Indus Valley Civilization or Harappa Civilization - NCERT Notes

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INDUS VALLEY / HARAPPAN CIVILISATION (ANCIENT HISTORY OF INDIA)

1. Indus Valley Civilization was one of the oldest civilisation in the world. It was also the most widespread civilisation which flourished in the basin of Indus river between 2500 BC - 1750 BC.

2. It is also called the Harappan civilisation because the first excavated site is Harappan, which was discovered by Dayaram Sahni in 1921.

GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

1. The Indus Valley Civilization covered parts of Western UP, Northern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

2. Major cities in India are Lothal ( on river Bhogawa in Gujarat ), Kalibanga ( on river Ghaggar-Hakra in Rajasthan ), Banawali ( on river Ghaggar-Hakra in Haryana ), and Dholavira ( on river Luni in Gujarat ).

3. In Pakistan, major cities are Harappa ( on river Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan ), Mohenjodaro ( on river Indus in Sindh ) and Chanhudaro ( on river Indus in Sindh ).

TOWN PLANNING IN INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. This civilisation is credited for building cities with proper town planning, sanitation, drainage system and broad well-laid roads.

2. They also built double storied houses of burnt-bricks with windows, bathroom, kitchen, and a well.

3. It important buildings such as, the Great Bath ( measuring 12m by 7m and 2.5m deep in Mohenjodaro ), Granaries and the Assembly Halls.

AGRICULTURE DURING INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. Their Agriculture was considered major occupation for rural areas. They used wooden plough to grow wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesamum, mustard, rice ( in Lothal ), dates, melon, etc.

2. They were the first to produce cotton.

ART AND CRAFT DURING INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. The Harappan culture belongs to Proto-Historic period or the Bronze Age. However, people of Harappa used many tools and implements of stone.

2. Potter's wheel was in use.

3. The Harappans made models of animals for their children. They made cattle-toys, model monkeys, little toy-carts, and whistles shaped like birds, all of terracotta.

4. They knew cloth weaving. A piece of woven wool and cotton has been recovered from Mohenjo-daro. Spindle whorls and needles have also been discovered.

ECONOMIC LIFE DURING INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. The Indus people had a brisk trade link with Western Asia is clear from the discovery of the Indus seals in these areas.

2. Apart from trade and industry, agriculture was the chief occupation of the Indus people.

3. Lothal, Sutkagendor were port cities used for conducting trade. Bullock cart and boats were used for transportation.

4. Barter system was used for exchange of goods and services. The decimal system was also known to them.

RELIGIOUS LIFE DURING INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. There are no evidence of Temple worship. Harappan people worshipped their God in the form of statues and figurines.

2. Main object of worship was Mother Goddess and Pashupati Mahadev.

3. Lingam and Yoni were also worship.

4. Trees ( pipal ), animals ( bull ), birds ( dove and pigeon ), and stone worship was prevalent in those days.

END OF HARAPPA CIVILISATION

1. Invasion of the Aryans is believed to be the reason. However, there is no evidence of war or mass killings.

2. Indus Valley people seem to have been peaceful. If they had an army, they have left few signs of weapons or battles.

3. Archaeologists believe that floods, famine and disease were the possible causes. Evidence from skeletons shows that many people died from malaria.