The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The history of urbanization in the Indian subcontinent is divided into two distinct phases separated by a long chronological gap. The first phase belongs to the Bronze Age, while the second phase emerged during the Iron Age.- Statement 1 is Correct: The Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization) represents the First Urbanization in South Asia. Mature urban centers such as Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Dholavira flourished approximately between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The cities in the Ganga valley developed during the Second Urbanization, which is associated with the rise of the Mahajanapadas and the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) culture. This process began around the 6th century BCE, long after the Indus Valley cities had declined.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The mature phase of the Indus Valley Civilization declined around 1900 BCE, followed by a late phase that faded by roughly 1300 BCE. The Second Urbanization in the Ganga valley commenced around 600 BCE. Therefore, the gap between the decline of the first urban phase and the rise of the second is approximately 1,000 to 1,300 years (or at least 700 years if counting from the very end of the late Harappan phase), which is significantly more than 500 years.
Key Takeaway: The First Urbanization (Indus Valley, Bronze Age) and the Second Urbanization (Ganga Valley, Iron Age) are separated by the predominantly rural Early and Later Vedic periods, spanning over a millennium.