Class 6 SST — Chapter 6 — The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation 🏛️
New NCERT Book | Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Easy to Remember Notes
🧠 CHAPTER AT A GLANCE (Read This First!)
This chapter is about India's OLDEST civilisation — the Harappan Civilisation (also called Indus Valley Civilisation) and the Vedic Period that came after it.
3 Big Things to Remember from this chapter:
- 🏙️ Harappan Cities — World's first planned cities (2500 BCE)
- 📜 Vedic Period — Period of the Vedas and Aryans (1500 BCE)
- 🌾 Both periods shaped modern India!
📌 PART 1 — THE HARAPPAN CIVILISATION
🔑 Basic Identity Card of Harappan Civilisation
| Other Name | Indus Valley Civilisation |
| Period | 2500 BCE to 1900 BCE (about 4500 years ago!) |
| Location | Along Indus River — NW India & Pakistan |
| Type | Urban (City-based) Civilisation |
| Special Feature | World's first PLANNED cities |
🗺️ WHERE WAS IT? (Location — Easy Trick)
Think of it as a big family of cities spread across Northwest India and present-day Pakistan along the Indus River and its tributaries.
Major Cities — Easy Memory Trick:
"Hello! My Little Dog Runs Kindly"
| Letter | City | State/Country |
|---|---|---|
| H | Harappa | Punjab (Pakistan) |
| M | Mohenjo-daro | Sindh (Pakistan) |
| L | Lothal | Gujarat (India) |
| D | Dholavira | Gujarat (India) |
| R | Rakhigarhi | Haryana (India) |
| K | Kalibangan | Rajasthan (India) |
💡 Rakhigarhi is now considered the largest Harappan site in India!
🏙️ FEATURES OF HARAPPAN CITIES
Think of it as a SMART CITY of Ancient Times! 🌆
🔑 Feature 1 — TOWN PLANNING (Grid Pattern)
What it means: Cities were designed like a chess board — roads cutting at perfect right angles
← Roads →
_____|_____|_____|_____
| | | | | ← Houses in neat blocks
|____|_____|____|____|
| | | | |
|____|_____|____|____|
- Every city had TWO parts:
- 🏰 Citadel (Upper Town) — High platform, had important buildings (like a fort area)
- 🏘️ Lower Town — Where common people lived, shops, workshops
💡 Easy Memory: Citadel = VIP Area | Lower Town = General Area
🔑 Feature 2 — AMAZING DRAINAGE SYSTEM 🚰
The MOST remarkable feature of Harappan cities!
- Every house had a bathroom and toilet
- Dirty water flowed through drains under the streets
- Drains were covered with bricks — like modern underground drains
- Drains from houses connected to main street drains
💡 Easy Memory: Even 4500 years ago, Harappans had better drains than many cities today!
⭐ This is what makes Harappan civilisation UNIQUE in the ancient world — no other ancient civilisation had such an advanced drainage system!
🔑 Feature 3 — THE GREAT BATH 🛁
Found at: Mohenjo-daro
- A large rectangular pool — about 12m long, 7m wide, 2.4m deep
- Made of baked bricks
- Walls and floor made waterproof using tar (bitumen)
- Had steps going down into the water from both ends
- Surrounded by changing rooms on all sides
- Used for ritual/religious bathing by important people (priests, leaders)
💡 Easy Memory: Think of it as the world's first public swimming pool — but for religious purposes!
🔑 Feature 4 — GRANARIES 🌾
Found at: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro
- Granaries = Large warehouses for storing grain
- Shows that Harappans produced surplus (extra) food
- Surplus food = People could do jobs other than farming (potters, weavers, traders)
- Shows an organised government that collected and stored food
💡 Easy Memory: Granary = Ancient government food warehouse!
🔑 Feature 5 — STANDARDISED BAKED BRICKS 🧱
- ALL bricks used across ALL Harappan cities were of the same size ratio
- Ratio = 4:2:1 (Length : Width : Height)
- This means there was a central authority (government) controlling building standards!
- Bricks were baked (not just sun-dried) — much stronger
💡 Easy Memory: Like today's BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) — the Harappans had their own standard brick size 4000 years ago!
🔑 Feature 6 — MULTI-STORIED HOUSES 🏠
- Houses had 2 floors or more
- Made of baked bricks
- Had an inner courtyard — open space in the middle of the house
- No windows facing the main street — only small openings high on walls (for privacy and security)
- Most houses had their own well inside
🛠️ OCCUPATION & DAILY LIFE
What did Harappans Do?
