Indus Valley Civilization Study Notes PDF

Indus Valley Civilization - Study Notes Indus Valley Civilization Copyright © 2014-2023 TestBook Edu Solutions Pvt. Ltd.: All rights reserved  Download Testbook App Indus Valley Civilisat...

Indus Valley Civilization - Study Notes Indus Valley Civilization Copyright © 2014-2023 TestBook Edu Solutions Pvt. Ltd.: All rights reserved  Download Testbook App Indus Valley Civilisation Indus Valley Civilisation(BC 2500-1500) was the period in which the development of human culture was witnessed when people started looking beyond the satisfaction of material needs. What is the Indus Valley civilization? It was the first modern civilization ever witnessed around BC 2500. It was extended from Kabul in Afghanistan, Kashmir in the North to the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujrat in the South. While at the east it extended up to Uttar Pradesh and towards the Iran border at the west. Westmost site: Sutkagendor (Pakistan); Eastmost site: Alamgirpur (UP); Northernmost site: Manda, Jammu; Southmost site: Daimabad (Maharashtra) It was the first civilization whose archaeological evidence is well identified and under exploration. The sites existed mostly across the rivers or near coasts. It showed the connection of trade with other parts of civilization like Pharaohs(Egypt) and Sumerians (Iraq). The livelihood was similar to what we are living today. Modern archaeologists have established a probable chronology and periodization: 1. Pre-Harappan – BC 7000 - 3500 2. Early Harappan – BC 3500 - 2800 3. Mature Harappan – BC 2800 - 1900 4. Late Harappan – BC 1900 - 1500 5. Post Harappan/ Vedic Age – BC 1500 - 600 AD Important Sites 1. Mohenjodaro 2. Harappan SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 1 of 17  Download Testbook App 3. Kalibangan 4. Kuchchh 5. Lothal 6. Alamgirpur 7. Dholavira 8. Chahnudaro 9. Kot Diji 10. Desalpur 11. Surkotada Sites Significance SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 2 of 17  Download Testbook App Excavated by RD Bannerji in 1922. The following items had been found, Pashupati seal Stone figure of a priest Dancing girl: bronze figure Mohenjodaro Great bath (Pakistan) Granaries for storing grains Terracotta figure of a Mother goddess Bearded man Cotton production was there. It is located on the banks of the Indus River. Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-1923. The following items had been found, Graveyard popularly called ‘R-37’ burial Harappan Coffin burials (Punjab region of Pakistan) Granaries with small quarters In the burials, children were found with a head having a hole in the skull. There is research going on regarding its significance. It is situated on the banks of the Ravi River. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 3 of 17  Download Testbook App Excavated by BB Lal in 1961. The following items had been found, Priest quarters Fire pits Kalibangan Plough marks (Rajasthan) Double cropping pattern Bronze bull It is located on the banks of the Ghaggar River, also known as the ancient Sarasvati River. Excavated by SR Rao in 1954. The following items had been found, Twin burials Lothal Terracotta model of plough (Gujrat) Manchester of India: Highest crop production was Witnessed. It is situated near the Bhogavo River, a tributary of the Sabarmati River. Cotton production was there. Alamgirpur The following items had been found, (UP) Broken blade made up of copper Ceramic items SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 4 of 17  Download Testbook App Excavated by JP Joshi in 1967-68. Jaws of a horse were found. Dholavira, Stone constructions for houses and granaries were there. Kuchchh It is situated on the banks of the Manhar River, a tributary of the Luni (Gujrat) River. It is India's 40th World's Heritage announced by UNESCO on 27 July 2021. Excavated by NG Majumdar in 1931. The site was along the Indus River. The following items had been found, Bangle Factory. Chanhudaro Ink Pot. (Pakistan) Bead makers shop. The footprint of a dog chasing a cat. It is the only city without a citadel SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 5 of 17  Download Testbook App Excavated Dr. Amarendra Nath of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the 1960s. The following items had been found, Stone tools and weapons, such as axes, chisels, and blades Rakhigarhi Copper and bronze objects, such as beads, bangles, and figurines (Haryana) Terracotta figurines of people, animals, and objects Seals and amulets Rakhigarhi is the largest sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is situated near the Drishadvati River, a now-dried-up river believed to be a part of the ancient Sarasvati River system. Site excavated at Sindh region. Kot Diji Mother goddess statue was found. (Pakistan) A Bull statue was found. Found at Kutch district Gujrat. The massive stone fortification was found. Desalpur Harappan pottery was a famous thing. (Gujrat) Three script-bearing seals such as one of steatite, one of copper, and one of terracotta were found. Excavated by JP Joshi in 1967-68. It was a coastal city at Kuchh Gujrat. Surkotada It was a trade dock. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 6 of 17  Download Testbook App Art and Architecture: Architecture: Town Planning: Roads: Rectangular grid pattern planning. Roads met at right angles. The big grid road was divided into small roads connected to the small lanes to the individual houses. A grid pattern of roads. Buildings: Dwelling houses, public buildings, and public baths. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 7 of 17  Download Testbook App Burnt mud bricks were used for the construction. City Division: Got divided into the upraised citadel and lower part into the west and east sides respectively. Upraised citadel composed of It consists of granaries, administrative buildings, courtyards, and pillared halls. Lower part: small one-room quarters for working-class people, Public baths. Eg. Great Bath at the Mohenjodaro site. Drainage System: Small drains from each house were connected to larger drains running alongside the main roads. Drains were covered loosely to allow regular cleaning and maintenance. Cesspits were placed at regular intervals. