clay which may have come from the flood waters.
⇒ Earthquakes may have raised the level of water of the Indus river.
⇒ This led to inundation of the settlement and people had to abandon it.
(ii) Increased aridity
⇒ The drying up of the rivers of Ghaggar , Sutlej and Yamuna led to increase in aridity of the area.
⇒ This caused change in drainage pattern and led to ecological disturbances which may have led to the abandonment of the settlement.
(iii) Deforestation
⇒ For making jewellery and other products , trees were cut.
⇒ Continuous cutting of trees or deforestation led to the problem of the people as they could not make their daily necessary items.
⇒ This could have been another cause.
(iv) Attack
⇒ Some historians believed that the Aryans had invaded the settlement.
⇒ Skeletons of people were found which gave us a hint that the place could have been attacked by the Aryans who massacred people.
6.) The people of Lothal made significant and often unique contributions to human civilisation in the Indus era, in the fields of city planning, art, architecture, science, engineering, pottery, and religion. Their work in metallurgy, seals, beads and jewellery was the basis of their prosperity.