indus valley civilization quiz set 1 Questions and Answers Detailed Explanation

Answer: (a)

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilization (3300–1300 BCE; mature period 2600–1900 BCE) extending from what today is northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India. It flourished in the basins of the Indus river, one of the major rivers of Asia, and the Ghaggar-Hakra river.

At its peak, the Indus Civilization may have had a population of over five million. Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley developed new techniques in handicraft (carnelian products, seal carving) and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead, and tin).

The Indus cities are noted for their urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems, and clusters of large non-residential buildings. Sugarcane was not cultivated. Horse and iron were not used.

Answer: (c)

The state which has accounted for highest number of Harappan sites after independence is Gujarat. Gujarat has been one of the main centre of the Indus Valley Civilization. It contains major ancient metropolitan cities from the Indus Valley such as Lothal, Dholavira, and Gola Dhoro.

Answer: (a)

Answer: (c)

The evidence of two cemeteries has been found from Harappa. The strongest evidence for the burial sites in Harappa are Cemetery R-37 and Cemetery H.

Answer: (a)

Rakhigarhi was a large Harappan town known in 1963, when the area was first surveyed. Archaeologists found it the biggest Harappan city, larger and more extensive.

Answer: (d)

It is believed that earthquakes might have raised the level of the flood plains of the lower course of Indus river. It blocked the passage of the river water to the sea and resulted in the floods which might have swallowed the city of Mohenjo-Daro. However, this only explains the decline of Mohenjo-Daro and not of the whole civilization. There was an increase in arid conditions by around 2000 BC.

This might have affected agricultural production and led to the decline. However, there is no single cause that can explain the decline of civilization in totality. At the maximum, these can explain the decay of certain sites or areas only.

Hence, each theory has met with criticism. Nevertheless, the archaeological evidence indicates that the Harappan civilization did not collapse all of a sudden but declined gradually and ultimately merged with other local cultures.