Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization

Indus ValleyIndus ValleyHarappa

Mohenjo-DaroHarappa

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo DaroMohenjo Daro

C l d f dCivilization defined

• The stage of human social development and organization which is considered most DEFINITION which is considered most advanced.

• The society, culture and lifestyle of people in a OR SIMPLY lifestyle of people in a particular area.

OR SIMPLY

d llIndus Valley

• The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in• The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River inwhat is present day Pakistan.

• It was named after the city of Harappa. Harappa and thecity of Mohenjo-Daro were important centers of the Indusvalley civilization.

• This Indus Valley “civilization” flourished around 4000-1000 B.C.

Old ld C lOld World Civilizations

O C OINTRODUCTION

• A bronze age civilization‐ Also known as Mature harappancivilization   (2600‐1900 BC)

• Thrived in the basins of Indus river profiting from the fertilityof the land

• Had a population of 5 million at its peak• People were mostly tradesmen or artisans• Known for 

― futuristic urban planning ― surprising architecture― remarkable handicrafts― work in the field of metallurgy

G O A S AREGIONAL SPREAD

• Sites cover most of the modern Pakistan d h dand northwestern India

• Area covered is about 1.3 million square milesmiles

• The largest among the old world civilizationsO 1050 it tt d th • Over 1050 sites; scattered across the area

S SSETTLEMENTS

Inland Inland settlements

Dholavira Rupar Ganeriwala Cholistan Rakhigarhi

Coastal settlements

Lothal SutkaganDor Manda Gomal

river valley Jammu Alamgirpur

A C CARCHITECTURE

• The cities are build on numerous mounds ( l t d d )(elevated grounds)• Advanced architecture

―Impressive dockyards―Graineries―Warehouses

• Walled city  (protection from flood water)• Well planned streets• Proper sanitation and drainage system• Baked brick housesBaked brick houses• Well built bathrooms• Wells  throughout the  city• Remarkable similarity of architecture allRemarkable similarity of architecture all over the civilization• No large  monumental structures

CCities

The similarities in plan and construction betweenMohenjo Daro and Harappa indicate that they were partMohenjo-Daro and Harappa indicate that they were partof a unified government with extreme organization.

• Both cities were constructed of the same type and shape of• Both cities were constructed of the same type and shape ofbricks.

• The two cities may have existed simultaneously and their sizessuggest that they served as capitals of their provincessuggest that they served as capitals of their provinces.

• In contrast to other civilizations, burials found from thesecities are not elaborate; they are more simplistic and containfew material goodsfew material goods.

• Remains of palaces or temples in the cities have not beenfound.

• No hard evidence exists indicating military activity though the• No hard evidence exists indicating military activity, though thecities did contain fortifications and artifacts such as copperand bronze knives, spears, and arrowheads were recovered.

O S A O DIFFERENT THEORIES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

• Due to the similarity in artefactsand similar planning of the cities;even standardized ratio of bricksize

Single state

• The city is built on series ofelevated grounds (mounds) thusleading to a conclusion that itSeveral rulers leading to a conclusion that itmight had been governed byelected officials perhaps onefrom each mound

Several rulers

• There is no evidence of kings orthrones so it is suggested thatevery one enjoyed an equalNo ruler every one enjoyed an equalstatus

OOLIVELIHOOD

Most of the people must have been TRADERS or ARTISANSMost of the people must have been TRADERS or ARTISANS• Different types of seals and standardized weights suggeststandardized weights suggest a system of trade• The advanced detailing in theThe advanced detailing  in theastonishing artefacts show thatthere were great artisansthere were great artisans among them• Materials brought in from distantMaterials brought in from distantregions were found 

G S A ALIVING STANDARD

• Some houses larger than others BUT most of them similar in size and buildthem similar in size and build

• The  society is an example of social equality• Low wealth concentration though clear social levelling

• Access to water supplies and  drainage facilities• Graineries• Graineries• Ornaments made out of gold and ivory• No large monument except “THE GREAT BATH”  ‐g pa public bath probably for religious rituals

• Hygiene and cleanliness were among the high priorities of the societypriorities of the  society

• Evidence of quality municipal planning and efficient municipal government

G ORELIGION

• Seals bearing depiction of gods, goddesses and animalspoint towards Buddhism and Hinduismpoint towards Buddhism and Hinduism

• The seated human like figure shown is the so called“proto‐shiva” (Hindu god)Th li i t hi h th id i t d i th• The religion to which the evidences point emerged in thelate 1000 BC

• No evident religious buildings but some structures dog gserve to the ambiguity being what looks as remains oftemples

• Buried human bodies evidence of a cemetery• Buried human bodies: evidence of a cemetery• Burial urns with ashes: evidences of cremation• The religious beliefs among the dwellers of this

civilization remain uncertain until specific evidence isfound

C O OGTECHNOLOGY

MeasurementsGreat accuracy in measurement inGreat accuracy in measurement inmeasuring mass length and timeMASS:

d d h h h d h― standard weights hexahedron in shapewere found weights in the ratio 5:2:1(0.1,0.2,0.5 ; 1,2,5 ; 10 20 50 units)

―Each unit measuring about 28 grams―Same as present day English imperialounce system

LENGTH:―a scale with a precision of 1.704 mmwas found near lothalwas found near lothal

―The smallest in the bronze age

C O OGTECHNOLOGY

• MetallurgyMetallurgyThe people knew unconventional techniques of metallurgy and

d dproduced―Brass―CopperCopper―Bronze― Ivory

These materials were used in the making of ornaments utensils seals and artifacts etc…utensils seals and artifacts etc…

A AC S A A C A SARTEFACTS AND HANDICRAFTS

hMohenjo-Daro

• This shows the highwestern mound made upof a massive mud brickplatform and brickhouses of the Harappanperiod ( 2600 to 1900 B.period ( 2600 to 1900 B.C.).

