Question

The total time span of the Harappan Civilisation ranges:

• A. From 2000 BCE to 1000 BCE
• B. From 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE
• C. From 1500 BCE to 900 BCE
• D. From Post Vedic Civilisation

Hint:

Be prepared for questions with imperfect options. In such cases, use the process of elimination and select the option that is the "most correct" or the best fit. The standard dates for the *Mature* Harappan phase (c. 2600-1900 BCE) are the most important to remember.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the total time span of the Harappan Civilization. This includes its early formative stages, the mature urban phase, and the late declining phase. It's important to note that the provided options are unusually broad and do not align perfectly with standard archaeological periodization, requiring the selection of the 'best fit' answer.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The standard archaeological timeline for the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization is typically divided into three phases:
Early Harappan Phase: c. 3300 BCE to 2600 BCE
Mature Harappan Phase: c. 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE
Late Harappan Phase: c. 1900 BCE to 1300 BCE
The total span is therefore roughly from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Now let's evaluate the given options:
(1) 2000 BCE to 1000 BCE: This range primarily covers the Late Harappan and post-Harappan periods, missing the crucial Mature and Early phases.
(3) 1500 BCE to 900 BCE: This corresponds to the Rigvedic and Later Vedic periods, which came after the decline of the Mature Harappan phase.
(4) From Post Vedic Civilisation: This is chronologically incorrect as the Harappan civilization predates the Vedic period.
(2) 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE: This option is extremely broad. However, it is the only one that encompasses the entire Harappan timeline (3300-1300 BCE). The start date of 6000 BCE is likely intended to include the pre-Harappan agricultural settlements like Mehrgarh (which dates back to c. 7000 BCE) that are seen as precursors to the civilization. The end date of 1300 BCE correctly marks the end of the Late Harappan phase. Despite its wide range, it is the most plausible choice among the flawed options.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Given the imperfect options, "From 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE" is the best possible answer as it is the only one that fully contains the known duration of the civilization and its precursors.