Pre-Harappan and Indus Valley Civilizations

Pre-Harappan Period (c. 7000-3300 BCE)

• This period preceded the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Characterized by early agricultural settlements and the beginning of organized societies.
• Key settlement: Mehrgarh (c. 7000 BCE) in present-day Pakistan.
• People practiced agriculture, domesticated animals (sheep, goats), and used stone tools.
• Cultivated barley and wheat, using granaries for storage.

Transition to Urbanization

• Small settlements grew larger and more complex over time.
• Innovations included pottery, metallurgy (copper), and the use of ploughs.
• Evidence of trade and interaction with Mesopotamia.

Cultural Practices

• Early forms of religious practices and burial traditions.
• Placing the dead in specific positions with burial goods.
• The Pre-Harappan period was primarily rural.

Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300-1900 BCE)

• A significant urban culture along the Indus River.
• This is also known as the Harappan Civilization.
• Key cities included Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

Urban Planning

• Highly organized cities with grid-patterned streets.
• Advanced drainage systems were present.
• Houses were constructed with uniform fired bricks.
• Public facilities included wells, bathrooms, granaries, and possibly assembly halls/temples.

Trade and Economy

• Well-developed trade networks with Mesopotamia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf regions.
• Major trade goods included cotton textiles, copper, bronze, and seals for identification.

Agriculture

• Largely based on agriculture with wheat, barley, and peas as the main crops.
• An irrigation system was used to control river water.

Writing and Seals

• Developed a writing system, yet it remains undeciphered.
• Writing was found on seals and pottery.
• Seals often depicted animals and possibly names of traders or deities.

Society and Culture

• Social hierarchy existed, though its specifics are unknown.
• Art and crafts included terracotta figures, pottery, jewelry, and intricate beadwork.
• Religious practices involved fertility goddesses and symbols resembling the Shiva-like figure (Pashupati).

Decline

• Civilization began to decline around 1900 BCE.
• Potential reasons include climate change, floods, drought, or a shift in the river course.

Explore the transformative periods of the Pre-Harappan and Indus Valley Civilizations. This quiz covers early agricultural practices, urbanization, cultural practices, and significant cities along the Indus River. Test your knowledge on the advancements that laid the foundation for one of the world's earliest urban cultures.