Indian History Practice Bits (Ancient)

This document, titled "Indian History Practice Bits (Ancient)," is a collection of practice questions and answers primarily focused on the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization), with some information on the Vedic Age and Buddhist/Jain Councils.

Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa)

Key Sites and Finds:

• Mohenjo-daro: Found the idol of Pashupati Mahadev, the Great Bath, the largest granary, the largest assembly hall, an ox seal, and a bronze dancing girl statue. It means 'Mound of the Dead' (Mrutula Dibba). It is located in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

• Harappa: Known as the 'City of Granaries'. The name 'Indus Civilization' was given after this site.

• Chanhudaro: The only city without a citadel or protective walls. Found a vanity box and an inkwell. It was the prominent center for the bead industry.

• Lothal: The main port of the Indus people. It is the world's first tidal port. Evidence of the burial of a couple (male and female bodies together) was found here.

• Kalibangan: Means 'Black Bangles' (Nallani Gaajulu). The first site in the world to show evidence of a ploughed field.

• Dholavira: A city divided into 3 parts. It is located in Gujarat.

• Worship and Religion: The main deity was Pashupati Mahadev. The revered bird was the pigeon (Paavuram), the sacred animal was the humped bull (Vrushabham), and the sacred tree was the Peepal tree (Raavi Chettu).

• Other Aspects: They used a pictorial script (Bommala Lipi) and the writing method from right to left and left to right is called Boustrofedon/Serpent Script (Sarpalipi). They used baked brick for construction. The civilization was primarily urban (Pattanikarana Naagarikata).

Vedic Age

• Literature: The total number of Upanishads is 108. Satyameva Jayate is mentioned in the Mundaka Upanishad.

• Marriage: Marriage by abduction is Asura, and marriage when the person is asleep is Pishachika.

• Metals: Copper (Taamram/Raagi) was the first metal used by humans around 3000 BC.

• Time Period: The early Vedic Age is c. 1500-1000 BC, and the later Vedic Age is c. 1000-600 BC.

Buddhist and Jain Councils

• First Buddhist Council (483 BC): Held at Rajagriha, presided over by Maha Kashyapa, and patronized by Ajatashatru. Ananda wrote the Sutta Pitaka, and Upali wrote the Vinaya Pitaka.

• First Jain Council (300 BC): Held at Pataliputra, patronized by Chandragupta Maurya, and presided over by Bhadrabahu and Sthulabhadra. It resulted in the division of Jainism into Digambaras and Shwetambaras.