New
New
Year 3

Cities of the Indus Valley civilisation

I can describe some of the features of cities in the Indus Valley Civilisation.

New
New
Year 3

Cities of the Indus Valley civilisation

I can describe some of the features of cities in the Indus Valley Civilisation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The objects found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were found in the remains of great cities built out of clay bricks.
  2. As the people of the Indus Valley grew better at farming, they could grow more food and some people could do other jobs.
  3. People like merchants and artisans lived in these cities, which were carefully planned and laid out.
  4. Public baths have been found at Mohenjo-Daro and even bathrooms and toilets in people's houses in Lothal.
  5. All over these cities were wells for fresh water along with channels and drains to carry away sewage.

Keywords

  • Merchant - someone who buys and sells things is called a merchant

  • Artisan - an artisan is someone very skilled at making things

Common misconception

That only farmers lived in the cities.

Evidence has been found suggesting lots of different skilled individuals lived and worked in the cities of the Indus Valley.

Pupils could design their own version of an Indus Valley city including all the aspects learned about the cities so far.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 1922, archaeologists began to dig at , a place in the Indus River Valley.
Babylon
Correct answer: Mohenjo-Daro
Harappa
Q2.
What was the city of Mohenjo-Daro built with?
rocks
bronze
Correct answer: clay bricks
Q3.
A is a decorated object that leaves a stamp of its design when pushed into a soft material like wet clay.
Correct Answer: seal, Seal
Q4.
Select two things that are found on the Indus Valley civilisation seals.
Correct answer: an image of an animal
some numbers
Correct answer: some writing
an image of a house
Q5.
Which two objects probably tell us that the Indus Valley people liked music?
clay seal stamps
small clay animals
Correct answer: small clay statues of dancers
Correct answer: clay whistles
Q6.
Historians always know exactly what discovered items were used for in the past.
True
Correct answer: False

6 Questions

Q1.
How many towns and cities were in the Indus Valley civilisation?
less than 5
around 100
Correct answer: more than 1000
Q2.
Over time, the farmers got at farming in the Indus Valley.
Correct Answer: better
Q3.
Match the job to the description.
Correct Answer:merchant,someone who buys and sells things

someone who buys and sells things

Correct Answer:artisan,someone very skilled at making things

someone very skilled at making things

Correct Answer:farmer,someone who works in the fields to grow food

someone who works in the fields to grow food

Q4.
Indus Valley cities were well planned and well built.
Correct answer: True
False
Q5.
Select all the things that made the Indus Valley cities cleaner.
Correct answer: wells
Correct answer: toilets
Correct answer: drains
clay seals
Q6.
Where were the ruins of 'The Great Bath’ found?
Babylon
Cairo
Harappa
Correct answer: Mohenjo-Daro

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