Module: General Practice
Q23: Consider the following statements regarding the role of Dilmun in the ancient maritime trade network:
1. The region of Dilmun, commonly identified with the island of Bahrain, served as a crucial intermediate trading hub between Mesopotamia and the Harappan civilization.
2. Seals discovered at Dilmun sites frequently exhibit clear Harappan animal motifs but are carved in a distinct local circular shape rather than the standard Harappan square.
3. Local weights discovered in the Dilmun region perfectly match the Mesopotamian standard, showing no influence from the Harappan weight system.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Seals discovered at Dilmun sites frequently exhibit clear Harappan animal motifs but are carved in a distinct local circular shape rather than the standard Harappan square.
3. Local weights discovered in the Dilmun region perfectly match the Mesopotamian standard, showing no influence from the Harappan weight system.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option A is the correct answer because statement 3 is factually inaccurate regarding the weight standards used in Dilmun.Structural Breakdown: The island's strategic location in the Persian Gulf made it a natural stopping point.
The cultural blending at this transit hub is perfectly illustrated by its seals: they feature Harappan designs (like the humped bull) but are manufactured in the local circular Gulf style.
Historical/Related Context: While Mesopotamian texts mention Dilmun frequently, the archaeological footprint of Harappan presence there is incredibly strong, suggesting that Harappan merchants had established distinct merchant enclaves or deep commercial ties on the island.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 3 is false because archaeological excavations have proven that the local weights used in Dilmun actually followed the Harappan standard, not the Mesopotamian one.
This widespread adoption of the Harappan weight system indicates the dominant economic influence Harappan merchants wielded over the Persian Gulf transit trade.