Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 6 – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Extra Questions and Answers
Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Extra Questions and Answers for History “The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation” (based on NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond).
EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS – Social Studies History Chapter 6 – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Theme B: Tapestry of the Past
History Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
This includes All types of Questions normally asked in school exams, tests, and NCERT exercises.
EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
A. VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Name the earliest civilisation of the Indian Subcontinent.
Answer:
The Harappan or Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation.
2. Around which year did Harappan cities develop?
Answer:
Around 2600 BCE.
3. Why is the Harappan civilisation also called Indus-Sarasvatī civilisation?
Answer:
Because many of its settlements were located along both the Indus and Sarasvatī rivers.
4. Name any two major Harappan cities.
Answer:
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
5. Which river is now known as the Ghaggar-Hakra?
Answer:
The Sarasvatī River.
6. What material was commonly used to build Harappan houses?
Answer:
Bricks.
7. What is a reservoir?
Answer:
A large natural or artificial place where water is stored.
8. Which metal did the Harappans use to make bronze?
Answer:
Copper mixed with tin.
9. Name one Harappan port city.
Answer:
Lothal.
10. What was the main purpose of Harappan seals?
Answer:
To identify traders and goods, mainly for trade.
B. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
(Answer in 3–4 sentences)
1. What is meant by civilisation according to this chapter?
Answer:
A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society. It includes organised government, planned cities, developed agriculture, crafts, trade, writing and cultural traditions. Such societies live in a structured and cooperative manner.
2. Why were rivers important for the Harappans?
Answer:
Rivers provided water for drinking, farming and daily use. They enriched the soil, making agriculture productive. Rivers also served as trade routes connecting different regions.
3. Why are the inhabitants called Harappans?
Answer:
They are called Harappans because Harappa was the first city of this civilisation to be excavated in 1920–21. Archaeologists named the civilisation after this site.
4. Describe the town-planning of Harappan cities.
Answer:
Harappan cities were well planned with wide, straight streets. They had upper and lower towns, drainage systems and fortifications. Houses were built with bricks and had similar construction quality.
5. What do Harappan drainage systems show?
Answer:
They show a high level of cleanliness and civic sense. Wastewater was carried through underground drains. Regular maintenance was done to keep cities clean.
6. What crops were grown by the Harappans?
Answer:
They grew wheat, barley, millets, pulses, vegetables and sometimes rice. They were also the first to grow cotton in Eurasia.
7. What kinds of animals did the Harappans domesticate?
Answer:
They domesticated animals for meat consumption and fishing. Evidence comes from animal and fish bones found during excavations.
8. Why was Lothal important?
Answer:
Lothal had a large dockyard used for sea trade. It shows that the Harappans practised maritime trade with distant regions.
C. LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
(Answer in more than 6 sentences)
1. Explain the main characteristics of a civilisation.
Answer:
A civilisation is marked by several important features. It has a system of government and administration to manage society. Cities are well planned with proper water supply and drainage. People practise different crafts using raw materials. Trade exists within the region and with distant lands. Writing systems are developed to maintain records. Cultural ideas are expressed through art, architecture and traditions. Agriculture is productive enough to support both villages and cities.
2. Describe the water management system of the Harappans.
Answer:
The Harappans gave great importance to water management. Houses had bathing areas connected to underground drainage systems. Cities like Mohenjo-daro had hundreds of brick-lined wells. Dholavira had massive reservoirs cut into rock to store rainwater. These reservoirs were connected through channels for efficient water distribution. Such systems show advanced planning and strong administration.
3. Discuss the trade practices of the Harappan civilisation.
Answer:
The Harappans carried out internal and external trade. They exported beads, ornaments, cotton, timber and ivory goods. Trade routes included land routes, rivers and sea routes. Lothal served as a dockyard for maritime trade. Harappan seals were used to identify traders and goods. Trade connected them with regions like Iran and Oman.
4. Explain the reasons for the decline of the Harappan civilisation.
Answer:
The Harappan civilisation declined around 1900 BCE. One major reason was climatic change that reduced rainfall. This made agriculture difficult and affected food supply. Another reason was the drying up of the Sarasvatī River. Cities along this river were abandoned. There is no evidence of wars or invasions. People gradually returned to rural life.
D. REASON-BASED QUESTIONS
1. Why is the Harappan civilisation called the First Urbanisation of India?
Answer:
Because it was the first time planned cities developed in the Indian Subcontinent with streets, drainage, administration and public buildings.
2. Why is the term ‘Indus Valley civilisation’ no longer suitable?
Answer:
Because the civilisation extended far beyond the Indus Valley into regions like Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, especially along the Sarasvatī basin.
3. Why did cities depend on villages in Harappan times?
Answer:
Villages produced agricultural goods needed to feed city populations. Cities could not survive without regular food supply from rural areas.
E. CASE-BASED / THINKING QUESTIONS
1. What does the Great Bath suggest about Harappan society?
Answer:
The Great Bath suggests that cleanliness and possibly religious rituals were important. Its careful construction shows advanced engineering and planning.
2. What does the ‘Dancing Girl’ figurine tell us about Harappan culture?
Answer:
It shows that art, dance and ornaments were important. The bangles and posture reflect cultural continuity with modern Indian traditions.
3. What civic values can modern cities learn from the Harappans?
Answer:
Cleanliness, proper drainage, water conservation, planned housing and public welfare can be learnt from the Harappans.