• On top of the Harappant t i B ddhi tstructures is a Buddhist

period stupa made ofmud brick that dates tothe first century A.D.

h G hThe Great Bath

• The "great bath" is the earliest public water tank.g p• The tank measures approximately 12 meters north-south and

7 meters wide, with a maximum depth of 2.4 meters.• Two staircases lead down into the tank from the north and

south and small sockets at the edges of the stairs arethought to have held wooden planks or treads.g p• At the foot of the stairs is a small ledge with a brick edging

that extends the entire width of the pool.

G hGreat Bath

SStreets

• At Mohenjo-Daro narrowjstreets and alleyways are offof the major streets, leadinginto more privateinto more privateneighborhoods.

• Many of the brick houses weretwo stories high, with thickwalls and high ceilings to keepthe rooms cool in the hotsummer months.

llWells

• Private wells were rebuilt• Private wells were rebuiltover many generations forlarge households andneighborhoods.

• One of the well at Mohenjo-daro stands like a chimneybecause all of thesurrounding earth has beensurrounding earth has beenremoved by excavation.

Harappa

• The high mound atgHarappa (Mound AB) issurrounded by amassive mud brick citymassive mud brick citywall with large squareramparts.

• One of these erodingramparts (fortification)is visible through thegunderbrush that nowcovers the site. Theflags mark the tomb offlags mark the tomb ofa Muslim saint.

SHarappa Site

GGranary

• The "granary" of Harappa is foundon Mound F.

• It is a brick structure that wasbuilt on a massive brickfoundation over 45 meters north-foundation over 45 meters north-south and 45 meters east-west.

• Two rows of six rooms thatt b f d tiappear to be foundations are

arranged along a centralpassageway that is about 7meters wide and partly pavedmeters wide and partly pavedwith baked bricks.

• Each room measures 15.2 by 6.1meters and has three sleeperwalls with air space betweenthem.

llWell

• A large public well andg ppublic bathingplatforms were foundin the southern part ofin the southern part ofMound AB at Harappa.

• These public bathingareas may also havebeen used for washingbeen used for washingclothes as is commonin many traditionalcities in Pakistan andcities in Pakistan andIndia today.

d d Harappa: Mound E and ET

• Inside the city is an areathat has been identified asa crafts quarter.

• Large quantities ofmanufacturing debris havegbeen found in this areaindicating the presence ofworkshops for making stoneworkshops for making stonebeads, shell ornaments,glazed faience ornaments,stone tools and possiblystone tools and possiblyeven gold working.

dEconomy-Trade

• The Harappan civilization was mainly urban and• The Harappan civilization was mainly urban andmercantile.• Inhabitants of the Indus valley traded withInhabitants of the Indus valley traded with

Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persiafor gold, silver, copper, and turquoise.

A lEconomy-Agriculture

• The Mesopotamian model of irrigated agriculture was usedto take advantage of the fertile grounds along the IndusRiver.River.• Earthen walls were built to control the river's annual

flooding. Crops grown included wheat, barley, peas,g p g , y, p ,melons, and sesame.• This civilization was the first to cultivate cotton for the

d i f l h S l i l d i dproduction of cloth. Several animals were domesticatedincluding the elephant which was used for its ivory.

Economy

• Cubical weights in graduatedsizes.sizes.

• These weights conform to thestandard Harappan binary weightsystem that was used in all of thesystem that was used in all of thesettlements.

• The smallest weight in this seriesi 0 856 d th tis 0.856 grams and the mostcommon weight is approximately13.7 grams, which is in the 16thratioratio.

• These weights were found inrecent excavations at Harappa

d h b d fand may have been used forcontrolling trade and possibly forcollecting taxes.

A fArtifacts

• These egg shapedwhistles maywhistles mayhave been usedfor music, atradition that istradition that isstill present inrural areas ofP ki t dPakistan andIndia.

Cl S lClay Sculpture

Figurines

CCeramics

CCopper

• Copper plate withi l idvertical sides.

OOrnaments

• This collection of gold and agate ornaments (see next slide)includes objects found at both Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

• At the top are fillets of hammered gold that would havebeen worn around the forehead.

• The other ornaments include bangles, chokers, longpendant necklaces, rings, earrings, conical hair ornaments,and broaches.

• These ornaments were never buried with the dead, butwere passed on from one generation to the next.

• These ornaments were hidden under the floors in thehomes of wealthy merchants or goldsmiths.

OOrnaments

klNecklace

• Necklace from Mohenjo-DaroNecklace from Mohenjo Daromade from gold, agate, jasper,steatite and green stone.

• The gold beads are hollow andthe pendant agate and jasperthe pendant agate and jasperbeads are attached with thickgold wire.

• Steatite beads with gold capsserve to separate each of theserve to separate each of thependant beads.