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Questions and Answers
What was the primary economic focus of the Harappan civilization?
Which of the following materials was NOT traded by the inhabitants of the Indus Valley?
What was the primary purpose of the cubical weights found in Harappa?
With which regions did the Harappan civilization engage in trade?
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Which weight is most common in the Harappan binary weight system?
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What type of artifacts were often found indicating trade relations of the Indus Valley?
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Which of the following was a common ornament for trade found in Harappan sites?
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How did the Mesopotamian model of agriculture influence the civilization along the Indus River?
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What crops were primarily grown in the Indus Valley civilization?
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What characteristic of the Harappan inscriptions indicates a complex society?
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Which animal was notably domesticated by the Harappan civilization for its ivory?
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What type of seals were most commonly used by the Harappans for trade?
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What indicates the Harappan knowledge of astronomy?
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What does the presence of writing on seals and pottery indicate about the Indus civilization?
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What was necessary for the urban civilization of Indus River to manage their agricultural and religious events?
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Which aspects of Harappan weights were uniform across settlements?
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What indicates the presence of workshops in the crafts quarter of Harappa?
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What is the primary function of the structure identified as the 'granary' in Harappa?
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Which of the following was likely a component of daily trade activities in Harappa?
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What does the well found at Mound AB suggest about Harappan society?
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What type of materials were commonly manufactured in the crafts quarter of Harappa?
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Which natural feature played an important role in the economic activities of Harappa?
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Which of the following was depicted on Harappan seals that provides insight into their trade and religious practices?
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What feature characterizes Mound F in Harappa that reflects its economic significance?
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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.
