The First Cities- History

Glossary: Page No. 239

Question & Answers:

Q1. What is Indus valley civilization also known as? Why?

Ans. The Indus valley civilization is also known as the Harappan civilization. This is because Harappa was the
first site to be excavated.

Q2. How do we know that most Indus cities were very well planned?

Ans. Most Indus cities were very well- planned because the streets cut each other at right angles. Houses
were built on both sides of the street in a planned way.

Q3. How was Dholavira different from most Indus cities?

Ans. Dholavira was different from most Indus cities as unlike the other Indus cities, it had three parts- the
citadel, the middle town and the lower town.

Q4. What may have happened for the civilization to decline?

Ans. It is believed that natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and epidemics or a change in the course of
River Indus may have caused the decline of the civilization.

Q5. Name the first cities that emerged in the valley of river Indus?

Ans. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were the cities that emerged in the valley of river Indus.

Q6. Where are the cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro located?

Ans. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are located in Pakistan.

Q7. What were the occupations followed by the people of Indus Valley Civilization?

Ans. People followed different occupations. They were farmers, weavers, masons, potters, jewelers, metal-
workers, stone- cutters, seal makers, boat makers and traders.

Q8. What was the script of Harappa?

Ans. The script of Harappan was pictography that is, it had pictures like signs representing words, objects and
ideas.