Indus valley civilization flourished during?

Appeared in: MNS 2024

Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the world's oldest civilizations, existing during the Bronze Age.
Archaeological evidence from sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa confirms its existence as far back as 3000 BC.
The time frame of 3000-1500 BC accurately encompasses the mature and declining phases of this ancient culture.
This civilization was known for its advanced urban planning, including sophisticated drainage and water systems.

Option B: The 2nd Century BC is thousands of years after the Indus Valley Civilization's decline. This period is associated with the Shunga and Satavahana dynasties that followed the Mauryan Empire.
Option C: The 5th Century BC is also much later than the Indus Valley period. It is famous as the era of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, and the rise of powerful kingdoms like Magadha.
Option D: This is a duplicate of the previous incorrect option. The 5th Century BC corresponds to the era of the Mahajanapadas, not the Indus Valley Civilization.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Ancient Indian History as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests general knowledge, which is a component of some nursing entrance examinations in India.
While it has no direct clinical application, a broad general awareness is often expected of professional candidates.
What if the question asked about ancient medical systems? The answer might shift to the Vedic period (c. 1500-500 BC), which saw the development of Ayurveda, a key historical milestone in Indian medicine.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'Indus Valley Civilization'.
This is a factual recall question from ancient history.
Access your knowledge about major world civilizations and their timelines.
Compare the given date ranges in the options with the known period of the Indus Valley (Bronze Age, c. 3000 BC).
Eliminate options that correspond to much later historical periods, such as the time of Buddha or the Mauryan empire.
Select the option that best matches the established timeline for the civilization's flourishing.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QN29TW_B8dywQKu_EmqAEe

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 199-201

Practise the full MNS 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.