NCERT Solutions for Class-6 History Chapter-4 In the Earliest Cities

NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES

Question 1. How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilization?
Answer: Archaeologists know that the people in the Harappan civilization use cloth because they have found pieces of cloth attached to the lid of a silver vase. They have also found spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. They were used to spin thread.

Question 2. Match the columns:

Copper	Gujarat
Gold	Afghanistan
Tin	Rajasthan
Precious Stones	Karnataka

Answer:

Copper	Rajasthan
Gold	Karnataka
Tin	Afghanistan
Precious Stones	Gujarat

Question 3. Why were metals, writing, the wheel, and the plough important for the Harappans?
Answer:
(1) Metals: Archaeologists have found things made of metal, including copper, bronze, gold, and silver. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments, and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.
(2) Writing: There were scribes, people who know how to write, they helped to prepare seals, kept a record, and wrote on materials that have not survived.
(3) Wheel: It played a great role in the life of Harappans for example:
     (a) People could travel long distances easily.
     (b) Goods were carried easily from one place to another.
(4) Plough: It was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.

Question 4. Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. What do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most?
Answer: List of the Terracotta Toys,
1. A toy cart made of clay.
2. Small clay carts resembling the modern ekhas.
3. Puppets
4. Whistles made in the form of birds and rattles of all kinds.
5. Marbles
6. Dolls
7. Models of different cattle and animals. (Humped bull, Rhinoceros)
8. Seals
9. Jewellery articles.
We think that girls would have enjoyed dolls and puppets most, while the male children would have enjoyed carts or ekhas and rattles.

Question 5. Make a list of what the Harappans ate, and put a tick mark against the things you eat today.
Answer: The Harappans used to eat the following articles/things (See Left Hand Column):

Harappans food articles	Tick mark (against the things we eat today)
1. Wheat	✓
2. Barley	✓
3. Pulses	✓
4. Peas	✓
5. Rice	✓
6. Sesame	✓
7. Linseed	✓
8. Mustard	✓

Question 6. Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in Chapter 3? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The farmers and herders who gave food to the Harappan cities knew about agriculture and the domestication of animals. So they supplied food to the city’ dwellers. The farmers and herders in the earlier period cultivated the fields themselves and domesticated the animals. So they provided their own food.

Question 7. Describe three important buildings in your city or village. Are they located in a special part of the settlement (e.g. The Centre)? What are the activities that take place in these buildings?
Answer: In our city (or village) the following three important buildings are located,
1. Community Hall or Gram Panchayat Bhawan or Municipal Committee Bhawan
2. School Building
3. Hospital
4. Temple or Mosque or Church or Gurudwara
(Any three groups or points.)
The following activities take place in these buildings respectively:
1. Community Hall. Marriage Parties or Public Functions.
2. Gram Panchayat Bhawan. In this Bhawan (Building) Panchayat holds its meetings and discusses our village problems.
3. Municipal Committee Bhawan. In this Bhawan city’s elected members meet under a chairman and discuss problems of the city.
4. School Building. In this building, education is provided to boys and girls of our village or city.
5. Hospital. Here ill people or patients come and consult doctors, compounders or nurses as per their diseases or requirements.
6. Temple or Mosque or Church or Gurudwara. People come and participate in prayer (or Namaz) according to their own religion and faith. (Any three points.)

Question 8. Are there any old buildings in your locality? Find out how old they are and who looks after them.
Answer: There are many old buildings near my locality. They are,
1. Red Fort
2. Jama Masjid
3. Ferozeshah Kotla
Red Fort was constructed in the 17th century.
Jama Masjid was also constructed in the 17th century.
Ferozeshah Kotla was built in the 15th century.
The Archaeological Survey of India looks after the ancient buildings.