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌾 Farming | Grew wheat, barley, rice, cotton, sesame, peas |
| 🐄 Animal Rearing | Kept cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, dogs |
| 🏺 Pottery | Made beautiful red and black painted pottery |
| 💎 Jewellery | Made from gold, silver, beads, shells |
| ⚖️ Weights & Measures | Used standardised weights for trade — very accurate! |
| 🚢 Trade | Traded with Mesopotamia (Iraq) through sea routes via Lothal port |
| 🎨 Crafts | Made toys, figurines, seals |
💡 Lothal had a dockyard (port for ships) — proof that Harappans did sea trade!
🔤 HARAPPAN SCRIPT
- Harappans had their own written language/script
- Found on seals, pottery and clay tablets
- Written from Right → Left direction
- Has about 400 symbols identified
- ⚠️ NOT YET DECODED — nobody in the world has fully understood it yet!
💡 Easy Memory: Harappan script is like a secret code that the world hasn't cracked yet! 🔐
🔖 THE HARAPPAN SEALS
- Small flat objects made of steatite (a type of stone)
- Had animal carvings + script symbols
- Most famous: Seal with a Unicorn-like animal (Pashupati seal)
- Used for marking goods during trade (like a stamp or trademark)
❓ WHY DID HARAPPAN CIVILISATION END?
Around 1900 BCE, this great civilisation slowly declined. Reasons (scientists are still not 100% sure):
| Possible Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ Climate Change | Reduced rainfall led to droughts |
| 🏞️ River Drying | Saraswati River may have dried up |
| 🌊 Floods | Frequent flooding destroyed cities |
| ⚔️ Invasions | Outside groups may have attacked |
| 🦠 Disease | Epidemic could have wiped out population |
💡 Most historians today believe climate change and drying of rivers was the main cause.
📌 PART 2 — THE VEDIC PERIOD
🔑 Basic Identity Card of Vedic Period
| Period | About 1500 BCE to 500 BCE |
| Named After | The VEDAS (sacred texts) |
| People | Called Aryans or Indo-Aryans |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Came From | Central Asia (migrated into India) |
| Settled in | First in Punjab → then Ganga plains |
📚 THE FOUR VEDAS
Easy Memory Trick: "Rigved Samved Yajurveda Atharvaved" → Remember as: "RSYA" or "Rishi Sang Yog Aur"
| Veda | Content | Special Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 Rigveda | Hymns (prayers/poems) to gods | OLDEST Veda & OLDEST text in the world |
| 🟦 Samaveda | Songs and melodies | Set to music |
| 🟩 Yajurveda | Rituals and sacrifices | Formulas for yajnas |
| 🟨 Atharvaveda | Magic, medicine, everyday life | Most practical veda |
⭐ Rigveda is the OLDEST — most important for exam!
🏕️ HOW DID ARYANS LIVE? (Early Vedic Period — 1500–1000 BCE)
Think of them as semi-nomadic cattle herders who slowly became farmers:
Lifestyle:
- Semi-nomadic — moved from place to place with their cattle
- Cattle was wealth — more cows = richer person
- Lived in tribal communities headed by a Chief (Raja)
- Performed Yajnas (fire rituals) to worship gods
- Main gods: Indra (rain/thunder), Agni (fire), Varuna (water), Surya (sun)
🏙️ LATER VEDIC PERIOD (1000–500 BCE)
Over time, the Aryans changed a lot:
| Early Vedic | Later Vedic |
|---|---|
| Semi-nomadic | Fully settled in villages and towns |
| Cattle herding main activity | Agriculture became main activity |
| Small tribes | Larger kingdoms (Janapadas) formed |
| Simple rituals | More complex rituals |
| Punjab / Saraswati area | Spread to Ganga plains |
👥 VARNA SYSTEM (Social Division)
In the Vedic period, society was divided into 4 Varnas (groups) based on occupation:
| Varna | Occupation | Easy Memory |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 Brahmin | Priests, teachers | Brain work (B = Brain) |
| 🟦 Kshatriya | Warriors, rulers | Khaki (fighters) |
| 🟩 Vaishya | Traders, farmers | "V" = Vyapar (trade) |
| 🟨 Shudra | Servants, labourers | Service work |
⚠️ Important Note: Originally, varna was based on occupation (what you did), not birth. Later it became birth-based (caste) and led to discrimination, which is wrong. Our Constitution prohibits caste discrimination.
🌿 UPANISHADS & PHILOSOPHY
- Upanishads = later part of Vedic literature (philosophical texts)
- Also called Vedanta (end/essence of Vedas)
- Explore big life questions like:
- What is the soul (Atma)?
