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Questions and Answers
What was the main occupation of the people in the Indus Valley Civilization?
What was the main occupation of the people in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Which metal was NOT known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Which metal was NOT known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
How was the disposal of the dead done in the Indus Valley Civilization?
How was the disposal of the dead done in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Which city of the Indus Valley Civilization is known for its dockyard?
Which city of the Indus Valley Civilization is known for its dockyard?
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Who excavated the Mohenjodaro ruins for the first time?
Who excavated the Mohenjodaro ruins for the first time?
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When did the Indus Valley Civilization start flourishing?
When did the Indus Valley Civilization start flourishing?
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Which city is known as the first excavated city of the Harappan Civilization?
Which city is known as the first excavated city of the Harappan Civilization?
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Where was the Pre-Harappan civilization found, showing the first evidence of cotton cultivation?
Where was the Pre-Harappan civilization found, showing the first evidence of cotton cultivation?
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Which of the following regions were covered by the Indus Valley Civilization geographically?
Which of the following regions were covered by the Indus Valley Civilization geographically?
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Which site in India is not associated with the Indus Valley Civilization?
Which site in India is not associated with the Indus Valley Civilization?
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Study Notes
Indus Valley Civilization
- Established around 3300 BC and flourished between 2600 BC and 1900 BC
- Also known as Harappan Civilization, named after the first excavated city, Harappa in Punjab, Pakistan
- Pre-Harappan civilization found in Mehrgarh, Pakistan, with evidence of cotton cultivation
Geography and Sites
- Covered Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Western Uttar Pradesh
- Extended from Sutkagend (in Baluchistan) in the West to Alamgirpur (Western UP) in the East
- From Mandu (Jammu) in the North to Daimabad (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) in the South
- Sites also found in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan
- Important sites in India: Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, Surkotda (Gujarat), Banawali (Haryana), Ropar (Punjab)
- Important sites in Pakistan: Harappa (on river Ravi), Mohenjodaro (on the Indus River in Sindh), Chanhudaro (in Sindh)
Discovery and Excavation
- First discovered during an excavation campaign under Sir John Hubert Marshall in 1921-22 at Harappa
- Ruins discovered by Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, and Madho Sarup Vats
- Mohenjodaro ruins excavated by R.D.Banerjee, E.J.H.MacKay, and Marshall
City Structure and Features
- Cities showed a level of sophistication and advancement not seen in other contemporary civilizations
- Cities had two parts: a citadel and the lower town
- Most cities had a Great Bath, granaries, 2-storied houses made of burnt bricks, closed drainage lines, and excellent stormwater and wastewater management system
- Weights for measurements, toys, pots, and other items were also found
Economy and Occupation
- Agriculture was the most important occupation
- First civilization to cultivate cotton
- Animals domesticated: sheep, goats, and pigs
- Crops: wheat, barley, cotton, ragi, dates, and peas
- Trade conducted with the Sumerians
- Metal products produced: copper, bronze, tin, and lead
- Gold and silver were known, but iron was not
Religion and Culture
- No structures like temples or palaces found
- Male and female deities worshipped
- 'Pashupati Seal' found, showing an image of a three-eyed figure, believed to be an early form of Lord Shiva
- Excellent pieces of red pottery designed in black, and faience used for beads, bangles, earrings, and vessels
- Advanced artworks, including the 'Dancing Girl' statuette from Mohenjodaro and the figure of a bearded Priest-King
- Lothal was a dockyard
- Disposal of the dead: burial in wooden coffins, later cremation in urns
Decline
- Possible reasons and theories for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization
- Archaeologists believe the civilization did not come to an abrupt end, but gradually declined
- People moved eastwards, cities were abandoned, writing and trade declined
- Theories of decline include the Aryan invasion (now debunked), tectonic activity, and drought
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Description
Learn about the timeline, geographical extent, and key cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization. Discover the characteristics and decline of this ancient civilization that thrived in the Indian subcontinent.
