Indus Valley Civilization

A Bronze Age Civilization that flourished between 2500-1750 BC in the north western parts of India and present-day Pakistan.

Also called the ‘Harappan Civilization’ after the name of its first discovered site.

Most unique feature - Divided into two sections:

Citadel – Smaller but built on higher platform.

Lower Town – Much larger but lower.

Main crops - Wheat and barley 

Animals were domesticated However, The use of horse is not firmly established.

People of this civilization did not know about Iron.

Internal trade was extensive - Based on barter system.

Foreign trade was mainly conducted with Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Iran and Oman.

Figure of a dancing girl from Mohenjodaro made of bronze.

Experts in bead-making.

Pottery - Plain/ Red and black painted .

Seals with engravings.

Pashupati Seal from Mohenjo Daro. 

Pictographic, still not fully deciphered.

Boustrophedon method ( written from right to left in first line and from left to right in second line ) adopted.

Used sewn clothing - Figure of a bearded man found in Mohenjo-Daro.

Use of Beads, ornaments and cosmetics was common.

Complete burial and post-cremation burial common.

Lothal and  Harappa - Evidence of coffins burial.

• No evidence of any ruler or any governing system
• No evidence of warfare.

Harappa

• Row of six granaries
• Evidences of coffin burial.

Mohenjo-Daro

• The Great Bath
• bronze dancing girl
• Steatite statue of bearded priest

Chanhudaro

• City without Citadel
• Bead makers shop

Kalibangan (Black Bangles)

• Fire-Altars
• Ploughed field

Dholavira

• City with 3 divisions
• Unique water management system
• Several large reservoirs

Lothal

• Artificial dockyard
• Remains of rice husk

Rangpur

• Remains of rice husk

Surkotda

• Evidence of remains of the horse bones.

Rakhigarhi

• Largest Indus Valley site in India

Various theories have been given. Some of them are :

Combination of natural factors like,

1. Recurring floods
2. Drying up of rivers
3. Dramatic shifts in the river courses
4. Changes in patterns of rainfall
5. Decreasing fertility of the soil due to excessive exploitation and occasional earthquakes

Aryan invasion