Social Science · Class 3
Early Civilizations
Learn Early Civilizations with notes, examples, and practice questions.
4 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
Early civilizations arose near rivers where farming began. The chapter covers Mesopotamia, Egyptian, Chinese, and Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan) — their towns, crafts, trade, and legacies.
Birth of Civilization
- Agriculture surplus allowed specialised jobs
- Rivers provided water and transport: Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, Huang He
- Cities had planned streets, drainage, and granaries
Indus Valley Civilization
- c. 2600–1900 BCE in Pakistan and northwest India
- Major sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira
- Great Bath, brick houses, seals, uniform weights
- Script not yet fully deciphered
Other Civilizations
- Mesopotamia: cuneiform writing, ziggurats
- Egypt: pyramids, pharaohs, Nile agriculture
- China: Yellow River valley; bronze and silk
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Harappan town planning
What shows Harappans had advanced urban planning?
- 1Grid-pattern streets
- 2Underground drainage
- 3Standardised burnt bricks
Answer
Grid layout, drainage, and brick standardisation
Why rivers?
Why did early civilizations grow near rivers?
- 1Water for irrigation
- 2Fertile silt deposits
- 3Transport and trade
Answer
Water, fertile soil, and transport
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Civilization = cities + writing + government + crafts
- ✓ Harappan civilization was contemporary with Mesopotamia
- ✓ Agriculture surplus enabled specialization
- ✓ Archaeology uses seals, pottery, and ruins as sources
Exam Tips
- • Name three Harappan sites
- • List two features of Mohenjo-daro
- • Compare river valleys of two civilizations
Practice MCQs — Early Civilizations
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
Indus Valley site in Gujarat: