The Indus Valley Civilization developed around 4700 years ago along the Indus River valley. The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization had well-planned grids and impressive drainage systems. Notable sites include Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Lothal. The civilization engaged in agriculture along the fertile river banks and domesticated animals. Artifacts provide evidence of trade and craft specialization. Around 1750 BCE the civilization began declining due to various environmental and social factors such as floods, population growth, and desertification.

3.  INTRODUCTION.
 GROWTH OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION.
 TOWN PLANING
 ABOUT THE ECONOMY CONDITIONS.
 DECLINE OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION.

4. The Indus Valley Civilization was characterized by
well planned cities or towns ,use of language in
written and spoken form and well developed art
and craft.

5.  Once the early men started cultivating, they started growing more than their
requirement. This extra produce was known as surplus.
 As a result, some people chose other profession like pottery, craftsmanship and trading.
Villages gradually started developing into towns.
 People exchanged their surplus products with other towns and thus emerged the trading
system.
 The development of the town culture is generally what is seen as the beginning of a
civilization.
 One such civilization developed in India about 4700 years ago (2700-2500 in the
northwestern part of Indian subcontinent.
 It is known as Indus Valley Civilization, as it developed around the River Indus.
 The Indus Valley civilization was a contemporary of the three other Bronze civilization
namely Mesopotamian on the bank of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, Egyptian in
the Nile River valley, and the Chinese on the bank of the river Hwang-Ho .
 These civilizations are called the Bronze age civilizations because the technology of the
making bronze items played an important role in the growth of cities in this age.

6. Q.1 In the Indian subcontinent, the first civilization
developed in……….
a. the valley of River Ganga
b. the valley of River Indus
c. the valley of River Yamuna
d. none

8. Read the text again Q.1

9. Q.2 The term Civilization means………...
a. advanced stage of trade
b. advanced stage of education
c. advanced stage of human development
d. advanced stage of agriculture

10. Read the text again Q.2

12. Q.3 Indus Valley Civilization was developed in India
about……..
a. 4500 yrs ago
b. 4580 yrs ago
c. 4760 yrs ago
d. 4700 yrs ago

14. Read the text again
Q.3

16.  This civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization as it was first discovered in 1921 at
Harappa.
 In 1992,similar excavations at Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh,Pakistan revealed similar findings at Harappa.
 These two sites of the Indus Valley Civilization are 483 km apart and are linked through the River
Indus.
Other important Harappan sites are;
 Chanhu-daro
 Kalibangan
 Banawali
 Lothal
 Sotkakoh
 Surkotada
 Balakot
 Dholavira
 Rakhigarhi
 Ganweriwala

17.  Q.1 The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the
…………..Civilization.
a. Mesopotamia
b. Egyptian
c. Harappan
d. Crete

19. Read the text again
Q.1

20. Citadel
 To the west of each was the citadel, fortified by crenellated walls. The citadel was usually based on an elevated
position.
 It was occupied by the members of ruling class. Below the citadel lay a lower town containing brick houses which are
in habited by the common people.
Grid system
 The arrangement of houses in the lower town is followed by grid system.
 The streets were wide, straight and intersected each at right angles.
 Thus dividing the city in large rectangular blocks and grids.
 This rectangular town planning was a unique feature and was not found in other civilizations.
Drainage system
 The drainage system of the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization was very impressive .
 Water flowed from the houses to the streets, which had drains were covered with bricks and stone slabs.
 The drainage system is a unique feature of this civilization indicating that the Harappans paid a great deal of
attention to health and cleanliness.
Important building
 Great bath at Mohenjo-Daro
 Large Granary at Harappa
 Brick dockyard at Lothal

21.  Q.1 Mohenjo-Daro is most well known for its ………..
a. drainage system
b. Great Bath
c. granary
d. brick dockyard

23. Read the text again Q.1

24.  Q.2 …………….of good quality were used as building
material for houses
a. Mud
b. Burnt bricks
c. Clay
d. Sand

26. Read the text again Q.2

27. Agriculture
 The Indus Valley was fertile due to the annual inundation in the Indus River.
 Walls made of the burnt bricks for the protection show that floods took place annually.
 Agriculture was one of the main economic activities of the people using ploughs.
 The Indus people sowed seeds in the November when the flood receded and harvests in April before the advent of next
flood.
 Wheat and barley were the main crops cultivated by the Indus people.
Animal husbandry
 The people of the Indus Valley Civilization practiced animal husbandry .
 They domesticated animals such as oxen, buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs ,cats and dogs and elephants.
 Asses and camels were possibly used for transporting goods.
Art and craft
 Bronze figurines
 Ornaments
 Bead making
 Seal engravings
 Clay models making
 Weaving and pottery making

28. Q.1 the earliest cities came up on the banks of rivers
because…………
a. the land near the river was fertile
b. people could swim in the river
c. people could worship in the river
d. people could wash their clothes

30. Read the text again Q.1

31. Around 1750BCE,the Harappan culture began to decline. Various causes have
been suggested for this change.
 The city of Mohenjodaro became weak under the pressure of population. There was influx of
refugees into the city.
 Rooms were divided into smaller portions and street plans were no longer followed and all this led to
gradual decline.
 Some suggest that expansion of the neighboring desert increased the salinity of the soil and
decreased fertility.
 Other consider floods as the main cause.
 At other places it is suggested that the rivers changed their course or dried up which again led to
shift of population to other areas.
 Whatever be the reason, the sudden disappearance of this civilization remains a mystery.

32.  Q.1 What are causes of decline of Indus Valley
Civilizations.
a. Flood
b. Increase of population
c. Desertification
d. Above all.

33. Read the text again Q.1