CHAP 1: UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Diversity comes from the Latin word diverse which means different.

2) Diversity or differences has always existed in nature.

3) India is blessed with rich diversity.

4) The term 'unity in diversity' refers to the state of togetherness or oneness in spite of the presence
of immense diversity.

5) Diversity is attributed as the greatest strength of India.

6) India owes a lot to the 'iron man' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

7) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is also called ‘Iron Man’

8) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was responsible in bringing the numerous Indian princely states together.

9) The eight schedule of the Indian Constitution recognises twenty-two Indian languages.

10) Diversity in India can be seen and felt in various spheres.

11) Diversity can be seen in customs, traditions, practices and religion.

12) Rich diversity is also seen in forms of music.

13) The two types of music which exist in the country are – Hindustani and Carnatic.

14) India is home to the greatest musician – Tansen

15) Nataraja is Shiva the Dance God and is worshipped across India

16) Incredible India is an international marketing campaign was introduced by the Government to
promote tourism.

17) India is divided into more than five hundred princely states.

18) India’s national anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) Diversity in India is experienced only in languages. False

2) Customs and traditions have evolved over the centuries. True

3) All regions of India have the same dance form. False (Different forms)

4) Tansen was the greatest dancer in the ancient period. False (Musician)

5) Nataraja' is still worshipped as dance god of India. True

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Explain the term 'diversity'.

Ans: Diversity comes from the Latin word ‘Diverse which means different.
Diversity can be seen in different aspects of our life and in different conditions.
e.g. different people around us follow different religions, cultures, speak different languages and
having different thoughts, abilities, etc

Q2) Write a short paragraph on your understanding of diversity around you.

Ans: Diversity exists all around us. People around us come from different backgrounds, cultures,
religions and they speak different languages. This can be seen in our communities and all around us.
Diversity allows us to learn from each other and appreciate our unique aspects.
It teaches us to respect and celebrate our difference and work together to create a better stronger
community.

Q3) What do you mean by the term 'unity in diversity'?

Ans: Unity in diversity refers to the state of oneness or togetherness in spite of the presence of
diversity.
It is based on the concept that individual or social differences like physical attributes, skin colour, caste,
creed, culture and religious practices are not looked upon as a reason for conflict.

Q4) What was the role of Sardar Patel in uniting India?

Ans: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was responsible for bringing the numerous Indian princely states
together.

Q5) Do you think that diversity is the biggest strength of our country? Justify your answer.
Ans: Yes, I think that diversity is the biggest strength of our country because India has been influenced
by its diverse culture for centuries. We see this around us, in our customs, traditions, practices and
religions. However, in spite of the presence of diversity we see togetherness in every sphere.
D. Define The Term

1) Diversity:
Diversity comes from the Latin word ‘Diverse which means different.
Diversity can be seen in different aspects of our life and in different conditions.
e.g. different people around us follow different religions, cultures, speak different languages and
having different thoughts, abilities, etc

2) Unity in diversity:
Unity in diversity refers to the state of oneness or togetherness in spite of the presence of
diversity. It is based on the concept that individual or social differences like physical attributes, skin
colour, caste, creed, culture and religious practices are not looked upon as a reason for conflict.
 CHAP 2: DIVERSITY and DISCRIMINATION

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Discrimination can be defined as unjust treatment of different categories of people on the basis of
race, caste, gender, etc.

2) The preconceived notion that is not based on any reason or actual experience but causes harm or
injury to the other person is called Prejudice.

3) Stereotype is a popular belief or generalisation about something.

4) Inequalities have their roots deep in social structures prevalent in the country.

5) People are discriminated for being belonging to a particular gender, caste, religion, profession, etc.

6) Fundamental Rights form Part III of the constitution

7) In the Equality Act, a disability means a mental or physical condition.

8) The fundamental rights which form part III of the constitutions speaks about Right to Equality

9) Right to Equality means everybody will be treated equally irrespective of their race, caste, religion,
sex, etc.

10) Inequality leads to discrimination.

11) Medieval Age reformers like Kabir, Shankaracharya, Guru Nanak brought in the concept of one
god, equality of women and got rid of caste.

12) Modern reformer like Vivekanand, Gandhi and Ambedkar worked to eliminate caste barriers.

13) Discrimination based inequality can be wiped out when common man begins to treat each other
with respect and humility

14) Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar himself belonged the Dalit community and faced discriminations.

15) Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was a famous lawyer and Father of Indian Constitution.

B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) The preconceived notion that is not based on any reason is called as Prejudice. True

2) Judging women as physically weak and men are strong is a stereotype. False (It is a prejudice)
3) Prejudice is not rampant in India. False (It is most rampant based on skin colour)

4) India is a land of snake charmers' is a stereotype associated with the country. True

5) Diversity and discrimination are not found in India. False (They are found)

6) Women are considered to be emotional whereas men are not supposed to cry is a prejudice. True

7) Women are not good with directions and should not drive, unlike men is a prejudice True

8) Women cannot think scientifically and are better at languages unlike men is a stereotype False

9) Indians are uneducated and uncivilised is a stereotype True

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) What is the meaning of the term 'inequality' in social studies?

Ans: In the context of social studies, inequality refers to the uneven distribution of wealth and power
in the society and in the general population of a country.

Q2) What is 'disability' according to 'Equality Act, 2010'?

Ans: According to the Equality Act, a disability means a mental or physical condition which has a
substantial and long-term impact on one’s ability to do normal day to day activities.

Q3) What is the role of social reformers in cleansing the Indian society of caste-based
discrimination?
Ans: Social reformers have tried to get rid of the caste system and bring in the concept of equality
among masses by;
i. Bringing the concept of one God
ii. They have tried to get rid of caste system
iii. Tried to give equal rights to women
iv. Modern reformers have tried to eliminate caste barriers.

Q4) According to Equality Act 2010, under what disability conditions you can't be discriminated?
Ans: According to Equality Act 2010, you can't be discriminated against because;
i. You have a disability
ii. Someone thinks you have a particular disability
iii. You are connected to someone with a disability.
Q5) What does Part III of the constitution of India say about equality?
Ans: Part III of the constitution speaks about Right to Equality, which means everybody will be treated
equal irrespective of race, caste, religion, sex, etc.

Q6) The constitution of India promotes equality for all. Justify giving suitable examples.
Ans: The framers of the constitution set out visions and goals to ensure that all people are treated
equally. In accordance with this;
i. Untouchability is considered a crime and is punishable under law.
ii. The state does not follow any religion and no discrimination will be done basis religion
iii. The country does not promote any particular language or festival

D. Define The Term

1) Discrimination
Discrimination can be defined as unjust treatment of different categories of people on the basis of
race, caste, gender, etc.

2) Prejudice
The preconceived notion that is not based on any reason or actual experience but causes harm
or injury to the other person is called Prejudice.

