Class 6 Social Science Important Questions Chapter 6

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Question 1. What is a civilisation?

Answer: A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society that includes government and administration, urbanism, crafts, trade, writing, cultural expressions, and productive agriculture.

Question 2. What was the earliest civilisation of the Indian subcontinent?

Answer: The earliest civilisation of the Indian subcontinent was the Harappan or Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation.

Question3. What are some key features of a civilisation?

Answer: Key features of a civilisation include government, town planning, a variety of crafts, internal and external trade, writing systems, cultural expressions, and agriculture.

Question 4. Why is the Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation also called the Harappan civilisation?

Answer: It is called the Harappan civilisation because Harappa was the first city of this civilisation to be excavated in 1920–21.

Question 5. Where were the major settlements of the Harappan civilisation located?

Answer: The major settlements were located along the Indus River and its tributaries, and the Sarasvatī River, in parts of modern-day India and Pakistan.

Question 6. What was unique about Harappan town planning?

Answer: Harappan town planning was highly organised, with wide streets often oriented to cardinal directions, well-planned drainage systems, and houses made from bricks.

Question 7. What was the purpose of the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro?

Answer: The exact purpose is unclear, but it might have been used for religious rituals or reserved for elite use, as most houses already had private bathrooms.

Question 8. How did the Harappans manage water?

Answer: The Harappans had advanced water management systems, including reservoirs, wells, and a sophisticated drainage system to keep their cities clean and well-supplied with water.

Question 9. What crops did the Harappans grow?

Answer: The Harappans grew barley, wheat, rice, millets, pulses, vegetables, and cotton, which was the first in Eurasia to be cultivated.

Question 10. What animals did the Harappans domesticate?

Answer: The Harappans domesticated animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens, and they also fished in rivers and seas.

Question 11. How did the Harappans engage in trade?

Answer: The Harappans traded goods like ornaments, timber, copper, and textiles within their civilisation and with other regions, including Mesopotamia.

Question 12. What materials were Harappan seals made from, and what was their purpose?

Answer: Harappan seals were made from steatite, and they likely served as markers of trade goods or symbols of identification.

Question 13. What types of crafts were the Harappans skilled in?

Answer: The Harappans were skilled in bead-making, pottery, metallurgy, and weaving, among other crafts.

Question 14. What role did writing play in the Harappan civilisation?

Answer: Writing was likely used for keeping records related to trade and administration, but the Harappan script has not yet been deciphered.

Question 15. What evidence suggests the Harappans had a high civic sense?

Answer: The meticulous town planning, drainage systems, and maintenance of wells and public baths indicate that the Harappans had a strong sense of public responsibility and cleanliness.

Question 16. Why did the Harappan civilisation decline?

Answer: The decline is believed to be caused by climate changes leading to reduced rainfall and the drying up of the Sarasvatī River, which disrupted agriculture and water supply.

Question 17. What type of government is believed to have existed in Harappan cities?

Answer: The Harappan cities likely had a local elite or ruler who oversaw the administration and maintenance of the cities, but there is no evidence of a military or large-scale warfare.

Question 18. What were Harappan cities built with, and how were they structured?

Answer: Harappan cities were built with bricks and had two main parts: an ‘upper town’ for the elite and a ‘lower town’ for the common people.

Question 19. What were some of the significant Harappan sites discovered?

Answer: Some important Harappan sites include Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Kalibangan, and Lothal.

Question 20. What was the role of agriculture in the Harappan civilisation?

Answer: Agriculture played a crucial role in sustaining the cities of the Harappan civilisation, with surplus produce from rural areas feeding the urban population.