Indus Valley Civilization for UPSC

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