Indus valley civilization - Quiz

By 2600 BCE, small Early Harappan communities had developed into large urban centers. These cities include Harappa, Ganeriwala, and Mohenjo-daro in modern-day Pakistan and Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Rupar, and Lothal in modern-day India. In total, more than 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Indus River and its tributaries.

Mohenjo-daro is thought to have been built in the twenty-sixth century BCE; it became not only the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization but one of the world’s earliest major urban centers. Located west of the Indus River in the Larkana District, Mohenjo-daro was one of the most sophisticated cities of the period, with advanced engineering and urban planning.

Harappa was a fortified city in modern-day Pakistan that is believed to have been home to as many as 23,500 residents living in sculpted houses with flat roofs made of red sand and clay. The city spread over 150 hectares- 370 acres- and had fortified administrative and religious centers of the same type used in Mohenjo-daro.

The writing system used by the Indus Valley Civilization has not yet been deciphered, so we do not know what language it represents or what information it conveys.

There are various theories about why the Indus Valley Civilization declined, including invasion by foreign armies, ecological changes such as drought and flooding, and economic collapse.

The Indus Valley Civilization produced a variety of jewelry, including gold necklaces, silver bracelets, and beaded earrings.

The cow was the most commonly depicted animal in the art of the Indus Valley Civilization, possibly indicating its importance in the culture.

Snakes and ladders is believed to have originated in ancient India, and it was a popular game played in the Indus Valley Civilization.

The Indus Valley Civilization engaged in long-distance trade with other regions, including Mesopotamia, which is present-day Iraq. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization traded with Mesopotamia for various goods such as metals, timber, and precious stones. This trade relationship also led to cultural exchange, as artifacts from Mesopotamia have been found in the Indus Valley and vice versa.

The alignment of some of their structures with astronomical events such as the solstices and equinoxes demonstrates that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization were skilled in astronomy. They were also familiar with celestial bodies such as planets, which they depicted in their art and pottery. The Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro is thought to have been used for ritual bathing during solar eclipses.

The Lion was the not depicted animal in the art of the Indus Valley Civilization, the bull was the most frequently depicted animal in Indus Valley Civilization art. It could be seen on their seals and tablets. These were probably Zebu Bulls or humped cattle that the Harappans domesticated for agriculture.

According to most historians, the Aryans came from Central Asia, also known as Andronovo culture in about 1500 BCE. And they started indus valley civilization.