CBSE Class 6 Social Science The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Worksheet Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The river _________ was significant to the Harappan civilisation and is known today as Ghaggar in India.
Answer: Sarasvati
Explanation: The holy Sarasvati River once brought fresh water to many towns, and what remains of its path is called the Ghaggar River today.

Question. Harappan seals have been found in the _________ Civilisation.
Answer: Mesopotamian
Explanation: Harappan merchants traveled far across the sea to trade with Mesopotamia, leaving their stamped clay seals behind.

Question. Harappan cities were well-known for their advanced _________ system, which included covered drains.
Answer: drainage
Explanation: Harappans built clever underground brick drains under the roads to keep dirty water away from their homes.

Question. The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to cultivate __________.
Answer: cotton
Explanation: The Harappan farmers were the very first people in their part of the world to grow soft cotton plants to spin thread and make clothes.

Question. The markings on the top of the seal are part of a ______.
Answer: writing system (script)
Explanation: Ancient Harappans carved their own special signs and symbols onto seals to write down messages and trade labels.

Question. In the upper town of the Harappan cities, local __________ resided.
Answer: elite (rulers / leaders)
Explanation: The raised part of the city, called the citadel, was where important leaders and rulers lived and conducted official work.

Question. Harappa and __________ were the primary two cities of the Harappan Civilisation to be discovered.
Answer: Mohenjo-daro
Explanation: Archaeologists dug up Harappa first and Mohenjo-daro shortly after, revealing this grand lost civilization to the world.

True or False

Question. Harappans had no knowledge about ornament fabrication.
Answer: False
Explanation: Harappans were master craftspeople who crafted marvelous gold, silver, shell, and shiny stone jewelry.

Question. The Indus Valley Civilisation is also termed the Harappan Civilisation.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both names refer to the same group of ancient brick cities.

Question. Harappans utilized bronze for making tools and figurines.
Answer: True
Explanation: They mixed copper and tin into bronze to create sturdy axes and small statues.

Question. All Harappan cities possessed large fortifications and were surrounded by walls.
Answer: False
Explanation: Some smaller settlements did not have massive brick walls built around them.

Question. The Harappan Civilisation was dominated by frequent warfare and invasions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Archaeologists found mostly trading tools and peaceful toys rather than large army weapons.

Question. The Indus Valley Civilisation relied on the Ganges River for its development.
Answer: False
Explanation: This civilization grew near the Indus and Sarasvati rivers, not the Ganges.

Question. Most of the Harappan settlements had four distinct parts.
Answer: False
Explanation: Most Harappan cities were divided into only two parts: a high citadel and a lower town.

Assertion and Reason Questions

Question. Assertion: The Harappan Civilisation is also titled the ‘First Urbanisation of India’.
Reason: The Harappan cities had a highly organized and well-maintained urban layout.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
Explanation: It was called the 'First Urbanisation' precisely because they were India's earliest well-organized, brick-built cities.

Question. Assertion: The Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro was specially built for communal bathing.
Reason: The houses in the Harappan cities had private bathrooms.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Explanation: Most homes had private bathrooms, so the Great Bath wasn't a daily public pool; it was used for special rituals or ceremonies.

Question. Assertion (A): About 4700 years ago some of the earliest cities flourished on the banks of the Indus River and its tributaries.
Reason (R): The cities flourished because of immaculate urban planning and organisation by the people living in it.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: Ancient cities grew well by the river because people carefully planned their streets, houses, and drains.

Question. Assertion (A): Harappan seals were primarily used for religious ceremonies.
Reason (R): The seals often depicted animals and symbols and were used in trade activities as a mark of identity.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true.
Explanation: Harappan traders stamped seals on packages like business stamps, not just for religious prayers.

Question. Assertion (A): Inscriptions are an effective tool in finding out about the past.
Reason (R): Inscriptions are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as metal or stone.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: Carving words onto hard rock helped ancient messages survive thousands of years for us to read.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Discuss the importance of the 'Great Bath' at Mohenjo-Daro. What are the different interpretations of its purpose, and why is it difficult to be certain?
Answer: The Great Bath's elaborate construction suggests importance, possibly for ritual purification or royal use, given individual bathrooms in houses ruled out a simple public bath. Certainty is difficult because the Harappan script is undeciphered, leaving no textual explanations for such structures.
Explanation: People might have used the Great Bath for holy dips during special ceremonies, but we cannot be 100% sure because we still cannot read their ancient writing!

