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Urban Planning of the Indus Valley Civilization
historyarchaeology語彙
普通
Reading
Urban Planning of the Indus Valley Civilization
historyarchaeology語彙
普通
Paragraph 1
The Indus Valley Civilization, flourishing from approximately 2500 to 1900 B.C.E. in what is now Pakistan and northwest India, stands as one of the world's earliest urban cultures. What is particularly striking about this civilization is the remarkable degree of uniformity and planning evident in its major cities, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Unlike the often haphazard, organic growth of cities in other early civilizations, Indus cities appear to have been conceived and executed according to a deliberate plan. This suggests the presence of a well-organized central authority, perhaps a priestly or commercial elite, that could command the vast labor and resources required for such ambitious public works projects. The very existence of these planned cities challenges the notion that complex urban planning is a modern invention.
Paragraph 2
The most prominent feature of Indus urban design was the implementation of a grid-like street pattern. Major streets ran in a north-south and east-west orientation, creating large rectangular blocks within the city. This layout facilitated the movement of people and carts and provided a clear, rational structure to the urban environment. The main streets were wide, sometimes up to 10 meters, and were complemented by a network of smaller alleys that provided access to individual homes. Significantly, the entrances to houses typically opened onto these smaller lanes rather than the main thoroughfares, a design choice that would have reduced noise and dust in living quarters and enhanced the privacy of residents.
Paragraph 3
Another testament to the advanced planning of the Indus people is their sophisticated water management and sanitation systems, which were unparalleled in the ancient world. Many houses were equipped with private wells and dedicated bathing areas with paved floors, designed to be waterproof. Wastewater from these areas was directed into covered drains that ran alongside the streets. These smaller drains fed into larger, covered sewers built with precisely fitted bricks, which then carried the city's effluent to disposal areas outside the city walls. The presence of manholes suggests that the drains were regularly maintained. This intricate system not only provided a high level of convenience and hygiene for the inhabitants but also demonstrates a profound public health consciousness.
Paragraph 4
Indus cities were generally divided into two distinct sections: a lower, larger area where the general populace resided, and a smaller, elevated western mound known as the 'citadel.' While the term 'citadel' implies a defensive military function, the evidence for this is ambiguous. Although the citadels were often fortified with thick mud-brick walls, these structures may have been designed as much for flood protection as for defense against invasion. The citadels housed important public buildings, including what appear to be large granaries for storing communal food supplies and, in the case of Mohenjo-Daro, an elaborate structure known as the Great Bath. The function of the Great Bath, a large, sunken brick pool made watertight with bitumen, is still debated, but it was likely used for important ritual or purification purposes.
Paragraph 5
A hallmark of Indus Valley construction was the widespread use of standardized, baked bricks. While other civilizations of the time built primarily with sun-dried mud bricks, the Harappans used kiln-fired bricks that were far more durable and water-resistant. Crucially, these bricks were produced in standard sizes with a consistent length-to-width-to-thickness ratio of 4:2:1. This standardization extended across hundreds of kilometers and numerous settlements, from major cities to small villages. This uniformity implies a centralized system of weights and measures and facilitates large-scale construction, as bricks from different production sites would be interchangeable. It is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the civilization's high level of social and political organization.
The word 'haphazard' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
The word 'unparalleled' in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to...
According to paragraph 2, what was a significant feature of the residential design in Indus cities?
What does paragraph 5 identify as a 'hallmark' of Indus Valley construction?
What can be inferred from paragraph 5 about the Harappan government or social structure?
In paragraph 4, why does the author mention that the citadel walls might be for 'flood protection'?
What does the information about the drainage systems in paragraph 3 imply about the Indus people?
According to the passage, the citadel area of an Indus city was notable for containing...
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to paragraph 3. Where would the sentence best fit?
The system was designed hierarchically, moving from the private to the public sphere.
An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, were distinguished by an exceptional level of deliberate urban planning.
Select 3 answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
Paragraph 1
The Indus Valley Civilization, flourishing from approximately 2500 to 1900 B.C.E. in what is now Pakistan and northwest India, stands as one of the world's earliest urban cultures. What is particularly striking about this civilization is the remarkable degree of uniformity and planning evident in its major cities, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Unlike the often haphazard, organic growth of cities in other early civilizations, Indus cities appear to have been conceived and executed according to a deliberate plan. This suggests the presence of a well-organized central authority, perhaps a priestly or commercial elite, that could command the vast labor and resources required for such ambitious public works projects. The very existence of these planned cities challenges the notion that complex urban planning is a modern invention.
Paragraph 2
The most prominent feature of Indus urban design was the implementation of a grid-like street pattern. Major streets ran in a north-south and east-west orientation, creating large rectangular blocks within the city. This layout facilitated the movement of people and carts and provided a clear, rational structure to the urban environment. The main streets were wide, sometimes up to 10 meters, and were complemented by a network of smaller alleys that provided access to individual homes. Significantly, the entrances to houses typically opened onto these smaller lanes rather than the main thoroughfares, a design choice that would have reduced noise and dust in living quarters and enhanced the privacy of residents.
Paragraph 3
Another testament to the advanced planning of the Indus people is their sophisticated water management and sanitation systems, which were unparalleled in the ancient world. Many houses were equipped with private wells and dedicated bathing areas with paved floors, designed to be waterproof. Wastewater from these areas was directed into covered drains that ran alongside the streets. These smaller drains fed into larger, covered sewers built with precisely fitted bricks, which then carried the city's effluent to disposal areas outside the city walls. The presence of manholes suggests that the drains were regularly maintained. This intricate system not only provided a high level of convenience and hygiene for the inhabitants but also demonstrates a profound public health consciousness.
Paragraph 4
Indus cities were generally divided into two distinct sections: a lower, larger area where the general populace resided, and a smaller, elevated western mound known as the 'citadel.' While the term 'citadel' implies a defensive military function, the evidence for this is ambiguous. Although the citadels were often fortified with thick mud-brick walls, these structures may have been designed as much for flood protection as for defense against invasion. The citadels housed important public buildings, including what appear to be large granaries for storing communal food supplies and, in the case of Mohenjo-Daro, an elaborate structure known as the Great Bath. The function of the Great Bath, a large, sunken brick pool made watertight with bitumen, is still debated, but it was likely used for important ritual or purification purposes.
Paragraph 5
A hallmark of Indus Valley construction was the widespread use of standardized, baked bricks. While other civilizations of the time built primarily with sun-dried mud bricks, the Harappans used kiln-fired bricks that were far more durable and water-resistant. Crucially, these bricks were produced in standard sizes with a consistent length-to-width-to-thickness ratio of 4:2:1. This standardization extended across hundreds of kilometers and numerous settlements, from major cities to small villages. This uniformity implies a centralized system of weights and measures and facilitates large-scale construction, as bricks from different production sites would be interchangeable. It is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the civilization's high level of social and political organization.
The word 'haphazard' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
The word 'unparalleled' in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to...
According to paragraph 2, what was a significant feature of the residential design in Indus cities?
What does paragraph 5 identify as a 'hallmark' of Indus Valley construction?
What can be inferred from paragraph 5 about the Harappan government or social structure?
In paragraph 4, why does the author mention that the citadel walls might be for 'flood protection'?
What does the information about the drainage systems in paragraph 3 imply about the Indus people?
According to the passage, the citadel area of an Indus city was notable for containing...
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to paragraph 3. Where would the sentence best fit?
The system was designed hierarchically, moving from the private to the public sphere.
An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, were distinguished by an exceptional level of deliberate urban planning.
Select 3 answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.