Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization)

Introduction

• The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) is regarded as the first urban civilization of India.
• It was discovered during excavations carried out under Sir John Marshall in 1921–22.
• The people of Mesopotamia referred to the Indus Valley Civilization as Meluhha.

Phases of Harappan Civilization

Features of Harappan Civilization

Town Planning

• Towns followed a rectangular grid pattern.
• Roads intersected each other at right angles.
• Cities were divided into:
  • Citadel (Upper Town)
  • Lower Town

Drainage System

• One of the world's most advanced drainage systems.
• Drains were made of burnt bricks.
• Covered drains were common.

Script

• Pictographic in nature.
• Still undeciphered.

Standardization

• Standardized weights and measures.
• Standardized seals.

Important Geographical Facts

Smallest Harappan Site

• Allahdino

Largest Harappan Site

• Rakhigarhi (Haryana)

Northernmost Site

• Manda (Jammu & Kashmir)

Southernmost Site

• Daimabad (Maharashtra)

Easternmost Site

• Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh)

Westernmost Site

• Sutkagendor (Pakistan-Iran Border)

Bhirrana

• Located in Haryana.
• Considered one of the oldest Harappan sites.
• Evidence of pre-Harappan culture has been found.

Exam Fact

Bhirrana = Oldest Harappan Site

Mohenjo-daro

Discovery

• Discovered by R.D. Banerji in 1922.

Location

• On the right bank of the Indus River in present-day Pakistan.

Features

• Excellent drainage system.
• About 700 wells.
• Multi-storeyed buildings.

The Great Bath

• Most famous structure of Mohenjo-daro.
• Rectangular in shape.
• Waterproofed using natural bitumen (tar).
• Area approximately 897 square feet.

Important Findings

• Bronze Dancing Girl
• Pashupati Seal
• Priest-King Statue
• Large Granary
• Cotton remains
• Bronze Buffalo
• Children's toys
• Gold and Jasper ornaments

Exam Fact

Bronze Dancing Girl = Mohenjo-daro

Harappa

Discovery

• Discovered by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921.

Location

• On the banks of the Ravi River in Pakistan.

Division of City

• Citadel
• Middle Town
• Lower Town

Important Findings

• Twelve granaries (two rows of six each)
• Workers' quarters
• Human statues
• Dog chasing a deer motif
• Bullock cart models

Exam Fact

Harappa = Granary

Lothal

Discovery

• Discovered by S.R. Rao in 1953.

Location

• On the Bhogava River in Gujarat.

Features

• Known as Mini Harappa.
• Famous for the world's earliest known dockyard.

Important Findings

• Dockyard
• Rice husk remains
• Fire altars
• Evidence of chess-like games
• Ivory scale
• Copper dog figurine

Exam Fact

Lothal = Port Town & Dockyard

Chanhudaro

Discovery

• Discovered by N.G. Majumdar in 1931.

Features

• Only Harappan city without a citadel.
• Called the "Lancashire of India".

Important Findings

• Bead-making industry
• Inkpot
• Metalworking
• Seal-making
• Copper knives and spears

Exam Fact

Chanhudaro = Bead Manufacturing Centre

Dholavira

Discovery

• Discovered by Jagat Pati Joshi in 1968.

Location

• Kutch, Gujarat.

Features

• Located on the Tropic of Cancer.
• City divided into three parts.
• Advanced water conservation system.

Important Findings

• Reservoirs
• Dams
• Stadium
• Inscriptions
• Rock-cut architecture

Exam Fact

Dholavira = Water Management System

Banawali

Discovery

• Discovered by R.S. Bisht in 1974.

Location

• Hisar, Haryana.

Important Findings

• Barley
• Beads
• Terracotta objects
• Seals
• Copper fish hooks

Exam Fact

Banawali = Important Harappan Site of Haryana

Surkotada

Discovery

• Discovered by J.P. Joshi in 1964.

Important Finding

• Horse bones.

