In the Earliest Cities — CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 3

The Story of Harappa: How It All Began

Nearly 150 years ago, when railway lines were being laid in Punjab (now in Pakistan), engineers stumbled upon an extraordinary site rich in high-quality baked bricks. Unaware of its historical significance, they used thousands of these bricks to build railway lines. It was only about 80 years ago that archaeologists realised this was actually one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent! Because Harappa was the first city to be excavated, all other similar sites where ruins were found came to be known as 'Harappan' cities. These remarkable cities developed about 4,700 years ago, demonstrating outstanding engineering skills, urban planning, and trade networks that connected them to distant lands like Mesopotamia.

Step-by-Step Layout of a Harappan City

1. Division into Two Parts — Most Harappan cities were divided into two main parts. The western part was smaller but built on a higher platform, known as the Citadel. The eastern part was much larger but lower down, called the Lower Town.
2. Constructing Strong Walls — Huge walls of baked bricks were built around each part. The bricks were laid in an interlocking pattern, making the walls incredibly strong and durable enough to stand for thousands of years.
3. Designing the Citadel — The Citadel housed special public structures. For example, in Mohenjodaro, a very special tank called the Great Bath was constructed. It was lined with bricks, coated with plaster, and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar.
4. Planning the Streets and Drains — Houses were built in the Lower Town, usually one or two storeys high, around a courtyard. Streets were laid out in a straight grid pattern, and covered drains ran along them, featuring gentle slopes so water could flow easily.

Exam Tips: Avoid Common Mistakes

When writing answers in your CBSE Social Science exam, keep these golden tips in mind:

• Don't confuse the Citadel and the Lower Town: Remember, the Citadel is located in the West (higher, smaller, for special public buildings or rulers), while the Lower Town is in the East (lower, larger, for common people's homes).
• Explain the Great Bath properly: Students often forget to mention how it was made waterproof. Always use the terms 'natural tar' and 'plaster' to score full marks.
• Remember the raw materials: Harappans did not use iron! They used copper and bronze to make tools, and gold and silver for ornaments. Mentioning 'iron' in a Harappan context is a common mistake.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Describe the drainage system of Harappan cities. A: Step 1: Explain the layout. Many of these cities had covered drains. Each drain had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it easily. Step 2: Detail the connection. Drains in houses were connected to those on the streets, and smaller drains led into bigger ones. Step 3: Mention maintenance. As the drains were covered, inspection holes were provided at regular intervals to clean them. Final answer: The Harappan drainage system was a highly planned network of covered drains with gentle slopes, connected household lines, and inspection holes for regular cleaning, demonstrating advanced sanitation.
• Q: What was the Great Bath and where was it found? A: Step 1: Identify the location. The Great Bath was a very special tank found in the city of Mohenjodaro, built on the Citadel. Step 2: Describe its construction. It was lined with bricks, coated with plaster, and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar. Step 3: Explain its purpose. Archaeologists believe it was used for special ritual bathing by important people on special occasions. Final answer: The Great Bath was a brick-lined, plaster-coated, waterproof public tank found in the Citadel of Mohenjodaro, used for ritual bathing on special occasions.
• Q: Mention the different metals used by Harappans and what they were used for. A: Step 1: List the metals found at Harappan sites. These include copper, bronze, gold, and silver. Step 2: Explain the use of copper and bronze. These were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments, and vessels. Step 3: Explain the use of gold and silver. These precious metals were used exclusively to make beautiful ornaments and beads. Final answer: Copper and bronze were used to manufacture tools and vessels, while gold and silver were used to make ornaments and beads. Iron was completely unknown to them.
• Q: What were the possible reasons for the decline of the Harappan cities? A: Step 1: Introduce the timeline. Around 3900 years ago, we find the beginning of a major change as people stopped living in many of these cities. Step 2: State the environmental reasons. Archaeologists suggest that rivers dried up, causing severe water shortages, or that deforestation occurred due to burning fuel for bricks. Step 3: State the structural reasons. In some areas, there were devastating floods, or rulers lost control, leading to the collapse of the administration. Final answer: The decline of Harappan cities was likely caused by a combination of drying rivers, deforestation, flooding, and the breakdown of administrative control around 3900 years ago.

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