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Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization was the first major civilization in south Asia, which spread across a vast area of land in present day India and Pakistan (around 12 lakh sq.km). The time period of mature Indus Valley Civilization is estimated between BC. 2700- BC.1900 i.e. for 800 years. But early Indus Valley Civilization had existed even before BC.2700.

Features of Indus Valley Civilization

• BC. 2700- BC.1900 i.e. for 800 years.
• On the valleys of river Indus.
• Also known as Harappan Civilization.
• Beginning of city life.
• Harappan Sites discovered by – Dayaram Sahni (1921) – Montgomori district, Punjab, Pakistan.
• Mohenjo-Daro discovered by – R. D. Banerji – Larkana district, Sind, Pakistan.
• City was divided into Citadel (west) and Lower Town(east).
• Red Pottery painted with designs in black.
• Stone weights, seals, special beads, copper tools, long stone blades etc.
• Copper, bronze, silver, gold present.
• Artificially produced – Faience.
• Specialists for handicrafts.
• Import of raw materials.
• Plough was used.
• Bodies were buried in wooden coffins, but during the later stages ‘H symmetry culture’ evolved where bodies were buried in painted burial urns.
• Sugar cane not cultivated, horse, iron not used.

Indus Valley Sites and Specialties

Harappa

• Seals out of stones
• Citadel outside on banks of river Ravi

Mohenjodaro

• Great Bath, Great Granary, Dancing Girl, Man with Beard, Cotton, Assembly hall
• Term means ” Mount of the dead”
• On the bank of river Indus
• Believed to have been destructed by flood or invasion (Destruction was not gradual).

Chanhudaro

• Bank of Indus River. – discovered by Gopal Majumdar and Mackey (1931)
• Pre-harappan culture – Jhangar Culture and Jhukar Culture
• Only cite without citadel.

Kalibangan

• At Rajastan on the banks of river Ghaggar, discovered by A.Ghosh (1953)
• Fire Altars
• Bones of camel
• Evidence of furrows
• Horse remains ( even though Indus valley people didn’t use horses).
• Known as third capital of Indus Empire.

Lothal

• At Gujarat near Bhogava river, discovered by S.R. Rao (1957)
• Fire Altars
• Beside the tributary of Sabarmati
• Store house
• Dockyard and earliest port
• double burial
• Rice husk
• House had front entrance (exception).

Ropar

• Punjab, on the banks of river Sutlej. Discovered by Y.D Sharma (1955)
• Dog buried with humans.

Banawali

• Haryana
• On banks of lost river Saraswathi
• Barley Cultivation.

Dholavira

• Biggest site in India, until the discovery of Rakhigarhi.
• Located in Khadir Beyt, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. Discovered by J.P Joshi/Rabindra Singh (1990)
• 3 parts + large open area for ceremonies
• Large letters of the Harappan script (sign boards).

Religion of Indus Valley People

• Pashupathi Mahadev (Proto Siva)
• Mother goddess
• Nature/ Animal worship
• Unicorn, Dove, Peepal Tree, Fire
• Amulets
• Idol worship was practiced ( not a feature of Aryans)
• Did not construct temples.
• Similarity to Hindu religious practices. (Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism in its present form originated later)
• No Caste system.

Indus Valley Society and Culture

• Systematic method of weights and measures ( 16 and its multiples).
• Pictographic Script, Boustrophedon script – Deciphering efforts by I. Mahadevan
• Equal status to men and Women
• Economic Inequality, not an egalitarian society
• Textiles – Spinning and weaving
• 3 types – burial, cremation and post cremation were there, though burial was common.
• Majority of people Proto-australoids and Mediterraneans (Dravidians), though Mongoloids, Nordics etc were present in the city culture.

Artifacts for Posterity 

The most numerous of the surviving artifacts are a series of steatite (soapstone) seals, of which the best known are those of the Humped Brahmani Bull and Pashupati. Apart from this, there are some carved figurines – the bronze Dancing Girl and the statues of a priest and a male torso, again in steatite.

