NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities

NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities Solutions to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities and select need one. NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities Question Answers Download PDF. NCERT SST Class 6 Solutions.

NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities

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Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. CBSE Class 6 Social Science Solutions are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 4 In The Earliest Cities, NCERT Class 6 Social Science Textbook of Our Pasts – I: History, The Earth – Our Habitat: Geography, Social and political Life: Civics. for All Chapters, You can practice these here.

In The Earliest Cities

Chapter: 4

OUR PASTS – I [HISTORY]

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

LET’S RECALL

Q. 1. How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilization?

Ans. Archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan Civilization because:

(a) Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago.

(b) Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro,

(c) Archaeologists have also found spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread. 

Q. 2. Match the columns:

Ans. Copper-Rajasthan, Gold-Karnataka, Tin-Afghanistan, Precious stones-Gujarat

Q. 3. Why were metals, writing, the wheel, and the plough important for the Harappans? 

Ans. Metals, writing, the wheel, and the plough important for the Harappans.

(a) Metals: Metals play an important role for the Harappans because metals were used for making ornaments and seals.

(b) Writing: They know the art of writing and their script was pictographic. They used this sign to convey their ideas.

(c) Wheel: Wheel was used for making carts. It was also used for designing pottery.

(d) Plough: Plough was used for digging the earth, mixing the soil and for souring seed It is made of wood.

LET’S DISCUSS

Q. 4. Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. Which do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most?

Ans. (a) Pie. of Terracotta Toys

(b) Pic. Of Toy Plough

(c) Pic. of Toy Cart 

Children would have preferred to play with toy carts instead of toy plough. Girls would also prefer to enjoy dolls and puppets the most. 

Q. 5. Make a list of things the Harappans ate, and put a tick mark against the things you eat today.

Ans. List of things the Harappans ate are as follows: 

(a) Wheat. 

(b) Barley, le Palais. 

(d) Pous, le) Rice, Sesame, Linseed. 

(4) Mustard.  

(6) Fruits like ber.

Today we eat almost the same things mentioned in the list.

Q. 6. Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in Chapter 3? Give reasons for your answer. 

Ans. Yes, the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders given in Chap. 3. The reasons are as such as: 

(a) Tools: Harappan farmers and herders used a wooden tool called plough which was also used for turning the soil and sowing seeds. On the other hand the earlier farmers and herders used mortals and pestle for grinding grain. Their tools were also made of bone.

(b) Irrigation: Harappan farmers and herders used irrigation for better produce. On the other hand the earlier farmers and herders did not use such facilities. 

(c) Storage: The Harappan farmers stored food in well-built granaries and not in clay pots, baskets etc.

(d) Residence: Harappan farmers lived on the outskirts of cities, whereas no such life was there of the farmers and herders earlier. 

SOME OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. 1. Define the term ‘Civilization’. 

Ans. The term ‘Civilization’ means the process by which societies become developed and organized.

Q. 2. Name a few occupations of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Ans. A few occupations of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization are: 

(a) Agriculture. 

(b) Animal husbandry. 

(c) Art and Craft. 

(d) Ornaments. 

(e) Bead-making in Seal. 

(g) Terracotta.

Q. 3. Write two specialities of the cities of Indus Valley Civilization.

Ans. Two specialities of the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were: 

(a) Baked bricks were used to construct buildings. 

(b) Most cities were divided into two parts: one part was built on a raised ground. It was called the citadel. The other part, called the lower town was at a lower height but much bigger in area. It had small buildings and houses of the common people.

Q. 4. Define raw materials.

Ans. Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally or produced by farmers or herders

Q.5. How do we know that most cities of Harappan Civilization were well planned? 

Ans. Most cities of the Harappan Civilization were well planned because the streets cut each other at right angles.

Q. 6. How was Dholavira different from most Indus cities?

Ans. Dholavira was different from most Indus cities because instead of two, it was divided into three parts-a citadel, a middle town and a lower town.

Q.7. How can we say that the Harappans had trade links with other countries?

Ans. The Harappans had trade links with ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran) and Afghanistan because Indus Valley seals have been found in these countries.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. 1. Write some of the important cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. 

