Class 12 History - ODISHA
Bricks Beads and Bones
Bricks, Beads and Bones is the first chapter of Class 12 History, focusing on the Harappan Civilisation, also known as the Indus Valley Civilisation. It explores how archaeologists have pieced together the social, economic, and political life of this ancient urban society using material remains like seals, houses, pottery, bricks, and ornaments. For Odisha BSE board exams, this chapter is crucial as it tests your understanding of early Indian history, archaeological interpretation, and town planning. Questions often focus on trade networks, craft production, the decline of the civilisation, and the challenges faced by archaeologists in deciphering the Harappan script.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Harappan Town Planning
Cities were meticulously planned and divided into two parts: the citadel (higher, used for special public activities) and the lower town, featuring a grid-iron layout with roads intersecting at right angles and advanced drainage systems.
Subsistence Strategies
The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including wheat, barley, lentils, millets, and fish. Animal bones found at sites indicate that cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo, and pigs were domesticated.
Craft Production and Trade
Chanhudaro was a tiny center dedicated exclusively to craft production, including bead making, shell cutting, metal working, seal making, and weight making. Raw materials like lapis lazuli and carnelian were sourced through extensive trade networks.
The Mystery of Harappan Authority
Archaeologists have found no clear answers regarding political authority; theories range from a single central state ruled by priest-kings to multiple rulers governing different city-states based on the uniformity of artifacts.
Deciphering the Script
The Harappan script remains undeciphered to this day as it is brief, written mostly from right to left, and contains an unknown number of signs (between 375 and 400), making our understanding heavily reliant on archaeological material.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha BSE Class 12 History examination, this chapter typically carries around 8 to 12 marks. Questions frequently appear as objective types (MCQs/fill-in-the-blanks), short-answer questions (about town planning, drainage, or seals), and long-answer essay questions focusing on the unique features of Harappan urban centers and the reasons for their decline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Indus Valley Civilisation also called the Harappan Civilisation?
It is called the Harappan Civilisation because Harappa was the first site where this unique archaeological culture was discovered in 1921.
How do archaeologists reconstruct the dietary habits of the Harappans?
Archaeologists study charred grains, seeds, and animal bones found at excavation sites through archaeo-botanists and zoo-archaeologists to identify what the Harappans ate.
What led to the decline of the Harappan Civilisation?
The decline was likely caused by a combination of factors including climatic change, deforestation, floods, shifting or drying up of rivers, and the eventual abandonment of urban centers.
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