Indus Valley Civilization: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following statements most accurately represents the implications of the discovery of cylindrical seals, similar to those found in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf, within the Indus Valley Civilization?

  • It suggests a direct political alliance between the Indus Valley Civilization and the Akkadian Empire, evidenced by shared administrative technologies.
  • It demonstrates a forced imposition of Mesopotamian religious practices onto the Indus Valley, leading to syncretism in religious iconography.
  • It primarily indicates a cultural exchange limited to artistic styles, without substantial economic or political ramifications.
  • It strongly implies established trade networks and cultural interaction between these geographically disparate regions during the Bronze Age. (correct)

Given the archaeological evidence suggesting the Harappa was older than Mohenjo-Daro, what critical methodological challenge arises in interpreting the socio-political evolution of the Indus Valley Civilization?

  • Establishing a definitive chronological framework for resource depletion that equally affected both Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, irrespective of their age.
  • Reconciling the homogenous urban planning evident across both cities with the implications of asynchronous development and potential shifts in governance. (correct)
  • Distinguishing the linguistic divergence between the populations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro based on the uniformity in script usage across both sites.
  • Attributing specific technological advancements uniquely to either culture based on the inverse relationship between development and resource allocation.

Considering the absence of definitive evidence of palaces or places of worship in Harappan cities, which of the following hypotheses is both the most parsimonious and accounts for the observed urban layout and artifact distribution?

  • Harappan society was fundamentally egalitarian, lacking centralized authority and religious institutions, with communal decision-making processes influencing urban development. (correct)
  • Harappan society underwent a radical secularization, replacing traditional religious practices with philosophical naturalism influencing town planning and social relationships.
  • Harappan cities were theocracies governed by a priestly class whose power was deliberately masked through symbolic architectural and artistic expression.
  • Harappan urban centers served primarily as fortified trading posts under the control of a military elite who suppressed religious expression to maintain social order.

Reflecting on Sir John Marshall's observation regarding the unexpected sophistication of the 'Dancing Girl' statuette, and considering the subsequent archaeological advancements, how has this initial perception been re-evaluated within the context of pre-historic modeling?

<p>Subsequent discoveries of varied artistic expressions across Indus sites has established the 'Dancing Girl' as representative of high caliber artistic norms. (B)</p>
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Assuming the Indus script is deciphered in the future and reveals detailed accounts of governance and social stratification, what methodological challenges would archaeologists face in reconciling textual evidence with the existing material record, especially considering the relative absence of overt displays of power or hierarchical structures in the archaeological findings?

<p>Stratifying the material record according to the textual data to revise established assumptions about the nature of power and hierarchy in Indus society. (A)</p>
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Given the highly standardized weights and measures discovered throughout the Indus Valley Civilization, which of the following inferences is most warranted regarding the nature of its socio-economic system?

<p>The Indus Valley Civilization had a complex but decentralized trade network, facilitated by standardized weights and measures that decreased transactional frictions. (A)</p>
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How might the strategic placement of settlements near rivers, as observed in the Indus Valley Civilization, simultaneously present benefits and challenges to long-term societal resilience, considering the interplay between resource accessibility and environmental vulnerabilities?

<p>While river proximity provided essential resources, it augmented vulnerability to catastrophic events like floods, necessitating advanced urban planning and water management techniques. (D)</p>
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In light of the evidence suggesting that Mehergarh predates the Indus Valley Civilization and exhibits traces of early farming and herding, how does this influence our comprehension of the origins and trajectory of urbanization in South Asia?

<p>It offers essential insights into the incremental development of agricultural practices and sedentary lifeways that would subsequently underpin the urbanization processes observed in the Indus Valley Civilization. (B)</p>
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Considering the discovery of a naval dockyard in Lothal, situated on a tributary of the Sabarmati river, what crucial ramifications can be drawn regarding the Indus Valley Civilization's potential interactions with other contemporary civilizations via maritime routes?

<p>The presence of a dockyard strongly implies the civilization engaged in active maritime trade with Mesopotamia and adjacent cultures, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas. (C)</p>
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Given the evidence of cotton fabrics, clay spindles, and wool usage in the Indus Valley Civilization, what does it reveal about their textile industry and its integration within the broader economic framework?

<p>The society possessed a decentralized, localized textile industry utilizing varied fibers, indicating both agricultural support and specialized artisanal skill. (A)</p>
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Considering that the Indus Valley Civilization had advanced civic sense, what implications can be derived regarding the governance structures and socio-political organization of their urban centers?

