The Indus Valley Civilization is referred to as Harappan because it was first discovered in ___ in ___ in ___ (country).

Harappa, 1921, Pakistan

The Harappan or Indus Valley Civilization is geographically characterized by its coverage of which regions in the Indian subcontinent?

Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh

What architectural feature distinguishes the town planning of the Indus Valley Civilization, particularly in cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa?

The architecture is distinguished by a grid system where roads intersect at right angles, dividing the city into blocks.

The Indus Valley Civilization is known for being the earliest to produce ___, which the Greeks referred to as sindon.

cotton

What types of animals were domesticated by the Harappans in the Indus Valley Civilization, and what significance did they hold in their society?

The Harappans domesticated oxen, buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, asses, and camels. These animals were important for agriculture, companionship, and as beasts of burden, although horses were not central to their culture.

What materials were primarily used by Harappan artisans to produce bronze tools and weapons, and where were these materials sourced from?

Bronze tools and weapons were primarily made by mixing tin and copper, with copper sourced from Rajasthan and tin possibly brought from Afghanistan and Baluchistan.

The Harappans primarily engaged in trade through ___ rather than using metal money.

barter

What evidence suggests that Harappan culture had a centralized political authority?

The cultural homogeneity of the Indus civilization implies that a central authority was likely necessary for maintaining uniformity, as no other large political unit existed in the subcontinent until the Maurya empire, which lasted nearly 600 years.

What distinguishes the religious practices of the Harappan civilization from those of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia?

The Harappan civilization lacked evidence of gods placed in temples, which is a key characteristic found in the religious practices of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Harappan script is considered primarily ___ rather than alphabetical.

pictographic

What significance does the number 16 hold in the context of the Harappan weight system and its continuation in modern India?

The number 16 was commonly used in the Harappan weight system, with multiples like 16, 64, 160, 320, and 640 being prevalent. This tradition has persisted in modern India, where 16 annas equated to one rupee until recently.

The disparity in artistic quality between seals/images and terracotta pieces in Harappan culture suggests a potential divide between ___ and ___.

upper classes and common people

The mature Harappan culture existed approximately between ___ and ___.

2550 B.C. and 1900 B.C.

The area referred to as Meluha corresponds to the ancient name of which region, and what were its geographical boundaries?

Meluha corresponds to the Indus region, extending from Jammu in the north to the Narmada estuary in the south, and from the Makran coast of Baluchistan in the west to Meerut in the north-east.

The Harappan civilization is named after which archaeological site and why?

The Harappan civilization is named after the archaeological site of Harappa, which was the first site of the Indus Valley civilization discovered in modern-day Pakistan.