Class 06 History Chapter 1 Saraswati-Indus Civilization Notes & Important Question Answer

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Chapter Notes

According to Garden Child, this civilization is believed to be 4000 years old. While Martimer Wheeler has estimated it between 2000 BC to 1500 BC. But according to new discoveries, this civilization is 8000 years old.
River Saraswati originates from Adibadri and flows through Haryana's Yamunanagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa and falls into the Arabian Sea via Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Most of the flow of the Indus River is in Pakistan. Important places like Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, Balakot are on the banks of this river.
This civilization is called Saraswati Indus Civilization on the basis of many city remains found on the banks of Saraswati Sindhu and its tributaries.
Harappa was seen for the first time then. When ballasts were needed for laying the railway line there, the laborers picked up bricks from a nearby mound and then for the first time this place came in the eyes of the British officials.
In 1921, Harappa was excavated on the banks of the Ravi river under the leadership of Dayaram Sahni, then the remains of a huge city came out. In 1922, under the leadership of Rakhaldas Banerjee, similar remains were obtained from Mohenjodaro on the banks of the Indus River. 

City planning of Saraswati Indus Civilization
We have found the remains of the cities of the Saraswati Indus civilization in two parts. The western part was smaller but built on a height. It has been called Durg Kshetra (Nagardurg). The eastern part was bigger which is called the lower town. Most of the ancient sites were enclosed on both sides by boundary walls which were made of burnt bricks.
The huge bath received from Mohenjodaro was made of burnt bricks. In this, a layer of charcoal was placed over the plaster to prevent water seepage. Stairs have been made for landing in this lake from two sides, rooms have been built around it, it was filled by extracting water from the well. A drain has been made to empty it.

Saraswati Indus Civilization Roads and Drains
The roads of this civilization were 13 feet to 33 feet wide. And the width of the streets used to be 9 to 12 feet. The roads used to cut each other at right angles.

There were drains on both sides of the roads. After being used in homes, water used to fall into these drains. These drains were made of burnt bricks and were covered. The water used to flow from these drains and fall into the main drain. Which used to take water out of the city.

Building construction plan in Saraswati Indus Civilization
In this civilization, houses were constructed with a definite plan. The houses were usually of two storeys. There were courtyards in the house and there were kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities. The doors did not open towards the main roads but opened into the street.

Life in Saraswati Indus Civilization
Apart from the cities, the people of this civilization also lived in villages. The people living in the village used to do agriculture. These people used to grow wheat, barley, pulses, peas, paddy, sesame and mustard. Agriculture was done with the help of oxen and camels. Used to irrigate the fields from rivers and ponds.
The people here reared animals like camel, bullock, cow, buffalo, sheep, goat and elephant. Animals like duck, rabbit, deer, cock and parrot were also reared. All these animals were helpful in their agricultural work, transport and food.

Measurement weight in Saraswati Indus Civilization
In the Saraswati Indus Civilization, divisions have also been found for weighing large and heavy objects at many places. Apart from this, many objects made of stone, shell, copper, bronze, gold and silver have also been obtained.

Necklace adornment in Saraswati Indus Civilization
The people of this civilization used to make gold-silver and stone ornaments of very beautiful shapes. Which were worn by women and men of that time.

trade of saraswati indus civilization
The people of this civilization also imported and exported goods. Copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones were also imported from distant places. Copper was imported from Rajasthan and western country Oman. Tin mixed with copper to make bronze was imported from modern Iran and Afghanistan. Gold was imported from modern Karnataka and precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

Saraswati Indus Civilization Pieces
The Harappans used to make seals of sandstone. Most of the coins are rectangular in shape with images of animals.
Seals would have been used to mark boxes filled with goods being shipped from one place to another. For sealing the boxes, things like lac etc. would have to be stamped with these stamps. Due to which if someone tampers with the goods, the impression would be broken.

Means of entertainment  

The people of this civilization used to play chess, chaupar. During the excavation, we have found chess and chaupar dice. Apart from this, children's small toys made of clay have also been found.

How to read dates in history

• BC in English which we know in Hindi as E.Pooh. 
• They say. B.C. Means 'before Christ' and B.C. Means 'BC'. 
• BC refers here to the years before the birth of Jesus Christ. 
• Apart from this, sometimes we also use other words like :- A.D. (Anno Domini), C.E. (Common Era), B.C.E. (Before Christ Era) 

Some important dates from this lesson –

• Cotton was cultivated in Mehrgarh about 7000 years ago. 
• The beginning of the end of the cities of the Saraswati Indus Civilization began 3900 years ago. 
• The Saraswati Indus Civilization is about 8000 years old. 
• The cities of this civilization started about 4700 years ago. 
• From the remains found in the excavation, we come to know that the people of Saraswati Indus civilization used to worship Banyan tree, Tulsi, Shivling, Pashupati Shiva, Humped Nandi, Mother Goddess. 

