Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan Culture was one of the earliest urban civilizations in the world.

Along with Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, it was one of three early civilizations of the old world.

The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization

(3300–1300 BCE), extending from what today is northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India.

About 5000 years ago, a group of nomads travelling from Sumeria (present-day Iran) entered North Western India, near present day Karachi (in Pakistan). These nomads found a land so richly fertile by the banks of the river Indus that they settled there without hesitation. This area was abundant with water, fodder and fuel.

Over the next thousand years, the immigrants spread over an area of half a million square miles. This area later came to be known as the “Indus Valley Civilization”.

It flourished in the basins of the Indus River, one of the major rivers of Asia, and the now dried up Sarasvati River, which once coursed through northwest India and eastern Pakistan together with its tributaries

Mohenjo-Daro

Harappa

Lothal

These cities were made of bricks either baked mud or wood bricks.

The baked bricks were a superior version of the sun-dried bricks used in other civilizations.

The amazing part was that the workers made every brick of the same size.

The type of brick used, ensured the durability of the buildings.

Map Of Indus Valley Civilization

The name Mohenjo-Daro means 'Mound of the Dead' in Sindhi.

The city was built around 2600 BC and abandoned around 1700 BC.

Evidence suggests that the city was highly prone to floods.

Mohenjo-Daro was primarily an agricultural city.

It was situated below the great mountain ranges, with rivers flowing abundantly through the land, depositing rich fertile soil. This made evident, the fact that agriculture was the main occupation.

There was a large well, a central marketplace and several granaries in the city.

Near the granary was the great public bath house, known as the ‘Great Bath’.

Mohenjo-Daro City Great Bath

Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, eastern Pakistan, about 24 km (15 mi) west of Sahiwal.

The site takes its name from a modern village located near the former course of the Ravi River.

The current village of Harappa is 6 km (3.7 miles) from the ancient site.

Although modern Harappa has a railway station left from the period of British Raj, it is today just a small crossroads town of population 15,000.

The city is believed to have had as many as 23,500 residents and occupied over 100 hectares (250 acres).

Worship of Sacred Animals

Worship of fertility Goddess

These nomads worshipped certain animals and goddess of fertility.

Indus Seals

Archaeologists have not been able to decipher these seals yet.

The End