Cities & Geography
Along which major river did the Indus Valley Civilization develop?
The Indus River
What material was commonly used to construct buildings in Indus Valley cities?
Uniformly sized bricks.
Which other ancient civilization was an important trading partner of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Mesopotamia.
What is the name given to the writing system used by the Indus Valley Civilization?
The Indus script.
What famous small bronze artwork provides evidence that dance may have existed in the Indus Valley?
The “Dancing Girl.”
Name the two best-known cities of the Indus Valley Civilization
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
What sanitation feature was found in many Indus Valley homes?
Toilets connected to drainage or sewer systems.
Name two forms of transportation that helped the Harappans conduct trade.
Wheeled carts and boats.
Why is the Indus script still a major mystery?
Historians have not been able to decipher or read it.
Archaeologists have found relatively little evidence of weapons and warfare. What might this suggest about Harappan society?
It suggests that the civilization may have experienced relatively less warfare than some other ancient civilizations.
The Indus Valley Civilization developed primarily in areas that are now which modern countries?
Pakistan and northwestern India, with its wider territory extending into areas of modern Afghanistan.
How did the Indus Valley drainage system remove waste from the cities?
It used gravity to carry waste through drains and sewers beneath the streets.
What small carved objects were used as identification markers on Harappan trade goods?
Seals.
What famous public structure was discovered at Mohenjo-Daro?
The Great Bath.
What environmental change involving rainfall may have contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A weakening or change in the monsoon rains.
What evidence shows that Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were carefully planned cities?
They had organized streets, uniformly sized bricks, multi-story buildings, and planned drainage systems.
What standardized systems did the Harappans develop that helped with construction and trade?
Standardized systems for measuring length and mass.
What was commonly shown on Harappan seals?
Animal figures and symbols from the Indus script.
What may the Great Bath have been used for?
It may have been used for ritual bathing or purification, although its exact purpose is uncertain.
If rivers changed course and farmland became dry, what would likely happen to people living in Indus Valley cities?
People could lose access to water and productive farmland, causing populations to migrate to other areas.
Why was living near a river important to the development of the Indus Valley Civilization?
The river provided water and fertile land for agriculture, helping support large populations and cities.
What do the advanced drainage systems, organized streets, and standardized bricks suggest about the Indus Valley Civilization?
They suggest the civilization had advanced engineering, urban planning, and some form of organized leadership or government.
What does trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia tell historians about ancient civilizations?
Ancient civilizations were not completely isolated; they exchanged goods and established connections with other societies.
Why do historians know less about Indus Valley religion and government than they know about those of Egypt and Mesopotamia?
Because the Indus script remains undeciphered, historians cannot read Harappan written records explaining their government or religious beliefs.
Give one similarity and one difference between the Indus Valley Civilization and either Mesopotamia or Egypt.
Answers may vary. Example: Similarity: Both the Indus Valley and Egypt developed near major rivers that supported agriculture. Difference: Egyptian hieroglyphics have been deciphered, while the Indus script remains undeciphered.