Date:

Subject- Ancient India

Syllabus- Pre-Historic Cultures in India- Indus Valley Civilization- Vedic
Culture- Mahajanapada’s
Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day:
1. Describe in detail about the Harappan cultural practices that are still
contemporary to India
Introduction:
Explain about the harappan culture with timeline.
Body:
Describe in detail about the harappan culture with comparison of present
culture
Conclusion:
 No other culture in the contemporary has reached the level of
advanced technology they used, art forms, health care, sanitation they
had in harappa.
Content:
Harapan civilization was discovered in third millennium bce that appeared in
north-western part of the india and pakistan. it can be called as indus valley
civilization or harappan culture, considered to be the largest civilization of its
contemporary. the civilization of india which familiarised the urbanisation was
not seen for next for another thousand years.
Cultural practices still prevalent In India:
a. Religious culture:
1. Great bath of mohenjo-daro served to take ritual bathing which has
been so vital to any religious ceremony or ritual bathing in the temples
can be seen still in india.
2. Worshiping of tree (pippal) and animals (bull) which was prevalent
during harappan times is still practised in present day india.
 3. Worshiping of goddesses as fertility god. example: kamakhya temple in
assam is treated as mother goddesses.
b. Economic culture:
1. Numerous articles used for weight shows that in weighing mostly 16 or
its multiples, it has continued in India till modern times that is 16 annas
made one rupee.
2. They practised navigation on the coast of Arabian sea and in inland
waterway for the procurement of metals and grains, at present day
waterway place’s a crucial role in India for export and import of goods
both seaway and inland waterway, security purpose and for tourism
3. Harappan people have kept most valuable ornaments of made up of
carnelian, jasper, crystal, steatite from metals like copper, bronze, gold,
and silver which were still precious and in usage by both men and
women in today’s life
c. Planning of cities:
1. The remarkable thing about the harappan’s is arrangement of the
houses in the cities is that they followed the grid system. in the
contemporary chandigarh was example for the construction of houses in
grid system.
2. The usage of burnt bricks were used in construction in the harappan
cities is remarkable, still india there is a huge usage of burnt bricks in
construction field.
3. Gabarband’s or nalas enclosed by dams for storage of water is a
technique still we apply for control of water from flooding and for
storage of water
4. Not only present-day cities of india contain drainage system but also
during harappan period used remains of mud-brick platforms and of
streets and planned drains for the passage of wastewater.
5. Cereals received as taxes from peasants and stored in huge granaries
held in harappa, mohenjo-daro and lothal for emergency usage of
grains, no india we follow the same method for storage of food grains
for public distribution system and for buffer stocks.

2. Compare and contrast the salient features of Early Vedic and Later Vedic
civilisations in political, social, economic, and religious fields.
 Introduction:

Explain about the Early Vedic and Later Vedic periods

Body:

Describe salient features of Early Vedic and Later Vedic periods in various
aspects.

Content:
Aryan people entered northwest India from indo iranian region in 6th
century B.C. they occupied the whole north India, which was then referred to
as aryavarta. this period is in between 1500 B.C. and 600 B.C. is divided into
early Vedic period (or) rig Vedic period and later Vedic period.

Early Vedic Period (1500 BC and Later Vedic Period (1000BC TO

1000BC) 600BC)
Social 1. People were categorised into 1. Caste system was based on
different caste based on their birth (caste of parents)
birth or on profession they 2. Women treated as slave to
follow someone
2. Women treated Equally with 3. Sudras as a social category
Men in all social spheres. appeared at later Vedic
3. Social Classes were classified Period.
into warriors (kshatriya), 4. There was an increase in
priests (brahman) and privileges of two higher
common people (Vis). classes, brahmana and
4. Kinship was the basis of social kshatriya.
structure of Rigveda
1. Rigvedic aryas where pastoral 1. As society became more
Economic People main occupation was settled than pastoral so
cattle Rearing agriculture started to
2. Ploughshare was mentioned become chief occupation
in Rigveda 2. Improved type of
3. Danas and dakshinas offered implements was used for
to people were means of cultivation
Resources 3. Taxes like bali and bhoga
came into practice
4. Handicraft, goldsmiths,
 pottery also became
prominent.
1. Prithvi (Earth), Agni (Fire), 1. Prajapathi(the creator),
Religious Vayu (Wind), Varuna(rain) Vishnu(protector) and
and Indra (Thunder) were Rudra(destroyer) became
important gods during Rig prominent during later
Veda Vedic period.
2. Prayers were mostly aimed 2. Importance of prayers
for material prosperity not for declined and that of
spiritual attainment sacrifices and rituals
3. There was no temples or idol became important.
worship 3. Temples became
prominent and priest
played important role in
society
Political 1. The basic unit of political 1. Larger kingdoms were
organisation was kula or formed, many jana’s or
family, The highest political tribes were
unit was called jana or tribe. amalgamated to form
janapadas or rashtras.

