Indus Valley Civilisation

Video By: Lakshay Sharma, SMS-JP

INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

The Indus Valley Civilisation also called the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the north-western regions of South Asia. The Indus Valley Civilisation existed through its early years of 3300-1300 BCE, and its mature period of 2600-1900 BCE. The area of this civilisation extended along the Indus River from what today is northeast Afghanistan, into Pakistan and northwest India. The Indus Civilisation was the most widespread of the three early civilisations of the ancient world, along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were thought to be the two great cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation, emerging around 2600 BCE along the Indus River Valley in the Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Their discovery and excavation in the 19th and 20th centuries provided important archaeological data about ancient cultures. The significant features of Indus Valley civilisation are personal cleanliness, town planning, construction of burnt-brick houses, ceramics, casting, forging of metals, manufacturing of cotton and woollen textiles and their amazing architecture. Harappan civilization, developed the first accurate system of standardised weights and measures, Harappans created sculpture, seals, pottery, and jewellery from materials, such as terracotta, metal, and stone. Indus valley people spoke ancient Dravidian language, claims new research. ~ By Ayushi of SMS-JP

A deeper look into Indus Valley Civilisation

Economic conditions

The economic condition of the Harappan people was quite good. Their affluence was due to agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, trade and commerce. ... Through trade and commerce they, too, were able to establish contacts with others inside India and outside. The economy of Indus Valley Civilization was based on agriculture, domestication of animals, and trade. In agriculture, they used to grow crops like wheat, barley, etc. At that time, there was no monetary value of goods so they used the barter system for trading. The Harappan people domesticated many animals like cow, buffalo, sheep, elephant, camel, pig etc. They did not know the use of animals like horse and dog. Their seals reveal the images of tiger, bear, rhino etc. The children’s toys were styled after monkey, mouse, cat, peacock, rabbit, mongoose etc. Animal husbandry supplemented their agriculture. The industrial know-how of the Harappan people was unique. They were busy in manufacturing many articles and each of their handiworks reveals an exquisite artistry. Earthenware was their principal industry. They knew the use of wheel. With its help they made beautiful earthenware pots like cooking-pot, jug, plate, tray, perforated jars and cups. The earthenware were as artistic as they were useful. Renowned were the weavers of Harappa. The abundant produce of cotton and wool in the Indus region led the people to weave cotton and woollen garments separately or in a mixed way. They had mastery over the proportionate weaving and stitching of inner and outer garments. They also had mastered the art of preparation of metallic objects, made of gold, silver, copper, tin and alloy. Articles like tray, flower vase, cups, jars, needle, verilion stick, cosmetics box and other articles of daily use were made from different metals.

Religious beliefs

The Harappans were also worshippers. The Indus Valley religion is polytheistic and was made up of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. There are many seals to support the evidence of the Indus Valley Gods. Some seals show animals which resemble the two gods, Shiva and Rudra. Other seals depict a tree which the Indus Valley believed to be the tree of life.

Eating habits of Harappan People

The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation mostly used to consume meat. Meat came mainly from cattle, but the Harappans also kept chickens, buffaloes and some sheep and goats, and hunted a wide range of wildfowl and wild animals such as deer, antelopes and wild boar. They also ate fish and shellfish from the rivers, lakes and the sea; as well as being eaten fresh, many fish were dried or salted – many bones from marine fish such as jack and catfish were found at Harappa, far in land. Apart from meat, the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation grew and ate a variety of cereals and pulses. There is archaeological evidence for cultivation of pea (matar), chickpea (chana), pigeon pea (tur/arhar), horse gram (chana dal) and green gram (moong).

Entertainment of Harappans

As far as entertainment is concerned the Harrapan people played with relics of dices and marbles. This reveals that people played games which involved the use dice and marbles. The stone slab relic resembles the modern-day chess, and literature review throws light upon the fact that this game was very much prevalent during the Indus valley period. Other than that The existence of hunting, punching or boxing as other forms of sports of the people of Indus valley practiced is evident from the seals recovered from the sites of Indus valley.


Some interesting facts

1. The Indus Valley civilisation was larger than the ancient Egyptian civilisation.

2. Some of the world's first dentist came from the Indus Valley! The oldest example of the drilling of teeth on a patient was discovered in 2001.

3. At its peak, 10% of the world’s total population lived in the ancient civilisation of the Indus Valley. Estimates reach as high as five million people - or nearly twice the population of Wales in the present day.

4. Toilet seats were made of brick - not very comfy!

5. Unlike other ancient civilisations, archaeologists have never found any evidence of palaces or temples in the Indus Valley. This suggests that there were no priests or kings.