3) Stereotype
Stereotype is a popular belief or generalisation about something that may or may not reflect
reality.
Eg

4) Disability:
A disability means a mental or physical condition that has a substantial and long-term impact on
the ability to do normal day to day activities.

E. Distinguish between:
1 Stereotypes and Prejudice

Stereotypes Prejudice
1) It is a popular belief or generalisation 1) It is a preconceived notion that is no t
about something. based on any reason or actual
experience.
2) It prevents us from looking at qualities 2) It involves judging people based on
and skills of people religious beliefs, attire, skin colour
3) Eg. Indians are uneducated and poor. 3) Eg. Women are weaker than men.
 CHAP 3: THE STUDY of HISTORY – WHEN and HOW

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Manuscripts are the records written by hand.

2) The historians arrange the events in a particular order and this is called chronological order.

3) The early man was a wanderer and did not know the concept of reading and writing.

4) All literature associated with religious rituals are called religious literature.

5) Autobiographies are a type of secular literature.

6) The Gregorian calends divides the different eras as the time period; before the birth of Jesus
Christ and time period after the birth of Jesus Christ. This was denoted by BC or Before Christ
and AD stands for Anno Domini.

7) These days we use Common Era (CE) and Before Common Era (BCE) an alternative to Anno
Domini and Before Christ respectively.

8) Megasthenes, the Greek traveller wrote Indica giving a detailed account of the Mauryan rule.

9) Kautilya wrote Arthashastra masterpiece on state craftsmanship.

10) Arthashastra masterpiece on state craftsmanship is revered to this day by economists.

11) The period in history for which written records are not available is called prehistoric times.

12) The time of history for which we have written records in the form of scripts, poems, epics,
inscriptions, etc. is called the historic times.

13) The time lag between events refers to the time lapse between the occurrences of the two
events.

14) The study of ancient and recent human past through material remains is called archaeology
and the people who study the same are called archaeologists.

15) The handwritten records which are both religious and secular texts are called manuscripts.

16) All scriptures associated with a particular religion mentioning the rituals and the practices of
that religion are called religious literature.

17) All literature apart from religious texts such as historical works, biographies, autobiographies,
travellers’ accounts, etc. is part of the secular literature.
 18) Historians depend on archaeological evidences in the form of monuments, coins, jewellery,
toys, etc. to unearth and understand the past.

19) The study and interpretations of ancient inscriptions is called as epigraphy.

B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) The Egyptians, the Mayans, the Chinese and Indians also have their own calendars based on the
various natural phenomena associated with the sun and the moon. True

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) What are the sources of history?

Ans: The sources of history can thus, be divided into literary sources and archaeological sources.
i. Literary sources: The sources of history which are in the form of written works are called literary
sources.
ii. Archaeological sources: Sources of history in the form of monuments, coins, jewellery, toys to
unearth and understand the past. These were used to understand history when writing was
not practiced.

Q2) What are inscriptions?

Ans: Inscriptions are the written work that is inscribed on stones, slabs or any other surface.

Q3) How are the coins useful as archaeological evidence?

Ans: Coins were issued by the ruling authority. It is therefore useful in archaeological evidence as it
gives information of the year, the ruler, the dynasty. The metal used in making the coin shows the
wealth of the dynasty.

Q4) Name some of the artefacts studied by the archaeologists.

Ans: The artefacts studied by the archaeologists include toys, jewellery, weapons, utensils, agricultural
implements, pots, sculptures, etc. These items provide great knowledge about the cultural and social
life of the people.

Q5) What do you mean by the term 'time lag'? Why is it important to have a timeline?
Ans: Time lag refers to the time lapse between the occurrences of the two events.
The representation of the events on a timeline gives us a good understanding of those events that
commenced first and those that happened later.
Historical events are easily understood if arranged on a timeline.
Q6) Write a short note on Manuscripts
Ans: The handwritten records which are both religious and secular texts are called manuscripts.
They come from the Latin word 'manu' meaning hand.
 These scripts help us to know the social, cultural, political and religious life of the people of those
times.
They are categorised into religious literature and secular literature.

Q7) State the archaeological sources of history.

Ans: The archaeological sources of history are of four types:
i. Inscriptions
ii. Coins
iii. Monuments
iv. Artefacts

D. Define The Term (2 marks)

1) History:
The study of past events is called History. It is the story of evolution of human beings from the
Stone Age to the Modern times. Through history, we learn about the customs, traditions,
different practices and how people have evolved over the ages.

2) Chronological order:
The historians arrange the events in a particular order and this is called chronological order; i.e.
the events that have happened first, followed by the events that happened later.

3) Timeline:
A timeline is defined as the graphical representation of a period of time on which important events
a. marked.

4) Prehistoric times:
The period in history for which written records are not available is called prehistoric times. The
early man was a wanderer and did not know the concept of reading and writing.

5) Historic Times:
The time of history for which we have written records in the form of scripts, poems, epics,
inscriptions, etc. is called the historic times. This is the period in history for which written
evidences are available and hence are more reliable.

6) Time lag:
The time lag between events refers to the time lapse between the occurrences of the two events.

7) Archaeology
The study of ancient and recent human past through material remains is called archaeology

8) Archaeologists:
The people who study the same are called archaeologists.
9) Religious literature:
All scriptures associated with a particular religion mentioning the rituals and the practices of that
religion are called religious literature.
Eg The religious texts like the Vedas, the Bible the Quran, Upanishads, and Puranas etc

10) Secular literature:

All literature apart from religious texts such as historical works, biographies, autobiographies,
travellers’ accounts, etc. is part of the secular literature.
Since they are not restricted to any particular religion, they are called secular literature
Eg Kautilya’s (Chanakya) 'Arthashastra' and Megasthenes 'Indica'

11) Inscriptions:
They are the written work that is inscribed on stones, slabs or any other surface. A chisel or a
hammer is used to inscribe on hard surface. The study and interpretations of ancient inscriptions is
called as epigraphy.

12) Coins:
Coins were issued by the ruling authority. It is therefore useful in archaeological evidence as it
gives information of the year, the ruler, the dynasty. The metal used in making the coin shows the
wealth of the dynasty.

13) Monuments:
Monuments reflect the grandeur of the dynasty that built it. They are the most appreciated and
often visited by the common people.

14) Artefacts:
These include toys, jewellery, weapons, utensils, agricultural implements, pots, sculptures, etc.
that provide great knowledge about the cultural and social life of the people

15) Epigraphy:
The study and interpretations of ancient inscriptions is called as epigraphy.

E. Distinguish between: (2 marks)

1) 'History' and 'Prehistory'.

'History' 'Prehistory'
1) The study of past events is called 1) The period for which written records
History. are not available is called Prehistory
2) Evidences are available and hence are 2) Evidences are not available and hence
more reliable tough to study
3) Records are in form of scripts, poems, 3) Records are in the form of pottery,
inscriptions etc toys, monuments, etc
2) Religious sources and Literary Sources

Religious sources Literary Sources

1) All literature sources associated with a 1) All literature sources apart from
particular are called as religious religious texts are called as religious
sources. sources.
2) They mention the rituals and practices 2) They are historical works,
of that religion. biographies, traveller accounts.