<p>It implies the presence of effective mechanisms for public order, resource management, and community participation, even without explicit evidence of centralized authority. (A)</p>
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Considering archaeological evidence showing minimal weaponry coupled with statements that the Indus Civilization appears to have been peaceful, what potential caveats must researchers observe when interpreting these observations about their society?

<p>Limited weaponry doesn't negate latent social frictions or alternate means of conflict resolution or suppression, meaning peace requires corroboration from multiple sources of evidence. (C)</p>
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Given that Harappan cities had covered drains and soak pits, how did this contribute to or reflect broader trends in public health?

<p>Improved public health through reduced water-borne ailments. This promoted higher life expectancy in cities. (D)</p>
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Considering that writing had been developed the Sumerians before the Harappan Civilization, what can explain the reason this happened there first?

<p>The Sumerians experienced conditions more necessitating documentation of transactions and governance. (C)</p>
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Given the multiple theories about the decline of the Harappan Civilization (repeated floods, ecological changes, invasions, natural calamity, climatic changes, deforestation, and epidemic), why is it important to consider that multiple such situations likely occurred together?

<p>Events likely triggered secondary catastrophes, creating cascades of collapse. (C)</p>
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Given the Indus civilization's geographical range included South Asia, what challenges of comparative archaeology has this created?

<p>The need to reconcile divergent regional adaptations and environmental interactions that might obscure core cultural commonalities. (A)</p>
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Given the evidence of trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia, and the unique structures and items of each, how would you determine if more of the trade was export, import, or equal, if you could only analyze items in the Indus river delta?

<p>Measure items in the location compared to the rest of the civilization and determine the change created by items only viable to import. (A)</p>
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If Indus River trade occurred primarily due to one resource existing more in one civilization than the others, and evidence pointed to ornaments being the primary trade items, which civilization had a lack of them?

<p>Mesopotamia had a lack. (A)</p>
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How does the study of trade routes affect the perceived importance and advancements of the Indus Civilization?

<p>Trade creates shared advancement and shared importance. (D)</p>
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Why is it so important that one of the largest cities in the Indus Valley Civilization, Mohenjo-Daro, has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO?

<p>It helps ensure what remains will remain. (A)</p>
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Flashcards

Charles Masson

Soldier and explorer who first described the ruins of Harappa in his book.

Sir John Marshall

Director General of ASI who found common features between Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Mehergarh

A Neolithic site located near the Bolan Basin of Balochistan in Pakistan. Shows evidence of early farming and herding.

Lothal

A port city of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in Gujarat on the banks of a tributary of the Sabarmati river.

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Standardised system

Weights and measures used in Indus Valley Civilization. An ivory scale was found here that is 1704mm.

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occupation

This is the main occupation of the Indus Civilisation people. Agriculture, handicrafts, pottery making, weaving, carpentry and trading were practiced.

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Sumerians

The earliest form of writing was developed by this civilisation.

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Lothal in Gujarat

The location to find a naval dockyard of the Indus valley civilisation, showing it's maritime activities.

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Indus Civilization

Among the oldest and largest of the four ancient world civilizations.

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Radiocarbon Dating

A method used to determine the age of an object using the radioactive isotope of carbon called carbon-14.

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Steatite

A soft variety of talc stone used for making seals in the Indus Valley Civilization.

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the Indus Civilization

The civilization that was extended from the Makran coast of Baluchistan in the west to Maharashtra in the south.

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Charles Masson

The ruins of Harappa were first described by him, which was the earliest historical records of the city.

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A granary

An artifact discovered in Rakhigarhi, a village in Haryana, belonging to the Mature Harappan Phase, with walls made of mud bricks still in good condition.

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Study Notes

  • Indus Civilisation is related to other contemporary civilisations
  • Indus Civilisation is known for its urban nature
  • Major sites of Indus Civilisation can be identified and studied on maps

Timeline of Ancient World Civilisations

  • Mesopotamia existed from 3500 to 2000 BCE
  • Egyptian civilization existed from 3100 to 1100 BCE
  • Indus Valley existed from 3300 to 1900 BCE
  • Chinese civilization existed from 1700 to 1122 BCE
  • Civilizations were commonly established near rivers along their banks

The Discovery of Harappa

  • In 1856, engineers laying a railway line connecting Lahore to Karachi found burnt bricks
  • They used the bricks for laying the rail road
  • In the 1920s, archaeologists began excavating Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
  • In 1924, Sir John Marshall, Director General of ASI, found common features between Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
  • He concluded they were part of a large civilisation
  • Harappa was concluded to be older than Mohenjo-Daro

