The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation-Civilisation Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 6. The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation – Notes 1

1. What Is a Civilisation?

A civilisation is an advanced stage of human society. It develops when human communities become organised and acquire several important features.

• Government and Administration – A system to manage a complex society and its activities.
• Urbanism – Town-planning, growth of cities and their management.
• Water Management – Proper systems for collecting, storing and distributing water.
• Drainage System – A system for carrying wastewater away from houses and settlements.
• Variety of Crafts – Production of finished goods such as ornaments and tools from raw materials.
• Trade – Exchange of goods within a region as well as with distant regions.
• Writing – A system used for keeping records and communication.
• Cultural Ideas – Ideas about life and the world expressed through art, architecture, literature, oral traditions and social customs.
• Productive Agriculture – Agriculture capable of producing enough food for villages as well as cities.

2. Main Characteristics of a Civilisation

3. Beginning of Civilisation

• Civilisation began at different times in different parts of the world.
• In Mesopotamia, modern Iraq and Syria, civilisation began about 6,000 years ago.
• Ancient Egyptian civilisation developed a few centuries after Mesopotamia.
• The Indian story of civilisation begins in the northwest region of the Indian Subcontinent.

4. The Earliest Indian Civilisation

• The earliest civilisation discussed in this chapter is known by several names.
• It is called the Indus Civilisation.
• It is also called the Harappan Civilisation.
• Another name is the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation.
• The term Sindhu-Sarasvatī Civilisation is also used.
• The civilisation flourished approximately from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
• Its inhabitants are commonly called Harappans.
• It is one of the oldest civilisations in the world.

5. From Village to City

• The plains of Punjab and Sindh were watered by the Indus River and its tributaries.
• The availability of water made these plains fertile.
• Fertile land favoured the development of agriculture.
• The Sarasvatī River also flowed through parts of the region thousands of years ago.
• The Sarasvatī flowed from the Himalayan foothills through Haryana, Punjab, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• From about 3500 BCE, villages began growing into towns.
• Increasing trade and other exchanges helped towns grow into cities.
• This urban transition happened around 2600 BCE.
• This development is also called the First Urbanisation of India.

6. Why Are They Called Harappans?

• The inhabitants of the civilisation are called Harappans.
• The name comes from the city of Harappa.
• Harappa is located in present-day Punjab, Pakistan.
• Harappa was the first city of this civilisation to be excavated.
• Its excavation took place more than a century ago.
• Therefore, archaeologists use the term Harappan Civilisation.

7. The Sarasvatī River

• The Sarasvatī basin contains many archaeological sites.
• The river is associated today with the Ghaggar-Hakra river system.
• Today, the river is mainly seasonal and flows during the rainy season.
• The Sarasvatī River is first mentioned in the Ṛig Veda.
• In the Ṛig Veda, Sarasvatī is described both as a goddess and as a river.
• Later texts describe the river as drying up and eventually disappearing.
• The Sarasvatī basin contains many important Harappan settlements.

8. Important Harappan Settlements

9. Town-Planning of Harappan Cities

• Large Harappan cities were built according to precise plans.
• The cities had wide streets.
• Many streets were oriented towards the cardinal directions.
• Most cities seem to have been surrounded by fortifications.
• Many cities had two distinct parts.
• The upper town was probably occupied by the local elite.
• The lower town was generally occupied by common people.
• Some large buildings were used for collective purposes.
• Warehouses were used for storing goods meant for transportation.
• Houses of different sizes were built along streets and smaller lanes.
• The quality of construction was generally similar in small and large houses.
• Buildings were generally made of bricks.

10. Fortification

Fortification is a massive wall surrounding a settlement or city, generally built for protective purposes.

• Most major Harappan cities appear to have had fortifications.
• Fortifications helped define and protect important areas of the settlement.

11. Upper Town and Lower Town

12. Elite

Elite refers to the higher layers of society, such as rulers, officials, administrators and often priests.

13. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro

• The Great Bath is one of the famous structures of Mohenjo-daro.
• It was a small but elaborate tank.
• It measured about 12 × 7 metres.
• The tank was carefully constructed using bricks.
• Natural bitumen was used as a waterproofing material.
• The tank was surrounded by small rooms.
• One of the rooms contained a well.
• A drain was provided to empty the tank.
• The tank could be refilled with fresh water.
• Its exact purpose is still debated by archaeologists.

14. Possible Uses of the Great Bath

• It may have been a bath for the royal family.
• It may have been used for religious rituals.
• The interpretation of it as a public bath has been ruled out because many houses in Mohenjo-daro had individual bathrooms.
• There is no inscription, text or traveller's account that directly explains its purpose.

15. Water Management

• The Harappans gave great importance to water management and cleanliness.
• Many houses had separate areas for bathing.
• These bathing areas were connected to larger drainage networks.
• Drains generally ran below the streets.
• The drains carried wastewater away from houses.
• Mohenjo-daro had hundreds of brick-built wells.
• Other settlements obtained water from ponds and nearby streams.
• Some settlements used human-made reservoirs.
• Dholavira had at least six large reservoirs.
• Some reservoirs were built with stones.
• Some reservoirs were cut into the rock.
• Many reservoirs were connected through underground drains.
• These systems helped in efficient water harvesting and distribution.

16. Drainage System

• Drainage was an important feature of Harappan urban planning.
• Household bathing areas were connected to drainage networks.
• Many drains were constructed below streets.
• Wastewater was carried away from residential areas.
• The drainage system reflects the importance given to cleanliness and urban management.

17. Dholavira and Water Storage

• Dholavira is located in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
• It had at least six large reservoirs.
• Reservoirs were constructed using stones or were cut into the rock.
• Many reservoirs were connected through underground drains.
• The system supported water harvesting and distribution.

18. Important Terms – Quick Definitions

19. Important Differences

Indus Civilisation vs Harappan Civilisation

Town vs City

Water Management vs Drainage

20. Important Facts to Remember

• 2600–1900 BCE – Approximate period of the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation.
• 3500 BCE – Villages began developing into towns in the region.
• 2600 BCE – Urban transition towards cities.
• Harappa – First excavated city of this civilisation.
• Harappans – People of the Harappan Civilisation.
• Ṛig Veda – First text to mention the Sarasvatī River.
• Mohenjo-daro – Famous for the Great Bath.
• Dholavira – Famous for its sophisticated water-management system.
• Lothal – An important Harappan settlement in Gujarat.
• Fortification – Protective wall around a settlement or city.
• Urbanism – Planning and management of towns and cities.
• Reservoir – A place where water is stored.

21. Exam Focus

• ⭐ Define civilisation and explain its main characteristics.
• ⭐ Learn the different names of the earliest Indian civilisation.
• ⭐ Remember the period 2600–1900 BCE.
• ⭐ Explain how villages developed into towns and cities.
• ⭐ Learn why the people are called Harappans.
• ⭐ Remember the importance of the Sarasvatī River.
• ⭐ Learn the main features of Harappan town-planning.
• ⭐ Remember the difference between the upper town and lower town.
• ⭐ Learn the important facts about the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro.
• ⭐ Understand the Harappan drainage and water-management systems.
• ⭐ Remember the importance of Dholavira's reservoirs.
• ⭐ Learn the meanings of important terms such as urbanism, fortification, elite, tributary and reservoir.

All Topics Chapter The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Civilisation
• 3. Assignments - What Have You Learned?