3) Eg Bible, Vedas 3) Eg. Indica, Arthashastra

 CHAP 4 - THE EARLIERST SOCIETIES – HUNTER GATHERERS

A. Fill in the blanks

1) The early humans would have witnessed fire in the form of forest fires.

2) Evolutionists believed that early humans could have made fire using flint and twigs.

3) In India, rock paintings can be found in Bhimbetka cave in Madhya Pradesh.

4) The paint used in rock painting by prehistoric man was made from natural extracts.

5) The time period in history when human beings used stones in multiple number of ways is called
Stone Age.

6) The stone age is divided into three different periods - Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic.

7) Palaeolithic Age refers to Old Stone Age, Mesolithic Age refers to Middle Stone Age and Neolithic
Age refers to New Stone Age.

8) The invention of wheel is considered as the one of the top ten inventions of mankind which
transformed our lives.

9) Megaliths are huge stone boulders used by the prehistoric man to construct a structure or a
monument.

10) The discovery of fire dates back to Palaeolithic age when cave men used fire to keep themselves
warm, to cook their food and protect themselves from wild animals.

11) The Palaeolithic men expressed themselves through paintings on the surfaces of rock in the caves
where they lived.

12) Burzahom and Daojali Hading are two regions in India where Neolithic tools have been found.

B. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) What is the other name for 'Old Stone Age' and what was the lifestyle of early humans back
then?
Ans: Palaeolithic Age is also known as the Old Stone Age.
The Old Stone Age people hunted with sharpened sticks.
Later, they used bows, arrows and spears tipped with flint or bone.
People also gathered nuts and fruits and dug up roots.
Fishing was done using nets and harpoons.
Q2) What is the other name for Middle Stone Age' and what was the lifestyle of humans back then?
Ans: Mesolithic Age is also called Middle Stone Age.
Human beings began to lead a more comfortable life.
They domesticated dogs, cattle, sheep and goats.
This age also saw the change from bigger bulkier tools to smaller, sharper tools.
Towards the end of this period human beings had started practising agriculture and led a more settled
life in communities.
Full-fledged agriculture was not practiced as yet.

Q3) Which period in history is called 'Neolithic period' and what developments were brought in the
life of human beings during this time?
Ans: Neolithic Age is also called the New Stone Age.
This period was marked with great progress in the life of early humans.
They had completely given up nomadic life to settled community life and concentrated on the
cultivation of food crops.
They build their own shelter and this led them to make more sophisticated tools that were sharper
stronger, polished and had a better grip.

Q4) When did early humans start practising agriculture and how did it change their lives?
Ans: Early humans started practising agriculture in the Mesolithic age, however full-fledged agriculture
was not practiced till the Neolithic Age. This progress led them to give up nomadic life for a settled
community life.
The period also saw innovation in form of tools that were needed for cultivation and building shelter.

Q5) What are 'microliths'?

Ans: The Mesolithic Age saw tools change from bigger bulkier tools to smaller sharper tools. These
smaller tools came to be known as Microliths meaning small stone.

Q6) Write a short note on Pottery

Ans: The potter's wheel was supposedly invented in Mesopotamia.
Cultivation of crops was in surplus owing to the invention of farming technique. Hence there was a
need for efficient storage of grains.
Pots were invented for the sole purpose of storing large number of grains and for cooking purposes.
The early man used basket made of leaves store things but milk liquids such as could not be stored.
Therefore, the concept of baked clay pots was La big success as it was strong and durable.

Q7) Why is Stone Age called as 'stone age'?

Ans: In prehistoric times, man used stones for many reasons specially as a tool. Stone was therefore as
a significant part of their evolution and that hence that period was called as stone age.
Q8) Write a short note on 'invention of wheel'.
Ans: The invention of wheel dates back to late Neolithic period
This invention is considered to be one of the top ten inventions of mankind which transformed our
lives in many ways.
Civilisations began to flourish.
The wheel was used for – Grinding, pounding, to make earthen pots, in carts for transportation.

Q9) How was early human surviving in the wild?

Ans: Early humans lived in the wild as hunter-gatherers. They hunted with sharpened sticks and fished
with harpoons. They gathered nuts and fruits and dug up roots. They lived in caves to protect
themselves from the cold, wind, and wild animals. Over time they discovered fire which they lit using
flint and twigs.

Q10)How is Stone Age further divided?

Ans: The stone age is further divided into three different periods Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and
Neolithic.

Q11)How was fire discovered?

Ans: The discovery of fire dates back to Palaeolithic age cave men used fire to keep themselves warm,
to cook their food and protect themselves from wild animals. The early humans discovered fire in the
form of forest fires caused by lighting. Early humans made fire using flint and twigs.

C. Define The Term

1) Stone Age:
The time period in history when human beings used stones in multiple number of ways is called Stone
Age.

2) Palaeolithic Age:
Palaeo means old or ancient and lithic in Greek means stone. Palaeolithic age is the old stone age
period that existed between 2.6 million years to 10000 years ago, when people hunted with
sharpened sticks, fished with harpoons and gathered nut, fruits and roots.

3) Mesolithic Age:
Mesolithic is derived from the Greek word meso meaning middle and lithic meaning stone. It is the
Middle Stone Age. This period existed between 10000 BCE and 8000 BCE. Humans began to lead a
more comfortable life.
4) Megaliths:
Megalith are large stone tools or huge stone boulders used by prehistoric man to construct a structure
or monument. Eg Stonehenge in Britain

5) Monolith:
Single stone used to create a structure usually like a pillar is called as a 'monolith'

6) Rock Painting: They are also called cave paintings. The Palaeolithic men expressed themselves in
the form of paintings on the rock surfaces in the caves they lived. We get to understand their social life
through these paintings.

D. Distinguish between:

1) Palaeolithic Age and Mesolithic Age

Palaeolithic Age Mesolithic Age

1) Existed between 2.6 million years and 1) Existed from 10000 BCE to 8000 BCE
10000 years
2) Palaeolithic age is also known as Old 2) Mesolithic age is also known as
Stone Age Middle Stone Age
3) During this period humans had a 3) During this period humans settled in
nomadic life communities

2) Palaeolithic Age and Neolithic Age

Palaeolithic Age Neolithic Age

1) Existed between 2.6 million years and 1) Existed from 8000 BCE to 4000BCE
10000 years
2) Palaeolithic age is also known as Old 2) Neolithic age is also known as New
Stone Age Stone Age
3) During this period humans had a 3) During this period humans settled in
nomadic life communities

3) Palaeolithic Age and Neolithic Age

Mesolithic Age Neolithic Age

4) Existed from 10000 BCE to 8000 BCE 4) Existed from 8000 BCE to 4000BCE
5) Mesolithic age is also known as 5) Neolithic Age also known as New
Middle Stone Age Stone Age
6) During this period humans started 6) During this period humans advanced
cultivation. in cultivation
 CHAP 5 - THE FIRST FARMERS and HERDERS

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Fertile Crescent was also known as cradle of the ancient civilisation.

