Indus Valley Civilization

INDUS VALLEY INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

IntroductionIntroduction LocationLocation Important CitiesImportant Cities PeoplePeople Social LifeSocial Life Religious LifeReligious Life Economic ConditionsEconomic Conditions Weapons of WarWeapons of War Causes of DestructionCauses of Destruction

IntroductionIntroduction

The Indus Valley Civilization is The Indus Valley Civilization is considered to have evolved around considered to have evolved around 2600 B.C. Built on the ruins of fortified 2600 B.C. Built on the ruins of fortified towns near Kot Diji, it is now believed towns near Kot Diji, it is now believed to have emerged from farming to have emerged from farming communities of the area. The communities of the area. The Civilization boasted immense cities like Civilization boasted immense cities like Moenjodaro and Harappa, reached its Moenjodaro and Harappa, reached its excellence during 2500 B.C. to 1500 excellence during 2500 B.C. to 1500 B.C. B.C.

LocationLocation

It was centered mostly in the western It was centered mostly in the western part of the Indian Subcontinent and was part of the Indian Subcontinent and was flourished around the Indus River basin.flourished around the Indus River basin.

Primarily centered along the Indus and Primarily centered along the Indus and the Punjab region,  that encompasses the Punjab region,  that encompasses most of what is now Pakistan, was most of what is now Pakistan, was extended into the westernmost states of extended into the westernmost states of modern-day India, Gujrat, modern-day India, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Haryana, southeastern Rajasthan, Haryana, southeastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan,

and the easternmost part and the easternmost part of Balochistan & Iran.of Balochistan & Iran.

The geography of the Indus Valley The geography of the Indus Valley put the civilizations that arose there, put the civilizations that arose there, in a highly similar situation to those in a highly similar situation to those in Egypt with rich agricultural lands in Egypt with rich agricultural lands being surrounded by highlands, being surrounded by highlands, desert, and ocean. desert, and ocean.

Location of Indus Valley Location of Indus Valley CivilizationCivilization

Important CitiesImportant Cities

Of all the Indus Valley sites, Moen-jo-Of all the Indus Valley sites, Moen-jo-Daro & Harrapa are the most Daro & Harrapa are the most prominent.prominent.

Both these cities were the centre of Both these cities were the centre of urban life.urban life.

These were constructed with great These were constructed with great town planning.town planning.

The people of these cities attained a The people of these cities attained a high degree of civilization & led high degree of civilization & led advanced urban life.advanced urban life.

Moen-jo-DaroMoen-jo-Daro

Moen-jo-Daro means “mounds of dead”. It Moen-jo-Daro means “mounds of dead”. It is situated in the present day district is situated in the present day district Larkana, Sindh.Larkana, Sindh.

A British Archaeologist Sir John Marshall A British Archaeologist Sir John Marshall excavated the area in 1922 and a excavated the area in 1922 and a complete city was unearthed.complete city was unearthed.

The inhabitant of Moen-jo-Daro were fully The inhabitant of Moen-jo-Daro were fully civilized because proper planning was civilized because proper planning was observed in the construction of buildings, observed in the construction of buildings, streets and roads.streets and roads.

Moen-jo-DaroMoen-jo-Daro

The roads and streets were straight & wide.The roads and streets were straight & wide. The buildings / houses were built with backed The buildings / houses were built with backed

bricks. The houses were also provided with bricks. The houses were also provided with paved floors, bath-rooms, wells & its own paved floors, bath-rooms, wells & its own courtyard.courtyard.

The city had well managed underground The city had well managed underground sewerage & drainage system far more sewerage & drainage system far more advanced than any found in contemporary advanced than any found in contemporary urban sites in the Middle East and even more urban sites in the Middle East and even more efficient than those in many areas of Pakistan efficient than those in many areas of Pakistan and India today. and India today.

Site of Moen-jo-DaroSite of Moen-jo-Daro

Underground SewerageUnderground Sewerage(stone dressed drains covered with (stone dressed drains covered with

stone slabs)stone slabs)

HarrapaHarrapa

Harrapa was the other city of the Harrapa was the other city of the Indus Valley situated 650 km in the Indus Valley situated 650 km in the north of Moen-jo-Daro.north of Moen-jo-Daro.

