Ch 06 - The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation6th Social Science
Defining a Civilisation
What are the seven core characteristics that define an advanced human society as a 'Civilisation'?
What are the seven core characteristics that define an advanced human society as a 'Civilisation'?
Characteristics of a Civilisation
A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society characterized by:
- Government & Administration: Systems to manage complex activities.
- Urbanism: Town planning and structured city management.
- Crafts: Production of finished goods from raw materials.
- Trade: Internal and external exchange of goods.
- Writing: Systems for record-keeping and communication.
- Cultural Ideas: Shared art, architecture, and social customs.
- Productive Agriculture: Generating sufficient surplus to feed both villages and cities.
Prism Memory Hook
GUCTWCA: Government, Urbanism, Crafts, Trade, Writing, Culture, Agriculture
Nomenclature: Harappan, Indus, and Sarasvatī
Why is the first major urban culture of the Indian subcontinent known by three distinct names: Harappan, Indus, and Indus-Sarasvatī?
Why is the first major urban culture of the Indian subcontinent known by three distinct names: Harappan, Indus, and Indus-Sarasvatī?
Origins of the Names
- Harappan: Named after Harappa, which was the very first site excavated in the 1920s.
- Indus: Initially named after the Indus River valley, as the earliest discovered sites were located along its banks.
- Indus-Sarasvatī: Reflects modern archaeological discoveries showing a massive concentration of sites along the dried-up Sarasvatī (Ghaggar-Hakra) river basin.
Prism Memory Hook
HIS: Harappa (First), Indus (River), Sarasvati (Density)
Chronological Phases of the Harappan Civilisation
What are the three distinct evolutionary phases of the Harappan Civilisation and their approximate timelines?
What are the three distinct evolutionary phases of the Harappan Civilisation and their approximate timelines?
Evolutionary Timeline
- Origins (Formative Phase): Villages began growing into established towns around 3500 BCE.
- Urban Phase (Mature Phase): Towns fully transitioned into major planned cities (India's First Urbanisation) around 2600 BCE.
- Decline (Late Phase): The integrated urban civilisation began to fragment and fall apart around 1900 BCE.
Prism Memory Hook
35-26-19: Form, Flourish, Fall (in Hundreds BCE)
Also in this chapter
28 more cards to study in Prism
- 4Geographical Distribution of Major Sites
- 5Significance of Megacities: Rakhigarhi & Ganweriwala
- 6The Paleo-Channel of the Sarasvatī River
- 7Macro-Urban Layout: The Grid System
- 8Spatial Segregation: Citadel and Lower Town
- 9Architectural Uniformity: The 4:2:1 Ratio
- 10Civic Hygiene: Covered Drainage Networks
- 11Public Architecture: The Great Bath
- 12Adaptation: Water Management in Arid Dholavira
- 13Archaeoastronomy at Dholavira
- 14Metallurgy: The Shift from Copper to Bronze
- 15Agricultural Milestones: The Cultivation of Cotton
- 16Residue Analysis: The Harappan Culinary Profile
- 17Urban Labor Specialisation
- 18Luxury Exports: Carnelian Jewellery
- 19Commercial Regulation: The Chert Weights
- 20Commercial Security: The Function of Seals
- 21The Balance of Trade: Imports and Exports
- 22Maritime Infrastructure: The Dockyard at Lothal
- 23Linguistic Mystery: The Harappan Script
- 24Harappan Art: The Dancing Girl
- 25Harappan Art: The Priest King
- 26Cultural Storytelling: The Lothal Pot
- 27Societal Recreation: Toys and Games
- 28A Peaceful Society: The Absence of Warfare
- 29Modern Cultural Continuity
- 30Theories of Urban Decline
- 31The Survival of Harappan Culture
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