2) Fully-fledged agriculture was practised in the Neolithic period.

3) Evidence of weeds which was otherwise considered a nuisance by the farmers revealed the
earliest signs of plant cultivation.

4) The farmers shared the produce outside the family when the price of the produce was high.

5) Dogs were the earliest of the animals to be domesticated.

6) Agriculture started in late Mesolithic period became a fully-fledged occupation in the Neolithic
period.

7) The earliest evidence of domesticated dog was jawbone found in a cave

8) The main reason for herding cattle, sheep and goats was to get a regular supply of meat
throughout the year.

9) People were storing the grains during winter, and then sowing them in specially cleared plots.

10) Archaeologists have excavated implements from various sites which proved that farming was
practiced in different regions of the world around the same time.

11) Dogs were the earliest of the animals to be domesticated mainly for hunting purpose.

12) The main reason for herding cattle, sheep and goats was to get a regular supply of meat
throughout the year.

13) The Chalcolithic Period was for a short period of time; however it was a significant period
preceding the Bronze Age.

14) The Bronze age was significant as it marked a transition from stone to the Age of Metals.

15) The time period in history when man started using bronze, an alloy of copper and tin is called as
Bronze Age.

16) The period called 'copper age' was also known as Chalcolithic Age
17) Chalcolithic Age in Latin means copper and stone age.
18) Bronze Age was marked by advanced use of metal in the form of tools and weapons like knives,
swords, axes and spear heads.

19) Succeeding the Bronze Age is the Iron Age, a period in prehistory around 1200 BCE when the main
metal used in the manufacture of tools and weapons was iron.

20) In ancient times the Fertile Crescent was cradle to Mesopotamian civilisation

B. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Write a short note on 'Bronze Age'.

Ans: The time period in history when man started using bronze, an alloy of copper and tin is called as
Bronze Age.
This period was marked by advanced use of metal in the form of tools and weapons like knives,
swords, axes and spear heads.
Some of the earliest civilisations of the world belonged to the Bronze Age including Harappa
civilisation, Mesopotamian civilisation and the Chinese civilisation too.
Iron age succeeded the Bronze Age

Q2) Write a short note on 'Chalcolithic Period'..

Ans: The period called 'copper age' was also known as Chalcolithic Age. The period extended from
5000 BCE to 3500 BCE during which both copper and stone tools were used.
The word originates from the Greek word khalkos meaning copper and lithos meaning stone.
This was a significant period preceding the Bronze Age and it marked a transition from stone to the
Age of Metals

Q3) Write a short note on Iron Age.

Ans: Iron Age is the period, when the main metal used in the manufacture of tools and weapons was
iron. It succeeded the Bronze Age.
It is the transformation period from prehistory to history as the system of writing was slowly getting
developed.
Iron tools made farming a simpler activity than before which led to increase in settlements.
The Iron Age farmers grew fruits and vegetables.
Rearing of animals like cows, sheep and goats were common. The other occupations practiced were
pottery, weaving, carpentry, metal works, etc
C. Define The Term

1) Bronze Age:
The time period in history when man started using bronze, an alloy of copper and tin is called as
Bronze Age.

2) Iron Age:
Succeeding the Bronze Age is the Iron Age, a period, when the main metal used in the
manufacture of tools and weapons was iron. It is the transformation period from prehistory to
history as the system of writing was slowly getting developed.

D. Distinguish between:
1) Iron Age and Bronze Age

Iron Age Bronze Age

1) Existed from 1200 BCE 1) Existed from 3500 BCE to 1500 BCE
2) It is the time period when man started 2) It is the time period when man
using Iron started using Bronze

3) It succeeded the Bronze Age 3) It preceded the Iron Age

 CHAP 6: EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILISATION 1 – THE MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILISATION

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Mesopotamian civilisation is called the ‘cradle of civilisation’.

2) Indus Valley Civilisation is called as Harapa civilisation.

3) The Egyptian Civilisation developed near the banks of river Nile

4) Chinese civilisation developed on the valley of river Hwang Ho

5) River was also a source of fish; hence food was in plenty.

6) The earliest civilisations are also called river valley civilisations.

7) A civilisation is a highly organised and developed society where people are living together with
different roles played by them in a certain part of the world around the same time.

8) All the major civilisations around the world developed along the banks of rivers.

9) The two rivers which were responsible for Mesopotamian civilisation were Tigris and Euphrates

10) Cuneiform was the earliest forms of writing developed by the Sumerians present in southern
Mesopotamia

11) Mesopotamians traded within cities and across continents.

12) Mesopotamians were using the number system with the base 60.

13) The Mesopotamians were polytheistic, worshipping many gods.

14) Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest masterpieces among the ancient literary works.

15) The concept of towns and cities was first developed in Mesopotamia.

16) Wars between different cities and wrong irrigation practices had supposedly been attributed for
the decline of the civilisation.

17) In Greek, 'Mesopotamia' (khora) literally means a land between two rivers. The word 'mesos'
means middle and 'potamos' means river.

18) The first city that had developed in Mesopotamia was the city of 'Uruk’.

19) Uruk is the walled city of Mesopotamia.

20) The Epic of Gilgamesh, tells the story of the great king Gilgamesh and his search for immortality.

21) 'Epic of Gilgamesh’ the epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia opens with the description of Uruk.

22) The Mesopotamian civilisation boasted of advanced family and social structure.

23) The Mesopotamian society was hierarchic

24) The three social classes of Mesopotamia were: nobility, free citizens and slaves.

25) Mesopotamians used money as well as 'barley' to trade

B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) Mesopotamians worshipped a single deity. (False)

2) Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of the great king Gilgamesh and his search for mortality. (False)

3) Seals found in the Mesopotamian Civilisation indicated trade relations with other cities. (True)

4) Trading was carried out through currency notes and coins. (False)

5) Cuneiform script was not used to maintain trade transactions. (False)

6) Mesopotamians used money as well as 'barley' to trade. The barley was borrowed from a barley
banker who used to charge a high rate of interest. (True)

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Describe the location of ancient Mesopotamia.

Ans: Ancient Mesopotamian was the region lying to the east of the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by
the Zagros mountains to the north east and Arabian plateau to the south east. The region lay between
the two Rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

Q2) Name some cities of Mesopotamia?

Ans: Other cities in the Mesopotamian region were Uruk, Babylon, Akkad, Assur, Nimrud, etc.

Q3) What are 'tells' and 'ziggurats'?