Archaeology

  • Physical objects like bricks and pottery sherds help determine a city's location and time
  • Ancient literary sources contain place references
  • Aerial photographs help understand site topography
  • Magnetic scanners, RADAR, and Remote Sensing Methods can also reveal archeological remains

Harappan Civilization

  • The major Harappan sites are within Indian borders
  • Sites include Manda, Rakhigarhi, Harappa, Mitathal, Kalibangan, Ganweriwala, Mohenjo-Daro, Kot Diji, Amri, Dholavira, and Lothal

Cities and Timespan

  • Indus Civilisation was in South Asia
  • It was during the Bronze Age
  • 3300 to 1900 BCE is the time
  • The area was 13 lakh sq.km
  • There were 6 big cities and more than 200 villages

Urban Planning

  • Well-conceived town planning
  • Astonishing masonry and architecture
  • There was a priority for hygiene and public health
  • Standardised weights and measures
  • Solid agricultural and artisanal base

Harappan Civilisation Features

  • Planned areas
  • Upper town to the west (higher, called citadel, used by administrators)
  • Lower town to the east (lower but larger, inhabited by common people)
  • Great Bath and Granaries

Mehrgarh

  • Neolithic site near Bolan Basin of Balochistan in Pakistan
  • Includes evidence of farming, herding
  • Neolithic culture as early as 7000 BCE

Streets and Houses

  • Streets had a grid pattern
  • Running north to south and east to west
  • Wide roads with rounded corners
  • Houses were built on both sides of the street with one or two storeys
  • Most houses had many rooms, a courtyard, a well, toilets and bathrooms
  • Houses used baked bricks and mortar, Roofs flat
  • No evidence of palaces or places of worship

Bronze age and Drainage

  • Historical time marked by the use of articles made of bronze
  • Many cities had covered drains with slabs or bricks
  • Each drain had a gentle slope with drain holes at regular intervals to clear the drains
  • House drains passed below many lanes
  • Every house had its own soak pit

The Great Bath

  • Rectangular tank in a courtyard
  • The earliest example of waterproof structure was lined with bricks
  • Coated with plaster and made water-tight using natural bitumen, steps
  • Located on the north and south with rooms on three sides
  • Water was drawn from a well in the courtyard

Great Granary

  • Massive building with a solid brick foundation
  • Used to store food grains
  • Remains of wheat, barley, millets, sesame, pulses have been found there
  • A granary with walls made of mud bricks, which are still in a good condition, has been discovered in Rakhigarhi

Hall

  • The Assembly Hall was another huge public building
  • Multi-pillared hall (20 pillars in 4 rows for the roof) was located at Mohenjo-Daro

Trade and Indus Valley Civilisation

  • Harappans were great traders
  • Standardized weights and measures
  • Sticks with marks to measure length

Technology and Mohenjo-Daro

  • Sculpture unearthed in a building
  • Included a headband and ornament
  • Found at Mohenjo-Daro, hair/beard trimmed, shawl-like garment decorated with designs
  • Used spoke less solid wheels and carts
  • Maritime trade
  • Indus seals are found in Mesopotamia/Sumeria
  • King Naram-Sin of Akkadian Empire bought Jewellery from the land of Melukha
  • Showed trade links
  • Dockyard shows maritime activities

Script

  • Indus script has not been deciphered
  • Clues about the Indus people and their lifestyle come from other sources
  • Cotton fabrics were in common use
  • Clay spindles suggest that yarn was spun, wool was also used
  • Few weapons were found and that indicates there was no army and an advanced civic sense
  • Ornaments were popular among men and women (necklaces, armlets, bangles, finger rings, ear studs and anklets)
  • Ornaments made of gold, silver, ivory, shell, copper, terracotta and precious stones, iron was unknown

Cities of the Indus People

  • There are no specific deities or their religious practices
  • Possible worship of Mother Goddess based on female figurines

Occupations

  • Main occupation is not known
  • Agriculture, handicrafts, pottery making, jewellery making, weaving, carpentry and trading were practiced
  • Merchants, traders, artisans, rearing of cattle
  • Used potter's wheel.

Pottery

  • Red in color with black designs
  • Pottery included animal figures and geometric designs

Toys and Demise

  • Toys included carts, cows, monkeys, squirrels etc using terracotta
  • The earliest form of writing was developed by Sumerians, this form then caused the civilisation to decline c 1900 BCE
  • Climate changes, ecological change, invasions, natural calamities etc

Indus General Facts

  • Is among the oldest and largest of the ancient civilizations

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