Most clothing was made from cotton. India was the first place cotton was ever grown. If a family was rich, they could afford clothes made of silk. They usually got silk clothes from China. They also wore fine jewelry if they were rich. Even if they were poor, they wanted whatever jewelry they could afford. Nose rings and earrings were very popular for everyone.
Both men and women wore long, flowing pieces of clothing. For women this was called a "sari." There are many ways of wrapping a sari. Most were 15 feet long, but could be even longer. Younger women might wear bright colors, while older women wore white. An example of a sari is shown on your study guide. Today, Indian women still wear a sari, but usually only for a special occasion since it is not very practical. The long, flowy piece for men was called a dhoti. A dhoti was usually white.
People in India ate a variety of foods but probably ate more fruits and veggies than meat. Common foods were: wheat, beans, chickpeas, cinnamon, sugar, and peppers. They raised chickens, cows, sheep, and pigs to eat and to sacrifice. Fish was also caught from the rivers. Evidence shows they had a healthy diet but men were better fed than women probably because the men did more physical work. Many people from India eventually thought animal sacrifice added to bad karma or bad luck. They thought it might stop them from reaching heaven which they called nirvana. Therefore, they gave up animal sacrifice and many stopped eating cows. Some would still eat chicken, goats, and sheep. People that do not eat meat are called vegetarians.
People in ancient India traded with others nearby. They did not use money so they exchanged goods. They might swap two sacks of wheat for one basket of fresh fruit. They traded so they could get items they wanted or did not already have. This system was called bartering and could change at any time. Each time people traded they could set their own terms. People got a fair deal because they would negotiate. Negotiate means to come to an agreement.
Archaeologists have discovered over 3,500 flat pieces of stone they think are related to trade. They called them a seal Each seal was made of stone and has writing or pictures carved into it. They believe these were used like labels or tags on goods they made. Today, a label might say "made in Vietnam" or an item we buy might have a price tag. Other items we buy might have a logo like Nike or Adidas. Their ancient stones or seals showed who made something and were attached to every item just like products we buy in the store today. Lots of them had pictures of animals on them. There are pictures to the right of these.
People traveling and trading in ancient India used camels, oxen, and elephants to travel over land. They had carts with wooden wheels. They also traveled by water using boats.
People in ancient India used mud bricks like the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians. However, evidence suggests their mud bricks were better because they baked them instead of just drying them in the sun. Ancient kilns have been found by archaeologists.
The streets in the city suggest engineers carefully planned them. They were in right angles and in a grid system to keep them organized. Engineers also helped design large bath houses. Archaeologists found one large bath house in Mohenjo-Daro they called the "Great Bath." Evidence suggests it was used as ritual bathing and prayer to the gods.
Careful planning was also done on a sewage systems in ancient India. These sewage systems were planned so human waste (poop and urine) were drained away from the city and collected elsewhere. River water was diverted to run through the drains to keep them flowing away from the cities. The drains were accessible by manhole covers made of stone. In fact, it was a job of some to be the poo cleaners and regularly clean out these sewage drains so they would not clog up.
It was hot in ancient India so people spent lots of time outside. Most had small homes and there was not much room to relax. Richer people might have a larger home. Rich homes had a courtyard which was a nice open space where kids could play and parents could relax. Both types of homes had flat roofs which were strong enough to walk on. Families used them as an extra room and might even sleep there on a hot night. Homes were also designed without windows. This helped keep the inside cool and would keep the dirt and noise out. Thick walls were used for extra insulation in keeping them cool.
Watch this video from EdYouToo (I would start at 2:30)