Question

Observe the following features of Indus Civilisation and compare that with the present day.

1. Lamp post
2. Burnt bricks
3. Underground drainage system
4. Weights and measurement
5. Dockyard

Answer 1

• Lamp post:

1. In the Indus cities, street lights were an important feature. The lamp posts were made of stones.
2. Now we have iron lamp posts and cement lamp posts.

• Burnt bricks:

1. The houses were built using burnt brick. The bricks were of uniform size. The bricks were burnt because burnt bricks are strong, hard, durable, resistant to fire, and will not dissolve in water.
2. The present-day buildings are also constructed with burnt bricks.

• Underground drainage system:

1. The Indus cities had underground drainage system. They were covered with slabs or bricks. Holes were provided at regular intervals to clean the drains.
2. Even in some modern cities, there is no underground drainage system. This system is being introduced gradually now. In Tamil Nadu, there is an underground drainage system almost in all corporations.

• Weights and measurements:

1. Standardized weights and measures were used by the Indus valley people. They used sticks with marks to measure length.
2. Now we have various types of weighing machines and scales.

• Dockyard:

1. Lothal was a port in Gujarat. There was a naval dockyard in Lothal. It shows the maritime activities of the Indus people.
2. Now, dockyards are found almost in all ports. Apart from loading, unloading, and repairing ships new ships are built in these yards.
3. Example: Mazagaon dock at Mumbai.