Ans: Most of the Mesopotamian history lay beneath the mounds of sand over thousands of years.
These mounds are known as 'tells'.
Ziggurats are temples under which lay many of the treasures of the Mesopotamian civilisation.
Q4) Why is Mesopotamian civilisation called the ‘cradle of civilisation’ of the world?
Ans: Mesopotamian civilisation is called 'cradle of civilisation' because of two developments;
i. The concept of towns and cities was first developed in Mesopotamia.
ii. They also invented the world's first known writing system called cuneiform.

Q5) Write a short note on Cuneiform script.

Ans: Cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing developed by the Sumerians.
Cuneiform means 'wedge'.
The mode of writing used a wedge- shaped stylus to make impressions on a clay surface and on stone,
metal and wax.
This form of writing was invented to keep a record of the various trade transactions.

Q6) Why was trade important to the Mesopotamians?

Ans: Trade important to the Mesopotamians because the region was not rich in natural resources.

Q7) What was Mesopotamia's contribution to writing?

Ans: The Mesopotamians made huge advancements in the sphere of writing.
The cuneiform script is a great credit in itself. This led to the framing of the law codes as in the
Hammurabi's code. Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest masterpieces among the ancient literary

Q8) How advanced was Mesopotamia in the field of mathematics?

Ans: Mesopotamians used the number system with the base 60.
They also divided the hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds which is used till date.
They had a good knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Their knowledge of astronomy led them to create the first calendar based on phases of the moon.

Q9) What were the four notable civilisations?

Ans: The four notable civilisations that developed were as follows:
i. Indus valley civilisation also called Harappa civilisation on the banks of river Indus.
ii. Mesopotamian civilisation on the banks of the river Tigris and Euphrates
iii.Egyptian civilisation on the banks of river Nile.
iv. Chinese civilisation on the valley of river Hwang Ho.

Q10)Name any 2 significant civilisations which developed in different parts of the world?
Ans: Inca Civilisation in South America, the Aztec Civilisation in North America, the Roman and Greek
civilisation in Europe, the Mayan Civilisation in Central America and the Persian Civilisation in modern
day Iraq

Q11)What was the structure of family in ancient Mesopotamia?

Ans: Family was considered to be an important part of the hierarchy and male member headed the
family.
Q12)What are the possible reasons for the decline of the Mesopotamian civilisation?
Ans: Wars between different cities and wrong irrigation practices had supposedly been attributed for
the decline of the Mesopotamian civilisation.
The two rivers which were responsible for Mesopotamian civilisation were Tigris and Euphrates which
drained the region with its annual flooding rendering it to be the most fertile region of its times.

Q13)What were the notable characteristics of all the civilisations?

Ans: Certain notable characteristics of all these civilisations were as follows;
i. Urban settlements
ii. Different occupations
iii.Trade between different cities
iv. Organised political structure
v. Development of languages
vi.Practice of certain form of worship

Q14) Describe the Mesopotamia hierarchical structure and the position of women in it.
Ans: There were three social classes: nobility, free citizens and slaves.
 Nobility was the affluent class that included priests and priest kings who owned slaves.
 Free citizens were the middle-class trading community and
 Salves were the lowest class who did not have any rights.
Women in the upper class were respected at par with the men except being given formal
education.

Q15)Who was the head of the family in Mesopotamian society?

Ans: The male member headed the family.

Q16)What were the three social classes

Ans: There were three social classes:
i. Nobility: The nobility included priest and priest kings who were responsible for temple rituals and
collecting taxes.
ii. Free citizens: The free citizens corresponded to the middle class who were involved in trade and
were the merchant community.
iii. Slaves: The slaves belonged to the class, who were bought and sold. The upper class were the
affluent individuals who also owned the slaves.

Q17)Write a note on Mesopotamians Religion?

Ans: The Mesopotamians believed that they were co-workers with god in administering the earth.
They followed daily rituals, praying to the deities, carrying out proper funeral practices and doing
proper civic duties they were able to lead a good life free from chaos.
The Mesopotamians were polytheistic, worshipping many gods.
 Q18)Write a note on Mesopotamians Trade?
Ans: Trade important to the Mesopotamians because the region was not rich in natural resources.
Food, clothing, jewellery wine and other goods were traded between cities.
Docks were built along the sides of the rivers for ships to dock and unload the goods.
The trading was carried out in the form of barter system. They used money as well as 'barley' to trade.

Q19)What were the achievements of Mesopotamian civilisation.

Ans: The achievements are as follows;
i. Urban Civilisation: The concept of towns and cities was first developed in Mesopotamia.
ii. Writing: They also invented the world's first known writing system called cuneiform.
iii. Wheel: The invented the wheel for making pottery and in chariots
iv. Mathematics: They used the number system with a base 60 in various areas
v. Art and architecture: They developed the idea of creating an opening in a wall called arch
monument.

Define The Term

1) Civilisation:
Civilisation' is a highly organised and developed society where people live together with different
roles played by them in a certain part of the world at the same time.
This was a significant development in the human history because man began a community life
different from the nomadic life that he had led in the past.

2) City:
A city in the ancient times referred to a place which was a largely populated urban centre of
commerce and administration bounded by laws and having a well-developed drainage and
sanitation. Uruk was the first city of Mesopotamia.

3) Slaves:
The slaves were the lowest in the social hierarchy in Mesopotamia who performed a number of
tasks including manual labour. They did not have any rights and worked for the upper-class people.

4) Upper Class:
The upper class were the affluent individuals who also owned the slaves. Women in the upper
class were respected at par with the men except being given formal education.

5) Kings:
The kings in Mesopotamia were supposed to have a good relationship with gods and hence they
acted as a mediator between the god and the common people.

6) Priests:
Priests and priestess were highly regarded and were not only involved with rituals but also
believed to have the power of healing.

7) Nobility:
Nobility is a form of social class in Mesopotamia. The nobility included priest and priest kings who
were responsible for temple rituals and collection of taxes.
 CHAP 7: EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILISATION 2 – THE EGYPTIAN CIVILISATION

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Ancient Egyptian calendar had 365 number of days

2) Demotic script was used to record trade and contract agreements

3) Hieroglyphics included symbols which represented objects.

4) Rosetta stone helped in deciphering Hieroglyphics objects

5) Caravan trade routes were used to exchange goods.

6) Ptah was an early God of ancient Egyptians.

7) The most important of the gods was 'Ra' the 'Sun' god.

8) Egypt was known as 'kemet' or the black land known for its rich black soil on the banks of river
Nile.

9) The civilisation of ancient Egypt was one of the earliest to develop estimated around 3000 BCE and
lasted till 332 BCE.

10) The ancient Egypt came together around 3150 BCE around the lower reaches of the Nile River.

11) In the social hierarchy, the pharaoh or people associated with divinity were at the top and the
slaves and servants were at the bottom.

