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The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation – Class 6 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Social Science, chapter 6. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Around 2600 BCE, villages in the north-west of the subcontinent grew into well-planned cities, forming the Harappan or Indus–Sarasvati civilisation. Its cities had planned streets, drains, water systems and long-distance trade. After about 1900 BCE the cities declined, but many traditions continued.

From villages to cities

A civilisation has cities, a system of government, specialised crafts, trade and often writing.
Harappa was discovered in 1921 and Mohenjo-daro in 1922; other major cities include Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi.
The rivers Indus and Sarasvati (today's Ghaggar–Hakra) supported farming and settlements.

Town planning and water management

Streets were laid out in a grid; houses were built of baked bricks of a standard size ratio (1:2:4).
Covered drains ran along the streets; Mohenjo-daro had the Great Bath, a large water tank.
Dholavira in Gujarat had large reservoirs to store rainwater; Lothal had a dockyard linked to the sea.

Food, trade and decline

Harappans grew wheat, barley, millets and pulses, kept animals and ate fish.
They traded beads, cotton and other goods with Mesopotamia, where the region may have been called Meluhha; they used standard weights and seals.
After about 1900 BCE the cities declined, probably because of climate change, drying of the Sarasvati and shifts in rivers; people moved to smaller villages.

Key terms

Civilisation: an advanced society with cities, government, trade, crafts and culture
Great Bath: a large, waterproof tank found at Mohenjo-daro
Seal: a small carved object, often of stone, used to stamp goods and showing animals and script
Dockyard: a place where ships are built or repaired; Lothal had one

Important questions with answers

What were the main features of Harappan town planning?2 marks

Streets were laid out in a grid pattern, crossing at right angles. Houses were built of standard-sized baked bricks, and covered drains ran along the streets to carry waste water. Many cities had a raised citadel and a lower town.

How did the Harappans manage water?3 marks

Houses had bathing areas and wells, and covered drains carried dirty water out of the cities. Mohenjo-daro had the Great Bath, a waterproof tank. Dholavira built large reservoirs and channels to collect and store rainwater, which was important in its dry climate.

Describe the Harappan civilisation: its cities, economy, trade and decline.5 marks

Around 2600 BCE, villages in the Indus and Sarasvati river region grew into planned cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi. The cities had grid-pattern streets, houses of baked bricks in a 1:2:4 ratio, covered drains, wells, the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro and reservoirs at Dholavira. People grew wheat, barley, millets and pulses, kept cattle, sheep and goats, and fished. Craftspeople made beads, pottery, metal objects and seals. They used standard weights and traded with distant regions such as Mesopotamia, using the dockyard at Lothal for sea trade. After about 1900 BCE, the cities declined, probably because of climate change, reduced rainfall, the drying up of the Sarasvati and changes in river courses. People moved to smaller villages, but many skills and traditions, such as farming practices and crafts, continued in later Indian culture.

Quick revision

Mature cities around 2600–1900 BCE.
Grid streets, baked bricks, covered drains.
Trade with Mesopotamia; standard weights and seals.
Decline due to climate change and drying of rivers.

Exam tips

Remember each city with its special feature: Mohenjo-daro (Great Bath), Lothal (dockyard), Dholavira (reservoirs).
The Harappan script has not yet been deciphered, so most of our knowledge comes from archaeology.

Practice MCQs

The Great Bath was found at
1. Harappa
2. Lothal
3. Mohenjo-daro
4. Dholavira
Show answer
Answer: (c) Mohenjo-daro. It is a large waterproof tank.
Harappan houses were mostly built of
1. stone only
2. mud only
3. wood only
4. baked bricks
Show answer
Answer: (d) baked bricks. Bricks of standard size were used.
Lothal is famous for its
1. Great Bath
2. iron tools
3. citadel only
4. dockyard
Show answer
Answer: (d) dockyard. It is in Gujarat.
Harappan bricks had a standard size ratio of
1. 1:1:1
2. 1:2:4
3. 2:3:5
4. 1:3:9
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1:2:4. Thickness : width : length = 1 : 2 : 4.
Which city is known for its large water reservoirs
1. Dholavira
2. Harappa
3. Kalibangan
4. Rakhigarhi only
Show answer
Answer: (a) Dholavira. Dholavira stored rainwater in huge reservoirs.
The Harappans traded with
1. China only
2. Rome
3. Mesopotamia
4. Japan
Show answer
Answer: (c) Mesopotamia. Harappan seals and beads have been found there.
The most likely reason for the decline of Harappan cities is
1. a single war
2. volcanic eruptions
3. iron weapons
4. climate change and drying of the Sarasvati river
Show answer
Answer: (d) climate change and drying of the Sarasvati river. Rivers changed course and rainfall decreased.
Why do historians rely mainly on archaeology for the Harappan civilisation
1. there are no remains
2. all books were lost recently
3. the script has not been deciphered
4. Harappans did not build cities
Show answer
Answer: (c) the script has not been deciphered. Without reading the script, material remains are the main source.

All chapters of Class 6 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.