CLASS – VI
SUBJECT- HISTORY
CH-4 THE FIRST CIVILIZATION IN INDIA
➢ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
D. Answer the following questions in 10-20 words.
1. What is civilization?
Ans. A civilization is a complex human society, usually made up of different cities with certain
characteristics of cultural and technological development .
2.Which is the first civilization of India? Why is it called so?
Ans. The first civilization of India is the Indus Valley Civilization. It was so called because it flourished
around the River India.
3. Name a few cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans . A few cities of the Indus Valley Civilization are Chanhudaro (along The Indus River in Sindh),
Kalibangan, Banawali and Lothal.
4.Name a few occupations of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans. Some occupations of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization are agriculture, animal husbandry,
making bronze figurine, making ornament, cloth weaving and pottery making.
5. List any three features of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans. Three features of the Indus Valley Civilization are town planning, art and craft and pictograph
script.
E. Answer the following questions in 50-70 words.
1. Describe the town planning of Harappan cities.
Ans. The town planning of Harappan cities are given below:
i- The Harappan cities were well planned as there was a citadel to the west of each city.
ii- The houses followed the grid system where the main street intersected each other at right
angle, dividing the city in rectangular blocks.
iii- The cities had an impressive drainage system.
2. Explain how art and craft was an important industry in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans. Art and craft was an important industry in the Indus Valley Civilization because:
i- People specialized in craftwork like sculpting, polishing beads and making seals.
ii- The most artistic achievement was the making of seals on which engraving looked realistic.
iii- Cloth weaving, pottery making and making terracotta figurine were also practiced.
3. Give one distinguishing feature each of Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Lothal and Kalibangan.
Ans. Mohenjodaro- The Great Bath is the important building and comprised of a tank made of beautiful
brick work.
Harappa- In the citadel at Harappa, we find as many as six granaries.
Lothal- A brick dockyard was discovered at Lothal.
Kalibangan- In Kalibangan , many houses had their own wells. For sacrifice, fire altar have been found.
4. Write a short note on the religious practice of the Harappan people.
Ans. Numerous female terracotta figurines have been found from various sites. People worshipped the
earth as a fertility goddess. The most striking deity of the Harappan culture is the horned god on the seals.
This God has three heads and horns.There is also evidence of Linga worship.
5. Mention briefly the suggested causes behind the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans. The suggested causes behind the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization are:
i- Planning and construction became less efficient than earlier times. In Mohenjodaro it was
suggested that the city became weak under the pressure of population.
ii- Expansion of the neighbouring desert increased the salinity of the soil and decreased fertility
reducing the production of crops.
iii- Flood are also considered as cause for decline.
6. Write a brief note on Dholavira.
Ans. Dholavira , the latest excavated site of Indus Valley Civilization in Gujarat. It is one of the largest
urban centers in the Kachchh district of Gujarat. This city was divided into three parts with great stone
walls all around and gateways for entrance.
F. Answer the following questions in 80-100 words.
1. Explain in your own words about the class differences and life of the people of the Indus Valley
Civilization.
Ans. The class differences and life of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization are given below:
i- Structural remains of the houses indicate the class differences.
ii- The big houses would have been occupied by the rich people.
iii- Smaller houses and two-room cottages would have been used by poorer section of society.
2. What are the main features of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Ans. The main features of the Indus Valley Civilization are:
i- The general lay out of the cities like Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi is
similar.
ii- The west of each was the citadel, fortified by crenellated walls.
iii- The arrangement of the houses in the lower town followed the grid system and had an
impressive drainage system.
iv- Agriculture was one of the main economic activities of the people along with animal
husbandry.
v- Different art and craft activities were practiced.
