Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks Beads and Bones: NCERT Solutions

Section 1: NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks Beads And Bones (2025-26)

Short Questions (100-150 words)

1. List the items of food available to people in Harappan cities. Identify the groups who would have provided these.

   
   

   Answer: People in Harappan cities had a variety of food items including plant products such as wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, sesame, and millets (especially in Gujarat), and animal products like meat from cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo, and pig. Bones of wild species (boar, deer, gharial), fish and fowl have also been found. These food items were provided by farmers who cultivated grains and pulses, animal herders who supplied domesticated animal products, and possibly by hunters and fishing communities who contributed wild animals, fish, and birds.

   
   

2. How do archaeologists trace socio-economic differences in Harappan society? What are the differences that they notice?

   
   

   Answer: Archaeologists trace socio-economic differences by studying burial practices and artefacts. Differences in the way burial pits were made, presence of objects like pottery, ornaments, and copper mirrors in some graves, indicate possible social distinctions. Artefacts are classified as utilitarian (made of ordinary materials, used daily) and luxuries (rare, made of costly/non-local materials or complex technology, e.g., faience pots, gold ornaments). Luxury items are mostly found in large settlements like Harappa and Mohenjodaro, while utilitarian items are more widespread, indicating economic differences.

   
   

3. Would you agree that the drainage system in Harappan cities indicates town planning? Give reasons for your answer.

   
   

   Answer: Yes, the drainage system reflects advanced town planning. Streets and roads were laid out in a grid-like pattern, intersecting at right angles, with drains constructed before houses. Every house was connected to street drains, which had covered channels with sumps for cleaning. The uniform design, use of materials like bricks and mortar, separate waste collection points, and the integration of wells and bathrooms, all suggest a high degree of organization and planning in Harappan urban settlements.

   
   

4. List the materials used to make beads in the Harappan civilisation. Describe the process by which any one kind of bead was made.

   
   

   Answer: Materials used for bead-making included stones like carnelian, jasper, crystal, quartz, and steatite; metals like copper, bronze, and gold; and other materials such as shell, faience, and terracotta. For example, carnelian beads were made by firing the yellowish raw material to bring out a red color. The nodules were chipped into rough shapes, further flaked and shaped, then ground, polished, and drilled, sometimes using specialized drills.

   
   

5. Look at Fig. 1.30 and describe what you see. How is the body placed? What are the objects placed near it? Are there any artefacts on the body? Do these indicate the sex of the skeleton?

   
   

   Answer: In Fig. 1.30, a Harappan burial is shown. The body is placed in a pit, often in a north-south direction lying on its back. Objects such as pottery and ornaments can be seen placed near the skeleton. Sometimes, artefacts like bangles or jewelry are found on the body, which may help indicate the sex (for example, presence of feminine ornaments can suggest a female skeleton).

   
   

Essay Questions (about 500 words)

6. Describe some of the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro.

   
   

   Answer: Mohenjodaro is a prime example of Harappan urban planning. The city is divided into two sections: the Citadel (higher, possibly for important structures) and the Lower Town (residential area), both fortified. Streets were laid out in a grid pattern, and houses were built with standardized bricks. Mohenjodaro had an elaborate drainage system—houses had bathrooms with drains connected to the street drains. Wells were common, with over 700 identified. The Citadel had significant public buildings, such as the warehouse and the Great Bath (a large, watertight rectangular tank, probably used for ritual bathing), and granaries. Buildings were constructed on brick platforms for flood protection. Residential architecture commonly centered on courtyards with rooms on all sides, and many houses had two storeys. The careful, uniform construction, provision of basic amenities, and the organization of public spaces make Mohenjodaro unique among ancient urban centers.

   
   

7. List the raw materials required for craft production in the Harappan civilisation and discuss how these might have been obtained.

   
   

   Answer: The main raw materials for Harappan crafts included locally available clay, and many non-local materials like stones (carnelian from Bharuch, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, steatite from Rajasthan/Gujarat), copper (from Khetri, Rajasthan and Oman), gold (from South India), shells (from coastal sites), wood, and timber. The Harappans established settlements near sources of valuable raw materials (like Nageshwar, Balakot for shell, and Shortughai for lapis lazuli). They sent expeditions to distant regions for procurement, established trade links (e.g., with Oman for copper, Bahrain/Mesopotamia for other items), and may have exchanged finished goods for raw materials. Riverine, land, and coastal routes were likely used for transport, as evidenced by toy models of bullock carts and boats depicted on seals. Archaeological finds such as waste, unfinished objects, and tools at sites suggest local production and complex networks of procurement.

   
   

8. Discuss how archaeologists reconstruct the past.

   
   

   Answer: Archaeologists reconstruct the past through the study of material remains—artifacts, structures, bones, and plant remains—uncovered during systematic excavations. They analyze layers (stratigraphy) to determine chronology. Artefacts are classified by material and function. Scientific methods like carbon dating, archaeo-botany (study of plant remains), and archaeo-zoology (study of animal bones) help reconstruct dietary patterns, environment, and domestication. Sites are interpreted by linking archaeological discoveries (like seals, beads, tools) to the larger cultural context. Comparing Indian finds with those elsewhere (e.g., Mesopotamia) provides historical context. Written sources, if available, are correlated with archaeological evidence, though the Harappan script is undeciphered. The circumstances of the finds (such as objects in graves or in houses) help infer social structure and belief systems. New scientific techniques (like archaeogenetics) now also aid in tracing population movements and continuity. Thus, archaeological reconstruction combines scientific observation, contextual analysis, and careful interpretation of the available evidence.

   
   

9. Discuss the functions that may have been performed by rulers in Harappan society.

   
   

   Answer: Although no explicit evidence of kings or palaces is found, the uniformity in urban planning, standardized bricks and weights, and the scale of public works (like granaries, Citadel, drainage systems) suggest the existence of some authority in the Harappan society. Possible functions of rulers or central authority could have included city planning, mobilization and organization of labor for large construction projects, maintenance of drainage and sanitation, regulation of trade and manufacturing (with the use of standardized weights and seals), enforcement of law and order, resource management, and possibly supervising religious or ritual activities (as implied by structures like the Great Bath). Additionally, the strategic location of settlements for resource procurement also indicates planned decision-making likely overseen by ruling elites or a governing body, even if not clearly visible as kingship in archaeological records.

   
   

Map work

On Map 1, use a pencil to circle sites where evidence of agriculture has been recovered. Mark an X against sites where there is evidence of craft production and R against sites where raw materials were found.

Project (any one)

• Find out if there are any museums in your town. Visit one of them and write a report on any ten items, describing how old they are, where they were found, and why you think they are on display.
• Collect illustrations of ten things made of stone, metal and clay produced and used at present. Compare these with the pictures of the Harappan civilisation in this chapter, and discuss the similarities and differences that you find.

Key Concepts of Bricks, Beads and Bones (Harappan Civilisation)

Mastering NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 1 Bricks Beads And Bones is vital for understanding ancient urban life. The chapter covers advanced town planning, trade, social structure, and technological skills of the Harappan Civilisation. Clear concepts help students in board exams and various competitive tests.

Focus on unique features like the Citadel, Great Bath, drainage system, and craft specialisation found in this Indus Valley chapter. By revising these key aspects, students strengthen their knowledge for questions on urban planning and early civilizations.

Practise all NCERT textbook questions and review short and essay-type answers for a well-rounded preparation. Regular revision helps you build confidence, remember facts, and score higher in the 2025-26 History exam.