Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 3 Chalcolithic Villages in India Solutions

1A. Choose the Correct Alternative and Write the Complete Sentences.

 

Question 1. On one of the cemetery H pots, dead humans are seen carried by ____________ in their stomach.
(a) deer
(b) peacock
(c) bull
(d) dog
Answer: (b) peacock
In simple words: On the ancient pottery found at Cemetery H, there are drawings showing peacocks with human figures inside their bodies, which might represent souls being carried to the afterlife.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Cemetery H is famous for its distinctive pottery art, especially the peacock motif carrying the dead. This is a frequently asked multiple-choice question.

Question 1. Choose the correct option:
(a) [Option A]
(b) peacock
(c) fish
(d) bull
Answer: (b) peacock
In simple words: The peacock was a popular design motif found on the pottery of this ancient culture.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the specific animal motifs associated with each chalcolithic culture to answer such questions accurately.

 

Question 2. The archaeological evidence shows that Balathal was a center of mass production of ____________
(a) stone pots
(b) copper pots
(c) earthen pots
(d) glassware
Answer: (c) earthen pots
In simple words: Balathal was a major ancient site where people made a very large number of clay pots.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Balathal is famous for its large-scale production of pottery (earthen pots) during the Chalcolithic period.

 

Question 3. Permanent villages of farmers were first established in Maharashtra by ____________ people.
(a) Savalda
(b) Malwa
(c) Harappa
(d) Kayatha
Answer: (b) Malwa
In simple words: The Malwa culture people were the first to settle down and build permanent farming villages in Maharashtra.

🎯 Exam Tip: Associate the Malwa culture with the beginning of permanent agricultural settlements in the Maharashtra region.

 

1B. Find the Incorrect Pair from Set ‘B’ and Write the Correct Ones.

 

Question 1. Find the incorrect pair from Set 'B' and write the correct one:

Set 'A'	Set 'B'
1. Savalda Culture	Daimadabad
2. Malwa Culture	Navadatoli
3. Ahar Culture	Sonpur

Answer:
• Incorrect Pair: Ahar Culture - Sonpur
• Correct Pair: Ahar Culture - Gilund (or Balathal / Ahar)
In simple words: Sonpur is located in Bihar and is not part of the Ahar culture, which flourished in Rajasthan at sites like Gilund and Balathal.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always memorize the key geographical locations and major sites associated with each Chalcolithic culture to easily identify incorrect pairs.

p>4. Jorwe Culture Inamgaon
Answer:
3. Ahar Culture – Balathal

2A. Explain the Statements with Reasons

 

Question 1. Harappan people had to migrate.
Answer:
• When the Mature (urban) Harappan civilisation collapsed completely, the people of Late Harappan cultures who had settled on the ruins of Mature Harappan cities had to migrate elsewhere. Environmental changes like the drying up of rivers also played a major role in this forced movement.
• The urban Harappans and the Late Harappans dispersed. Wherever these people reached, new rural cultures came into being.
• Thus, as the Harappan civilisation collapsed, Harappan people had to migrate.
In simple words: When the big Harappan cities broke down, the people had to move to other places to survive. Wherever they went, they started new, simpler village lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly mention the transition from the Mature Harappan phase to the Late Harappan phase to show a deep understanding of the timeline.

 

Question 2. People of ‘Malwa’ culture were the first farmers of Maharashtra.
Answer:
• The people of Malwa culture reached Maharashtra around 1600 B.C.E. Permanent villages of farmers were first established in Maharashtra by the Malwa people. They cultivated crops like barley and wheat, which laid the foundation for agriculture in the region.
• After arriving in Maharashtra, they came into contact with the neolithic people in Karnataka.
• It resulted in a few changes in the pot-making technology of Malwa people as far as shapes of the pots and designs are concerned.
• Thus, they were considered the first farmers of Maharashtra as they were the first to establish in Maharashtra.
In simple words: The Malwa people were the very first to build permanent farming villages in Maharashtra. They also learned new pottery styles by interacting with neighboring people from Karnataka.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to mention the specific year (1600 B.C.E.) and their interaction with the neolithic people of Karnataka to secure full marks.

3. State Your Opinion

 

Question 1. It seems that the Harappan people had gone as far as Bihar.
Answer:
• Chalcolithic sites have been discovered in Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The excavations at sites like Chirand, Sonpur, etc. yielded earthen pots of black-and-red ware.
• The shapes of these pots are similar to those of Harappan culture.
• Thus, it seems that the Harappan people had gone as far as Bihar, and the local cultures were influenced by them. This indicates a much wider network of trade and cultural exchange than previously assumed.
In simple words: Scientists found old clay pots in Bihar that look exactly like the ones made by Harappan people. This suggests that Harappan people traveled far east and shared their ideas with local communities.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention specific archaeological sites like Chirand and Sonpur along with the black-and-red pottery style to score full marks.

