Social Science [3 Mark Questions]

The thee important buildings in my city, Delhi, are:
Rashtrapati Bhavan: It is the official residence of the President of India.
Parliament House: Here elected representatives of the people meet and discuss all important issues regarding the countary.
Supreme Court: It is the highest Court of the country where all the cases are decided. The building is called the Supreme Court building.

In the Harappan cities, there were men and women who made all kinds of things either in their own homes or in special workshop known as crafts persons.

1. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.
2. The Harappans made seals out of stone. These seals were generally rectangular in shape and had an animal carved on them.
3. The Harappans made beads, weights and blades. Most of the beads were made out of carnelian, a beautiful red stone. They also made pots with beautiful black designs.

1. In 1856, when British were building the Lahore to Multan railways, they stumbled upon a mound of finely baked bricks near the site of Harappa in the present day Pakistan.
2. However, it was not until 1924 that John Marshall, the then Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, announced the existence of a great civilization called the Indus Valley Civilization.
3. Since Harappa was the first city to be discovered it was also called Harappan Civilization.

There are many old building near my localtiy. There are:

1. Red fort: Red Fort was constructed in the 17th century.
2. Jama Masjid: Jama Masjid was also constructed in the 17th century.
3. Ferozeshah Kotla: Ferozeshah Kotla was also constructed in the 15th century.

The Archaeological survey of India looks after these ancient buildings.

Seals may have been used to stamp bags or packets containing goods that were sent from one place to another. After a bag was closed or tied, a layer of wet clay was applied on the knot, and the seal was pressed on it. The impression of the seal is known as sealing. Harappan people used the seals for signs of proprietorship, against ill or bad omens etc also.

The Harappan city was a very busy place. There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city. They may have kept the most valuable objects, such as ornaments of gold and silver, or beautiful beads, for themselves. And there were scribes, people who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals, and perhaps wrote on other materials that have not survived till date. Men and women, craftsmen, made all kinds of things- either in their own homes, or in special workshops. People were travelling to distant lands at that time by carts to inland places or by ship to foreign lands.

There were mainly four types of metals that were used to make tools in earlier cities. They were- Copper, bronze, gold, and silver. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.

The Cattle Rearing.

1. The Harappans reared cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo.
2. Water and pasture was available around settlements,
3. In the dry summer months, large herds of animals were probably taken to greaterdistances in search of grass and water.

The archaeologists have found actual pieces of cloth attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro. As we know that cloth is made up of cotton, probably, the farmers grew cotton at that time. The archaeologists have also found spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience which were used to spin thread. This proves that the cloth was used in Harappan civilization.

The historians are uncertain regarding the causes for the decline of the Harappan civilisation. Various factors were responsible for the end of the physical existence of the Harappan cities.

1. The decline in the quality of buildings and town planning indicates as if the rulers were losing control which forced the people to move to newer settlements.
2. The rivers changed their course, which led to either heavy floods or drought like situations.
3. Ecological changes led to the decline of land and agriculture. With time, the requirement for fuel increased, which led to excessive deforestation. Moreover, grazing by large herds of animals destroyed the green cover. All this must have enforced them to evacuate to other areas.

Harappan cities were divided into two or more parts. The western part was higher and was also called the citadel. The eastern part or the lower town was made up of baked bricks. These bricks were laid in interlocking pattern that made the wall strong. Some of the cities also had a huge water tank or ‘The Great Bath’. Fire altars for worshipping were also found in these tanks. Most of the houses were either one or two stories high. They were built around a courtyard. The cities also had covered drainage systems. The drainage system also had manhole at regular intervals for cleaning up.

The story of Harappa.

1. About 152 years ago (1855 A.D.), when railway lines were being laid down for the first time in west Punjab. Engineers stumbled upon the site of Harappa in present-day Pakistan. To them, it appeared like a mount which was a rich source of ready-made, high quality bricks.
2. The labourers (working on railway-line) carried off thousands of bricks from the walls of the old building of the city (later on named as Harappa) to construct railway lines. Many buildings were completely destroyed.
3. Then, nearly eighty five years ago (1920 A.D.), archaeologists found the site, and realized that this was one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent. As this was the first city to be discovered.