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 8 of 17  Download Testbook App Drainage system Sculptures: Seals: A seal is a small portable artifact mostly made of stone but also found in other materials, such as bone/ivory, metal, and various artificial pastes. It displays engraved motifs and is generally perforated so that it can be suspended. Seals were made of Steatite, a soft stone found in river beds. Seals made of copper, gold, faience, ivory, and terracotta were also found. Shapes: square, triangular, rectangular, and circular. Some seals have an impression of animals eg. Bull. Some seals have an impression of half man and half animal. Eg. Pashupati seal. Use: primarily for trade, identification marks, or educational purposes. Eg. Seals having mathematical images like Swastik on it. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 9 of 17  Download Testbook App Trade seals Language: The script was in pictographic language written from right to left side and then from left to the right side. This is called a boustrophedon type of writing. The writings have not been deciphered yet. Bronze figures: Cire perdue technique is also known as a lost wax method used to make bronze figures. In this technique, holes are made to fill the liquid metal. After drying the wax is removed from a metal structure. Dancing girl: Tribhanga posture, is one of its makings. (Refer: To image 2 in the evidence heading.) Terracotta: Use of fire-baked clay for making sculptures. Use: make toys, animal figures, miniature carts, wheels, etc. Pottery: Excavation sites found 2 kinds of pottery: plain pottery and painted pottery. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 10 of 17  Download Testbook App Painted pottery also called Red and Black pottery in which red color is used in the background and black color is used to draw designs and figures on it. Trees, birds, animal figures, and geometrical patterns were some of the themes. All are wheel-made decorative potteries. Use for household purposes, decorative purposes, and pouring liquid. Red & black Potteries Stone figures: The skill of craftsmanship was at its best. Eg. Bearded priest stone figure: draped in a shawl with trefoil patterns. The eyes are elongated and half-closed as in meditation. The red sandstone figure of the male torso is another example. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 11 of 17  Download Testbook App Beared priest 1. Pashupati Seal: SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 12 of 17  Download Testbook App Source: NCERT Book 2. Dancing girl, bronze figure: Source: NCERT Book 3. Great Bath: Source: NCERT Book 4. Fire pits: SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 13 of 17  Download Testbook App 5) Burial systems: Livelihood: SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 14 of 17  Download Testbook App Let’s understand the living style of the Indus Valley Civilization people. Food habits: The crops taken were Wheat and Barley. Fruits: Pomegranates and bananas Non-veg: Meat and fish Costumes & ornaments: Clothes are mostly made of wool and cotton. Women wore short skirts. Men wore a long piece of cloth around themselves. Women had used bracelets and necklaces made up of shells, gold, and silver. Men were used to wearing amulets to protect themselves from wrong influences. Ornaments: Amusements: Children used to play with small clay carts, dolls, rattle, marbles, etc. Figures of animals were made like puppets. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 15 of 17  Download Testbook App Whistles were made in the form of birds. Old people used to enjoy gambling. Occupations: The weaving of clothes. Trading with the Persian Gulf and Sumerians. Making of beads like clay, stone, paste, shell, and Ivory; and amulets. Metalworks. Trade: Seals and small objects of Mohenjodaro were found in sites of Iraq. At Lothal dock, weights and measures have been found in various shapes and were accurate. Traces of trading with Afghanistan for Blue gemstone and Lapis Lazuli. Religion: People believed in god. Inscriptions of clay figures of mother-goddess and seated figures of male gods carved on a small stone seal. Eg. Pashupati seal. They had few things believed to be sacred. Eg. Peepal Tree seal, Horned Bull seal, is, etc. Fall of Harrappans: Around 1500 B.C. fall of the Harappan civilization was predicted. It was the same period that is considered the arrival of Aryans. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 16 of 17  Download Testbook App The various prediction theories were made as follows: 1. Massive flood to the Indus River which led to the drowning of cities. (Movie Mohenjodaro by Ashutosh Govarikar used this reference at the end of the film). Another disastrous change in the Harappan climate might have been eastward-moving monsoons or winds that bring heavy rains. Monsoons can be both helpful and detrimental to a climate, depending on whether they support or destroy vegetation and agriculture. 2. One theory suggested that a nomadic, Indo-European tribe called the Aryans invaded and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization. 3. Some experts believe the drying of the Saraswati River, which began around 1900 BCE, was the main cause of climate change led to a massive drought for long years. 4. Some say due to droughts there were famines. 5. It is suspected that some pandemic diseases had spread (like COVID-19 for today) which eliminated the population. 6. By 1800 BCE, the Indus Valley climate grew cooler and drier, and a tectonic event may have diverted or disrupted river systems, which were the lifelines of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Harappans may have migrated toward the Ganges basin in the east, where they could have established villages and isolated farms. But, there is no conclusive evidence yet. SUBJECT | Indus Valley Civilization 17 of 17