39 Questions
What did Alexander Cunningham conclude about the seal discovered during his excavations at Harappa?
It was a foreign seal due to the absence of a hump on the bull depicted.
Which of the following best describes Alexander Burnes' understanding of the significance of Harappa during his visit?
He found it to be an important site but was clueless about its precise significance.
Why were the mounds of Harappa badly disturbed when Alexander Cunningham revisited in 1872?
Railway contractors were extracting free bricks from the site.
Why were the officers of the Archaeological Survey of India unenthusiastic about Harappa and Mohenjodaro in the early 20th century?
They believed that the sites had already been extensively explored and nothing significant remained.
What is one of the significant differences between Harappan sites mentioned in the text?
Variation in the layout of settlements
Which site had a very low percentage of black-on-red Harappan pottery finds?
Allahdino
What was a feature of the mud-brick platforms in the southern part of the citadel complex at Kalibangan?
'Fire altars'
According to Leshnik, what did he suggest the dockyard at Lothal was actually?
An irrigation reservoir
Why are recent excavations at Harappan sites significant?
For careful analysis of cultural sequence and residential areas
What do the debates about the Harappan civilization reflect according to the text?
Importance of interpretation and differing theories
What was John Marshall's role in the discovery of the Indus or Harappan civilization?
He made the formal announcement of the discovery in 1924.
What was the significance of Marshall's announcement of the Indus or Harappan civilization discovery?
It placed the Indus civilization contemporary with Mesopotamia and Egypt.
What did Childe consider as the result and symbol of a new economic stage in society?
The urban revolution
According to Childe, what characterized the city as a symbol of revolution?
A slow culmination of social and economic changes
What was one objection raised regarding V.Gordon Childe's criteria for defining cities?
They included features occasionally found outside urban contexts.
Which ancient civilizations were noted for not having true cities or a system of true writing?
Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica and Mycenaean civilization of Greece
What did Childe identify as the distinguishing characteristics of the first cities?
Exact sciences and predictive arts
'Urbanization' and 'civilization' are often referred to as synonymous because:
'Urbanization' typically involves cities and writing, which are associated with 'civilization'.
'Urbanization' means:
'The emergence of cities.'
'Civilization' is more abstract than 'urbanization' because it refers to a specific cultural stage generally associated with:
'Cities and writing.'
What is a key advantage of the concentration of population in a city, as mentioned in the text?
Enhanced protection and security
Apart from political decisions and military strategies, what other activities were typically conducted in cities according to the text?
Artistic and cultural activities
What kind of factors are suggested to have played a role in the emergence of cities?
Social, political, economic, technological, and ideological factors
What aspect of the emergence of cities does archaeology provide more direct information on?
Technological aspects
What is one commonality between the emergence of cities and the longer history of human settlements according to the text?
Increasing cultural complexity
In the context of Harappan civilization studies, why have scholars shifted their focus to smaller settlements?
To uncover more about lesser-known Harappan sites
What is a key aspect that scholars have acknowledged in recent decades regarding the study of the Harappan civilization?
The need to view it independently rather than through a Mesopotamian lens
What characteristic did some early archaeologists tend to emphasize when studying Harappan civilization settlements?
Urban settlements only
Which location is NOT mentioned in the text as a site as large or larger than Mohenjodaro and Harappa?
Mohenjodaro and Harappa in Pakistan
What new interpretation strategy has been adopted by scholars regarding the Harappan civilization?
Viewing it independently rather than through a Mesopotamian lens
What is a significant development that has helped in understanding the networks connecting different types of Harappan settlements?
The study of small fortified rural settlements like Balu in Haryana
What has been a major outcome of recent discoveries about the Harappan civilization?
Increased mystery and vigorous debate about various aspects
What aspect of city life did Childe highlight as crucial for sustaining cities?
The generation and appropriation of agricultural surpluses
According to Gideon Sjoberg, what played a pivotal role in maintaining the social organization of empires?
Political control
What did Robert McC.Adams focus on as crucial factors in the emergence of cities?
Political factors
What was the trade-off between the ruling class and the rest of society according to the text?
Rulers lived off the surplus produced by farmers
What distinguished cities from villages, according to the text?
Cities were larger, more densely populated, and had full-time craftspersons
What was an important role played by cities in relation to agricultural surpluses?
Appropriation and redistribution of agricultural surpluses
How did the ruling elite benefit from the surplus food produced by farmers?
By living off this surplus
Explore the specific criteria and abstract definitions used to identify the world's first cities, including settlement size, architectural features, and cultural complexity. Learn about the hypotheses put forward by scholars to explain the rise of these ancient urban centers.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
