What could have been the possible reasons behind the end of the Harappan civilization? [V. Imp.]
The Harappan civilization suddenly seems to have started to end, around 3900 years ago. People stopped living in many cities. Writing, seals and weights became ‘extinct'. Raw materials were now rarely imported.
Some scholars suggest that this happened due to the drying of rivers. Some others have explained it with deforestation. In some areas there were floods. The floods could have been a reason for the end.
Rulers might also have lost control. Consequently, People abandoned sites in Sind and Punjab and moved to newer, smaller settlements to the east and the south.
Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in chapter 3? Give reasons for your answer.
What could have been the possible reasons behind the end of the Harappan civilization? [V. Imp.]
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
(i) The western part of Harappan cities, which was usually smaller but higher, has been referred to as the ……………..
(ii) The eastern part of Harappan cities, which was usually larger but lower, has been referred to as the ……………
(iii) The Great Bath was made water tight with a layer of………………….
(iv) Scribes were people who knew how to ………………
(v) Metals like gold and silver were used to make …………… and ………….
(vi) Most Harappan seals are made of………………
(vii) Archaeologists have found spindle wheels, made of terracotta and ………………….
(viii) Spindle whorls were used to …………….
(ix) The Harappans got copper from the present day…………………
(x) A tool called……….. was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.
(xi)…… must have been used by farmers since the region of Harappa did not receive heavy rainfall.
(xii)Sealings are impressions of seals on ……………
Write a short note on farming methods and rearing done by Harappan farmers and herders.
Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. Which do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most?
Make a list of what the Harappans ate, and put a tick mark against the things you eat today.