1. In cities related with the Harappan civilisation, each drain had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.
2. Very often, drains in houses were connected to those in streets and smaller drains led to bigger ones.
3. As the drains were covered, inspection holes were provided at intervals to clean them. All three (i.e.drains, houses and streets) were probably planned and built at the same time.

Following factors show that Lothal was an important production centre of the Harappan civilisation:

1. It was situated near areas where raw materials such as semi-precious stones were easily available.
2. This was an important centre for making objects out of stone, shell and metal.
3. Pieces of stone, half made beads, tools for bead making and finished beads have all been found in a building. This building was probably a workshop for making beads.

1. Trading thrived in Harappa.
2. It suggests that long-distance trade existed.
3. Goods coming from outside perhaps included copper from Rajasthan, gold from Karnataka and precious stones from Iran and Afghanistan.
4. Seals of Mesopotamia have been found in Indus region while seals of Indus Valley have been found in Mesopotamia.

1. Mohenjodaro.
2. Harappa.
3. Rakhigarhi.
4. Dholavira.
5. Kalibangan.
6. Lothal.
7. Ropar.

Yes, we have covered drains in our locality.Followings are the advantages of having covered drains:

1. Under this system each drain generally had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.
2. Very often drains in houses are connected to those on the streets and smaller drains led into bigger ones. It helps people in keeping clean their houses and buildings in a modern systematic manner.
3. As the streets and lanes drained are covered, inspection holes are provided at intervals to clean them from time to time. Covered drains protect people from foul smell and help them to keep good health.
4. Covered drains are proof of more advanced civilised life.

1. Meaning:

A specialist is a person who is trained to do only one type of work, for instance, cutting stone or polishing beads or carving seats.

2. Specialists as Producers:

1. Many of the things that were produced were probably the work of specialists.
2. We find a figure of a man bearing beard.
3. If we look at the statue or figure we see how well the face is carved and how carefully the beard is shown.
4. According to scholars this must have been the work of an expert crafts person.

1. Of the various articles discovered in the Indus Valley, about 200 seals are the most puzzling.
2. They were little pieces of soft stones, ivory and clay.
3. They were generally rectangular in shape.
4. On these are engraved figures of animals and birds.
5. Seals were perhaps used by different guilds or merchants or traders.

The city of Dholavira was located on Khadir Beyt in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Here fresh water was available and the soil was very fertile.

1. Unlike some of the other Harappan cities, which were divided into two parts, Dholavira was divided into three parts.
2. Each part was surrounded with massive stone walls, with entrances through gateways.
3. There was also a large open area in the settlement, where public ceremonies could be held.

1. The early cities of the Indian subcontinent are found in present-day Pakistan, and in India. In India these are found in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Western parts of U.P. and Punjab.

2. Archaeologists have found a set of unique objects in almost all these cities:

1. Red pottery painted with designs in black,
2. Stone Weights,
3. Seals with writing,
4. Special beads,
5. Copper tools, and
6. Long stone blades.

1. Many of the cities had covered drains.
2. Very carefully these were laid out in straight lines.
3. Each drain had a gentle slope so that the water could flow through it.
4. Very often drains in houses were connected to those on streets and smaller drains led into bigger ones.

1. The Harappans prepared and used cloth. Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7,000 years ago.
2. Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro.
3. Archaeologists have also found Spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread.
4. We also have indirect evidence to show how cloth was decorated. For instance, a stone statue of an important man found at Mohenjodaro shows him wearing an embroidered garment.

1. Both men and women seem to be fond of ornaments.
2. Necklaces, armlets, finger rings and bangles were worn both by men and women.
3. Ornaments were of great variety and design.
4. The ornaments were made of different metals such as gold, silver, copper and bronze.

People of Harappa paid special attention to the drainage system. Many of the cities had covered drains. All the drains were laid out in straight lines having a gentle slope so that water could flow through it. Drains in the houses were connected to the street drains.Inspection holes were provided at regular intervals to ensure proper cleaning of the drains.

Metals: Archaeologists have found things made of metal, including copper, bronze, gold and silver Copper and bronze were used to tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.Writing: There were scribes, people who know how to write, they helped to prepare seals, kept a record and wrote on materials that have not survived.

Wheel: It played a great role in the life of Harappans for example:

1. People could travels long distance easily.
2. Goods were carried easily to one place to another.

Plough: It was used to dig the earth for turning the soil are planting seeds.