Ans. The important cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were:

(a) Harappa in Punjab.

(b) Mohenjo Daro in Sindh.

(c) Chan-hu-daro in Sindh. 

(d) Lothal in Gujarat.

(e) Kalibangan in Northern Rajasthan

(f) Banavali in Hissar.

(g) Dholavira in Gujarat.

Q. 2. Why is the Indus Valley Civilization also called the Harappan Civilization? 

Ans. The first developed cities were found in the valley of river Indus. That is why it is also called as the Indus Valley Civilization. It is also called the Harappan Civilization as Harappa was the first site of this civilization to be excavated. 

Q. 3. What are seals and sealings?

Ans. 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 a sealing. If the sealing was intact, one could be sure that the goods had arrived safely.

Q. 4. The people of Indus Valley Civilization were extremely particular about sanitation. How? Give two reasons.

Ans. The people of Indus Valley Civilization were extremely particular about sanitation because:

(a) Drains were built along side the roads. 

(b) Kitchens and bathroom had drains which were connected to the street drains.

Q. 5. Why did Harappans worship Mother Goddess?

Ans. Harappans worshipped Mother Goddess. Clay images of women figures have been found in Harappa. People worshipped the earth as a fertile goddess.

Q. 6. Drainage system of the Harappan people was very impressive. Why? 

Ans. Drainage system of the Harappan people was very impressive because of the following points:

(a) Most of the cities of the Harappan Civilization had covered drains which had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.

(b) Drains in houses were connected to those on the streets and smaller drains led into bigger ones.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Q. 1. Why did the early civilizations developed along the river banks? Give reasons.

Ans. There are many reasons why the earliest civilizations developed along river banks: 

(a) The river water was used to grow fruits, vegetables and cereal crops. Man also ate fishes and many kinds of water birds.

(b) A good pasture land nearby river was used for animals to graze on.

(c) The valleys had warm and pleasant climate. The cold was not so severe in the valleys. 

(d) The rivers provided ready means of communication and transport. There were number of long or good roads to connect the ancient towns.

Q.2. Why did Indus Valley Civilization declined? Give reasons. 

Ans. There are many theories about the fall of this civilization. 

(a) Some writers believe that these cities were destroyed by the invaders. These invaders were called Aryans.

(b) Others had the opinion that the civilization could have been destroyed by natural like earthquakes or floods.

(c) It is possible that the rivers might have changed their course. The result was that this region turned into a desert. 

Q. 3. Name the most unique structure of the Indus Valley Civilization. Explain. 

Ans. The most unique structure of the Indus Civilization was the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro It was unique because of the following features:

(a) It is a rectangular structure and resembles a swimming pool. 

(b) It is made of baked bricks and has been made water- tight with a layer of bitumen or tar.

(c) The Great Bath has two flights of steps, one on each side and there are rooms on each side for changing clothes. 

(d) The Great Bath was perhaps used for bathing on special occasions.

Q. 4. Name the great civilizations that developed 5000 years ago.

Ans. The Great Civilizations that developed 5000 years ago are:

(a) The Indus Valley or the Harappan Civilization (India).

(b) Egyptian Civilization on the banks of River Nile (North-East Africa).

(c) Mesopotamian Civilization on the banks of rivers Tigris and Euphrates (Middle East).

(d) The Chinese Civilization in the Valley of Hwang Ho and Yangtze Si-Kiang rivers (East Asia).

HIGH ORDER THINKING SKILLS

Q. 1. Explain the mystery of the end of the Indus Valley Civilization. 

Ans. Around 3900 years ago people stopped living in many of the cities. Writing, seals and weights were no longer used at that time. Raw material brought from long distances became rare. In Mohenjodaro garbage piled up on the streets, the drainage system broke down, and new, less impressive houses were built, even over the streets. Others suggest that there was deforestation. This could have happened because fuel was required for baking bricks, and for smelting copper ores. Grazing by large herds of cattle, sheep and goat may have destroyed the green cover. In some areas there were floods. 

Q.2. How do we know that trade and commerce was a very important feature of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Ans. The trade and commerce was a very important feature of the Indus Valley Civilization because of the following:

(a) Harappans traded to get raw materials. They got copper from Rajasthan and even from Oman in West Asia.

