The Great Bath is a signature feature of which ancient civilization?

• A. Ancient Egypt
• B. Minoan Crete
• C. Olmec civilization
• D. Indus Valley Civilization

Answer: (D)

This item tests recognition of a landmark feature that reveals how a major ancient city managed water and public spaces. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley Civilization is a standout example of a planned urban core with sophisticated water engineering. It was a large, brick-lined pool—roughly 12 meters by 7 meters and about 2.4 meters deep—fed by a well and draining through an integrated system, with careful plastering to keep the water contained. Its size, construction, and location within a carefully laid-out city show a society that organized communal facilities and sanitation as part of civic life, pointing to centralized planning and standardized building practices characteristic of the Indus Valley urban centers. In contrast, the other civilizations listed are known for different iconic achievements, such as monumental temples and tombs in Egypt, palace complexes in Minoan Crete, or ceremonial centers and monumental sculpture in Olmec heartlands, rather than a large public bath like this.