Directions: Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct alternative. Assertion (A): The people of the Indus Valley Civilization knew the art of navigation and sea travel. Reason (R): Many Indus Valley seals and archaeological finds indicate the prevalence of overseas trade with distant regions.

Introduction / Context:
This Assertion and Reason question is from ancient Indian history and archaeology. It focuses on the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, and asks about the people s knowledge of navigation. The Reason points to archaeological evidence such as seals and artefacts. You are expected to know both the nature of Indus Valley trade and how historians draw conclusions from material evidence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in north western parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• Assertion (A) states that Indus Valley people knew the art of navigation.
• Reason (R) states that Indus Valley seals indicate overseas trade.
• Archaeological sites like Lothal show dock like structures and evidence of maritime activity.

Concept / Approach:
To evaluate the statements, we first check whether the Indus Valley people actually engaged in sea trade. Historical and archaeological evidence include seals, dockyards, and trade goods that reached distant regions such as Mesopotamia. If such long distance trade took place across seas, then at least some Indus Valley merchants must have known navigation and sea travel. Thus, overseas trade evidence can serve as a strong reason to infer navigational knowledge.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Archaeological excavations at Indus Valley sites such as Lothal in present day Gujarat have revealed structures interpreted as dockyards or ports. Step 2: Indus seals and beads have been found in regions far away, including areas identified with ancient Mesopotamia. This suggests active trade links beyond the Indian subcontinent. Step 3: For goods and merchants to travel over sea routes in ancient times, some level of knowledge of navigation and ship handling would have been necessary. Step 4: Therefore Assertion (A), that Indus Valley people knew navigation, is considered true in standard historical interpretations based on the available evidence. Step 5: Reason (R) states that Indus Valley seals indicate prevalence of overseas trade. This is also accepted as true, because seals have been discovered at foreign sites and show symbols that likely served administrative or commercial purposes. Step 6: The evidence of overseas trade supports the conclusion that people who conducted this trade required navigational knowledge. Thus Reason (R) offers a logical explanation for Assertion (A).

Verification / Alternative check:
History textbooks often emphasise maritime trade of the Indus Valley Civilization and specifically mention Lothal as an important port town. Seal finds in Mesopotamian contexts and references to a land called Meluhha in Mesopotamian texts are used to support this view. These multiple lines of evidence align well with both the Assertion and the Reason and show that the Reason helps us infer the truth of the Assertion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options suggesting that both statements are false are inconsistent with widely accepted archaeological interpretations. Options claiming that only one of the two statements is true do not reflect the standard evidence based view. Saying that Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A) is also incorrect, because the very fact of overseas trade directly implies the need for navigation skills.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse certainty with evidence based inference, thinking that because we do not have direct written manuals on navigation from Indus times, we cannot say they knew navigation. In history, especially ancient history, indirect evidence such as trade goods and port structures is often the main basis for such conclusions.

Final Answer:
Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A), so the correct option is Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).