History

Historical Writing Systems

1,793 Questions

Historical writing systems represent the early methods of human communication and record keeping. This topic covers ancient scripts like Cuneiform, Brahmi, and Egyptian hieroglyphs, along with their historical usage. Knowledge of these scripts is essential for history and art culture preparation.

Ancient Indian scriptsCuneiform writingEgyptian hieroglyphsPhoenician alphabetGupta script

Historical Writing Systems Questions

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Because the Indus script has not yet been deciphered, scholars differ in their interpretations of the features of early Indus cultures.
Which of the following statements is generally accepted by historians?

  1. Most early Indus communities were matriarchal

  2. The Indus culture spanned a huge territory, over 1000 miles

  3. People in the Indus Valley shared wealth equally

  4. Later Indus religious practices have their roots in early Indus culture

  5. Indus Valley cities disappeared around 1900 B.C.E. due to conquest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  • Indus valley civilization which was the first known civilization in India is said to have flourished in the 25th century BC.
  • During this civilisation, historical evidence shows that the people worshipped natural forces and divine references were mostly feminine.
  • Nature was often called as mother. The mother goddess was the first worshipped diety for the people of civilisation.
  • The family was headed by mothers. Mothers had control over their children.
  • From these facts, we may conclude that the Indus community was basically matriarchial.
Multiple choice history cultural heritage of india: sculpture and architecture ancient civilizations in river valleys historic period sculpture and architecture

Which of the following statements are correct with regard to the writings of Harappan people?
1. The Harappans used ideograms i.e., a graphic symbol or character to convey the ideal directly.
2. Some inscriptions are thought to have followed boustrophedonic style.
3. The inscriptions are thought to have been mostly written from left to right.
Select from the codes given below

  1. 1 and 2 only

  2. 2 and 3 only

  3. 1 and 3 only

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The inscriptions are thought to have been mostly written from right to left, but sometimes follow boustrophedonic style. 


A written pictographic language also existed as is evidenced by the Indus scripts written on clay seals. We see rectangular Harappan seals in the Indus region, round Harappan seals in Bahrain and one combination Harappan script/ Akkadian illustration cylinder seal in Mesopotamia, which is further evidence of intercultural contact.

The scripts appeared as early as 3300-2800 BC in the Ravi Phase at Harappa. We can assume with some degree of confidence that these were used in trade to mark ownership.

However, the Indus seals are not extensive, there is no Rosetta stone-like object and it is different to any other known language.

Recent studies suggest that the Harappan script consists of about 400 signs and that it was written from right to left.

However, the script has not been deciphered as yet. We do not know the language they spoke, though scholars believe that they spoke 'Brahui', a dialect used by Baluchi people in Pakistan today. 

However, further research alone can unveil the mystery and enable us to know more about the Harappan script.

Multiple choice history cultural heritage of india: sculpture and architecture ancient civilizations in river valleys historic period sculpture and architecture

The script of the Indus Valley Civilization is  ___________.

  1. Dravidian

  2. Persian

  3. Sanskrit

  4. Not yet deciphered

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Despite numerous attempts by scholars to decipher the Indus script, it remains undeciphered. It is a pictographic script that does not clearly correspond to any known language family.

Multiple choice geography kerala, from eighth to eighteenth century kerala during medieval period in the land of kerala study of kerala

Which script was prevelent in Kerala during medieval period?

  1. Devanagari script

  2. Vattezhuthu script

  3. Gurmukhi script

  4. Shahmuhi script
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Vattezhuthu script is the oldest of the available scripts in Malayalam. It was a proto-Tamil typescript which was the most prevalent script in Kerala during the Medieval period. This is mainly because a lot of official work and trade-related activities were documented in Tamil in the Medieval period.  However, the script couldn't help in writing Sanskrit. 

Multiple choice geography kerala, from eighth to eighteenth century kerala during medieval period in the land of kerala study of kerala

The inscriptions on copper plates which are one of the most important sources of the history of Medieval Kerala are written in which script? 

  1. Devanagari

  2. Vattezhuthu

  3. Arabi Malayalam

  4. All of the Above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Inscriptions on copper plates (Epigraphy) are the most important source of history of Medieval Kerala because copper plates with inscriptions were used as official documents. The official documents given by chieftains to temples and tradesmen were mainly on copper plates. The script used in these inscriptions Vattezhuthu or Kolezhuthu which were the scripts used to write old Malayalam.

Multiple choice current trends of indian history modern indian history general knowledge

Consider the following statements:
1. Konkani is included in the Classical languages of India.
2. In order to be classified as a Classical language the language must have high antiquity of its early and recorded history of over a period of 1500-2000 years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The following six languages are included in the list of Classical Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia. Some of the criteria for declaring a language as classical are: 
  • Extraordinary antiquity of its early transcripts or verified history over a period of 1500-2000 years.
  • A body of ancient literature or texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
  • The literary tradition should be unique and not hired from another language community.
Tamil was the first Classical Language of India. Odiya was given the status of the Classical language recently.
Multiple choice history rajputs in indian history development of regional culture during medieval period india in 18th century rise of independent states kings and kingdoms of the early medieval period

________ languages were used  in Pala kingdom.

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Pali

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Pala period saw a flourishing of literature and scholarship where Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali were all utilized in various religious and administrative contexts.

Multiple choice

From what language does the word alphabet come from

  1. Turkish

  2. Arabic

  3. Latin

  4. Greek
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The word 'alphabet' comes from Greek, combining 'alpha' and 'beta' (the first two letters of the Greek alphabet). It is not from Turkish, Arabic, or Latin.

Multiple choice

Sumerians developed a written language known as

  1. Cuneiform.

  2. Hieroglyphics.

  3. Cave drawing.

  4. The Sumerians did not have a writing system.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cuneiform is the wedge-shaped writing system developed by the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia.

Multiple choice

How do you read Harrapan writing?

  1. Left to Right

  2. We can't read it

  3. Cunieform

  4. Rosetta Stone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The script used by the Harappan civilization remains undeciphered, meaning we cannot currently read their writing.