Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Solution Chapter 2 – First Cities of India
Balbharati Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Solution Chapter 2: First Cities of India. Marathi or English Medium Students of Class 11 get here First Cities of India full Exercise Solution.
Std |
Maharashtra Class 11 |
Subject |
History |
Chapter |
11 |
Chapter Name |
First Cities of India |
Q.1 Choose the correct alternative and write the complete sentences.
(1) In the early phase of agriculture, making………………… pots and farming were the jobs of women.
(a) copper (b) bronze
(c) earthen (d) stone
Answer – In the early phase of agriculture, making (c) Earthen pots and farming were the jobs of women.
(2) Lothal is known for its ancient…………….
(a) agriculture (b) dock
(c) textiles (d) tools
Answer – Lothal is known for its ancient (b) dock
(3) A general impression prevailed that the Harappan seals had some connection
with the ……………………..civilisation.
(a) Chinese (b) Greek
(c) Mesopotamian (d) Egyptian
Answer – A general impression prevailed that the Harappan seals had some connection with the (c) Mesopotamian civilisation.
(4) The bodies (mummies) of dead royalties in Egypt were wrapped in ……………….. coloured cloth.
(a) white (b) black
(c) red (d) blue
Answer – The bodies (mummies) of dead royalties in Egypt were wrapped in (a) white coloured cloth.
Q.2 (A) Choose the correct reason and complete the sentence.
The major reason for the decline of the Mesopotamian civilisation was –
(a) foreign invasion
(b) deteriorating environment
(c) loss in trade
(d) migration
Answer – The major reason for the decline of the Mesopotamian civilisation was – (b) deteriorating environment
(B) Find the incorrect pair from Set B and write the correct ones.
Set ‘A’ Set ‘B’
(1) Dilmun Bahrain
(2) Makan Oman-Iran-Baluchistan coastal region
(3) Shortugai Mesopotamia
(4) Meluhha Region of Harappan civilisation
Answer – The incorrect pair is (3) Shortugai – Mesopotamia.
The fact is that Shortugai is a region of Harappan civilisation in the Badakshan province of Afghanistan.
Q.3 Explain the statements with reasons.
(1) The remains found at cities like Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, etc. are the evidence of the past glory of Harappan civilisation.
Answer – The remains of the cities like Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhigarhi are part of the Harappan cilisation, as revealed by the extensive evidences found by the excavations so far.
Harappan civilisation belonged to the bronze age, as have been recorded in more than 2000 sites that have been found so far. This civilisation is characterised by the following : –
(a) Systematic town planning – The houses were made with baked bricks, had bathrooms, toilets, wells, etc. Drainage system of the towns were very much developed. Public toilets were in place, Street crossings were at right angles and cities were fortified by walls. The cities were divided into two parts ‘Citadel’ and the ‘Lower Town’
(b) Central Administration – Administrative control over distribution of water and other resources was evident. Size, shape of the bricks that were used, the proportion of materials used in making them, the paintings, pottery were all indicative of an administrative body in place and control. The administrative offices were also found to be different from the rest of the houses, which are all indicative of a strong and effective administrative order.
(c) Social organisation : Social hierarchy based on position of power, classes of skilled artisans and individuals based on craft specialisation, belief systems and artefacts/ architecture indicative of them, evidence of burials indicative of rituals after death.
(d) Economy : Mass production of goods for trading purpose : Well shaped, beautiful earthen pots, statues, metal objects of gold, silver, copper and bronze, various types of beautiful beads, etc. Concentration of factories and residences of artisans in a particular area of the city for the sake of convenience of production. Flourishing internal and distant trade, administrative control over trade transactions.
(e) Use of Developed Writing System : The script on Harappan seals.
(2) Lapis lazuli had a very important place in the Harappan trade.
Answer – Lapis lazuli was a semi-precious stone which had great demand in Mesopotamia. Shortugai, in the Badakshan province of Afghanistan is known to be rich with mines of this stone. Mesopotamian epics describe Goddess Inanna’s
palace, the walls of which were embedded with this stone. This stone was a very important commodity in the Harappan trade with Mesopotamia.
(3) Harappan civilisation declined.
The Harappan civilisation deteriorated as the cumulative effect of various factors such as decline in trade, climatic changes, weakening of the economy, etc.
1.) The Harappan trade with Mesopotamia was on the decline in the Late Harappan period because the Mesopotamian economy had weakened. One reason of it was continuous internal conflicts in Mesopotemia. Along with it increasing salination of agricultural land was the main reason of the decline of the Mesopotamian civilisation. It weakened the Mesopotamian market that was available to the Harappan goods.
2.) Deteriorating environment was the main reason of the decline of Mesopotamia.