Prelims Questions of the day

1. Who among the following is called as the father of Pre-historic

archaeology in India?
a. Daya ram sahnini
b. R D Benarjee
c. Robert Bruce foote
d. John Evans

Answer: c
Explanation:
Robert bruce is known as the father of pre-historic archaeology of india. pre-
historic india is divided into three stages- palaeolithic age, mesolithic age and
neolithic age.
 2. Which among the following tools are most widely used in Lower
palaeolithic age?
a. Chopper and Hand axe
b. Implements of flake
c. Implements of blade and Flake
d. Scraper
Answer: a
Explanation:
Tools used in lower paleolithic era were mainly cleavers, choppers, and hand
axes. these tools were mainly used for cutting, digging, and skinning the prey.
3. Which among the following Neolithic site present in Andhra Pradesh?
a. Kurnool
b. Paiyampalli
c. Pallavaram
d. Utnur
Answer: d
Explanation:
Neolithic sites held in india are utnur in andhra pradesh, kashmir valley,
chirand in bihar, belan valley in uttar pradesh. maski, brahmagiri, hallur and
kodekal in tamilnadu.

4. Where did Grains of Millet were found in Neolithic phase of Andhra

Pradesh?
a. Utnur
b. Hallur
c. Vinukonda
d. Sattenapalli
Answer: b
Explanation:
Millet, cattle, sheep, goat and pig are found in sites of hallur in Andhra
Pradesh.

5. Which among the following cultures associated with Iron age?

1. Painted Grey Ware
2. Nothern Black Polished ware
 3. Megalitic Culture

Choose the correct code given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 3 and 1 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d
Explanation:

Iron age in the world began in 1300 BC. Iron Technology played a central role
in urban revolution of gangetic valley. Cultures associated with Iron age are
1. Painted Grey Ware – PGW Cultue
2. Nothern Black Polished ware- NBPW Culture
3. Megalitic Culture

6. Which among the following is a port city of Gujarat during Indus valley
Civilization?
a. Lothal
b. Surkotada
c. Dholavira
d. Kalibangan
Answer: a
Explanation:
Lothal in Gujarat is Port city of IVC

7. Which among the following animals is found on Pasupati seal?

1. Elephant
2. Lion
3. Tiger
4. Deer
5. Rhino
6. Buffalo
7. Horse

Choose the correct option given below

a. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 only
b. 2, 3, 4 and 7 only
c. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Only
d. 2, 3, 6 and 7 Only
Answer: c
Explanation:

Chief-male Diety was pasupati(proto-shiva) represented in seals as sitting in a

yogic posture with three faces and Two horns. It is surrounded by Elephant,
tiger, rhino, and Buffalo each facing a different direction.

8. Indian Music was originated from which veda?

a. Rig Veda
b. Yajur Veda
c. Sama Veda
d. Atharava Veda
Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Music was originated from Samaveda. It is a set to tune’s
for the purpose of chanting during sacrifice. It is called the Book of Chants.

9. Which Upanishad defines Shiva for the first time?

a. Mundako Upanishad
b. Kato Upanishad
c. Keno Upanishad
d. Sweta Swataro Upanishad
Answer: D
Explanation:
Sweta swataro Upanishad defines shiva for the first time. keno Upanishad
defines talks about uma or parvathi.

10. Which among the following is the capital of Kosala Dynasty?

a. Rajagriha
b. Indraprastha
c. Sravasti
d. Vaishali
Answer: C
Explanation:
Sravasti was the capital of Kosala Dynasty. Kosala Dynasty was one of the
Janapada Under 16 Mahajanapadas.