Question. Which two main cities of the Harappan civilisation were uncovered in 1924?
Answer: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
Explanation: In 1924, archaeologists announced the discovery of two giant, buried cities named Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Question. Let us imagine a Harappan man or woman being transported to an average kitchen in today's India. What are the four or five greatest surprises awaiting them?
Answer: The biggest surprises for a man or woman being transported to an average kitchen in today's India will be
• A refrigerator • A microwave and oven
• Steel utensils • Packed milk packets
Explanation: An ancient person would be amazed to see cold food coming from a plug-in box (fridge) and shiny stainless steel plates instead of clay ones!

Question. What did Harappans use to make ornaments?
Answer: Harappans made jewellery from materials like carnelian, shells, and metals like copper and bronze. They crafted beads and bangles, using advanced techniques for drilling and shaping.
Explanation: Harappan craftspeople made bangles and beads out of shiny sea shells, colorful stones, copper, and bronze.

Question. Which historic river flowed through Haryana and Punjab?
Answer: The Sarasvati River.
Explanation: The Sarasvati was a large river that flowed through northwest India long ago, helping many ancient towns thrive along its banks.

Question. In which area of the world did civilization first begin about 6,000 years ago?
Answer: Mesopotamia.
Explanation: Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, built the earliest cities.

Question. Around what calendar year BCE did the Indus-Sarasvati civilization begin?
Answer: Around 2600 BCE.
Explanation: Its grand mature phase with brick cities began over 4,500 years ago, around 2600 BCE.

Question. Which metropolis was the first of the Indus-Sarasvati civilization to be excavated?
Answer: Harappa.
Explanation: Harappa was discovered first, which is why scientists call this the Harappan era.

Question. In Mohenjo-Daro, what iconic structure was a small but elaborate tank measuring about 12 × 7 metres?
Answer: The Great Bath.
Explanation: The Great Bath is the famous waterproof brick pool discovered at Mohenjo-Daro.

Question. What is a large natural or human-made place where water is stored called?
Answer: A reservoir.
Explanation: A reservoir is a big water tank or lake where fresh water is saved for later use.

Question. Name one grain crop grown by the Harappans.
Answer: Barley (or wheat, millets, rice).
Explanation: Barley was an important cereal grain Harappan farmers grew for food.

Question. The Harappans gave much importance to water management and cleanliness. How did it contribute to the civilisation's survival?
Answer: Water management was crucial for the Harappan civilisation. Their practice of water management and cleanliness contributed to the civilisation’s sustainability in the following ways
• The Harappans developed sophisticated systems for harvesting and storing water, including wells, reservoirs, and a complex drainage system that maintained cleanliness and prevented flooding.
• This not only supported agriculture but also ensured a steady water supply for daily use.
• The efficient management of water resources was vital for the sustainability and growth of civilisation.
Explanation: Storing clean water in reservoirs and draining away dirty water kept people healthy, stopped diseases, and made sure crops had water to grow.

Question. When did urban life commence in the Indian subcontinent?
Answer: Urban life began around 2600 BCE with Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro.
Explanation: More than 4,500 years ago, people in India started living in big, planned cities with markets, drains, and brick houses.

Question. The Harappan script remains undeciphered, yet seals provide valuable insights. What features are common on Harappan seals, and what do they suggest about Harappan society?
Answer: Harappan seals, mostly small and made of steatite, commonly feature animal motifs (unicorn, bull) and short inscriptions. While undeciphered, they suggest a system of identification for trade, possible clan or religious symbols, and a literate element within the society, likely connected to administration or commerce.
Explanation: The seals had pictures of animals like bulls and mysterious symbols stamped on them, showing that traders used them like company stamps or signatures on packages.

Question. Where did the first civilisation originate about 6,000 years ago?
Answer: It began in Mesopotamia, in today's Iraq and Syria.
Explanation: Mesopotamia, located between two rivers in the Middle East, was where the world's very first city-civilization began.

Question. What materials did the Harappans use to construct their cities?
Answer: The Harappans used baked bricks, stones, and mud to build their cities. In cities like Dholavira, stones were used for the foundations of buildings.
Explanation: They made strong baked clay bricks and used mud and cut stones to build houses and walls that lasted thousands of years.