Harappan Civilisation

1.) How were the Harappan Cities Planned ?

• The Harappan culture was spread from Jammu in north to Narmada

estuary in south and makran coast of balochistan in west to meerut in
north east
• The Harappan culture was know for its town planning where harappa and
mohenjodaro had its own citadel which was occupied by ruling class and
below the citadel there was a lower town containing brick houses
inhabited by common people.
• The cities followed grid system where roads cut across one another at
right angles and the city was divided into blocks .
• The drainage system of such cities was really impressive where every
house had their own bathrooms and wells , water flowed from house to
the streets which had drains , these drains were covered with stone slabs
and burnt bricks.
• The great bath of Mohenjodaro was an example of beautiful brick work
which was used to perform ritual bathing and it had changing rooms on
the sides with a well connected drainage system .
• The citadels( construction on a platform ) consist of granaries .
• Dholavira consist of upper town + middle town + lower town while lothal
was not structured like other cities.

2.) Describe the sources of the livelihood of the harappa people.

• The harappa was located along the indus river which marks the feature of
fertile soil.
• Agriculture was considered to be one of their source of livelihood, Wheat
and barley are considered to be not only their food but also the food of
the town people who were not involved in agricultural activities like
artisans, merchants and others.
• Cereals were receives as taxes from the peasants and were used to pay
wages.
• Infact indus people were the earliest people to produce cotton.
• Domestication of Animals - Along with agriculture the Harappans
practiced agriculture , animals were kept on large scale
• Technology and Crafts- Harappans used many tools and implements of
stone with the manufacture and use of bronze.
• This was used to make utensils axes, knives , saws and spears.
• Huge brick structure shows the use of brick laying as an art form.
• Seal making and terracota were considered as an important craft.
• Trade- Harappans lack raw material for the commodities they produce.
• They procured metals form neighbouring areas in exchange for foodgrains
and finished goods.
• They practiced navigation in arabian sea .
• They had commercial links with RJ afghanistan and iran.
3.) Write a note on religious practices of the Harappans

• The Harappans looked upon the earth as a fertility goddess and worshiped
natural system of earth like rain, river, mountains, trees , animals etc.
• There was no presence of temples and statues of god and goddess like
durga, kali, vishnu etc.
• There was a male deity known as pasupati mahadeva represented in the
seals having three heads and horns.
• The four animals surrounding the god looks towards the four direction of
the earth.
• Harappans worshipped symbols of phallus and female sex organs .

4.) Give an account of Harappan pottery and terracottas( Burnt clay ).

• Harappans were great experts in the use of potter's wheel .

• They made different types of pots having different colours and decorated
with designs of trees and circles and even images of men are found on
some pottery fragments.
• Figurines made of fire baked earthen clay is commonly called as
terracotta.
• These were used to make toys or objects of worship representing dogs,
cats, monkeys, sheep , birds etc.
• They were mainly used by upper classes.

5.) Account for the end of the Harappan civilization.

• Increase in the salinity reduced the fertility of the soil

• Subsidence and upliftment of the land which caused floods .
• It would have been destroyed by Aryans.
• A few signs of war like situation appeared where jewelleries with skull
were buried and new type of weapons like axes , knives with mid ribs
were found.

6.) Culture and Urban Planning provide inputs to current urbanization?

Urban Planning

• Presence of Bathrooms inside every house during Indus valley period has
given effect to the current housing structure .
• The grid system where the city is divided into different blocks can be seen
in the current man made cities like- Chandigarh, Gandhinagar etc.
• The Block structure has political significance in the current period as the
city is divided into different wards for election convenience.