12) Ancient Egyptians had two forms of writing; the Hieroglyphics and the demotic script.

13) Pyramids were tombs where they buried their king or pharaoh.

14) Mummification was a process by which ancient Egyptians immortalised their favourite beings and
prepared them to enjoy their afterlife.

15) The ancient Egyptian numerical system is composed of seven symbols with which they could
perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

16) The historians believe that the foreign invasions weakened the empire which led to conquer of
Egypt by the Romans, Persians and Assyrians.

17) Other that river Nile, Egypt was all desert as it was close to the Sahara Desert.
18) 'Pharaoh' is the common title of monarchs of ancient Egypt from the first dynasty until the
conquest by the Macedonians.

19) There was a total of 170 pharaohs, out of which Menes was believed to be the first and 'Cleopatra'
was considered to be the last.

20) The best-preserved mummy was of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen who died at the age of 19.

21) The process of mummification and it took 70 days

22) Charms and amulet were worn to ward off evil forces.

23) Caravan trade routes were used to exchange goods.

B. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Where is Egypt located?

Ans: Ancient Egypt Civilisation was located in North Africa adjoining the Red Sea along the river Nile.

Q1) What is the other name for Egypt? Why?

Ans: Egypt was known as 'kemet' or the black land for its rich black soil on the banks of river Nile.

Q2) What made Egypt the richest regions of the world.

Ans: The Nile, unlike other rivers was regular and navigable making it the safest and the richest regions
of the world.

Q3) Why was Egypt a narrow civilisation?

Ans: Unlike other civilisations, the Egyptian communities existed only along the river Nile that
extended from the north to the south of Egypt. Hence this was a narrow civilisation.

Q4) Name some Egyptian Gods?

Ans: Ra, Sun, Anubis, Seth, Osiris, Isis and Horus

Q5) Why was Egypt called as the 'gift of the Nile'?

Ans: The river Nile has been crucial to the Egypt’s survival and prosperity.
Without the Nile, Egypt would be a barren desert.
The fertile soil from the annual flooding, the abundance of water for consumption and agriculture and
the ease of trade because of the river are reasons Egypt is called the "Gift of the Nile".

Q6) What was the reason for mummification of the bodies in Egypt?
Ans: The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and hence wanted the dead bodies of their
favourite human beings to be preserved to prepare them to enjoy their afterlife. The bodies of the
pharaoh's were therefore embalmed with extracts (mummification) to preserve the body.
Q7) What is the process of mummification?
Ans: The bodies of the pharaoh's were preserved by washing, purifying and removing all organs except
the heart. The body was then embalmed with extracts to preserve the body. The process took 70 days.
Such bodies could be preserved for thousands of years after the death.

Q8) How did Egyptians do trade?

Ans: Ancient Egyptians were masters of trade as their land was a rich with various resources. Thus,
trade brought them closer to other civilisations.
Barter was the mode of payment. They traded precious resources like linen, papyrus, grains, gold and
even decorative artefacts.

Q9) Write a short note on Egyptian script

Ans: The old Kingdom of Egypt was remarkably literate. They had two forms of writing. The
Hieroglyphics were sacred writing while the demotic script was meant to record trade and contract
agreements. They used Rosetta stone for writing.

Q10)How advanced was the Egyptian numerical system?

Ans: The ancient Egyptian numerical system is composed of seven symbols which include a single
stroke, a heel bone, a coil of rope, a lotus plant, a finger, a frog and a kneeling god. With this they
could add, subtract, multiply and divide too any number of digits.

Q11)Write a short note on Egyptian pyramids.

Ans: Pyramids were made during the time of the Old Kingdom. They were tombs where they buried
their king or pharaoh. The first pyramid was the step pyramid made around 5000 years ago.

Q12)Mention briefly about the old, middle and the new kingdom of Egypt.
Ans: This history of Nile valley civilisation can be further divided into three different periods;
i. Old kingdom of the early Bronze Age refers to the period between 3000 BCE and 2000 BCE
which saw the construction of the great pyramids and thus called the 'Age of the Pyramids'.
ii. Middle kingdom of the middle Bronze Age refers to the period between 2000 BCE-1700 BCE
during which the Egyptian Empire expanded further and trade flourished. It is also called as the
classical age as it produced some of the finest works of art and literature.
iii. New kingdom of the late Bronze age refers to the period between 1800 BCE-1100 BCE when
Egypt had conquered Palestine and Syria. They were at the zenith of their power.

Q13)Write a short note on the ancient Egyptian society.

Ans: The ancient society of Egyptians was agrarian. The people settled on the plains of the river Nile as
the annual flooding made the valley very fertile. The peasant farmers therefore made-up bulk of the
population. The social hierarchy was as follows:
i. Pharaoh was at the top. He was treated as a religious and political leader of the Egyptians.
ii. Priests and nobles were well connected to him and influenced his decisions.
iii. Scribes were respected and valued as they helped in record keeping.
iv. Craftsmen formed the middle class of society, but had an important role in the palace.
v. Slaves were mainly prisoners of war and worked as required by the pharaoh and nobles. Slaves
and servants were at the bottom
vi. Women enjoyed legal and economic rights at par with men and they could under certain
circumstances become pharaoh too.
Q14) What caused the decline of the ancient Egyptian society.
Ans: It is believed that the foreign invasions drained wealth of Egypt and weakened the empire which
led to conquer of Egypt by the Romans, Persians and Assyrians, thus leading to its decline

C. Define The Term

1) Mummification:
Mummification is the process in which all the body is washed and purified and organs of the
body except the heart is removed. The body is then embalmed with extracts to preserve it for
thousands of years.
 CHAP 8: EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILISATION 3 – THE CHINESE CIVILISATION

A. Fill in the blanks

1) The Chinese civilisation is being credited to be the longest running civilisation with different
dynasties ruling over the empire from time to time.

2) Shang dynasty was one of the first dynasties.

3) The founder of Buddhism was Gautam Buddha

4) Confucius was the founder of Confucianism.

5) Taoism was founded during the reign of Zhou dynasty.

6) Silk route was a famous trading route of the ancient times.

7) The concept of Yin and Yang is a part of Taoism

8) Ancient Chinese society was divided into two classes: the upper and the lower class.

9) The upper society comprise of the Emperor and the nobles and the rich class of people.

10) The most famous amongst the Chinese religion are Taoism Confucianism and Buddhism.

11) Confucianism founded by Confucius the great philosopher and thinker in 551 BC, this philosophy
was designed for people to lead a good life.

12) Buddhism founded by Gautam Buddha was brought to China from India more than 2000 years
ago, via the silk route.

13) Taoism was based on the writings of Lao-tsu.

14) The silk route was the trade route taken to reach the western world from China.

15) The main trading goods included silk, tea, spices and porcelain.

16) Goods which were imported included wool, cotton, gold and silver.