Life in Harappa City:

1. Probably Harappa was a busy place. There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city. These were probably the rulers.
2. Most probably the rulers of the Harappan city sent people to distant lands to get metal, precious stones and other things that they desired or required.
3. The rulers may have kept the most valuable objects, such as ornaments of gold and silver or beautiful beads for themselves.
4. And there were scribes, people who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals and perhaps wrote (or engraved) on other materials.

1. The Harappan culture used common food articles.
2. They took simple food.
3. They ate variety of food grains like wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and sesame.
4. Besides, vegetables, fruits and cloves, milk were also included in their food.

1. Civilisation.
2. Terracotta.
3. Grainaries.
4. Dockyard.

	Dates	Events
(i)	About 7000 years ago.	Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh.
(ii)	About 4700 years ago.	Beginning of cities life in Indian sub-continent.
(iii)	About 3900 years ago.	Beginning of the end of early Indian cities.
(iv)	About 2500 years ago.	The emergence of other phases of cities in Indian sub – continent.

Match the columns:

S.No	Metals		States
1.	Copper	(c)	Rajasthan.
2.	Gold	(d)	Karnataka.
3.	Tin	(b)	Afghanistan.
4.	Precious stones	(a)	Gujarat.

1. Meaning.

1. Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally (such as wood, or ores of metals) or produced by farmers or herders.
2. These are generally processed to produce finishing goods.
3. For instance cotton, produced by farmers, is a raw material that is processed to make cloth.

2. Provision or Search of Raw Materials:

1. While some of the raw materials that the Harappans used were available locally many items such as copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones had to be brought from distant places.
2. The Harappans probably got copper from Rajasthan and even from Oman.
3. Tin, which was mixed with copper to produce bronze, may have been brought from Afghanistan and Iran.
4. Gold could have come all the way from Karnataka and
5. Precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

In the picture, a plough has been shown, which was found in the Harappan cities. This is a toy, but archaeologists believe that this was used in digging and turning the soil for the purpose of planting of seeds. Presently, our farmers in villages also use plough for the same purpose. It appears that present-day ploughs have been developed from the Harappan plough.

Around 3900 years ago, the Harappan Civilization suddenly seems to end up. People stopped living in many of the cities. Writing, seals and weights were no longer used. Raw materials brought from long distances became rare. In Mohenjodaro, we find that garbage piled up on the streets, the drainage system broke down. Why did all this happen ? The reasons are not clear. The following reasons may be behind the ending up of the Harappan Civilization :
• Some suggest that the rivers dried up.
• Some suggest that there was deforestation.
• In some areas, there were floods.
• The rulers might have lost control.
• The people moved into newer, smaller settlements etc.

But none of these reasons can explain the end of all the cities. Flooding or a river drying up would have had an effect in only some areas.

There are many old buildings near my locality. They are :
      1. Red Fort
      2. Jama Masjid
      3. Ferozeshah Kotla

Red Fort was constructed in the 17th century.
Jama Masjid was also constructed in the 17th century.
Ferozeshah Kotla was built in the 15th century.
The Archaeological Survey of India looks after the ancient buildings.

The Harappans used to eat the following articles/things (See Left Hand Column) :

Harappans food articles	Tick mark (against the things we eat today)
1. Wheat	✓
2. Barley	✓
3. Pulses	✓
4. Peas	✓
5. Rice	✓
6. Sesame	✓
7. Linseed	✓
8. Mustard	✓

List of the Terracotta Toys
1. A toy cart made of clay.
2. Small clay carts resembling the modern ekhas.
3. Puppets
4. Whistles made in the form of birds and rattles of all kinds.
5. Marbles
6. Dolls
7. Models of different cattle and animals. (Humped bull, Rhinoceros)
8. Seals
9. Jewellery articles.
We think that girls would have enjoyed dolls and puppets most, while the male children would have enjoyed carts or ekhas and rattles.

(1) Metals : Archaeologists have found things made of metal, including copper, bronze, gold, and silver. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments, and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.
(2) Writing : There were scribes, people who know how to write, they helped to prepare seals, kept a record, and wrote on materials that have not survived.
(3) Wheel : It played a great role in the life of Harappans for example:
      • People could travel long distances easily.
      • Goods were carried easily from one place to another.
(4) Plough : It was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.