Indus Civilization: Agriculture and Economy
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary economic focus of the Harappan civilization?

  • Military conquests
  • Urban and mercantile activities (correct)
  • Nomadic herding
  • Agricultural practices
  • Which of the following materials was NOT traded by the inhabitants of the Indus Valley?

  • Copper
  • Wool (correct)
  • Gold
  • Turquoise
  • What was the primary purpose of the cubical weights found in Harappa?

  • For constructing buildings
  • For measuring the volume of liquids
  • For agricultural use in farming
  • For controlling trade and collecting taxes (correct)
  • With which regions did the Harappan civilization engage in trade?

    <p>Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which weight is most common in the Harappan binary weight system?

    <p>13.7 grams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of artifacts were often found indicating trade relations of the Indus Valley?

    <p>Gold, silver, and copper items</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was a common ornament for trade found in Harappan sites?

    <p>Gold beads with steatite inlay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Mesopotamian model of agriculture influence the civilization along the Indus River?

    <p>It utilized earthen walls to manage annual flooding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What crops were primarily grown in the Indus Valley civilization?

    <p>Wheat, barley, peas, and sesame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of the Harappan inscriptions indicates a complex society?

    <p>System for recording names and materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which animal was notably domesticated by the Harappan civilization for its ivory?

    <p>Elephant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of seals were most commonly used by the Harappans for trade?

    <p>Square stone seals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What indicates the Harappan knowledge of astronomy?

    <p>Straight streets oriented towards cardinal directions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the presence of writing on seals and pottery indicate about the Indus civilization?

    <p>The development of a recording system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was necessary for the urban civilization of Indus River to manage their agricultural and religious events?

    <p>A calendar adjusted to lunar and solar transitions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspects of Harappan weights were uniform across settlements?

    <p>The graduated sizes conforming to a weight system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What indicates the presence of workshops in the crafts quarter of Harappa?

    <p>Manufacturing debris found</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the structure identified as the 'granary' in Harappa?

    <p>Storage of surplus grains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was likely a component of daily trade activities in Harappa?

    <p>Craft workshops</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the well found at Mound AB suggest about Harappan society?

    <p>Emphasis on public hygiene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of materials were commonly manufactured in the crafts quarter of Harappa?

    <p>Shell ornaments and stone beads</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which natural feature played an important role in the economic activities of Harappa?

    <p>Old Bed of the Ravi River</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was depicted on Harappan seals that provides insight into their trade and religious practices?

    <p>Iconographic motifs and animals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature characterizes Mound F in Harappa that reflects its economic significance?

    <p>A massive granary structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Indus Civilization Agriculture

    • Early civilizations in the Indus Valley utilized the fertile land along the Indus River.
    • They managed the river's annual flooding by constructing earthen walls, leading to the cultivation of various crops like wheat, barley, peas, melons, and sesame.
    • The Indus civilization was the first to cultivate cotton, used for cloth production.
    • They domesticated several animals, including the elephant, for its ivory.

    Indus Economy

    • Standardized weights used for trade and taxation were discovered at Harappa, ranging in size from 0.856 grams to 13.7 grams.
    • These weights adhered to the Harappan binary weight system, utilized across their settlements.

    Harappan Astronomy

    • The Harappan civilization likely possessed a sophisticated understanding of astronomy.
    • This is evidenced by the Indus cities' streets aligned with cardinal directions and the documented compilation of the Vedic calendar around the 23rd century BC, during the Indus civilization's flourishing.

    Harappan Religious Practices

    • Indus seals depict a row of six human figures with long plaits of hair, suggesting a connection to the Pleiades constellation.
    • This connection is further strengthened by the Pleiades' prominent role in ancient Hindu mythology, considered the mothers of the war-god Rudra/Skanda.

    The Great Bear

    • The constellation Ursa Major, also known as The Great Bear, is referred to as "seven-star" on an Indus seal, signifying the importance of astronomical observations in their culture.

    Origins of Indus Writing

    • Indus writing emerged during the Ravi Phase (c. 3300-2800 BC) at Harappa.
    • Inscriptions were found etched on pottery before firing, with examples dating back to c. 3300 BC, consisting of plant symbols.

    Comparing Ancient Scripts

    • Ancient Indus script shares similarities with ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese, and Hittite scripts, particularly in its use of symbols representing mountains or hill country

    Indus Art and Artifacts

    • Molded terra-cotta tablets depict scenes of animals, such as a gharial eating fish.

    Indus Seals

    • Square seals crafted from stone were used as a form of identification, engraved with symbols and animal motifs.
    • The unicorn is a prominent motif on seals, along with abstract symbols indicating the Indus form of writing.
    • These seals suggest a system for recording names of deities, people, or materials.
    • The inscriptions, typically consisting of seven symbols, remain undeciphered due to their brevity.

    Indus Economy and Trade

    • The urban and mercantile nature of the Indus civilization is evident by their trading practices.
    • The Indus civilization traded with regions such as Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persia, exchanging goods like gold, silver, copper, and turquoise.

    Indus Architecture and Urban Planning

    • Harappa's high mound (Mound AB) is enclosed by a massive mud brick city wall with substantial square ramparts.
    • Within this area, a public well and bathing platforms were found in the southern part of Mound AB, potentially used for washing clothes.

    Indus Workshops

    • A dedicated crafts quarter was identified within the city, featuring workshops for producing stone beads, shell ornaments, glazed faience ornaments, stone tools, and possibly gold works.

    Harappa: Mound F

    • The "granary" at Harappa, located on Mound F, is a large brick structure with a central passageway and multiple rooms.

    Language and Religion

    • The Indus civilization employed a pictographic script, largely found on seals, amulets, pottery, and other objects.
    • The script features pictographic symbols, along with images of animals, deities, and worshippers, providing insights into their language and religion.

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    Description

    Explore the agricultural practices and economic systems of the Indus Civilization. This quiz covers their innovative farming techniques, standardized trade weights, and advancements in astronomy that highlight their contributions to early civilization.

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