- What is the universe (Brahma)?
- What is the meaning of life?
- Famous idea: "Aham Brahmasmi" = I am the universe
- Key concept: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" = The whole world is one family
⚖️ COMPARING HARAPPAN & VEDIC CIVILISATION
| Feature | Harappan | Vedic |
|---|---|---|
| Period | 2500–1900 BCE | 1500–500 BCE |
| Type | Urban (cities) | Rural (villages, later towns) |
| Economy | Trade-based | Agriculture and cattle |
| Script | Had script (undecoded) | Had script (Sanskrit) |
| Texts | None found | Vedas, Upanishads |
| Buildings | Brick buildings | Wooden and mud houses |
| Religion | Seals suggest nature worship | Fire rituals, many gods |
| Decline | Collapsed around 1900 BCE | Evolved into later Indian culture |
❓ NCERT EXERCISE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q1. What is meant by civilisation? Answer: A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society with cities, organised government, writing system, trade, and developed culture. The Harappan Civilisation was one of the earliest civilisations in the world, with well-planned cities, drainage systems, and long-distance trade around 2500 BCE.
Q2. Name the main cities of the Harappan Civilisation. Answer: The main cities of the Harappan Civilisation were Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan), Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan), Lothal (Gujarat), Dholavira (Gujarat), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), and Kalibangan (Rajasthan). Rakhigarhi is considered the largest Harappan site in India.
Q3. What is the Great Bath? Where was it found? Answer: The Great Bath was a large public bathing tank found at Mohenjo-daro. It was about 12 metres long, 7 metres wide and 2.4 metres deep. It was made of baked bricks and the walls were waterproofed with tar (bitumen). Steps led down into the water from both ends. It was probably used for ritual bathing by priests and important people.
Q4. What do you know about the drainage system of the Harappan cities? Answer: The drainage system of Harappan cities was the most advanced in the ancient world. Every house had a bathroom and toilet connected to covered underground drains. These house drains connected to larger street drains made of bricks with removable covers for cleaning. The entire city had a well-connected underground drainage network that carried dirty water out of the city. No other ancient civilisation had such an organised drainage system.
Q5. How do we know that the Harappan people did trade? Answer: We know about Harappan trade through several evidences. Accurate standardised weights and measures have been found, which would have been used for fair trade. Seals (used like stamps on goods) have been found even in Mesopotamia (Iraq), showing long-distance trade. The port city of Lothal had a dockyard for ships, confirming sea trade. Objects like lapis lazuli (a stone) found in Harappan sites came from distant places like Afghanistan, proving trade connections.
Q6. Why has the Harappan script not been read yet? Answer: The Harappan script has not been decoded because there is no bilingual inscription (a text in both Harappan script and a known language) that could serve as a key to decode it. The script has about 400 symbols and is written from right to left. Unlike the Egyptian hieroglyphics which were decoded using the Rosetta Stone (which had the same text in multiple languages), no such clue has been found for the Harappan script.
Q7. Name the four Vedas. Which is the oldest? Answer: The four Vedas are Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. The Rigveda is the oldest among them. It contains hymns (prayers) in praise of various gods. The Rigveda is also considered one of the oldest texts in the world.
Q8. What was the Varna system in Vedic society? Answer: In Vedic society, people were divided into four groups called Varnas based on their occupation. Brahmins were priests and teachers, Kshatriyas were warriors and rulers, Vaishyas were traders and farmers, and Shudras were servants and labourers. Originally, this division was based on the type of work a person did. Later, it became birth-based and turned into the rigid caste system which caused discrimination. The Indian Constitution prohibits caste-based discrimination.
❓ IMPORTANT EXTRA QUESTIONS
Q1. What is the significance of Lothal in Harappan Civilisation? Answer: Lothal was an important Harappan city located in present-day Gujarat. It is significant because it had a dockyard — a basin where ships could be docked for loading and unloading goods. This is one of the world's earliest known dockyards. It proves that Harappans conducted sea trade with distant regions including Mesopotamia (Iraq). Lothal was also a major centre for bead-making and trade.
Q2. What is a seal? Why were seals used in the Harappan period? Answer: A seal is a small flat object made of steatite (a type of stone) with an animal carved on one side and Harappan script on the other. Seals were used like stamps or trademarks. Merchants pressed them into wet clay to mark their goods during trade. Seals helped identify who the goods belonged to. The most famous Harappan seal shows an animal like a unicorn and is called the Pashupati seal.