Question Answer

1. Harappa was excavated in _________ AD under the leadership of Dayaram Sahni.
(a) 1992
(b) 1923
(c) 1921
(d) 1920
Answer – (c) 1921

2. B.C. Means _______.
(a) Before Christ
(b) before common
(c) between common
(d) none of these
Answer – (a) Before Christ

3. Which of the following Saraswati was not worshiped in the Indus Civilization?
(a) Shiva
(b) Vishnu
(c) Peepal
(d) Mother Goddess
Answer – (b) Vishnu

4. Precious stones were imported from Gujarat, Iran and _______.
(a) Pakistan
(b) Afghanistan
(c) Bhutan
(d) Nepal
Answer – (b) Afghanistan

Fill in the blanks:

1. _____ is prepared by mixing powdered quartz stones in sand with gum.
2. ___________ is prepared by mixing copper and tin.
3. Most of the excavated cities have been found in the _________ river valley.
4. The settlement of cities had ______ parts.
5. Remains of port have been found in the excavation of _______ city. 

Answer – 1. Faience, 2. Bronze, 3. Saraswati, 4. Do, 5. Lothal

Match correctly :
1. copper               (a) Gujarat 
2. Gold                  (b) Afghanistan 

3. tin                      (c) Rajasthan 

4. Precious Stones (d) Karnataka 

Answer -

1. copper                 (c) Rajasthan 

2. Gold                    (d) Karnataka 

3. tin                       (b) Afghanistan 

4. Precious Stones  (a) Gujarat 

 
Mark True (✓) or False (X) to the following statements:

1. In Saraswati Indus Civilization, agriculture was done by plow with the help of bullocks and camels (✓) 
2. Many beads were made from carnelian stones (✓) 
3. Remains of the port have been found in Dholavira from where it is proved that there was trade from abroad as well. (x) 
4. The most elaborate place of Saraswati Indus Civilization is Rakhigarhi in Gurugram. (x) 

Short Question:

Question 1. Where were the remains of Saraswati Indus Civilization found?
Answer – The remains of Saraswati Indus civilization have been obtained from many places – 

Harappa
Mohenjodaro
Lothal
Kalibanga
Chanhudaro
Mitathal
Banaavali
Rakhigarhi

Question 2. What is the relation of rivers with civilization?
Answer – The area of ​​rivers is very fertile. Due to good agriculture, many civilizations settled near the banks of rivers. So that they did not have to wander for food grains to eat and water facilities to drink. Saraswati Sindhu civilization is also one such civilization.

Question 3. How did people come to know about the cities of Saraswati Indus Civilization?
Answer – Harappa was seen for the first time then. When ballasts were needed for laying the railway line there, the laborers picked up bricks from a nearby mound and then for the first time this place came in the eyes of the British officials. In 1921, Harappa was excavated on the banks of the Ravi river under the leadership of Dayaram Sahni, then the remains of a huge city came out. In 1922, under the leadership of Rakhaldas Banerjee, similar remains were obtained from Mohenjodaro on the banks of the Indus River.

Question 4. What were the means of entertainment of the people of Saraswati Indus Civilization?
Answer – The people of this civilization used to play chess and chaupar. During the excavation, we have found chess and chaupar dice. Apart from this, children's small toys made of clay have also been found.

Question 5. What was the shape of the seals of the Saraswati Indus Civilization and why were they needed?
Answer – The people of Harappa used to make seals of sandstone. Most of the coins are rectangular in shape with images of animals. Seals would have been used to mark boxes filled with goods being shipped from one place to another. For sealing the boxes, things like lac etc. would have to be stamped with these stamps. Due to which if someone tampers with the goods, the impression would be broken.

Let's consider: 

Question 1. From which areas did Saraswati get the raw material for production in the Indus Civilization?
Answer – In the Saraswati Indus civilization, the raw material for production was procured from different regions. Copper was imported from Rajasthan and western country Oman. Tin mixed with copper to make bronze was imported from modern Iran and Afghanistan. Gold was imported from modern Karnataka and precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

Question 2. Analyze the city construction plan of the Saraswati Indus civilization.
Answer – We have found the remains of the cities of Saraswati Indus civilization in two parts. The western part was smaller but built on a height. It has been called Durg Kshetra (Nagardurg). The eastern part was bigger which is called the lower town. Most of the ancient sites were enclosed on both sides by boundary walls which were made of burnt bricks. The roads of this civilization were 13 feet to 33 feet wide. And the width of the streets used to be 9 to 12 feet. The roads used to cut each other at right angles. 