Exam Fact

Surkotada = Evidence of Horse Remains

Rakhigarhi

• Located in Hisar district of Haryana.
• Excavated by Amarendra Nath.
• Largest Harappan site discovered so far.

Exam Fact

Rakhigarhi = Largest Harappan Site

Rangpur

Discovery

• Discovered by M.S. Vats in 1935.

Location

• Gujarat.

Important Findings

• Rice
• Millet
• Bajra

Sanauli

Location

• Western Uttar Pradesh.

Important Findings

• Copper swords
• Copper helmets
• Coffins
• Chariots

Exam Fact

Sanauli = Chariots and Copper Weapons

Ropar

Location

• On the banks of the Sutlej River.

Importance

• First Indus Valley site excavated in independent India.

Daimabad

Discovery

• Discovered by B.P. Bopardikar in 1958.

Important Findings

• Copper Rhinoceros
• Copper Elephant
• Copper Chariot
• Copper Sculptures

Exam Fact

Daimabad = Copper Chariot

Kalibangan

Location

• Rajasthan.

Important Findings

• Ploughed field
• Fire altars
• Human and animal remains

Exam Fact

Kalibangan = Ploughed Field

Kot Diji

Location

• Sindh, Pakistan.

Important Findings

• Pottery
• Beads
• Mother Goddess figurines
• Copper weapons

Amri

• Ancient Harappan settlement in Sindh, Pakistan.

Balakot

• Coastal Harappan site in Pakistan.
• Famous for shell and bangle industry.

Sutkakoh

• Located on the Makran Coast of Pakistan.

Shortughai

• Harappan trading settlement in Afghanistan.

Agriculture

Major Crops

• Wheat
• Barley
• Cotton
• Peas
• Sesame
• Mustard
• Dates

Important Fact

• Harappans were among the earliest people in the world to cultivate cotton.

Exam Fact

Cotton = Most Important Harappan Crop

Economy

Trade

• Based on the barter system.
• Trade relations existed with Central Asia and Mesopotamia.

Imports

• Gold
• Silver
• Copper
• Tin
• Jade
• Steatite

Exports

• Agricultural products
• Cotton
• Beads
• Ivory products
• Shell products
• Copper

Trading Centres

• Dilmun (Bahrain)
• Makan (Makran Coast)

Administration

• Likely had a centralized authority.
• No clear evidence of a standing army has been found.

Seals

Features

• Mostly made of steatite.
• Generally square in shape.
• Depicted animals and human figures.

Most Common Animal

• Bull

Other Facts

• Seals with Swastika symbols have also been found.

Exam Fact

Most Frequently Depicted Animal = Bull

Art and Craft

Bronze Casting

• Practiced using the Lost Wax Technique.

Important Examples

• Bronze Dancing Girl
• Priest-King Statue
• Mother Goddess Figurines
• Animal Figurines

Religion

Major Religious Symbols

• Pashupati Seal
• Mother Goddess Worship
• Phallic (Lingam) Worship

Important Facts

• No clear evidence of temples has been found.
• Large numbers of amulets have been discovered.

Decline of the Harappan Civilization

Period

• Decline started around 2000 BC.
• Most cities disappeared by around 1800 BC.

Possible Causes

• Declining soil fertility
• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Decline in trade
• Aryan invasion theory (controversial)
• Ecological imbalance

Exam Fact

Most Accepted Reason = Ecological Imbalance

Quick Revision One-Liners

• Largest Site → Rakhigarhi
• Smallest Site → Allahdino
• Great Bath → Mohenjo-daro
• Granary → Harappa
• Dockyard → Lothal
• Water Management → Dholavira
• Horse Bones → Surkotada
• Ploughed Field → Kalibangan
• Bronze Dancing Girl → Mohenjo-daro
• Priest-King Statue → Mohenjo-daro
• Mother Goddess Worship → Harappan Civilization
• Most Common Animal on Seals → Bull
• Earliest Cotton Cultivators → Harappans
• Mesopotamian Name for Harappan Civilization → Meluhha