High-Yield Revision Points

• Harappan civilisation is also called the Indus or Indus-Sarasvati civilisation.
• Mature Harappan phase: approximately 2600–1900 BCE.
• Harappan script remains undeciphered.
• Mohenjo-daro: Great Bath.
• Lothal: dockyard and maritime trade.
• Dholavira: reservoirs and water management.
• Kalibangan: ploughed field and fire altars.
• Rakhigarhi: major Harappan settlement in Haryana.
• Harappan town planning: grid layout and covered drainage.
• Harappan economy: agriculture, animal husbandry, craft production and trade.
• Mesopotamian references to Meluhha are often connected with the Harappan region.
• Decline was gradual and multi-causal, not necessarily a single invasion event.
• Rigveda is the earliest Vedic text.
• Early Vedic society was pastoral and tribal.
• Later Vedic society was agricultural and territorial.
• Sabha was a smaller assembly; Samiti was a larger assembly.
• Later Vedic period witnessed stronger kingship, social hierarchy and elaborate rituals.

 

 

 

 

Below is an exam-oriented UPSC Ancient History set, with each topic covered separately through Notes → Key Pointers → MCQs. I’ve kept the MCQs factual and competitive-exam oriented, avoiding statement-heavy UPSC-style questions.