17) Ancient Chinese civilisation boasts of various achievements including the art of making paper, silk,
porcelain, noodles, gun powder, iron plough and calligraphy among the many to its credit
B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) The art of beautiful writing is called calligraphy. True

2) Bronze plough was invented by the Chinese. False

3) Porcelain is made from silica and coal. False

4) The oldest printed book is Ramayana. False

5) Paper was invented by the Chinese. True

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Write a short note on the ancient Chinese society.

Ans: Ancient Chinese society was divided into two classes: the upper and the lower class.
At the top of the hierarchy, were the Emperor and his family.
Government official forms the second most powerful. They could be from any class but had to pass
important tests.
Below them were the peasants and merchants who were considered to be the lower class.

Who was the head of the Chinese family?

Ans: The Chinese family consisted of the Father or the male member who is the head of the family.
Men were considered superior to women. Women were expected to obey the male members of the
family which includes the father, brother, husband and son. They were not allowed to own property.

Q2) How were women treated in ancient Chinese society?

Ans: Women were expected to obey the male members of the family which includes the father,
brother, husband and son. They were not allowed to own property.

Q3) List some of the major achievements of ancient Chinese

Ans: Ancient China is credited with numerous scientific and technological advancements
i. Compass: They invented the first magnetic compass to determine the correct direction, to
orient building in north south direction and for navigation of ships at sea.
ii. Silk: Chinese learnt the art of making silk from the cocoons of the silk worms; a well sought
after material by the rich and the affluent in Europe.
iii. Gunpowder: The Chinese invested a mixture of 3 different powders, later identified as
gunpowder.
iv. Noodles: Noodles is a staple food of Chinese and is the best food export from China.
v. Paper: Chinese invented paper by mixing finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with
water.
vi. Diamond Sutra: It is the oldest dated printed book in existence. It contains sacred texts of
Mahayana Buddhism.
vii. Porcelain: Porcelain also called chinaware invented by Chinese has became a hit everywhere.
 viii. Cast Iron plough: The Chinese developed the cast iron plough with a major invention of
adjusting the precise depth of the plough. This was a necessary requisite for industrial
revolution
ix. Calligraphy: Chinese developed the art of Calligraphy a sign of status

Q4) What was the use of compass for the ancient Chinese?
Ans: Chinese invented the first magnetic compass
i. To determine the correct direction,
ii. To orient building in north south direction and
iii. For navigation of ships at sea.

Q5) What is the role of silk in the history of ancient China?

Ans: The Chinese learnt the art of making silk from the cocoons of the silk worms.
This was well sought after by the rich and the affluent of the time in places in Europe.
The art of making this fine material was kept as secret for hundreds of years
They developed a route to trade Silk with western world that came to be known as Silk route.

Q6) Write a short on the river which is responsible for the Chinese civilisation.
Ans: The Chinese civilisation owes its existence to the yellow river which gets flooded from time to
time.
The river originates in the Bayankala mountains of western China and flows through 9 provinces
before emptying into the Bohai Sea.
Hwang Ho is one of the most fertile plains of Asia. This river water is responsible for the fertility of the
soil. It also called yellow river because a huge amount of loess sediment turns water into yellow
colour.

Q7) Why is Hwang Ho River called the ‘Yellow River’?

Ans: The river is also called Yellow river' because a huge amount of loess sediment turns water into
yellow colour.

Q8) Why is Hwang Ho River also called as 'China's sorrow'?

Ans: The Hwang Ho River is prone to frequent devastating floods because of the elevated river bed in
its lower course and that has been the reason for it to be called China's sorrow'.

Q9) Give and account of the religion followed during the Chinese Civilisation?
Ans: The Chinese society lived by philosophies than religion. The most famous of them were Taoism,
Confucianism and Buddhism. Confucianism is an indigenous religion and was infused into the culture
of China.

Q10)Who founded Confucianism? State 2 sayings it.

Ans: Confucius founded Confucianism. The philosophy was designed for people to lead a good life.
A few of his sayings which are famous include;
i. Forget injuries never forget kindness
ii. It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop

Q11)What is the Golden rule of Confucianism?

Ans: The golden rule of Confucius is revered to date. It states, ‘What you do not wish for yourself, do
not do to others’ and ‘Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.’
Q12)Write a note on Buddhism.
Ans: Buddhism was brought into China from India via the silk route.
This religion had a huge impact on the Chinese and remained the most followed religion in China to
date. It was followed alongside Confucianism and Taoism and had a major influence on the spiritual
lives of the people. The growth of Buddhism was seen by people as a ray of hope during the war torn
times.

Q13)Write a note on Taoism.

Ans: Taoism philosophy was derived from the writings of Lao-tsu.
Taoism believes that people should be one with nature and that there is a universal force flowing
through all living things.
They did not believe in rules or government. They believed that in nature everything existed in
balancing ways called Yin and Yang. For example, female and male, dark and light, old and young, etc.

Q14)Write an account of Trade in China?

Ans: Trade was a crucial part of the Chinese civilisation and was responsible for building relations with
many countries in the world.
China exported included silk, tea, sugar, porcelain and spices and imported cotton, ivory, wool, gold
and silver.
Chinese goods were in great demand across the world and thus the Chinese economy flourished
The silk route expanded and became significant part of trade.

Q15)What were the reasons for decline of the Chinese civilisation?

Ans: The decline could be because of decrease in population, weak government, weak economy and
invasion by the Huns.
 CHAP 9: EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILISATION 4– THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

A. Fill in the blanks

1) Indus Valley civilisation is considered the largest of the four civilisations.

2) To the Indus people Indus River was considered as 'King River'.

3) The Indian archaeologist, Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni was responsible for unearthing the
Harappa site

4) The Indian archaeologist R D Banerji was responsible for unearthing the Mohenjo-Daro.

5) The Indus River which begins in the Himalayan ranges

6) The Indus River drains into the Arabian Sea.

7) The Indus valley civilisation is one of the oldest and most advanced civilisations of the world.

8) To the Indus people their river was the 'King River'.

9) Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni at Harappa and R D Banerji at Mohenjo-Daro working

independently unearthed the ruins of this massive and advanced civilisation.

10) The cities comprised of two regions: the citadel and the lower town.

11) The citadel was located on a raise platform to prevent the on slaught of floods.

12) Indus valley worshipped mother goddess and animal figurines like bull were considered sacred.

13) Burial sites are significant as they provided information regarding the life of the people as they
believed in life after death.

14) The presence of Bronze which is not native to the valley indicates that extensive trade was
carried out between various regions including Mesopotamia.

15) Presence of Indus seals in Mesopotamia was the evidence for exchange of goods between the
two regions.

16) Great bath and Granary are two of the important structures of this civilisation and they were
located in citadel region of the town.

17) The great Indus civilisation started declining around 1500 BC.
18) Indus Valley civilisation began in a region which is currently in Pakistan and parts of North
West India.