The ruins of this city were The ruins of this city were discovered about 24 km away from discovered about 24 km away from the present day city of Sahiwal, the present day city of Sahiwal, Punjab.Punjab.

Both Harrapa & Moen-jo-Daro Both Harrapa & Moen-jo-Daro belong to the same age.belong to the same age.

HarrapaHarrapa

HarrapaHarrapa

There are many similar features in There are many similar features in these two cities.these two cities.

Both were well planned. The Both were well planned. The construction of houses, roads & construction of houses, roads & drainage system resembles with one drainage system resembles with one another.another.

The utensils, the toys, the stone The utensils, the toys, the stone images and the ornaments were also images and the ornaments were also look similar in both the places. look similar in both the places.

PeoplePeople

People of Indus Valley were short People of Indus Valley were short and dark complexioned. and dark complexioned.

Their hair were curly, lips were thick Their hair were curly, lips were thick and had broad nose.and had broad nose.

They belong to Dravidian race which They belong to Dravidian race which later on went & settled in the later on went & settled in the southern India. southern India.

Social LifeSocial Life

The Indus valley society was The Indus valley society was consisted of various groups of consisted of various groups of people based on their professions.people based on their professions.

As regards the dress of the people As regards the dress of the people no actual specimen is present.no actual specimen is present.

It was assumed that the people knew It was assumed that the people knew use of cotton and thread.use of cotton and thread.

Ornaments were very popular both Ornaments were very popular both among women and men.among women and men.

Ornaments / jewelryOrnaments / jewelry

ToysToys

Social LifeSocial Life

In general society was prosperous In general society was prosperous and self-reliant. and self-reliant.

People were peaceful and peace People were peaceful and peace loving. loving.

Religious LifeReligious Life

It is difficult to know about the It is difficult to know about the system of beliefs of Indus Valley system of beliefs of Indus Valley people because there is not any people because there is not any discovery of structure identified as discovery of structure identified as temple or religious building.temple or religious building.

But from the study of the seals and But from the study of the seals and shapes inscribed upon those shapes inscribed upon those revealed that they worship nature, revealed that they worship nature, tress, animals, and other images. tress, animals, and other images.

Seals & InscriptionsSeals & Inscriptions

Economic ConditionsEconomic Conditions The people of the Indus Valley knew the art The people of the Indus Valley knew the art

of agriculture.of agriculture. They had animals like bull, cow, buffalo, They had animals like bull, cow, buffalo,

camel, elephant & dog for their use. It was camel, elephant & dog for their use. It was doubtful whether horse was known.doubtful whether horse was known.

The Indus civilization's economy appears to The Indus civilization's economy appears to have depended significantly on trade, which have depended significantly on trade, which was facilitated by major advances in was facilitated by major advances in transport technology. These advances transport technology. These advances included bullock carts that are identical to included bullock carts that are identical to those seen throughout South Asia today, as those seen throughout South Asia today, as well as boats. well as boats.

AnimalsAnimals

Trade & CommerceTrade & Commerce

Weapons of WarWeapons of War

The weapons used by Indus Valley The weapons used by Indus Valley people were spears, axes, daggers, people were spears, axes, daggers, bows and slings.bows and slings.

The use of sword was perhaps The use of sword was perhaps unknown to them.unknown to them.

These weapons were made up of These weapons were made up of stones, copper and bronze.stones, copper and bronze.

Causes of DestructionCauses of Destruction

It is still a matter of research the It is still a matter of research the actual causes of destruction of Indus actual causes of destruction of Indus Valley Civilization. However, Valley Civilization. However, following three causes can be following three causes can be suggested:suggested:

(i)(i) Natural calamities like devastating Natural calamities like devastating flood, severe earth quake, etc.flood, severe earth quake, etc.

(ii)(ii) Change of course of the river Indus.Change of course of the river Indus.(iii)(iii) Invasion of Aryans from North & Invasion of Aryans from North &

Central Asia and West Persia.Central Asia and West Persia.