Similarly, climatic changes and deteriorating environment were the main reasons of the decline of the Harappan civilisation too. Around 2000 B.C.E. the climate became increasingly arid and there were frequent famines. Degradation of cultivable land was on the increase. It is mentioned earlier that sites of Harappan civilisation have been discovered in large numbers in the basin of Saraswati, which is now known as Ghaggar/ Hakra. The interrelationship between Harappan cities and villages that formed the support system of the socio-economic life of the cities dwindled in this period. The devastating earthquake in the Saraswati basin was the major reason responsible for it. The earthquake raised the ground level of the river bed causing a barrier causing Sutlaj and Yamuna, the tributaries of the Saraswati to change its course. As a result the Saraswati dried up and the Harappans had to migrate elsewhere. Harappan cities were abandoned. The settlements that came up on the remains of the Harappan cities were not developed and rich. These settlements belonged to Late Harappan people. The pottery, houses, funerary customs of these people were different. The Late Harappan people were also forced to migrate because of natural calamities. New villages were settled by the Mature Harappan and Late Harappan people wherever they went. It gave rise to new rural cultures. The spread of these new cultures is seen in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malawa and Maharashtra.
Q.4 State your opinion.
(1) The Harappan cities and villages in the vicinity were interdependent.
Answer – The Harappan cities and villages in the vicinity were interdependent in terms of trade as could be seen and counted as one of the main reasons for the decline of the civilisation itself.
In the later part of the Harappan period, evidences seemed to suggest that trade with Mesopotemia declined, because of internal conflicts and climatic conditions at Mesopotemia.
Also, the interrelationship between Harappan cities and villages that formed the support system of the socio-economic life of the cities dwindled in this period. The devastating earthquake in the Saraswati basin was the major reason responsible for it. The earthquake raised the ground level of the river bed causing a barrier causing Sutlaj and Yamuna, the tributaries of the Saraswati to change its course. As a result the Saraswati dried up and the Harappans had to migrate elsewhere. Harappan cities were abandoned.
(2) The Harappan cities seem to have a well-organised administrative system.
Answer – The administrative system and order in the Harappan civilisation was well in place . There was administrative control over the distribution of water and other resources, Standardisation was seen in the size of bricks in the ratio of 1:2:4, weights increasing in the proportion of 8, set style of shapes and painted designs of pottery, majestic and non-residential buildings for public administrative offices.
The administrative system of Mesopotamian cities revolved around the administration of these temples. Mesopotamian temples are known as ‘ziggurats’. The high priest of the temple used to be the ruler of the city. The social life, cultural events, power and hierarchy of officials, etc. were organised in accordance with the rituals and festivals of the presiding deity of the temple. The notion of a ‘Priest-King’ of the Harappan civilisation was formulated by presuming its close similarity with the Mesopotamian culture. Mesopotamia was rich in agricultural production. However, it did not have enough sources of precious metals, gems and timber. These things were imported there. Many of the Mesopotamian brick inscriptions contain the lists of imported commodities and the place names from where they were imported. The exports from Mesopotamia included textiles, pottery and leather products
Q.5 Answer the following question with the help of given points.
Write about the characteristics of Harappan cities with the help of given points.
(a) Town planning
Answer – Houses of baked bricks complete with bathrooms, toilets, wells, etc., existence of granaries, impressive public monuments, English bond masonry (method of using two headers and two stretchers alternatively while building a wall – this method is specially useful in earthquake prone regions), Excellent drainage system, public baths, two or more divisions of the city with each division enclosed by independent fortification walls, Streets crossing each other in right angles and the resulted blocks used for building houses (grid pattern). The cities were divided into two parts ‘Citadel’ and the ‘Lower Town’.
(b) Social organisation
Answer – Social hierarchy based on position of power, classes of skilled artisans and individuals based on craft specialisation, belief systems and artefacts/ architecture indicative of them, evidence of burials indicative of rituals after death.
(c) Administration
Answer – The administrative system and order in the Harappan civilisation was well in place . There was administrative control over the distribution of water and other resources, Standardisation was seen in the size of bricks in the ratio of 1:2:4, weights increasing in the proportion of 8, set style of shapes and painted designs of pottery, majestic and non-residential buildings for public administrative offices.
The administrative system of Mesopotamian cities revolved around the administration of these temples. Mesopotamian temples are known as ‘ziggurats’. The high priest of the temple used to be the ruler of the city. The social life, cultural events, power and hierarchy of officials, etc. were organised in accordance with the rituals and festivals of the presiding deity of the temple. The notion of a ‘Priest-King’ of the Harappan civilisation was formulated by presuming its close similarity with the Mesopotamian culture. Mesopotamia was rich in agricultural production. However, it did not have enough sources of precious metals, gems and timber. These things were imported there. Many of the Mesopotamian brick inscriptions contain the lists of imported commodities and the place names from where they were imported. The exports from Mesopotamia included textiles, pottery and leather products
(d) Economy
Answer – In the Harappan civilisation, we could see that mass production of goods for trading purpose had well begun. Some such objects were well shaped, beautiful earthen pots, statues, metal objects of gold, silver, copper and bronze, various types of beautiful beads, etc. Concentration of factories and residences of artisans in a particular area of the city for the sake of convenience of production. Flourishing internal and distant trade, administrative control over trade transactions, were all very evident.
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