Criteria for Identifying the World's First Cities

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What was Charles Masson convinced of when he stood on the mounds of Harappa?

That it was an ancient pilgrimage site

That it was an important site for ancient trade

That it was the capital of the Maurya Empire

That it was the place where Alexander the Great defeated king Porus in battle (correct)

What was Alexander Burnes' opinion of Harappa when he visited the site?

He believed it was a burial ground for ancient kings

He concluded that it was just an ordinary village

He thought it was an important site, but was clueless about its precise significance (correct)

He thought it was a site of great religious importance

What did Alexander Cunningham discover when he conducted a small excavation at Harappa?

The ruins of a royal palace and a grand temple

Evidence of a sophisticated ancient irrigation system

Remains of some structures, stone tools, and ancient pottery (correct)

Artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization

Why did Cunningham conclude that a seal he obtained from Harappa must be a foreign one?

Because the seal depicted a bull without a hump Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the differences in the layout of settlements and crops across Harappan sites?

They indicate a variety of subsistence strategies and food habits among the Harappans. Signup and view all the answers

How do the differences in the types, range, and frequency of artifacts across Harappan sites contribute to our understanding of the civilization?

They suggest diversity in craft traditions and material culture among the Harappans. Signup and view all the answers

What implications do the re-interpretation of structures at Harappan sites have on our understanding of the civilization?

They challenge previous assumptions about the social and political systems of the Harappans. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of recent excavations at Harappan sites conducted by joint American and Pakistani teams?

They revealed new information, such as diet and health details, through careful analysis of cultural sequences. Signup and view all the answers

Why are debates about various aspects of the Harappan civilization considered significant?

Because they reflect both the potential of archaeology as a window into the ancient past and the important role of interpretation in this discipline. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for carefully examining each theory about the Harappan civilization?

To acknowledge and understand the current limits of our knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the specific criteria used to identify the rise of the world’s first cities?

Settlement size and architectural features Signup and view all the answers

What did Childe emphasize as important factors for the rise of the world’s first cities?

Increasing food surpluses and technological factors Signup and view all the answers

What key concept suggests that the world’s first cities were larger and more densely populated than villages?

T3 Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of cities reflects the concentration of social surplus in the hands of the elite?

M4 Signup and view all the answers

What did Gideon Sjoberg emphasize as crucial in maintaining the social organization of empires?

Political control Signup and view all the answers

What led to the development of exact but practically useful sciences such as arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy?

Writing Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by 'cities implied a significant amount of long-distance trade'?

'Cities' refers to large settlements with long-distance trade Signup and view all the answers

What did Childe conceptualize as sophisticated styles of artistic expression?

'C8' conceptualized artistic expression Signup and view all the answers

'They provided a permanent base for new social and political institutions that regulated the relationships between specialized producers occupying different econiches.' What does 'They' refer to in this context?

'They' refers to cities Signup and view all the answers

What was an important aspect of McC.Adams’ contribution to our understanding of city life?

Highlighting the relationship between cities and their hinterlands Signup and view all the answers

What did the rulers provide in return for living off the surplus produced by farmers?

Peace, security, planning, and organization Signup and view all the answers

What did 'the state provided security and materials to specialist craftspersons' imply?

Craftspersons lived settled lives Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main advantages of the concentration of population in a city, as mentioned in the text?

Enhanced protection and security Signup and view all the answers

What role did elite groups play in the city?

They were concentrated near the city's centre Signup and view all the answers

What factors are suggested by the text as having played an important role in the emergence of cities?

Population growth and long-distance trade Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text emphasize that archaeology forms the primary source for reconstructing the emergence of the world’s first cities?

Because other factors cannot be understood in detail Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest as part of the longer history of human settlements?

Increasing cultural complexity and expanding craft production Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason provided in the text for why scholars have become conscious of the earlier bias towards Mesopotamian links in Harappan studies?

Acknowledgment of the need to view Harappan civilization independently Signup and view all the answers

Why has there been an increasing focus on smaller, less imposing sites in Harappan studies?

To explore the economic activities of these smaller settlements Signup and view all the answers

What is one outcome of the growth in information about the Harappan civilization since its initial discovery?

Increase in data leading to more vigorous debate about certain aspects Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason provided in the text for emphasizing rural settlements in Harappan studies?

To understand networks connecting cities, towns, and villages Signup and view all the answers

Why is it stated that there are several new interpretations based on old and new discoveries about the Harappan civilization?

To indicate ongoing development and evolution in understanding the civilization Signup and view all the answers

What is one significance of Allahdino, a village settlement mentioned in the text?

It revealed all the main features of the Harappan civilization despite its size Signup and view all the answers

What does the excavation at Balu reveal about rural settlements during the Harappan civilization?

They demonstrated a rich variety of plant remains despite their size Signup and view all the answers

Which archaeologist started excavations at Harappa in 1920?

Daya Ram Sahni Signup and view all the answers

What did D.R. Bhandarkar assess about Mohenjodaro's age?

It could not be more than 250 years old Signup and view all the answers

Who made the formal announcement of the discovery of the Indus or Harappan civilization in 1924?

John Marshall Signup and view all the answers

What did John Marshall's announcement reveal about the civilization?

It dated back 2,500 years, similar to Mesopotamia and Egypt Signup and view all the answers

According to V. Gordon Childe, what marked a new economic stage in the evolution of society?

Urban revolution Signup and view all the answers

What does 'urbanization' primarily mean according to the text?

The emergence of cities Signup and view all the answers

What is one criticism mentioned in the text about V. Gordon Childe's criteria for identifying the first cities?

They are not deducible from archaeological data Signup and view all the answers

What feature tends to go together with 'urbanization' and 'civilization'?

Cities and writing Signup and view all the answers

'Urban revolution' described by V. Gordon Childe was marked by a culmination of centuries of gradual social and economic changes rather than a ____________ change.

Sudden and violent Signup and view all the answers

Which civilizations did not have true cities and a system of true writing, according to the text?

Inca civilization of Peru and Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica Signup and view all the answers

What does 'urbanization' and 'civilization' tend to be synonymous with according to the text?