Introduction to World Art and

CultureTopic: INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

Made ByNeha SinghNIFT Kolkata

WHAT IS CIVILISATION?The stage of human social

development and organisation which is considered most

advanced.Or simply, the society, culture and lifestyle of people in a particular

area.

INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION AT A GLANCE

The Harappan Civilization or the Indus Valley Civilization was the most fascinating and first urban civilization in the world that flourished in the vast

plains created by the River Indus and its tributaries. The Harappan Civilization thrived between 2600 – 1900 BC in the region that is now in Pakistan and

India. With the population of over five million, this civilization had a well developed trade system, cities, sewerage system, metallurgy techniques with many

other mathematical and scientific achievements.

There are two major Harappan city ruins that provide a great deal of insight into the Harappan way of life as well as displaying the advanced and well organized Harappan architecture. Harappa (after which the civilization was named) was the largest city and is thought to have been the capital. Mohenjodaro was the second largest city and was most likely the capital of one Harappa’s provinces. Each city is estimated to have housed up to 80,000 people, quite large for that time period. They also had a precise measuring system as well as a written language.

Who found the Indus cities?In 1826, a British traveller in India called Charles Masson came across some mysterious brick mounds. He thought they looked like

old castles.Thirty years later in 1856, engineers building a railway found more bricks, and carted them off to build the railway. This was the first

people knew of the lost Indus city of Harappa.In the 1920s, archaeologists began to excavate the sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. They uncovered the remains of long-

forgotten cities. They had found the Indus Valley civilisation

3000 BCTHE EARLIEST CIVILIZATION IN INDIA WERE GROWN OUT OF SMALL COMMUNITIES THAT HAD SETTLED IN THE INDUS VALLEY.3000 BCFARMING COMMUNITIES WERE ESTABLISHED IN NORTHWEST INDIA2500 BCTHE FIRST TOYS WERE MADE OF BAKED CLAY.2400 BCTHE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION REACHED IT'S PEAK.1800 BCSIGNS OF DECLINE APPEARED IN SOME INDUS VALLEY SITES.

TIMELINE

WHICH COUNTRY/ COUNTRIES NOW OCCUPY THE AREA OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION?

SITES COVER MOST OF THE MODERN PAKISTAN AND NORTHWEST INDIA. THERE ARE AROUND 1050 SITES SCATTERED ACROSS THE AREA

GEOGRAPHY

ArchitectureThe architecture of the Harappan civilization was unique for its day. The cities were designed in an

extremely uniform and organized manner on a grand scale. It appears that the engineers planned the city

before they built it, resulting in much more organization than is typically seen in ancient cities.

Their structures were also uniform; they used bricks of the same material and shape for all of their structures. It wasn’t just one city that was built the same way; the two major cities (i.e. Harappa and Mohenjodaro) both had bricks the same size. This consistent engineering is

very impressive.

Some pictures which show some architecture of Harappan

Ruins of Harappa Gateway of Harappa *reconstructed* (this is an illustration)

The Harappan irrigation system was another architectural feat. Instead of using canals or waterways all year round, they would instead merely use the flood season to their advantage. Their style of irrigation would simply control the water from heavy rainfalls, which caused floods throughout the year. This control of such violent natural disasters is quite impressive coming from such

an ancient civilization.

Top :The great bath (public bath tank)Right: A well in Harappa

Mystery of The Great Granary

At first archaeologists thought the building was a grain-store or 'granary', and it was built above ground level so air could flow underneath to keep wheat dry. They thought the platforms were for carts to load and unload.But there is no evidence of any grain! Also, the platforms and the main building were built at different times. Perhaps it was a palace, or maybe a temple?

The Great Granary is a 'mystery-building' at Harappa. It is over 60 metres long, with six large halls, raised above the ground on walls. Close by were a number of circular brick

platforms.

Material CultureMost Indus Valley cities were made from mud bricks. First the brick-makers mixed soil, clay and water to make squishy mud. Next they squashed the mud into a wooden mould which was the shape of a brick. And then they turned out the mud-brick, like you would turn out a sand-castle.

Tools UsedIndus Valley people used some tools like the ones we use today - hammers, knives, needles, fish-hooks, axes, razors and saws. But many Indus tools were made of stone called flint. The metal Indus Valley people used most was copper. They made sharp copper tools. They mixed copper and tin to make bronze..

Clothes and hairstylesPictures on seals and other artefact show us how some Indus

people dressed. It was hot all year round, so people did not need thick clothes to keep warm.

Many workmen probably just wore a loincloth, which looked a bit like baggy shorts. Rich men wore tunics. Women wore

dresses that probably covered much of the body though some might have been topless..

Both men and women wore jewellery, especially beads and arm-bangles.

Some women had elegant hairstyles, with braids and

beads. Some arranged their hair in headdresses shaped

like fans.

Making potsAt home, Indus Valley people used bowls, dishes, cups, and vases made of terracotta. They had metal dishes made from copper, silver and bronze.

Making jewelleryArchaeologists have found evidence that Indus Valley people wore lots of jewellery, especially beads, necklaces, ear-rings and ear-studs, amulets, bangles and brooches.

Writing and ScripturesWriting was done using a pointed stick in soft clay, or with a sharp tool to scratch marks on stone or metal. It is likely that only a few people could read and write, like scribes*. But perhaps traders could read enough to

tell what was written on seals.Most Indus Valley writing was probably to do with trade, government or

religion. People wrote the first line from right to left, the second line from left to right, and so on.

What does Indus Valley writing tell us?Not very much. Indus Valley writing used at least 400 picture-signs (they were not letters, as in our alphabet). But the longest bit of writing found has only 26 characters. No one knows what language the Indus people spoke, and no one has yet been able to read their writing. There are no Indus Valley books, no laws carved in stone, no stories about kings and

battles.

** a person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented

Left : Seals from Mohenjodaro. The top seal has seven signs in Indus script (writing).Right : A square seal with a figure, probably an Indus god . He has three faces, a horned headdress, and lots of arm-bangles.Left (down): A skeleton from an Indus grave. This man was buried wearing a necklace.

Depiction of human body Indus Valley people made small figures of people and animals using metal and clay.

Only a few small statues survive. One is the Priest-King, with his beard, and his patterned robe.

Probably the most famous piece of Indus Valley art. The little 'dancing girl' is made of bronze metal. The dancing girl wears very little, but has lots of bangles on her arms. Her hair is in a plait.

References• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory

/indus_valley/• http://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/histor

y/possible-reasons-for-the-decline-of-the-harappan-civilization

• http://geniusofancientman.blogspot.in/2013/07/the-harappan-civilization-ancient-mans.html

Thank you