I. Answer the following in a word or a sentence each.

Question 1.
In which year was the Department of Archaeological Survey of India established?
Answer:
The Department of Archaeological Survey of India was established in 1861.

Question 2.
What does the word Mohenjodaro mean?
Answer:
The word Mohenjodaro means the “Mound of the Dead” in Sindhi language.

Question 3.
Where is the Great Bath of Indus Valley Civilization located?
Answer:
The Great Bath of the Indus Valley Civilization is located at Mohenjodaro.

Question 4.
Where was the dockyard of Indus Valley Civilization discovered?
Answer:
The dockyard of the Indus Valley Civilization was discovered at Lothal in Gujarat.

Question 5.
Mention the important deity of Indus people.
Answer:
The important deity of the Indus people was the Mother Goddess.

II. Answer the following in two words or two sentences each.

Question 1.
Who discovered Harappa and Mohenjodaro?
Answer:
Harappa was discovered by Dr. Dayaram Sahani in 1921, and Mohenjodaro was discovered by Dr. R.D. Banerjee in 1922.

Question 2.
Name any two cities discovered in Indus Civilization.
Answer:
Two important cities of the Indus Civilization are Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

Question 3.
Mention the methods of disposal of the dead by Indus people.
Answer:
The Indus people disposed of their dead by both cremation and burial.

Question 4.
Mention any two imports of Indus people.
Answer:
The Indus people imported precious stones and copper.

Question 5.
Mention any two exports of Indus people.
Answer:
The Indus people exported ivory and timber.

Question 6.
Mention any two causes which brought an end to Indus Civilization.
Answer:
Two causes for the end of Indus Civilization were floods and Aryan invasion.

III. Answer the following in 15 to 20 sentences each.

Question 1.
Explain the town planning of Indus Civilization.
Answer:

• The Indus Civilization is famous for its well-planned cities. The cities were divided into two parts – the citadel on a higher platform in the west and the residential area in the east, both surrounded by massive walls. The streets were straight and cut at right angles, dividing the city into rectangular blocks, with lamp posts and dustbins indicating good municipal administration.
• A unique feature was the underground drainage system; each house had soak pits connected to covered public drains with manholes. The Great Bath at Mohenjodaro, with strong walls and an advanced water system, shows their concern for cleanliness. Cities also had granaries for storing grain and well-built houses with multiple rooms, courtyards, bathrooms, and wells. The discovery of a dockyard at Lothal proves their maritime trade.

Question 2.
State the social and economic conditions of Indus people. Answer:

• The social life of the Indus people was simple but advanced. Society was divided into four groups – priests, warriors, traders, and workers. Wheat, barley, rice, fruits, vegetables, milk, fish, and meat formed their diet. They wore simple cotton and woolen clothes. Men wore a dhoti and shawl, while women wore ornaments such as earrings, bangles, necklaces, and anklets made of gold, silver, and precious stones.
• The people were fond of games, toys, dancing, and music. They also used cosmetics like face paints and lipsticks. They practiced cremation and burial of the dead. Religiously, they worshipped the Mother Goddess, Lord Shiva (Pashupati), animals, and trees.
• Economically, agriculture was their main occupation. They grew wheat, barley, peas, sesame, and cotton. They reared cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes. They practiced many handicrafts like pottery, weaving, dyeing, carpentry, and metallurgy. They also used weights and measures and knew the decimal system.
• The Indus people carried on both internal and external trade. They traded with regions like Mesopotamia and Egypt. They exported ivory, beads, timber, and gold, and imported copper, tin, and precious stones. Their dockyard at Lothal shows they had developed sea trade. Thus, their social and economic life was highly developed and well-organized.

IV. Answer the following in 30 to 40 sentences.

Question 1.
Enumerate briefly the salient features of Indus Civilization. Answer:

• The Indus Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations. It flourished between 3000 BCE and 1500 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwestern India. It was contemporary to the civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China.
• The most remarkable feature of this civilization was its town planning. Cities were built on a planned grid system with straight streets cutting at right angles. The cities were divided into two parts – the citadel on the west and the residential area on the east. Houses were made of burnt bricks, and some were double-storied. Each house had a courtyard, bathroom, kitchen, and private well.
• The drainage system was highly advanced. Every house had its own soak pit connected to public drains. These drains were covered and had manholes for cleaning. No other ancient civilization gave so much importance to cleanliness.
• The Great Bath at Mohenjodaro is an outstanding example of their architectural skill. Large granaries at Harappa and Mohenjodaro show the importance of agriculture. The discovery of a dockyard at Lothal proves their maritime trade.
• Socially, the people were divided into different groups based on occupation – priests, warriors, traders, and workers. They ate wheat, barley, fruits, vegetables, milk, and meat. They wore cotton and woolen clothes, and women loved ornaments made of gold, silver, and beads. They also used cosmetics and decorated themselves with various hairstyles. Entertainment included games, toys, dancing, and music.
• Economically, they were mainly farmers and traders. They cultivated wheat, barley, rice, sesame, and cotton. They reared animals like cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes. They practiced handicrafts such as pottery, weaving, carpentry, and metallurgy. Trade was both internal and external. They exported ivory, beads, and gold and imported precious stones, tin, and copper.
• Religiously, they worshipped the Mother Goddess, Lord Shiva as Pashupati, and sacred animals and trees. They also believed in spirits and demons.
• In the field of art, they produced seals, pottery, figurines, toys, and ornaments. The bronze statue of a dancing girl and the stone figure of a bearded man are remarkable examples of their sculpture.
• The script of the Indus people remains undeciphered, but it was pictographic in nature.
• The decline of the Indus Civilization was gradual. Causes include floods, deforestation, epidemics, river course changes, decreased rainfall, and Aryan invasion.

Thus, the Indus Civilization was highly advanced in town planning, economy, society, religion, and art, and it stands as one of the greatest achievements of ancient India.