Home
History

Chapter 3: In the Earliest Cities

 


✅ 1. The Harappan Civilization (2500 BCE – 1900 BCE)

  • Also called Indus Valley Civilization

  • Discovered in 1921 at Harappa (Pakistan) by Daya Ram Sahni

  • Most cities near the Indus & its tributaries

✅ 2. Important Harappan Cities

City Present Location Special Feature
Harappa Punjab, Pakistan First city discovered
Mohenjodaro Sindh, Pakistan Great Bath
Lothal Gujarat, India Dockyard
Dholavira Gujarat Unique script on stone
Kalibangan Rajasthan Fire altars
Rakhigarhi Haryana Largest known site in India

✅ 3. Town Planning: Very Advanced

  • Cities divided into:

    • Citadel (Upper part): granary, warehouses, public buildings

    • Lower Town: residential areas

  • Used baked bricks (uniform size)

  • Drainage system: covered drains, inspection holes

  • Roads cut at right angles

✅ 4. Life in Harappan Cities

  • People were farmers, traders, craftsmen

  • Crops: wheat, barley, rice, dates, sesame, cotton (1st users of cotton!)

  • Domesticated animals: oxen, buffaloes, camels, dogs

  • Trade with Mesopotamia (Sumer) → seals with inscriptions

✅ 5. Crafts and Occupations

  • Pottery, bead-making, metal tools (copper, bronze)

  • Ornaments from gold, silver, terracotta

  • Tools: stone blades, copper axes, needles

✅ 6. Seals and Scripts

  • Harappans used pictographic script (not yet fully deciphered)

  • Seals had animal figures (bull, unicorn) + symbols

  • Used for trade, identity, and security

✅ 7. Important Structures

  • Great Bath (Mohenjodaro): public ritual use

  • Granaries: for food storage

  • Dockyard at Lothal: linked to sea trade

✅ 8. Decline of the Civilization (~1900 BCE)

  • Possible causes:

    • Climate change / floods

    • Earthquakes

    • Drying up of Saraswati river

    • Invasion or internal conflicts

    • Overuse of resources

🧠 Quick Facts & Terms

Term Meaning
Citadel Upper part of city for rulers
Great Bath Ritual structure in Mohenjodaro
Seals Square tablets for identity/trade
Granary Large food storage
Lothal Ancient dockyard

❓ MCQs Practice (Moderate + Advanced + PYQs)

🔹 Level 1: Moderate

  1. The first Harappan site discovered was:
    👉 (a) Harappa

  2. The Great Bath was found at:
    👉 (b) Mohenjodaro

  3. The Harappans used which metal?
    👉 (c) Copper and Bronze

  4. Dockyard has been found at:
    👉 (d) Lothal

  5. What was the Harappan script like?
    👉 (a) Pictographic

🔹 Level 2: Advanced

  1. Which Harappan site had fire altars?
    👉 Kalibangan

  2. The largest Indian Harappan site is:
    👉 Rakhigarhi

  3. Harappans grew which fibre crop?
    👉 Cotton

  4. Drainage system of Harappa proves:
    👉 Urban planning and sanitation

  5. Harappan seals were used for:
    👉 Trade and identification

🔹 UPSC-Level & PYQs

  1. Which of the following Harappan cities had port-like structures?
    👉 (c) Lothal

  2. Which river was important for the Harappans?
    👉 (b) Indus

  3. One probable reason for Harappan decline:
    👉 Drying of rivers

📝 Short Notes for Revision

  • 🧱 Harappa → 1st city discovered (1921)

  • 🛁 Mohenjodaro → Great Bath

  • 🚢 Lothal → Dockyard (trade port)

  • 🪧 Seals → Pictographic script

  • 🌾 Crops → Wheat, barley, cotton

  • 🏺 Crafts → Beads, bronze, pottery

  • 🌊 Decline → Climate, flood, overuse

🧪 Self-Test Questions

  • What is the significance of the Great Bath?

  • Why is Lothal considered important for trade?

  • What are the unique features of Harappan town planning?

  • What materials were used for Harappan tools?

  • What might have led to the end of this civilization?