Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 6 : The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Notes & Summary in English for CBSE students
CBSE Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 6 Notes & Summary in English for “The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation” (based on NCERT Social studies textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond).
History Chapter 6 – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Complete Notes
Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Theme B: Tapestry of the Past
History Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
(Complete Notes + Concept-wise Explanation + Summary CBSE Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond (sst) Book)
Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Chapter Notes and Summary
1. Introduction to the Chapter
This chapter introduces students to the earliest civilisation of the Indian Subcontinent, commonly known as the Harappan, Indus, or Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation. It explains how early human settlements gradually developed into well-planned cities with advanced systems of governance, trade, agriculture, and culture. Archaeological evidence shows that this civilisation was peaceful, organised, and based on cooperation rather than exploitation.
2. What Is a Civilisation?
A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society where people live in organised communities with complex social, economic, and cultural systems.
Essential Characteristics of a Civilisation
A civilisation generally includes:
- Government and administration
To manage cities, people, resources, and public works. - Urbanism
Planned towns and cities with streets, drainage systems, and water management. - Crafts and technologies
Skilled production of tools, ornaments, pottery, metal objects, and buildings. - Trade
Exchange of goods within the region and with distant lands. - Writing system
Used for record-keeping, communication, and trade identification. - Cultural traditions
Expressed through art, architecture, religious practices, games, and social customs. - Productive agriculture
Enough food production to support both villages and cities.
These features show how human societies became more organised and interdependent.
3. When Did Civilisation Begin?
Civilisation did not begin everywhere at the same time.
• In Mesopotamia, civilisation began about 6000 years ago.
• In Egypt, it followed a few centuries later.
• In the Indian Subcontinent, civilisation began around 2600 BCE.
The Indian civilisation developed mainly in the north-western region, along major rivers.
4. From Village to City: Rise of the Harappan Civilisation
Geographic Setting
The fertile plains of Punjab and Sindh were watered by the Indus River and its tributaries. Another important river, the Sarasvatī, once flowed through Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat.
Because of fertile soil and abundant water:
• Agriculture flourished
• Villages grew into towns
• Towns later developed into cities
This process occurred between 3500 BCE and 2600 BCE.
5. Names of the Civilisation
Archaeologists use different names for this civilisation:
• Harappan civilisation – after Harappa, the first site excavated
• Indus civilisation – because many cities were along the Indus River
• Indus-Sarasvatī or Sindhu-Sarasvatī civilisation – because many sites were also found along the Sarasvatī River
The people of this civilisation are called Harappans.
This period is also called the First Urbanisation of India.
6. Important Cities and Settlements
Major cities included:
• Harappa
• Mohenjo-daro
• Dholavira
• Rakhigarhi
• Kalibangan
• Ganweriwala
• Lothal
These cities were spread across present-day India, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan, showing that the civilisation extended far beyond the Indus Valley.
7. The Sarasvatī River
The Sarasvatī River is mentioned in the Ṛig Veda as a mighty river flowing “from the mountain to the sea.”
• Today it is known as Ghaggar (India) and Hakra (Pakistan)
• It is now seasonal and mostly dried up
• Many Harappan settlements were located along its banks
The drying up of the Sarasvatī River played a major role in the decline of the civilisation.
8. Town-Planning and Urban Design
Harappan cities were carefully planned and well organised.
Key Features of Town-Planning
• Cities were built on a grid pattern
• Streets were wide and often aligned with cardinal directions
• Cities had fortifications for protection
• Most cities had two parts:
– Upper town for elites and administrators
– Lower town for common people
Buildings
• Houses were made of baked bricks
• Both small and large houses were built with similar quality
• Public buildings such as warehouses existed
9. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro
The Great Bath is one of the most famous structures of the civilisation.
• Rectangular tank with waterproofing
• Surrounded by rooms and supplied with fresh water
• Had a drainage system to empty and refill water
Possible purposes suggested by archaeologists:
• Ritual bathing
• Religious ceremonies
• Bath for rulers
The exact purpose is still debated.
10. Water Management System
The Harappans placed great importance on cleanliness and water management.
Features
• Individual bathrooms in houses
• Underground drainage systems
• Hundreds of brick-lined wells in cities like Mohenjo-daro
• Large reservoirs in Dholavira, some cut into rock
The largest reservoir in Dholavira measured 73 metres, showing advanced engineering skills and strong administration.
11. Food and Agriculture
Harappan agriculture was highly developed.
Crops Grown
• Wheat
• Barley
• Millets
• Rice (in some areas)
• Pulses and vegetables
They were the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used to make clothes.
Other Food Sources
• Domesticated animals for meat
• Fishing in rivers and seas
• Dairy products
• Use of spices like turmeric and ginger
Scientific analysis of cooking pots shows a diverse diet.
12. Trade and Commerce
The Harappans carried out extensive trade, both internal and external.
Exports
• Beads of carnelian
• Ornaments
• Shell bangles
• Timber
• Cotton goods
Imports
• Copper and other metals
Trade Routes
• Land routes
• Rivers
• Sea routes
Lothal had a massive dockyard, indicating India’s earliest maritime trade.
13. Seals and Writing System
Thousands of seals have been found.
• Made of steatite
• Show animal figures and symbols
• Likely used for trade identification
The Harappan script is still undeciphered, but it clearly played a role in administration and trade.
14. Daily Life and Culture
Archaeological findings reveal much about Harappan life.
Objects of Daily Use
• Pots, mirrors, tools
• Weights and measures
• Games and toys
Cultural and Symbolic Objects
• Dancing Girl figurine
• Priest-King statue
• Seals with religious symbols
• Figurines showing gestures like namaste
These objects show that art, leisure, and spirituality were important parts of life.
15. Decline of the Harappan Civilisation
Around 1900 BCE, the civilisation began to decline.
Reasons for Decline
• Climate change leading to reduced rainfall
• Drying up of the Sarasvatī River
• Decline in agriculture
• Cities became unsustainable
There is no evidence of wars or invasions.
People gradually returned to rural life, but many Harappan traditions continued in later Indian cultures.
Chapter Short Summary
The Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation was one of the world’s earliest and most advanced civilisations. It had planned cities, efficient water systems, productive agriculture, active trade, skilled craftsmanship, and a peaceful social structure. Although the cities declined due to environmental changes, the cultural and technological achievements of the Harappans influenced later phases of Indian civilisation. This chapter shows how deeply India’s civilisation is rooted in its ancient past.