History & Civics
Considering the town planning of the Harappans, state how the Harappans were ahead of time.
Answer
The following features of Harappan town planning prove that the Harappans had a deep understanding of civic needs, making them far ahead of their time:
- Grid Pattern Streets — Harappan cities had streets laid out in a perfect grid, showing advanced urban planning.
- Efficient Drainage System — Every house was connected to a covered drainage system, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene.
- Zoned City Structure — Cities were divided into the Citadel (for administration and religion) and the Lower Town (for residences), showing organized planning.
- Standardized Bricks — Uniform bricks were used for buildings, indicating technological advancement.
- Water Management — Wells and reservoirs were built for water storage and daily use.
Related Questions
Look at the newspaper excerpt from Sir John Marshall's article about the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro and answer the questions that follow.
(a) Which 'Forgotten Age' is being talked about in the excerpt? Tiryns and Mycenae were long forgotten ancient cities, what are referred to as Indian "Tiryns and "Mycenae"?
(b) How was this 'Forgotten Age' in India revealed?
(c) Explain briefly the significance of this 'Forgotten Age' in terms of its unique features.
Suppose you visit the ruins of a deserted ancient civilisation. What evidences would you collect and how would you trace the development of civilisation?
You went for an excursion to a site belonging to the Harappan Civilisation in India. From the ruins, how can you conclude the presence of granaries, the crops grown and the type of agriculture practised by them?
Make a list of both similar and dissimilar features that existed between the Harappan-Civilisation and its contemporary Bronze Age Civilisations.