Class 12 History: Bricks, Beads, and Bones Exam Questions

Posted on Mar 10, 2026 in Architecture

Class 12 History: Bricks, Beads, and Bones

Important 1-Mark Questions

  • 1. Who was Alexander Cunningham?
    Ans: The first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • 2. Where was the Indus Valley Civilization discovered first?
    Ans: Harappa.
  • 3. Who was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India?
    Ans: Alexander Cunningham.
  • 4. Who wrote Further Excavation of Mohenjodaro?
    Ans: E.J.H. Mackay.
  • 5. Who is known as the Father of Indian Archaeology?
    Ans: Alexander Cunningham.
  • 6. What kinds of grinding instruments were used to grind grain?
    Ans: Nodules.
  • 7. In which period did the Indus Valley Civilization take place?
    Ans: 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
  • 8. What are the most distinctive artifacts of the Harappan civilization?
    Ans: The seals, made of a stone called steatite.
  • 9. What was the most unique feature of the Harappan civilization?
    Ans: The development of urban centers.
  • 10. Mention the two main centers of the Indus Valley.
    Ans: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
  • 11. What was steatite?
    Ans: A very soft stone.
  • 12. How was red-colored carnelian obtained?
    Ans: By firing yellowish raw material and beads at various stages of production.
  • 13. Where were the public bath and granaries found?
    Ans: At Mohenjo-Daro.
  • 14. The Indus civilization is famous for?
    Ans: Urbanization.
  • 15. What was the main business of the Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans: Agriculture.
  • 16. What was the main crop of the Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans: Wheat.
  • 17. Who discovered the Indus Valley civilization?
    Ans: Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji.
  • 18. To which period does the Indus Valley civilization belong?
    Ans: The Bronze Age.
  • 19. Along what river did these ancient people build their cities?
    Ans: The Indus River.
  • 20. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are located in which modern-day country?
    Ans: Pakistan.
  • 21. What is a citadel?
    Ans: A fort or fortress inside a city.
  • 22. How many symbols were used in Harappan writing?
    Ans: 400 signs.
  • 23. When did the Indus Valley Civilization begin?
    Ans: Around 2600 BCE.
  • 24. What red-colored stone did the people use for jewelry?
    Ans: Carnelian.
  • 25. Who wrote The Story of Indian Archaeology?
    Ans: S.N. Roy.
  • 26. Which metal was unknown to the Harappan people?
    Ans: Iron.
  • 27. What are the main sources of our knowledge about the civilization?
    Ans: Archaeological excavations.
  • 28. In which civilization was cotton cultivated first?
    Ans: Indus Valley Civilization.
  • 29. Which town literally means “Mound of the Dead”?
    Ans: Mohenjo-Daro.
  • 30. Which was the biggest building in Mohenjo-Daro?
    Ans: The granary.
  • 31. Where was silver imported from?
    Ans: Afghanistan and Iran.

2-Mark Questions

  1. Lower Town vs. Citadel: The Lower Town was in lower areas and larger, while the citadel was in higher areas and smaller.
  2. Religious Beliefs: Polytheistic, including worship of Pashupati (Lord of Cattle), nature, and potential early forms of Shiva/Rudra.
  3. Characteristics: Town planning and a sophisticated drainage system.
  4. Waste as Evidence: Waste indicates craft production sites; larger waste pieces were recycled into smaller objects.
  5. Subsistence: Diet included wheat, barley, lentils, fish, and animal products.
  6. Harappan Script: Pictographic, short inscriptions, written right to left.
  7. Archaeological Sources: Houses, pots, ornaments, tools, and seals.
  8. Artifact Definition: Man-made objects, distinct from fossils.
  9. Phases: Early (3300-2600 BCE), Mature (2600-1900 BCE), and Late (1900-1300 BCE).
  10. Metals: Copper and bronze.

3 to 5-Mark Questions

The Great Bath

The earliest public water tank, measuring 11.88 x 7.01 meters, made watertight with bricks and gypsum mortar, featuring staircases and surrounding rooms.

Drainage System

A grid-patterned system where streets and drains were laid out before houses were built, ensuring domestic waste flowed into street drains.

Procurement of Raw Materials

Materials like stone, timber, and metals were sourced locally or from distant regions (e.g., Lapis Lazuli from Shortughai, copper from Rajasthan/Oman).

Decline of the Civilization

Causes include massive floods, earthquakes, shifting river courses, foreign invasions, and climate change leading to desertification.

Social Differences

Identified through burial practices (grave goods) and the classification of artifacts into utilitarian (daily use) and luxury (rare/costly materials) items.