Reasons for Decline of Indus Valley Civilization

Though there are various theories, the exact reason is still unknown. As per a recent study by IIT Kharagpur and Archaeological Survey of India, a weaker monsoon might have been the cause of decline of Indus Valley Civilization. Environmental changes, coupled with loss of power of rulers (central administration) of Indus valley to sustain the city life might be the cause (Fariservis Theory). There might be resource shortage to sustain the Population, and then people moved towards south India. Another theory by Dr Gwen Robbins Schug states that inter-personal violence, infectious diseases and Climate change had played a major role in the demise of the Indus Valley Civilization.

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The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus River valley from 3300 to 1300 BCE. It was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, and its people were skilled in agriculture, pottery, metalworking, and mathematics. The Indus Valley Civilization was centered in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India, and its cities were some of the largest in the world at the time. The civilization declined around 1300 BCE, and its cause of decline is still unknown.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Indus Valley Civilization:

1. What was the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus River valley from 3300 to 1300 BCE. It was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, and its people were skilled in agriculture, pottery, metalworking, and mathematics.

2. Where was the Indus Valley Civilization located?
   The Indus Valley Civilization was located in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India. Its cities were some of the largest in the world at the time.

3. What were the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, and Dholavira.

4. What was the economy of the Indus Valley Civilization based on?
   The economy of the Indus Valley Civilization was based on agriculture. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were skilled farmers, and they grew a variety of crops, including wheat, barley, rice, and cotton.

5. What were the social structures of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The social structures of the Indus Valley Civilization are not well-understood, but it is believed that they were stratified, with a ruling class and a lower class.

6. What was the religion of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The religion of the Indus Valley Civilization is not well-understood, but it is believed that they worshipped a number of gods and goddesses.

7. What was the art and architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization like?
   The art and architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization was unique and sophisticated. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were skilled in pottery, metalworking, and stone carving. They also built large cities with well-planned streets and Drainage Systems.

8. What was the writing system of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The writing system of the Indus Valley Civilization is not yet deciphered. It is believed that it was a logosyllabic writing system, meaning that it used both logograms (symbols that represent entire words) and syllabic signs (symbols that represent individual syllables).

9. What was the cause of the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   The cause of the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is still unknown. Some possible causes include Climate Change, invasion, or internal conflict.

10. What is the legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization?
    The Indus Valley Civilization was a major civilization that left a lasting legacy on the world. Its people were skilled in agriculture, pottery, metalworking, and mathematics. They also built large cities with well-planned streets and drainage systems. The Indus Valley Civilization is an important part of the history of South Asia.

The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus River valley from 3300 to 1300 BCE. It was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, and its people were skilled in agriculture, pottery, and metalworking. The Indus Valley Civilization was also known for its sophisticated urban planning, with well-organized cities that were laid out on a grid system.

Here are some multiple choice questions about the Indus Valley Civilization:

1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   (A) Urbanization
   (B) Agriculture
   (C) Metalworking
   (D) Writing

2. The Indus Valley Civilization was located in which of the following regions?
   (A) The Indus River valley
   (B) The Ganges River valley
   (C) The Yellow River valley
   (D) The Nile River valley

3. The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its sophisticated urban planning. Which of the following is not a characteristic of Indus Valley cities?
   (A) They were laid out on a grid system.
   (B) They had well-developed drainage systems.
   (C) They had large public buildings.
   (D) They had temples.

4. The Indus Valley Civilization was also known for its skilled craftsmanship. Which of the following is not a characteristic of Indus Valley pottery?
   (A) It was wheel-made.
   (B) It was decorated with geometric designs.
   (C) It was made of red clay.
   (D) It was fired in a kiln.

5. The Indus Valley Civilization came to an end around 1300 BCE. Which of the following is not a possible explanation for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?
   (A) A natural disaster, such as a flood or earthquake.
   (B) Invasion by another civilization.
   (C) A change in climate.
   (D) A decline in trade.

Answers:
1. (D)
2. (A)
3. (D)
4. (D)
5. (B)