19) Indus Valley civilisation lay hidden underneath great moulds of sand for a long time before it
was discovered by archaeologists

20) Indus Valley Civilisation was discovered in the beginning of the twentieth century (1921)

21) There were around 1400 towns and cities in the Indus Valley.

22) The largest towns in Indus Valley were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

23) Since the first site discovered was Harappa, this civilisation is also called Harappan civilisation.

24) River Indus which is 3000 km long is the longest river of Pakistan

25) 'Dholavira' is an archaeological site in the Kutch district of Gujarat that contains the ruins of
the Indus Valley Civilisation.

26) Workers who were laying railway track chanced upon the ruins and referred to Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).

27) Sir John Marshall, Director General of ASI had a huge role in the discovery of Harappa
civilisation.

28) Agriculture seems to be the main occupation of the people in the Indus Valley and the
discovery of granaries support this theory.

29) The staple food of the Indus Valley people seems to be wheat, barley, rice, milk and
vegetables like peas.

30) Indus Valley people also consumed fish and poultry.

31) Indus Valley people ate believed to have worshipped mother goddess who is a symbol
of fertility.

32) Seals engraved with animals like bulls, elephants and rhinoceros suggests that these animals
were considered sacred by the people.

33) Indus Valley scroll shows a horned figure surrounded by animals called as Pashupati which
meant 'lord of the cattle'. This was the other name for Lord Shiva too.

34) Some of the Indus valley seals show the symbol Swastika which is an ancient religious symbol
from the Indian subcontinent.

35) The peepal tree was considered to be sacred and is still considered sacred and worshipped by
the Hindus and the Buddhist.

36) Indus valley did not trade using money, they must have followed the barter system.
 37) Lothal was one of the famous cities of the ancient Indus valley civilisation, located currently in
Gujarat, famous for maritime trade.

38) The average number of symbols on the seal in the Indus Valley civilisation is only 5 and the
longest include only 26.

39) Archaeologists have found from the ruins that remarkable town planning and
excellent drainage pattern existed in the ancient Indus valley

40) The streets and the drainage system were the marvels of the Indus valley civilisation.

41) All-important buildings including the Great Bath and the Granary were located at citadel.

42) Potter, mason and metal workers were in high demand.

B. State ‘True’ or ‘False’

1) Archaeologists have deciphered the Indus script. False

2) Discovery of spindles at the site are an indication that people practiced farming. True

3) The lower town was on a raised platform. False

4) The ruling class and the aristocratic people lived in the citadel. True

5) The Indus Valley people worshipped mother goddess and considered her as a symbol of
fertility. True

C. Answer the following questions (2-3 marks)

Q1) Describe the 'citadel'.

Ans: The citadel was built from bricks on a raised platform where the ruling class and the aristocratic
people lived.
It was 12m in height and rectangular shaped, surrounded by brick walls with watch towers.
The area was raised to ensure that the region remained unaffected during the floods.
The citadel overlooked the lower town.

Q2) Why was the Indus valley a fertile region? What crops were.
Ans: The flooding of the Indus River from time to time brought in mineral making the region fertile.
This helped in the cultivation of certain variety of crops like wheat, barley, melon seeds and oil crops
including dates, mustard and sesame.

Q3) What was the main corpus of writing of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Ans: The main corpus of writing of the Indus valley civilisation is in the form of thousands of seals.

Q4) Explain how the 'Great Bath' and 'Granary' are the marvels of the Indus valley civilisation.
Ans: Great Bath:
Great Bath is the most impressive structure discovered at Mohenjo-Daro, located in the Citadel.
The pool was used by the people on auspicious occasions.
The structure includes 12m long pool, 7m wide and 2.5m deep.
Gypsum was used along with mortar to make the bottom and sides of the pool watertight.
The pool was fed with water from a nearby well and the dirty water was drained into the sewer.

Granary:
The great granary at Harappa was a place to store grains.
It was common to have a surplus production of grains and they had an efficient way to store it.
It was made of burnt brick and was properly ventilated.
It was located in the citadel.

Q5) What was the medium of exchange of the Indus valley people?

Ans: Indus valley did not trade using money, they followed the barter system.

Q6) What was the staple food of the people in the Indus Valley?

Ans: The staple food of the people seems to be wheat, barley, rice, milk and vegetables like peas. They
also consumed fish and poultry.

Q7) Why was it difficult to decipher the Indus script?

Ans: The main impediments in deciphering the script include were as follows:
i. Very short and brief texts. The average number of symbols on the seal is only 5 and the longest
include only 26.
ii. The language of the people is unknown.
iii.Lack of bilingual texts.

Q8) What were some of the iconic pieces of art found at the site in Indus Valley?
Ans: Some of the iconic pieces of art found at the site include seals, jewellery, toys, painted pottery,
terracotta figurines which highlight the life of the Indus valley people.

Q9) How would traders identify their goods?

Ans: Indus traders used seals like labels to indicate which goods belong to which trader. If you press
the seal onto soft clay, it left a mark on the clay. When the clay dried, it could be used as a mark tied to
the respective goods thus a seal indicating the closing of a particular transaction.

Q10)Describe the streets of Indus Valley Civilisation.

Ans: The streets were the marvels of the Indus valley civilisation.
The streets ran from north to south and from east to west intersecting each other at right angles.
The roads ran at right angles bringing out a grid pattern of the township.
The drains on the streets were covered with slabs that show the importance given to hygiene.
The streets were also provided with street lamps too.

Q11)How many parts the city was divided into? What were they called?
Ans: The cities were divided into two main parts: the citadel and the lower town.

Q12)The excavators worked for which organization? Name the person who had huge role in this
excavation? Name the major cities which were excavated by them.
Ans: Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni and R D Banerji worked independently with the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI). Sir John Marshall had a huge role in this excavation. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
were excavated by them.

Q13)What were the causes of decline of the Indus valley civilisation?

Ans: Some of the reasons for decline of the Indus Valley civilisation are as follows:
i. Attack by invaders - There is no evidence of any weapons from the site Indus Valley. This
means that the people would not have been able to defend themselves from any invasion.
ii. Floods or drought -The Indus River was the lifeline of the people. It is believed that excessive
flooding of the river or a drought due to the change in the course of the river could have
made the people move out in search of greener pastures.
iii. Earthquake - An earthquake could have led to mass wiping of the population.

Q14)Name these civilisations?

Egyptian Indus Valley Mesopotamian Chinese

Civilisation Civilisation Civilisation Civilisation
D. Define The Term (2 marks)

1) Citadel: The citadel was a fortified compound that were often built in the centre of cities where
the ruling class and aristocratic people lived.

E. Distinguish between: (2 marks)

1) Great Bath and Granary

Great Bath Granary

4) The great bath is a pool. 2) The granary is a store for grains
5) The pool was used by people on 3) The store was used to store surplus
auspicious occasions grains.