Exploring the pages of history can be a riveting journey, and for those aspiring to clear the prestigious UPSC Mains examination, delving into the annals of the past is a crucial part of their preparations. In this blog series, we embark on a comprehensive examination of the UPSC’s History Optional Topic-Wise Previous Year Questions, beginning with the enigmatic and ancient Indus Valley Civilization. From 2013 to 2023, we’ll unearth the questions and unravel the intricate tapestry of this remarkably advanced Bronze Age civilization that thrived in the Indian subcontinent around 2500-1500 BCE. Understanding the intricacies of the Indus Valley Civilization is not just an academic pursuit; it’s a key to deciphering the roots of Indian history, society, and culture.
As we navigate through a decade’s worth of UPSC Mains questions, we will shed light on topics ranging from the urban planning and script of the Indus Valley to its trade and religious practices. Join us on this archaeological and historical voyage to decode the mysteries of one of the world’s earliest urban centers, and gain the insights needed to tackle this fascinating subject on your way to conquering the UPSC Mains examination.
Indus Valley Civilization History – Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Mains History Optional)
Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.
1. ‘On circumstantial evidence Indra stands convicted.’ Explain, and discuss briefly different views about a sudden end of the Indus Valley civilization. How would you explain the presence of those elements in Indian culture and civilization which are found to have existed in the Indus Valley period? (1986)
2. “The Indus Civilization had an abrupt end.” Discuss the statement and explain how the Indus Civilization could influence Indian culture in its later history. (1988)
3. Write brief essay on External trade of the Harappans. (1991)
4. Write brief essay: The burial customs in the Indus Civilization. (1993)
5. Discuss the pattern of trade during the Indus Valley civilization. How far did it affect the nature of contemporary settlements in the Indian sub-continent? (1994)
6. Write brief essay on: The Religion of the Indus Civilization. (1996)
7. “The continuity of the Indus Civilization into later ages was not confined to the religious and spiritual fields alone.” Analyse the statement. (1997)
8. Discuss salient features of the Indus Valley Civilization. Mention important places from where relics of civilization have been recovered so far. Examine causes of its decline. (1999)
9. Analyse the elements of urban civilization in the Harappan Culture. What factors were responsible for its decline? (2002)
10. Discuss the distribution and significance of farming cultures outside the Indus system. (2008)
11. Evaluate the significance of seals and sealings in the reconstruction of socioeconomic and religious life of the Harappan people. (2012)
12. Discuss the water management and its conservation planning in the Harappan (IndusSaraswati) cities. (2013)
13. Do you think the Harappan civilization had a diversity of subsistence base? (2014)
14. The decline of Harappan civilization was caused by ecological degradation rather than external invasion. Discuss. (2015)
15. Explain why the majority of the known Harappan settlements are located in the semi-arid areas with saline groundwater. (2016)
16. “Archaeological evidence does not give direct access to the possible social and political dimensions of the decline of the Harappan civilization. What it does indicate very clearly is that the Harappan culture underwent a gradual process of deurbanization” ? Comment. (2018)
17. Did the mastery over agriculture act as a leverage for the rise of Harappan towns and cities? Discuss. (2019)
18. Do you agree that ecological factors influenced the flow and ebb of the Harappan Civilization? Comment. (2021)
FAQs
1. What is the Indus Valley Civilization?
A: The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was an ancient urban civilization that thrived in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, primarily in what is now Pakistan and northwest India, around 2500-1900 BCE.
2. When did the Indus Valley Civilization exist?
A: The civilization is believed to have existed from approximately 2500 BCE to 1900 BCE, making it one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations.
3. What were the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A: The major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization included Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal, and Kalibangan, among others. These cities were known for their advanced urban planning and sophisticated drainage systems.
4. What were some key features of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A: The civilization was characterized by advanced urban planning, standardized brick sizes, a system of writing that remains undeciphered, and a complex drainage and sewer system. It also had an intricate trade network and well-developed arts and crafts.
5. What language did the people of the Indus Valley Civilization speak?
A: The language of the Indus Valley Civilization remains undeciphered, so we do not know what language they spoke.
6. What were the main economic activities of the Indus Valley people?
A: Agriculture was a primary economic activity, with the Indus people cultivating crops like wheat, barley, and cotton. They were also engaged in trade, particularly with Mesopotamia.
7. What caused the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A: The exact reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization are still debated among historians. Possible factors include natural disasters, ecological changes, and invasions by Indo-Aryan groups.
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