Ancient Chapters

1. Harappan Indus Civilization2. Vedic Culture3. Mahajanapada Period4. Religious Movements (Ancient)5. Maurya Period6. Post Maurya Pre Gupta Period7. The Sangam Period8. Gupta Period9. Post Gupta Period Vardhana Dynasty

Harappan / Indus Valley Civilization

“The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, known for its advanced city planning, drainage systems, and trade networks.”

Key Features of the Harappan Civilization

  • Time Period: 2500 BCE – 1750 BCE
  • Main Sites: Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan), Mohenjodaro (Sindh, Pakistan), Dholavira (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal (Gujarat), Rakhigarhi (Haryana)
  • Urban Planning: Grid pattern roads, well-planned drainage system, use of baked bricks
  • Great Bath: A large water tank at Mohenjodaro, used for ritual bathing
  • Granaries: Found at Harappa and Mohenjodaro; used for storing grains
  • Economy: Agriculture, domestication of animals, trade (both internal and external with Mesopotamia)
  • Script: Undeciphered pictographic script used on seals and tablets
  • Religion: Worship of nature, animals, proto-Shiva (Pashupati seal), mother goddess
  • Art and Crafts: Pottery, beads, terracotta figurines, bronze dancing girl (Mohenjodaro)
  • Decline: Possible causes include climate change, floods, drying of rivers, Aryan invasion

Previous Year Questions

  • SSC CGL 2021: The Great Bath was discovered at which Harappan site?
  • Mohenjodaro
  • RRB Group D 2018: Which metal was used by Harappans to make tools?
  • Copper and bronze
  • HSSC 2019: Which Harappan site is located in Haryana?
  • Rakhigarhi
  • SSC JE 2020: Harappan script is:
  • Pictographic and undeciphered
  • RRB NTPC 2020: Which site had the dockyard?
  • Lothal
  • UPSC Prelims: The Dancing Girl bronze statue belongs to which site?
  • Mohenjodaro
  • SSC CPO: Main material used in Harappan building construction?
  • Baked bricks
  • HSSC 2018: Evidence of ploughed field found at?
  • Kalibangan
  • SSC GD 2019: Which animal was not known to Harappans?
  • Horse
  • RRB JE 2015: Which river is associated with Mohenjodaro?
  • Indus
  • SSC MTS 2019: What was the main occupation of the Harappan people?
  • Agriculture
  • HSSC CET: What does the Pashupati seal depict?
  • Proto-Shiva seated with animals
  • RRB NTPC: Harappan civilization is also known as?
  • Indus Valley Civilization
  • SSC CHSL: Seals used by Harappans were made of?
  • Steatite
  • SSC GD 2021: Lothal is famous for?
  • Dockyard
  • SSC JE: Script of Harappans was written on?
  • Seals and tablets
  • HSSC 2021: Which material was mostly used in pottery?
  • Red clay
  • RRB Group D: Site known for water reservoir?
  • Dholavira
  • SSC CGL: Harappan civilization belongs to which age?
  • Bronze Age
  • UPSC CDS: Which factor caused decline of Harappan civilization?
  • Climatic changes and floods
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