9 Questions
What is a distinctive feature of the Indus Valley Civilization according to the text?
Advanced cities with well-planned streets
Which region did the Indus Valley Civilization primarily occupy?
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey
What is one of the major archaeological sites associated with the Indus Valley Civilization mentioned in the text?
Mohenjo-daro
Which aspect of the Indus Valley Civilization still remains undeciphered, according to the text?
Writing system
What was a common trait shared by early cultures in the Indus Valley Civilization?
System of weights and measures for trade
Which scholar led archaeological digs that resulted in major discoveries related to the Indus Valley Civilization?
Mortimer Wheeler
In which modern-day countries did the Indus Valley Civilization exist?
India and Pakistan
What type of seals were probably used by the Indus Valley Civilization to indicate ownership?
Circular seals
What characteristic defined the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Planned layouts with central mounds or citadels
Study Notes
Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was one of several ancient civilizations that emerged during the Bronze Age in different regions of the world. This ancient civilization is considered the first urban culture of South Asia. It existed from approximately 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE and spanned parts of what are now India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey.
The Indus Valley Civilization is known for its advanced cities with well-planned streets, drainage systems, and large public baths. Some of the major discoveries made through archaeological digs led by scholars like Mortimer Wheeler have been found at Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Ropar, Banas, Bhagwanpura, Surkotada, and other sites spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Although there were differences among these early cultures, they shared some common traits, such as:
- Trade networks extending over a vast area.
- Cities with planned layouts, including a central mound or citadel surrounded by a lower town.
- A system of weights and measures used for trade.
- A variety of cylindrical seals probably used to indicate ownership.
The Indus Valley Civilization's writing system has yet to be deciphered, limiting our understanding of the civilization's social structure, economy, political organization, and religious practices. However, studies of pottery styles, tools, artifacts, and animal bones suggest that the people inhabiting this region may have belonged to various ethnic groups related to modern-day populations in the Indian subcontinent.
Test your knowledge about the ancient Indus Valley Civilization that existed from approximately 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE in South Asia. Learn about its advanced cities, trade networks, writing system, and common traits shared by the early cultures of the era.
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