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NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3 titled “In the Earliest Cities,” takes us back in time to ancient civilizations. It introduces us to the very first cities that were built by humans. We learn about two ancient cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, located in the region of the Indus River. To learn the chapter in detail go through the summary section of the blog. Also, you get to know about important dates and definition in the chapter through these notes. Keep browsing for more!!
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Table of Contents
Explore the summary of all Chapters of Class 6 History here:
Summary: NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3
The chapter explains how these cities were planned with wide streets, well-organized houses, and advanced drainage systems. People engaged in various occupations like farming, trading, and crafting. The chapter also shows the importance of rivers for these cities, as they provided water for daily life and agriculture. It also talks about the objects that have been discovered from these ancient sites, like toys, jewellery, and tools, giving us insight into the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago.
In the Earliest Cities Class 6 Notes
Let us now explore important dates, important definitions of class 6 History chapter 3 ‘In the Earliest Cities’!
Also Read: 60 Interesting History Facts Everyone Should Know!
Important Dates in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3
This will answer the important dates in class 6 History chapter 3:
| Event | Date |
| Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh | About 7000 years ago |
| Beginning of cities | About 4700 years ago |
| Beginning of the end of these cities | About 3900 years ago |
| Emergence of other cities | About 2500 years ago |
Also Read: Top 11 Branches of History: Cultural, Political, Social, Arts
Important Definitions in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3
- City: A city is a large and busy place where many people live and work. It has buildings, streets, parks, and many different activities going on.
- Citadel: A Citadel is usually a large fortress or large building that is built around castles to protect against attacks, disasters or calamities.
- Scribe: A scribe was someone who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals, and perhaps wrote on other materials that have not survived.
- Craftsperson: A craftsperson is someone who is skilled at making things by hand. They use their hands and tools to create useful or beautiful items, like pottery, clothes, or tools.
- Metal: Metal is a strong and shiny material that is used to make many things. Objects like coins, tools, and even some parts of buildings are made from metal.
- Seal: A seal is a special mark or symbol that is pressed onto a surface. It’s like a signature that shows something is official or authentic. People often use seals on important documents to make sure they are genuine.
- Specialist: A specialist is a person who is trained to do only one kind of work, for example, cutting stones, polishing beads, or carving seals.
- Raw Material: Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally (such as wood, or ores of metals) or produced by farmers or herders. These are then processed to produce finished goods.
- Plough: A plough is a farming tool used to dig up and turn over the soil in a field. It helps prepare the ground for planting crops. It looks like a big, strong rake that is pulled by a tractor or animals.
- Irrigation: Irrigation is like giving a drink to plants. It’s a way to bring water to fields, gardens, or crops so they can grow. This is really important in places where there might not be enough rain for the plants to get the water they need.
Also Read: World History UPSC 🌍: Topics, Timeline, and Questions
Download Social Science Class 6 History Chapter 3 Important Questions and Answers PDF
Explore NCERT Solutions of all Chapters of Class 6 History here:
Important Questions and Answers in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 3
1. How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation?
Ans. Archaeologists discovered special tools called spindle whorls in Harappan sites. These tools were used for making cloth. Also, they found pictures on ancient seals that show people wearing clothes. These hints tell us that cloth was indeed used in the Harappan civilization.
2. Match the columns
| 1 | Copper | A | Gujarat |
| 2 | Gold | B | Afghanistan |
| 3 | Tin | C | Rajasthan |
| 4 | Precious Stones | D | Karnataka |
Ans:
1- C
2- D
3- B
4- A
3. Why were metals, writing, the wheel, and the plough important for the Harappans?
Ans. Metals, like copper and bronze, helped Harappans make tools and weapons. Tools made work easier. Writing was important because it helped them keep records of trade, crops, and more. The wheel made transportation faster and easier. It helped move heavy things. The plough was crucial for farming. It turned soil, making it good for growing crops. These things helped Harappans live better lives. They could farm well, trade efficiently, and build strong tools. It made their civilization strong and prosperous.
4. Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. Which do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most?
Ans. The following toys were shown in the lesson:
- Toy Plough
- Toy Cart
- Terracotta Toys
I think the children would’ve enjoyed playing with the toy plough as they must have liked digging up the mud.
5. Make a list of what the Harappans ate, and put a tick mark against the things you eat today.
Ans. These were the main foods that the people of the Harappan civilization ate. They had a mixed diet that included grains, vegetables, fruits, and various sources of protein.
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rice
- Millets
- Lentils
- Peas
- Chickpeas
- Sesame seeds
- Fruits like figs and melons
- Vegetables like onions, radishes, and cucumbers
- Fish
- Meat from animals like goats, sheep, and buffaloes
- Dairy products like milk and curd
6. Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in Chapter 2? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Yes, the lives of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities were different from the ones we read about in Chapter 2. In Chapter 2, we learned about early farmers who lived in smaller villages and grew food for themselves. They used simple tools like stone axes.
In Harappan cities, things were a bit more difficult. The farmers and herders there had to produce more food to feed the larger population of the cities. They used better tools, like ploughs pulled by animals, to cultivate crops. They also had to figure out ways to store and transport food to the cities.
Also, the Harappans had well-organized cities with proper streets, houses, and drainage systems. This means that the farmers and herders who supplied food to these cities were part of a more organized system.
So, both groups were farmers and herders, the ones in Harappan cities dealt with more difficult farming methods and were part of a larger urban system.
Download Social Science Class 6 History Chapter 3 Important Questions and Answers PDF
Explore Notes and NCERT Solutions of other subjects of Class 6
| CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 English | CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 Civics |
| CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 Geography | CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 Maths |
FAQs
Ans: Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh began about 7000 years ago.
Ans: A specialist is a person who is trained to do only one kind of work, for example, cutting stones, polishing beads, or carving seals.
Ans: Archaeologists discovered special tools called spindle whorls in Harappan sites. These tools were used for making cloth. Also, they found pictures on ancient seals that show people wearing clothes. These hints tell us that cloth was indeed used in the Harappan civilization.
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