The Indus Valley Civilization Quick Check
The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the oldest urban civilizations in the world. It flourished in the Indus River Valley in present-day Pakistan and western India from around 3300 to 1300 BCE.
1. What were the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?
The major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
2. What evidence suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization had a well-organized and planned society?
The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization had well-planned grid-based layouts with streets, buildings, and drainage systems. The presence of public baths, granaries, and a centralized authority suggests an organized and planned society.
3. What were some of the key features of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Some key features of the Indus Valley Civilization include the use of standardized weights and measures, a system of writing using pictographs, advanced brickwork and construction techniques, and a complex urban infrastructure.
4. How did the people of the Indus Valley Civilization sustain themselves?
The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were primarily agriculturalists. They cultivated crops such as wheat, barley, and cotton. They also engaged in farming practices such as irrigation and used domesticated animals for transportation and labor.
5. What happened to the Indus Valley Civilization?
The decline and collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization is not fully understood. Possible factors contributing to its decline include environmental changes, such as the drying up of the Ghaggar-Hakra River, which may have caused a decline in agricultural productivity, as well as population pressure, external invasion, or political unrest.
Overall, the Indus Valley Civilization was a highly developed and advanced society that made significant contributions to art, architecture, agriculture, and urban planning.