The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
About this chapter
This Class 6 History chapter introduces the Indus-Sarasvatī (Harappan) Civilisation, one of the oldest in the world. It first defines a 'civilisation' through seven features — government and administration, urbanism, varied crafts, internal and external trade, writing, cultural ideas and a productive agriculture. The story moves from villages to cities (around 2600 BCE) across the Indus and Sarasvatī plains, naming Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi and Kalibangan. Students learn about precise town-planning, fortifications, the Great Bath, advanced water management and huge reservoirs at Dholavira, Harappan crops (the first in Eurasia to grow cotton), brisk trade with carnelian beads, shell bangles and the Lothal dockyard, steatite seals with undeciphered writing, and famous objects like the 'Dancing Girl'. The chapter closes with the decline around 1900 BCE due to climatic change and the drying of the Sarasvatī. CTET tests dates, city-state matching, the Great Bath, seals, trade and causes of decline. The four tests cover: Practice — single-fact recall; Quiz — concept application; Hard — PYQ-style statement and assertion items; Mastery — full-chapter mixed mock with no overlap.
Tests in this chapter
Build the basics. Single-concept recall and direct application.
Start test → Quiz 15 questions 15 minTest your understanding. Mixed application across the chapter.
Start test → Hard 15 questions 18 minPYQ-grade. Statement-based, assertion–reasoning, two-step problems.
Start test → Mastery 30 questions 30 minFull-chapter mock. Mixed difficulty, no overlap with the other three.
Start test →