In contrast to contemporary ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia, the architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization notably lacks:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Monumental religious structures like temples or pyramids.
Explanation:
☛ Unlike ancient Egypt (famous for monumental pyramids) and Mesopotamia (known for grand temple-towers called ziggurats), the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) shows an absence of large monumental temples, royal palaces, or tombs.
☛ IVC architecture focused primarily on utilitarian and civil planning, emphasizing public welfare, trade, and domestic living rather than the display of imperial or religious authority.
☛ Although artifacts like the Pashupati Seal and terracotta figurines of the Mother Goddess indicate religious practices, no identifiable structural temple has been unearthed at any Harappan site.
☛ Features like defensive fortification walls, standardized mud and baked bricks, and sophisticated underground drainage systems were widely prevalent across major Harappan cities.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Town Planning: Harappan cities were typically divided into two sectors: a raised Citadel (western part for public/administrative buildings) and a Lower Town (eastern part for residential quarters).
☛ Building Material: The civilization extensively used standardized burnt bricks with a dimension ratio of 4:2:1 (length : breadth : thickness).
☛ Great Bath: Located at Mohenjo-daro, this structure served a ritual bathing purpose and was made watertight using gypsum mortar and bitumen (natural tar).
☛ Granaries: Massive granaries for grain storage were discovered at both Harappa (six in a row) and Mohenjo-daro (the Great Granary).
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which Indus site has yielded evidence of a tidal dockyard? → Lothal (Gujarat)
☛ At which site was a stadium and a unique water reservoir system discovered? → Dholavira (Kutch, Gujarat)
☛ Who was the first archaeologist to discover the site of Harappa in 1921? → Daya Ram Sahni
☛ The iconic bronze statue of the 'Dancing Girl' was found at which Harappan site? → Mohenjo-daro
☛ Which Harappan city had no fortified citadel? → Chanhudaro