NCERT Solutions class 6 Social-Science Chapter 6. The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Extra Questions With Solutions

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Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 Marks)

Q1. What was the first Harappan site to be discovered?
Answer: Harappa.

Q2. Which material were Harappan seals mainly made of?
Answer: Steatite.

Q3. Name one major public structure found in Mohenjo-daro.
Answer: The Great Bath.

Q4. Which metal did Harappans use for making tools and ornaments?
Answer: Copper and bronze.

Q5. What does the presence of standard weights and measures show?
Answer: A regulated and organised economic system.

Q6. Which river system supported many Harappan settlements?
Answer: The Indus–Sarasvatī (Ghaggar-Hakra) system.

Q7. Name one Harappan site known for reservoirs.
Answer: Dholavira.

Q8. What agricultural product was Harappans probably the first to grow?
Answer: Cotton.

Short Answer Questions (3–4 Marks)

Q1. What does the layout of Harappan cities tell us about their society?
Answer: The planned streets, drainage system, wells, and public buildings show that the Harappans valued organisation, cleanliness and public welfare. The existence of upper and lower towns suggests social planning and civic administration.

Q2. Describe the importance of seals in the Harappan civilisation.
Answer: Seals were used for identifying goods, marking ownership and possibly for record-keeping. The animal motifs and symbols suggest religious or cultural meaning. They also provide valuable information about Harappan art and writing.

Q3. How do we know that Harappans had contact with other regions?
Answer: Objects such as Mesopotamian-style seals, imported metals, shell items, and mentions of Meluhha (probably Harappa) in Mesopotamian records show long-distance trade by land and sea.

Q4. What factors supported agriculture in Harappan regions?
Answer: Fertile river plains, seasonal floods, advanced irrigation methods, use of ploughs and storage facilities helped the Harappans grow wheat, barley, millets, and cotton successfully.

Long Answer Questions (5–6 Marks)

Q1. Describe the major achievements of the Indus–Sarasvatī civilisation.
Answer: The Harappans achieved excellence in urban planning, building straight streets, drainage systems, wells and multi-room houses. The Great Bath and Dholavira reservoirs reflect engineering skill. They grew wheat, barley, rice and cotton, and kept cattle, sheep and goats. Harappans were skilled craftsmen making beads, pottery, ornaments and seals. Trade flourished with Mesopotamia and other regions through land and sea routes. Standardised weights and measures show economic regulation. These achievements reflect a highly advanced and organised civilisation.

Q2. Explain the features of Harappan town planning. Why is it considered unique?
Answer: Harappan towns had a grid-pattern layout with streets meeting at right angles. Houses were built with baked bricks and had bathrooms connected to covered drains. Public buildings such as granaries, assembly halls and baths were well constructed. Cities were divided into upper and lower towns. Wells were abundant and regularly maintained. This level of planning, uniformity and civic sense was unmatched in other ancient civilisations of the same period.

Q3. Discuss the possible reasons behind the decline of the Harappan civilisation.
Answer: Climate change and drying of the Sarasvatī River reduced water supply. Floods and shifting river courses damaged settlements. Agricultural output declined, weakening the economy. Long-distance trade connections collapsed. Some regions became too dry to support large populations, leading people to migrate. A combination of environmental and economic factors likely caused the gradual decline of cities around 1900 BCE.