Module: | Society, Religion & Burial Practices
Q35: Consider the following statements comparing Harappan burials with those of contemporary ancient civilizations:
1. The Harappan civilization flourished contemporaneously with the pyramid-building civilization of ancient Egypt.
2. Similar to the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Harappan ruling class was frequently buried with massive, astonishing quantities of gold, silver, and precious stones to ensure their status in the afterlife.
3. Despite clear evidence of a highly stratified society in their urban planning, the Harappans on the whole did not believe in burying precious, high-value wealth with the dead.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Similar to the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Harappan ruling class was frequently buried with massive, astonishing quantities of gold, silver, and precious stones to ensure their status in the afterlife.
3. Despite clear evidence of a highly stratified society in their urban planning, the Harappans on the whole did not believe in burying precious, high-value wealth with the dead.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: B
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option B is the correct answer because statement 2 is factually incorrect regarding the Harappan philosophy of wealth disposal in burials.Structural Breakdown: In ancient Egypt (a contemporary of the Harappan civilization), royal burials involved the construction of massive pyramids containing staggering hoards of gold, luxury furniture, and art.
The Harappan burials, by contrast, contain mostly simple pottery, copper mirrors, and modest shell or semi-precious stone bead ornaments.
Historical/Related Context: This absence of buried wealth does not mean the Harappans lacked social hierarchy.
Their massive Citadels, strict urban grid, and standardized weights prove a powerful ruling authority existed.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 2 is false.
Unlike the Egyptians, who believed that earthly wealth was necessary for the afterlife, the Harappan philosophical or religious approach to death was fundamentally different.
Even their most elite members were buried with relatively modest, utilitarian grave goods, proving that on the whole, the Harappan civilization strictly avoided burying precious, high-value wealth with the dead.