PW Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Solutions

Thousands of years ago, people began living in settlements that were very different from earlier small communities. Farming supported settled life, specialised occupations developed, and towns gradually became more organised. The remains of these settlements give us clues about how people lived, worked, traded, built homes, and managed resources. The Harappan Civilisation is one of the most important examples of this early urban development.

The PW Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions help you make sense of the questions and activities based on this civilisation. You can use them to understand the features of a civilisation, identify important Harappan sites, interpret maps, revise town planning and trade, and check your answers after attempting the textbook exercises yourself.

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions

The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation introduces you to the growth of settled communities and the achievements of the Harappan Civilisation. The following questions cover agriculture, town planning, water management, trade, architecture, art, transport, and everyday life.

1. What is a civilisation, and what was the earliest one in the Indian Subcontinent?

Answer: A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society characterised by planned towns and cities, formal rules or government systems, trade, specialised skills, art, and record-keeping systems. The earliest civilisation in the Indian Subcontinent was the Indus Valley Civilisation, also called the Harappan Civilisation, which began around 2600 BCE along the Indus River.

2. Why is agriculture considered the foundational requirement for any civilisation to develop?

Answer: Agriculture allows people to produce surplus food, enabling them to settle in permanent villages and cities rather than migrating for sustenance. With a reliable food supply, individuals can specialise in non-agricultural roles such as administration, craftsmanship, trade, engineering, teaching, and governance.

3. Why does the earliest Indian civilisation have multiple names?

Answer: Different names highlight distinct aspects of its discovery and geographical extent:

• Harappan Civilisation: Named after Harappa, the first site discovered.

• Indus Civilisation: Named because initial settlements were discovered near the Indus River.

• Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation: Refers to the wide network of settlements found along both the Indus and ancient Sarasvati River systems.

4. Match the following major Harappan cities to their modern-day states or regions.

Answer:

5. What are the key architectural and infrastructural achievements of the Harappans?

Answer:

• Grid-pattern city planning with wide, straight roads.

• Multistorey homes built using standardised, durable baked bricks.

• Advanced, covered public drainage systems connected to individual household bathrooms.

• Massive water storage networks, such as the stone reservoirs at Dholavira.

6. What does the presence of about 700 brick-built wells in Mohenjo-daro indicate about the city?

Answer: The extensive presence of regularly maintained brick wells demonstrates that Mohenjo-daro possessed a highly organised public water management system. It indicates careful urban planning, long-term civic maintenance over several centuries, and a priority placed on hygiene and easy access to fresh water for households.

7. What does the reservoir system at Dholavira reveal about its society and administration?

Answer: The complex reservoirs reflect an advanced understanding of rainwater harvesting and engineering in an arid environment. The planning, construction, and routine maintenance of these structures point to organised administration capable of managing large-scale public work and resources for the long-term benefit of the community.

8. How did Harappans measure items and facilitate trade?

Answer: Harappans engaged in long-distance trade with places such as Mesopotamia, supported by standardised stone weights and measures to maintain fair exchanges. They also used carved seals containing animal motifs and script marks to stamp and authenticate trade packages.

9. What travel options were available between Harappan cities like Harappa and Kalibangan, and how long did they take?

Answer:

• River Boat: The fastest route via waterways, taking roughly 2 to 4 days.

• Bullock Cart or Pack Animals: Overland transport across land routes, taking approximately 10 to 15 days.

• On Foot: The slowest method, requiring 2 to 3 weeks depending on weather and rest stops.

10. What were the main functions of Harappan seals?

Answer: Harappan seals served multiple potential roles:

• Trade Identification: They may have functioned as stamps or logos to mark ownership of commercial cargo.

• Social Emblems: They displayed symbols that may have represented specific families, clans, or administrative figures.

• Cultural or Religious Use: They may have been used in rituals or as ceremonial objects.

11. What theories exist regarding the purpose of the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro?

Answer: Since the Harappan script remains undeciphered, historians rely on structural evidence and comparisons to understand the possible purpose of the Great Bath.

• Elitist or Royal Use: It may have been a private or exclusive bathing facility for rulers, high priests, or prominent figures.

• Public Ritual Use: It may have been a communal structure used for religious ceremonies, ritual purification, or shared gatherings.

12. What artefacts prove that Harappans valued art, personal adornment, and leisure?

Answer:

• Adornment and Art: Terracotta pots, bronze mirrors, polished bead necklaces, bangles, earrings, and metal statues such as the Dancing Girl show an interest in art and personal decoration.

• Leisure and Games: Terracotta toy models, including small bullock carts, and game boards with pieces indicate that people also had time for recreation.

13. What modern daily items would shock a Harappan person transported into a contemporary Indian kitchen?

Answer:

• Electrical Appliances: Refrigerators, microwaves, and blenders.

• Modern Cooking Methods: LPG gas stoves replacing open wood fires.

• Piped Utilities: Pressurised tap water available directly from faucets.

• Utensil Materials: Stainless steel, aluminium, and non-stick cookware instead of baked clay pots and bronze vessels.

14. What elements of Harappan culture and daily life remain recognisable in 21st-century India?

Answer:

• Gestures: Cultural greetings such as the Namaste gesture.

• Personal Items: Jewellery styles such as bangles, bead necklaces, and hand mirrors.

• Recreation: Children's toys and traditional board games.

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions PDF

Download the Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions PDF to revise the textbook questions and activities related to the Harappan Civilisation.

What Makes Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions Useful?

PW Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions help you understand the Harappan Civilisation through its cities, technology, trade, architecture, and everyday life.

• Understand Early Civilisation: Learn how agriculture, settlements, specialised work, and trade supported the growth of cities.

• Know Important Harappan Sites: Revise the locations and significance of places such as Harappa, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Mohenjo-daro, and Rakhigarhi.

• Explore Town Planning: Understand the drainage systems, wells, roads, houses, and water reservoirs developed by the Harappans.

• Learn About Trade: See how weights, measures, seals, and transport helped people exchange goods.

• Discover Everyday Life: Explore evidence related to food, clothing, ornaments, games, art, and other activities.

• Prepare Better Answers: Use the explanations to understand how to present historical information clearly in your own words.

How does Physics Wallah Help You Prepare for Class 6 Social Science?

You can use these resources at different stages of your preparation to understand concepts, revise important information, practise questions, and review your answers.

• Understand the Course: Check the Class 6 Social Science Syllabus to know the chapters and topics covered in your preparation.

• Revise Key Information: Use Class 6 Social Science Notes to revisit Harappan cities, town planning, occupations, trade, technology, and archaeological evidence.

• Strengthen Question Practice: Solve Class 6 Social Science Important Questions to apply your knowledge and practise history-based questions.

• Test Your Readiness: Attempt Class 6 Social Science Sample Papers to practise different question formats and identify areas that need further revision.

The Harappan Civilisation shows how communities can develop from settled agricultural life into organised urban societies with specialised work, trade, technology, and carefully planned spaces. The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation also teaches you how archaeological evidence helps us reconstruct a world that existed thousands of years ago. Attempt the textbook questions first, then use the T Solutions to strengthen your understanding and revise important historical ideas.

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