History L-4 The first cities of the the indian subcontinent

Q1. Write about the street plan of typical indus city?

Ans.1 1. Cities were divided into rectangular blocks by wide roads cutting each other at right angles .

2. The cities probably had street lights because remains of lamps post have been discovered along the roads.

Q2. Mention some important crafts of the Harappans.

Ans 2. Some important crafts of the Harrapans were pot-making , making of toys and sculptures, Spinning and weaving , Metal casting , Seal making etc.

Q3. Why do we not understand the inscriptions on the Harrapan seals?

Ans3. We do not understand the inscriptions on the Harrapan seals because nobody has been able to decipher the Indus script.

Q4. What do you know about the weights and measures used by the Indus mechants?

Ans4. The indus merchants used uniform weights and measures.

Q5. Mention one purpose for which the Indus people used large urns.

Ans5. Indus people used large urns to bury their dead.

Q6. Write about one of Lothal's main industries.

Ans 6. The bead making industry was one of Lothal's main industry.

Q7. What possibly led to the decline of the Indus civilisation?

Ans 7. The decline of the Indus civilisation might have been due to earthquakes , floods or a change in the course of the Indus.

Q8. Why is the Indus civilisation also called the Harappan Civilisation

Ans 8. Since the remains found at these sites are very similar to those found at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, they are believed to have to belong to one civilisation. The Indus valley civilisation or Harappan civilisation.

Q9. What do you know about the great bath at Mohenjo-daro?

Ans 9. 1. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro shows how good the Indus people were at engineering and planning.

2. The inner walls were treated to prevent seepage.

3. Stairs decending into the bath were used for cleaning it.

Q10. Mention a few things depicted on the Indus seals.

Ans 10. 1. Most of the seals have short inscriptions and the impression of a bull, buffalo, tiger , goat,rhinoceros or 7an elephant.

2. Some seals show a male god.

Q11. Mention some important architectural features of Dholavira.

Ans 11. 1. The city has three parts- a citadel, a middle town and a lower town.

2. The Citadel and the Middle town are enclosed within the high walls provided with gateways.

3. Stone has been used in the construction of some buildings.

4. The lower town is not enclosed within the wall.

5. There is an open space , between the Citadel and the middle town, where public functions might have been held.

6. Several wells and large tanks for storing water have been found in the city.