Question 3. On what grounds can it be said that cloth was used in the Saraswati Indus Civilization?
Answer – Remains of some pieces of cloth have been obtained from Mohenjodaro. Spindles made of clay and faience indicate spinning of yarn. About 7000 years ago, cotton was cultivated in Mehargarh. Based on all these facts, we can say that clothes were used in the Saraswati Indus civilization. 

Question 4. Comment on the important occupations of the inhabitants of the Saraswati Indus Civilization 'Agriculture' and 'Animal Husbandry'.
Answer – The people living in the villages of this civilization used to do agriculture. These people used to grow wheat, barley, pulses, peas, paddy, sesame and mustard. Agriculture was done with the help of oxen and camels. Used to irrigate the fields from rivers and ponds. The people here reared animals like camel, bull, cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, duck, rabbit, deer, cock, parrot and elephant.

Question 5. According to historians, what are the reasons for the destruction of Saraswati Indus Civilization?
Answer – Not one but many reasons must have been responsible for the downfall of this civilization. Some of the main reasons for the downfall are written below: - 

Administrative laxity - Due to the limited size of the settlement and lack of cleanliness, this civilization ended.
Climate change – Due to less rainfall and drying of the water of Saraswati river, they collapsed.
Flood – Evidence of flood has also been found in the excavations of Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, Lothal and Bhagatrao. This can also be the reason for the downfall.
Stagnation in foreign trade – Due to decrease in foreign trade of this civilization, the economic structure became weak. Due to which the demand for local production instead of valuable goods increased and the standard of living of the people declined drastically.
Epidemic – Study of 42 human skeletons recovered from Mohenjodaro revealed that 41 of them died of malaria. This could also be the reason for the downfall of this civilization.

Important Question Answer

Question 1. What were the means of entertainment of the people of Saraswati Indus Civilization?
Answer – The people of this civilization used to play chess and chaupar. During the excavation, we have found chess and chaupar dice. Apart from this, children's small toys made of clay have also been found.

Question 2. What was the shape of the seals of the Saraswati Indus Civilization and why were they needed?
Answer – The people of Harappa used to make seals of sandstone. Most of the coins are rectangular in shape with images of animals. Seals would have been used to mark boxes filled with goods being shipped from one place to another. For sealing the boxes, things like lac etc. would have to be stamped with these stamps. Due to which if someone tampers with the goods, the impression would be broken.

Question 3. Comment on the important occupations of the inhabitants of the Saraswati Indus Civilization 'Agriculture' and 'Animal Husbandry'.
Answer – The people living in the villages of this civilization used to do agriculture. These people used to grow wheat, barley, pulses, peas, paddy, sesame and mustard. Agriculture was done with the help of oxen and camels. Used to irrigate the fields from rivers and ponds. The people here reared animals like camel, bull, cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, duck, rabbit, deer, cock, parrot and elephant.

Question 4. From which areas did Saraswati get the raw material for production in the Indus Civilization?
Answer – In the Saraswati Indus civilization, the raw material for production was procured from different regions. Copper was imported from Rajasthan and western country Oman. Tin mixed with copper to make bronze was imported from modern Iran and Afghanistan. Gold was imported from modern Karnataka and precious stones from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

Question 5. Analyze the city construction plan of the Saraswati Indus civilization.
Answer – We have found the remains of the cities of Saraswati Indus civilization in two parts. The western part was smaller but built on a height. It has been called Durg Kshetra (Nagardurg). The eastern part was bigger which is called the lower town. Most of the ancient sites were enclosed on both sides by boundary walls which were made of burnt bricks. The roads of this civilization were 13 feet to 33 feet wide. And the width of the streets used to be 9 to 12 feet. The roads used to cut each other at right angles.

Question 6. Analyze the Saraswati Indus civilization carpet building plan.
Answer – In this civilization, houses were constructed with a definite plan. The houses were usually of two storeys. There were courtyards in the house and there were kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities. The doors did not open towards the main roads but opened into the street.

Question 7. Saraswati Whom did the people worship in the Indus Civilisation?
Answer – Saraswati The people of Indus civilization used to worship Banyan tree, Tulsi, Shivling, Pashupati Shiva, Nandi with humps, Mother Goddess.

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