Class 6 Social Science NCERT Solution
Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisations Question Answers
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The beginnings of Indian civilization can be traced back to the Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus-SarasvatÄ« Civilization. It existed between 2600 and 1900 BCE in present-day India and Pakistan. This was one of the world’s earliest civilizations, along with Mesopotamia and Egypt.
A civilization is an advanced society that includes cities, a government, trade, culture, and agriculture. The Harappans developed all these characteristics. They built well-planned cities, developed trade networks, and practiced farming on a large scale.
The civilization grew in the fertile lands near the Indus and Sarasvatī rivers. The rivers provided water for drinking and farming. Over time, villages grew into large cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, and Rakhigarhi. These cities had a well-organized layout, with wide streets, drainage systems, and separate areas for different groups of people. Buildings were made of bricks, and many houses had their own bathrooms connected to underground drainage systems.
Water management was a key feature of Harappan cities. People built wells, reservoirs, and drainage systems to ensure a clean water supply. In Dholavira, a large reservoir stored water for the people. The Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro, a carefully designed tank, might have been used for religious or royal purposes.
Harappans were skilled farmers. They grew wheat, barley, rice, pulses, vegetables, and spices like turmeric and ginger. They were the first people in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used for making clothes. They domesticated animals like cattle, sheep, and goats and also engaged in fishing.
Trade was an important part of the Harappan economy. They traded goods within their cities and with distant regions like Mesopotamia. They exported cotton, beads, ornaments, and timber and imported metals like copper. Harappans used land routes and rivers for trade and even built a dockyard in Lothal, Gujarat, for sea trade.
Art and culture flourished in the Harappan civilization. Pottery, jewelry, and beautifully carved seals were common. Many seals had animal images and writing, though the Harappan script remains undeciphered. The famous bronze statue of the Dancing Girl and the stone figure of the Priest-King are examples of their artistic achievements.
Around 1900 BCE, the civilization began to decline. Scholars believe that climate change, including reduced rainfall and the drying up of the Sarasvatī River, played a major role. Without a stable water supply, agriculture and trade suffered. There is no evidence of war or invasion, suggesting that the decline was gradual rather than violent. Many people moved to rural areas and adopted simpler lifestyles.
Although the cities of the Harappan Civilization disappeared, many of their practices and technologies continued in later Indian cultures. Their expertise in town planning, water management, and trade influenced future civilizations in the Indian subcontinent.
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