6th CBSE Notes on the chapter " In The Earliest Cities "

   Grade : VI 

HISTORY  CHAPTER : 4 

 In The Earliest Cities  

Short Answers

1. Which cities are known as Harappan Cities? 

Ans: Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira and Kalibangan are known as Harappan cities.

2. Name the parts of the Harappan cities, Where were they located?

Most Harappan cities were divided into two parts the citadel and the lower town. The citadel was  located to the west of the city and the lower town was located to the east of the city.

3. What metals used by the Harappans and what kind of objects were made from them?

Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.

4. What were seals made of? What shape were they made in and what was engraved on them?

Seals were made of clay or stone. They were normally rectangular in shape and were engraved with script and figures of different animals.

5. What crops were grown by the Harappans?

Harappan farmers cultivated wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard.

Long answer questions

1. What were the features of the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro? How was it made watertight?

1. The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro is an example of an important structure built on the citadel. 
2. The bath was a large, rectangular tank with stairways at its northern and southern ends. 
3. It was surrounded by rooms on all sides. 
4. Its brick walls were made watertight with a coating of plaster and a layer of natural tar. 
5. The tank might have been filled with water brought from a well, and emptied after use. 
6. This tank might have been used by important people on special occasions.

2. How did the people in the countryside carry out farming and animal rearing?

1. Farmers cultivated wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard. 
2. They used wooden ploughs to dig the earth, turn the soil and sow seeds. 
3. To overcome the problem of shortage of rain, they stored rainwater and used it to irrigate the fields. 
4. People living in the countryside also reared animals. 
5. Although fodder was readily available during the rainy season, summers were tough as herders had to walk for miles with their cattle in search of fodder and water.

3. What reasons were attributed for the decline of the Harappan cities?

1. It is not very clear why the cities declined, but several reasons have been put forward by different scholars. 
2. Some scholars suggest that the main reason was the drying up of rivers. 
3. Others feel that it was due to deforestation
4. Some other scholars suggest that large-scale grazing by cattle, sheep and goat. 
5. Yet, others attribute the decline to floods. 
6. However, some scholars argue that such reasons can explain the decline of only some regions, but not all of them. 
7. So, they deduce that the actual reason could have been that the rulers lost their control and power