Class 12 History Short Questions with Answers - Bricks, Beads and Bones

Q1: Explain how different methods of irrigation were developed for agriculture in the Harappan site.
Ans: Most of the sites could be found in semi-arid regions indicating the practice of irrigation. Traces of canals  have been found in Shortughai in Afghanistan only. Wells might be the second source for irrigation and water reservoirs found in Dholavira (Gujarat) suggest storage of water for irrigation.
Well Used For Irrigation

Q2: Mention any two methods adopted by the Harappans for increasing the agriculture production.
Ans: To increase agriculture production, Harappans used:

• Animal power such as oxen to plough the fields.
• Wooden plough was used for tilling fields.
• Canals to water the fields. Water was also drawn from wells for irrigation.
  

Q3: Mention any four items found in the graves of the Harappan.
Ans: At burials sites, the dead were generally laid in pits. Some items found in the graves includes pottery, jewellery, ornaments and copper mirrors.

Q4: Mention the two sections of the Harappan settlements and give one main feature of each.
Ans: The Harappan settlements were divided into two sections, i.e. the Citadel and the Lower Town.
There features are:

• The Citadel was smaller but higher than the Lower Town and was walled.
• In the Lower Town, several buildings were built on platforms and all building activity within the city was restricted to a fixed area on the platforms.
  

Q5: What was Lapis Lazuli?

Ans: It was a blue stone with very high value.
Lapis Lazuli

Q6: Give any two features of Harappan writing. 
Ans: Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, which remains undeciphered still today. Its features are:

• It is not alphabetical and has too many signs, somewhere between 375 and 400.
• The script is written from right to left.
  Harappan Writing

Q7: Harappan cities had planned drainage system. Elaborate.
Ans: One of the most distinctive features of the Harappan cities was a well-planned drainage system. The drains were made of mortar and gypsum. They were covered with big bricks and lime stones which could be lifted to clean the drains. It followed grid structure with straight streets crossing each other at right angles. Houses were built and laid out only after the drainage system was planned and laid out. Every house had a drain connected to the street drains. The solid matter from waste water flowing in the drains got collected in a sump. Water flowed into the main drains. All this shows that Harappan people focus on cleanliness.  
Harappan Drainage SystemQ8: Describe the bases on which archaeologists identified the centres of craft production in the Harappan culture.
Ans: The bases on which archaeologists identify the centres of craft production are :
(i) Raw materials such as stone nodules, whole shells, copper ore.
(ii) Tools
(iii) Unfinished objects
(iv) Rejected and Waste material
(v) Finished products 

Q9: How were Harappan seals and sealings used to facilitate long distance  communication? What did the sealing convey?
Ans: The sack of goods to be sent was tied at its mouth with a rope and on the knot was affixed with wet clay in which one to more seals were pressed which is used to leave an impression. If the bag reached with its sealing intact, it meant that it had not been tampered. The sealing also conveyed the identity of the sender.

Q10: Why do archaeologists and historians find Harappan script enigmatic? Explain the reasons.
Ans:  

• Harappan seals usually have a line of writing conveying the name and title of the owner.
• Most inscriptions were short but the longest one contains about 26 signs. 
• Scripts were not alphabetical but contains too many signs, somewhere from 375 to 400. 
• The scripts were probably written from right to left as some seals show a wide spacing on the right side cramping on the left, as if the engraver began working from the right and there ran out of space. 
• Writing has been found on a variety of objects such as seals, copper, tools, rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewellery, bone road and sign board.
  

Q11: Early Harappan archaeologists found certain objects which seem unusual and unfamiliar but may have had a religious significance. Substantiate.
OR
Examine the problems faced by archaeologists in the interpretation of religious practices of Harappa.
Ans: A large number of female figures of terracotta have been found from Harappa. Historians believe them to be Mother Goddess. They were heavily jewelled and even wore head dresses. Rare statues of men in a standardised posture, seated with one hand on the knee were classified as the “priest-king”. In some instances, structures associated with ritual significance, including the Great Bath and fire altars have been found in Kalibangan and Lothal. Attempts have been made to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices by examining seals, which depict ritual scenes. In some seals, a figure shown as cross legged in “yogic” posture surrounded by animals has been regarded as “Proto-Shiva”.
Greath Bath
Q12: Who was John Marshall? How did he mark a change in the Indian Archaeology?
Ans: John Marshall was the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1922 to 1928, this period brought about a major change in Indian archaeology. He was exhilarated in discovering new finds. He was keen to look for patterns of everyday life. He was the first professional archeologist to work in India and was known for excavations in Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Sanchi, Sarnath and Taxila.

Q13: Who was Cunningham? Mention any one source he collected to understand the Harappan culture.
Ans: Cunningham was
(i) An archaeologist
(ii) The first Director General of ASI
(iii) He began archaeological survey in the Indus valley in the mid-19th century (any one point)
Source he collected:
(i) Harappan seal
(ii) Terracotta objects
(iii) Harappan inscriptions