The primary sector involves activities that:

produce goods directly from nature

Which of these belongs to the secondary sector?

Manufacturing cloth from cotton in a factory

Name three characteristics of a civilisation.

Some form of government, urbanism (town-planning), and writing — along with crafts, trade, cultural ideas and productive agriculture.

Why does this civilisation have several names?

It is called Indus, Harappan or Indus-Sarasvatī because it spread along the Indus and Sarasvatī rivers, and Harappa was the first site excavated.

When did villages grow into cities in this civilisation?

Villages grew into cities around 2600 BCE, in what is called the ‘First Urbanisation of India’.

Why is the term ‘Indus Valley civilisation’ considered out of date?

Because the civilisation extended far beyond the Indus Valley, including many sites along the Sarasvatī River.

How were Harappan cities planned?

They had wide streets often oriented to the cardinal directions, fortifications, an upper and a lower town, and brick houses of similar quality.

What was the Great Bath?

A small but elaborate waterproofed tank at Mohenjo-daro, about 12 by 7 metres, whose purpose — ritual or royal — is still debated.

What crops did the Harappans grow?

They grew barley, wheat, millets, sometimes rice, pulses and vegetables, and were the first in Eurasia to grow cotton.

What were Harappan seals used for?

Seals, usually of steatite with an animal and writing signs, were used in trade to identify goods and traders.

What is special about Lothal?

Lothal in Gujarat has a huge basin about 217 m long, believed to be a dockyard for sending and receiving boats.

Why did the civilisation decline around 1900 BCE?

Most likely because of climate change reducing rainfall and the drying up of the Sarasvatī River, after which people returned to rural life.

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Class 6 Social Science · Exploring Society: India and Beyond · Chapter 6

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Summary

A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society marked by some form of government and administration, urbanism with town-planning and drainage, a variety of crafts, internal and external trade, some form of writing, cultural ideas, and a productive agriculture. The earliest civilisation of the Indian Subcontinent grew in the northwest, watered by the Indus and the now-seasonal Sarasvatī (Ghaggar-Hakra) rivers. From about 3500 BCE villages grew into towns and, around 2600 BCE, into cities — the ‘First Urbanisation of India’. It is variously called the Indus, Harappan or Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation, named after Harappa, the first site excavated in 1920–21. Its cities, such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi and Lothal, were carefully planned with wide streets, fortifications, an upper and lower town, and brick houses of similar quality. Harappans excelled at water management — wells, drains and huge reservoirs, including the famous Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro. They grew barley, wheat, millets, pulses and cotton, domesticated animals, and carried on brisk trade using seals, carnelian beads and the dockyard at Lothal. Around 1900 BCE the cities declined, probably due to climate change and the drying of the Sarasvatī, and people returned to a rural life, though much culture and technology survived.

What makes a civilisationFrom village to city (First Urbanisation)Town-planning and water managementHarappan food, crafts and tradeDecline and survival of Harappan culture

Key terms

Civilisation

An advanced stage of human society with government, cities, crafts, trade, writing and productive agriculture.

Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation

India's oldest civilisation (about 2600–1900 BCE), also called Harappan, Indus or Sindhu-Sarasvatī.

Town-planning

The deliberate planning of cities with laid-out streets, drains and zones, seen in Harappan cities.

Great Bath

A large, carefully built, waterproofed tank at Mohenjo-daro, whose exact purpose is still debated.

Seal

A small carved object, usually of steatite, showing an animal and writing signs, used in Harappan trade.

Dockyard

A structure for receiving and sending boats; the huge basin at Lothal is believed to be one.

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

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