(b) Tin which was blended with copper to get bronze was probably brought from Afghanistan and Iran.

(e) Gold came from Karnataka and precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan,

VALUE BASED QUESTIONS 

Q. 1. Describe the town planning of Harappan cities. 

Ans. (a) Most of the Harappan cities were divided into two parts-Citadel, which contained the public buildings, religious structures and granaries. The ruler and the ruling class (merchants, priests) lived here. The other part was the lower town which had small buildings and houses of the common people. 

(b) Generally houses were either one or two storeys high with rooms built around a courtyard. Most houses had a seperate bathing area and some had wells to supply water.

(c) Most cities had covered drains. 

(d) The streets cut each other at right angles.

(e) Baked bricks were used to construct buildings.

Q. 2. Why Egyptian mummies were the most elaborate burials known in world history?

Ans. Kings used to rule over Egypt around 5000 years ago. The kings sent armies to distant lands to get gold, silver, ivory, timber and precious stones. They built huge tombs known as pyramids. When they died, the bodies of kings were preserved and buried in these pyramids. These preserved bodies are known as ‘Mummies’. A large number of objects were also buried with them. These include food and drinks, clothes, ornaments, utensils, musical instruments, weapons and animals. Even serving men and women were buried with the rulers. These are the most elaborate burials known in the world history. 

Q. 3. How did the Harappans follow the grid system? 

Ans. The main road in Mohenjodaro was 10 meters broad. Due to the laying their roads, Harappans followed the grid system. The rounds were straight and intersected each other at right angles. Thus, the city is divided into large rectangular blocks or grids. 

Q. 4. Explain how art and craft was an important industry in the Indus Valley Civilization.

Ans. Art and craft was an important industry in the Indus Valley Civilization because of the following: 

(a) Most of the things that have been found by archaeologists are made of stone, shell and metal.

(b) Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. 

(c) The most striking finds are those of beads, weight and blades.

(d) The Harappans also made seals out of stone. 

(e) The Harappans also made pots with beautiful black designs.

PICTURE BASED QUESTIONS

Look at the picture and answer the questions that follow:

(a) Picture is from which place?

Ans. Picture is from a dockyard at Lothal.

(b) What was the use of a dockyard during Indus Valley Civilization?

Ans. The huge tanks may have been: and ships came from the sea and through the river channel. Goods were probably loaded and dockyard, where boats unloaded here.

MAP BASED QUESTION

On the political map of India mark the following cities.

(a) Mohenjodara. 

(b) Sotkakoh. 

(c) Lethal. 

(d) Dhalasira. 

(e) Harappa.

Ans. 

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Tick(✓) the correct option:

(a) There is a dockyard present at: 

(i) Dholavira.

(i) Lothal.

(ii) Mehrgarh.

Ans. (iii) Lothal.

(b) The reddish, brown clay which was used for making pot was:

(i) Brown clay.

(i) Sand clay.

(iii) Terracotta.

Ans. (iii) Terracotta.

(c) Which tree was probably regarded as sacred? 

(i) Peepal tree.

(ii) Neem tree.

(iii) Mango tree.

Ans. (i) Peepal tree.

Il. FILL IN THE BLANKS:

(a) The Harappan Civilization was ________.

Ans. Rural.

(b) The __________ Civilization is largest in area of all the contemporary civilizations.

Ans. Indus Valley.

(c) The flat rectangular objects used by merchants to stamp their goods were ________.

Ans. Seala.

(d) ________seems to have been the main occupations of the people.

Ans. Craft. 

(e) Indus Valley Civilization is also called the _________.

Ans. Harappan Civilization.

(f) _________in one of the oldest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Ans. Harappa.

IIl. WRITE TRUE OR FALSE:

(a) Every city in Indus Valley had a Great Bath.

Ans. True.

(b) The statue of the priest king is a figure of a peared male.

Ans. True.

(c) Hunting was the main occupation of the people. 

Ans. False.

(d) The Indus Valley people carried on trade only from outside. 

Ans. False.

(e) Wool was probably grown at Mehrgarh.

Ans. False.