 

Write Short Notes

 

Question 1. Banas Culture
Answer:
• The chalcolithic culture in India generally belongs to, the Post-Harappan period.
• However, the ‘Ahar’ or ‘Banas’ culture in the Mewad region of Rajasthan was contemporary to the Harappan civilisation.
• Balathal and Gilund are important sites of Ahar culture.
• It was first discovered at Ahar near Udaipur, so it was named as ‘Ahar’ culture.
• Ahar is a tributary of the river Banas, so it is also known as ‘Banas culture’. This culture shows unique regional characteristics while maintaining links with other contemporary civilisations.
In simple words: The Banas culture was a group of people living in Rajasthan at the same time as the Harappans. They are named after the Banas river where their remains were found.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Banas culture is also known as Ahar culture, and name Udaipur and Rajasthan as its key locations.

 

Question 2. Malwa Culture
Answer:
• The name ‘Malwa’ tells us that this culture originated and spread first in the Malwa region.
• It flourished in Madhya Pradesh during 1800 B.C.E. – 1200 B.C.E. Navadatoli, situated on the bank of Narmada is an important site of Malwa culture.
• The people of Malwa culture reached Maharashtra around 1600 B.C.E.
• Permanent villages of farmers were first established in Maharashtra by the Malwa people. They were the first farmers of Maharashtra. Their distinctive painted pottery is a key identifying feature of this ancient culture.
In simple words: The Malwa culture started in Central India and later moved into Maharashtra. They were important because they were the very first people to settle down and start farming in Maharashtra.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the timeline (1800 B.C.E. to 1200 B.C.E.) and the site of Navadatoli on the Narmada river as key facts.

 

Question 3. Kayatha Culture
Answer:
• Kayatha is a chalcolithic site situated on the banks of the river known as Chhoti Kali Sindh at a distance of 25 km from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
• Kayatha culture was contemporary to the Harappan civilisation.
• The Kayatha people followed agriculture and animal husbandry.
• They mainly used handmade pots and microliths. This ancient culture provides key insights into early farming communities in central India.
In simple words: Kayatha was an ancient village near Ujjain that existed at the same time as the Harappan civilization. The people there farmed, raised animals, and made handmade pottery and small stone tools.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Kayatha is located near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Chhoti Kali Sindh river to score full marks on geographical location questions.

 

5. Write about the chalcolithic cultures in Gujarat with the help of the given points.

 

Question 1.
(a) Period
(b) Means of livelihood
(c) Geographical spread
(d) Evidence of cultural contact with other people.
Answer:
(a) Period: The chalcolithic settlements in Gujarat coincide with the following phases of the Harappan culture:
• Early Harappan phase (3950-2600 B.C.E.)
• Mature (urban) phase (2600-1900 B.C.E.)
• Post-Harappan phase (1900-900 B.C.E.)

(b) Means of livelihood: There are ample sources of semi-precious stones in Gujarat. Making beads of these stones was a big industry during Harappan times. The Neolithic settlements in Gujarat played a major role in procuring these stones. People residing in the neolithic settlements of Gujarat were mainly pastoral, that is people whose primary occupation was animal husbandry. Thus, making beads, animal husbandry, pottery making were some of the means of livelihood. Engaging in trade with neighboring regions also supported their daily economy.

(c) Geographical spread: There are regional variations in the characteristics of the chalcolithic cultures of Gujarat. The chalcolithic pottery of Kutch - Saurashtra and Northern Gujarat are distinct from each other. The chalcolithic villages in Kutch - Saurashtra were abandoned by 1900 B.C.E.
In simple words: The chalcolithic period in Gujarat happened around the same time as the Harappan civilization. People made a living by making stone beads, farming, raising animals, and making pottery, with different styles of pottery found in different regions like Kutch and Northern Gujarat.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing historical periods and livelihoods, structure your answer clearly using the sub-headings provided in the question to make it easy for the examiner to grade.

Question (d) Evidence of cultural contact with other people
Answer: In the post-Harappan period there were two chalcolithic cultures in Gujarat. The culture in south Gujarat was known as ‘Prabhas’ culture and the one in northeastern Gujarat was known as ‘Rangpur’ culture. These cultures existed till 1800-1200 B.C.E. This shows how different communities interacted and shared cultural traits over time.
In simple words: After the Harappan period, two different ancient cultures existed in Gujarat called Prabhas and Rangpur, showing how people lived and connected in those areas.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly mention the names 'Prabhas' and 'Rangpur' along with their respective locations in Gujarat to score full marks.

 

Activity: With the help of the Internet, reference books, field trips, newspaper articles, etc. obtain pictures of excavated artifacts and architectural remains and arrange an exhibition under the guidance of your teachers.
Answer: To be done by students. This activity will help you understand historical preservation practically.
In simple words: This is a practical project for students to collect historical pictures and set up an exhibition at school.

🎯 Exam Tip: For activities marked 'To be done by students', focus on gathering authentic sources like museum websites or historical archives.