Harappan Civilization Urban Planning

Urban Planning

• The Harappan civilization is known for its advanced urban planning, with well-designed cities that were built using baked bricks.
• Cities were divided into two parts: the citadel and the lower town.
  • The citadel was the upper part of the city, where the ruling class and elite lived.
  • The lower town was the lower part of the city, where the common people lived.
• Cities had advanced drainage systems, with clay pipes that carried waste away from the city.
• Buildings were constructed with a sophisticated system of weights and measures, with standard-sized bricks used throughout the city.
• The city of Mohenjo-Daro had a sophisticated water management system, with a complex network of wells, baths, and drains.

Trade Networks

• The Harappan civilization had an extensive trade network that stretched from the Indus Valley to Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Trade goods included:
  • Cotton and linen textiles
  • Spices, such as pepper and cinnamon
  • Semi-precious stones, such as carnelian and lapis lazuli
  • Metals, such as copper, bronze, and gold
  • Timber, such as cedar and ebony
• The Harappans used boats to trade with other civilizations, with evidence of shipbuilding and navigation found at the port city of Lothal.
• Trade was facilitated by a system of standardized weights and measures, which allowed for easy exchange of goods.
• The Harappans also had a system of writing, which was used to record trade transactions and other business dealings.

Urban Planning

• Harappan cities were built using baked bricks and featured advanced urban planning, with a clear division into two parts: the citadel (upper part) for the ruling class and elite, and the lower town (lower part) for common people.
• Cities had sophisticated drainage systems, utilizing clay pipes to carry waste away from the city.
• Buildings were constructed with a standardized system of weights and measures, featuring standard-sized bricks used throughout the city.
• Mohenjo-Daro, a prominent Harappan city, had a complex water management system, comprising a network of wells, baths, and drains.

Trade Networks

• The Harappan civilization had an extensive trade network that spanned from the Indus Valley to Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Trade goods included a variety of commodities, such as:
  • Cotton and linen textiles
  • Spices (e.g., pepper and cinnamon)
  • Semi-precious stones (e.g., carnelian and lapis lazuli)
  • Metals (e.g., copper, bronze, and gold)
  • Timber (e.g., cedar and ebony)
• The Harappans used boats for trade, with evidence of shipbuilding and navigation found at the port city of Lothal.
• A system of standardized weights and measures facilitated trade, enabling easy exchange of goods.
• The Harappans also had a system of writing, which was utilized to record trade transactions and other business dealings.