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Questions and Answers
What were the houses in Harappa mainly constructed from?
What were the houses in Harappa mainly constructed from?
What material found in Harappa suggests possible trade connections with distant regions like Iran and Turkey?
What material found in Harappa suggests possible trade connections with distant regions like Iran and Turkey?
What aspect of Harappa's location indicates it might have been on a trade route?
What aspect of Harappa's location indicates it might have been on a trade route?
What is one point of contention among scholars regarding Harappa?
What is one point of contention among scholars regarding Harappa?
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What remains undiscovered about Harappa according to the text?
What remains undiscovered about Harappa according to the text?
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Where is Harappa located?
Where is Harappa located?
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When did Harappa become one of the most important cities of the IVC?
When did Harappa become one of the most important cities of the IVC?
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Who led the major digs at Harappa from 1920 to 1936?
Who led the major digs at Harappa from 1920 to 1936?
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What type of layout did Harappa follow?
What type of layout did Harappa follow?
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Which river is located on the eastern side of Harappa?
Which river is located on the eastern side of Harappa?
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What did the presence of water reservoirs, public baths, and a bazaar area in Harappa indicate?
What did the presence of water reservoirs, public baths, and a bazaar area in Harappa indicate?
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Study Notes
Indus Valley Civilization - Harappa
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan civilization, was a Bronze Age urban culture that flourished from approximately 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. Although it is often viewed as having its core areas in present-day Pakistan and northwestern India, this ancient society extended westward into modern Iran and eastward across the entire northern half of the Indian subcontinent. One of the most prominent cities of this civilization was Harappa, located in present-day Punjab, Pakistan.
Location and Discovery
Harappa is situated on the eastern side of the Ravi River, which flows through the fertile alluvial plains of the Kala Chitta Range in the Sutlej basin. Initially inhabited around 4000 BCE by people who were simple agriculturalists, Harappa became one of the most important cities of the IVC when the first urban phase took place between 2600 and 1900 BCE. The city was discovered in 1856 when British engineers working on the railway project unearthed some broken pottery sherds. Further excavations followed, with Sir John Hubert Marshall leading major digs starting in 1920 until his death in 1936.
Features and Characteristics
Harappa's layout is grid-like, organized along two main streets running parallel to each other, with narrow lanes branching off them. This well-planned city had water reservoirs, public baths, and a bazaar area, indicating a sophisticated society with centralized planning and administration. The planning of Harappa suggests a systemic approach to urban design that may have been influenced by environmental factors. The houses in Harappa were mostly made of mud bricks, making up multi-roomed structures.
There are indications that Harappa may have been on a trade route connecting the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, based on the discovery of obsidian found in the site, which originated from regions far away like Iran and Turkey. However, there is still debate among scholars regarding whether Harappa was primarily a trading center or if it relied more on agriculture and craftsmen.
Despite significant progress in understanding the layout and features of Harappa, much remains undiscovered, such as what happened to the population after the end of the urban phase. Future archaeological work will continue to shed light on this fascinating ancient civilization and its cities like Harappa.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the Indus Valley Civilization, particularly focusing on the city of Harappa. Explore topics such as the location, discovery, layout, features, and characteristics of this ancient urban culture.