Q3. Who were the Aryans? Where did they come from? Answer: The Aryans (also called Indo-Aryans) were a group of people who migrated to India from Central Asia around 1500 BCE. They entered India through the northwestern mountain passes. They spoke an early form of Sanskrit. Initially, they settled in the Punjab region near the Saraswati and Indus rivers, and gradually moved eastward into the Ganga plains. They were semi-nomadic cattle herders who later became settled farmers.
Q4. How is Harappan civilisation different from the Vedic Period? Answer: Harappan civilisation (2500–1900 BCE) was an urban civilisation with large planned cities, advanced drainage, trade networks and undecoded writing. In contrast, the Vedic Period (1500–500 BCE) was mainly rural, with Aryan tribes living in small settlements. Harappans were known for city life and trade, while Aryans were known for their Vedas, Sanskrit language, cattle rearing, and religious rituals. The Vedic culture slowly evolved into later Indian civilisation.
🧠 MCQ QUESTIONS
1. The Harappan Civilisation is also called: a) Vedic Civilisation b) Indus Valley Civilisation c) Aryan Civilisation d) Dravidian Civilisation Answer: b)
2. The Great Bath was found at: a) Harappa b) Mohenjo-daro c) Lothal d) Dholavira Answer: b)
3. Which Harappan city had a dockyard (port)? a) Lothal b) Harappa c) Kalibangan d) Rakhigarhi Answer: a)
4. The Harappan script is written from: a) Left to Right b) Right to Left c) Top to Bottom d) Bottom to Top Answer: b)
5. The standard brick ratio in Harappan cities was: a) 2:2:1 b) 3:2:1 c) 4:2:1 d) 5:2:1 Answer: c)
6. Which is the OLDEST Veda? a) Rigveda b) Samaveda c) Yajurveda d) Atharvaveda Answer: a)
7. The Vedas are written in which language? a) Pali b) Prakrit c) Sanskrit d) Tamil Answer: c)
8. Which was the largest Harappan site found in India? a) Lothal b) Mohenjo-daro c) Rakhigarhi d) Kalibangan Answer: c)
9. Harappan Civilisation declined around: a) 1900 BCE b) 500 BCE c) 2500 BCE d) 1000 BCE Answer: a)
10. The Harappan seals were made of: a) Gold b) Clay c) Steatite d) Copper Answer: c)
📝 FILL IN THE BLANKS
- The Harappan Civilisation is also called the ________ Civilisation. → Indus Valley
- The Great Bath is found at ________. → Mohenjo-daro
- Harappan script has not been ________ yet. → decoded / deciphered
- The oldest Veda is the ________. → Rigveda
- Harappan cities followed a ________ pattern of road layout. → Grid
- The Aryans spoke the ________ language. → Sanskrit
- ________ was a Harappan city with a dockyard. → Lothal
- Harappan bricks were made waterproof using ________. → Tar / Bitumen
- The four Varnas in Vedic society were Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and ________. → Shudra
- Harappan Civilisation began around ________ BCE. → 2500
✅ TRUE OR FALSE
- Mohenjo-daro is located in India. → False (It is in Pakistan)
- The Great Bath was used for ritual bathing. → True
- Harappan script has been fully decoded. → False
- Rigveda is the oldest Veda. → True
- Lothal had a dockyard for ships. → True
- In Vedic society, Varna was originally based on birth. → False (It was based on occupation)
- Rakhigarhi is the largest Harappan site in India. → True
- Harappans used standardised bricks of ratio 4:2:1. → True
🔑 SUPER QUICK REVISION (Last Minute)
HARAPPAN CIVILISATION
├── Period: 2500–1900 BCE
├── Cities: Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira
├── Features: Grid roads, Drainage, Great Bath, Granaries
├── Trade: With Mesopotamia | Lothal = Dockyard
├── Script: Right to Left | Not decoded yet
└── Decline: ~1900 BCE (Climate change / floods)
VEDIC PERIOD
├── Period: 1500–500 BCE
├── People: Aryans | Language: Sanskrit
├── 4 Vedas: Rigveda (OLDEST), Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda
├── Life: Semi-nomadic → Settled farmers
└── Society: 4 Varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra)
🏆 Top 5 Exam Points:
- Great Bath = Mohenjo-daro (NOT Harappa)
- Lothal = Dockyard (sea trade)
- Harappan Script = Right to Left, NOT decoded
- Rigveda = OLDEST Veda in the world
- Harappan Civilisation ended ~1900 BCE