Theme I (Bricks Beads and Bones) Harappan Civilisation
1. The Harappan Civilization, also referred to as the Indus Valley Civilization, holds the distinction of being India's most ancient civilization.
2. There exists a lack of consensus among scholars regarding the precise timeline of the Harappan Civilization, with differing proposed dates.
3. Sir John Marshall posited that this civilization thrived during the period spanning 3250 to 2750 BCE.
4. In 1921, Daya Ram Sahni made the pioneering discovery of Harappan sites.
5. The primary hubs of this civilization were located in what is now Pakistan, with Mohenjodaro and Chanhudaro being renowned sites.
6. Within India, Kalibangan, Sangol, Pengplor, Lothal, Dholavira, and Banawali were the central points of Harappan Civilization's flourishing.
7. The urban planning of this civilization was notably impressive, characterized by systematic house construction and wide, intersecting roads.
8. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization displayed advanced planning in managing rainwater and wastewater.
9. Remarkably, the caste system was absent in their society, fostering harmonious coexistence based on mutual respect. Women occupied esteemed positions.
10. The people exhibited an affinity for fashion, and their economic prosperity primarily stemmed from agriculture and animal husbandry.
11. Robust trade networks existed, encompassing both domestic and international trade routes. They practiced a diverse array of religious beliefs, worshiping numerous deities, including mother goddesses, Lord Shiva, animals, birds, trees, and the Sun.
12. The Harappans possessed expertise in various arts and crafts, excelling in sculpting, toy-making, pottery, and ornament production, as well as the creation of seals.
13. The script used on their seals remains undeciphered, holding the potential to shed light on various aspects of the Harappan Civilization when decoded.
14. Archaeological materials constitute the primary sources of information about the Harappan Civilization. Excavations at Indus sites aim to reconstruct its history.
15. These excavations yield a wealth of items, including tools, pottery, seals, and household objects, which are meticulously examined by archaeologists.
16. A cadre of historians, including Cunningham, R.E.M. Wheeler, John Marshall, and G.F. Dates, have played pivotal roles in reconstructing the history of ancient civilizations, including the Indus Valley Civilization.
17. Indian archaeologists such as Daya Ram Sahni, S.R. Rao, R.S. Bisht, and B.K. Thapar have made significant contributions to excavations at Indus sites.
18.The Bronze Age Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, earned its name due to the extensive use of bronze in crafting pottery, figurines, and ornaments.
19.By nearly 1900 BCE, unmistakable signs of this civilization's decline had become evident. During this period, the two most prominent cities of the Indus Valley, Mohenjodaro and
20.Harappa, had experienced a substantial decline in their prosperity.
Approximately around 1200 BCE, this once-thriving civilization had completely vanished.
21. Scholars have proposed several potential factors contributing to its decline, including epidemics, the possibility of an Aryan invasion, alterations in the course of the Indus River, excessive floods, earthquakes, and other environmental and socio-economic changes.
Archaeological Evidence of the Harappan Civilization:
The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, is dated to have existed between BCE 2600 and 1990 BCE, making it India's oldest civilization.
Our understanding of this civilization is derived from archaeological evidence, including artifacts such as houses, pottery, ornaments, tools, and seals used by its inhabitants.
The Harappan Civilization can be divided into earlier and later phases known as Early Harappan and Late Harappan Civilizations.
The first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Alexander Cunningham, initiated archaeological excavations at Harappan sites but failed to fully grasp the significance of the Harappan Civilization.
Subsequent archaeologists like Daya Ram Sahni, Rakhal Das Baneiji, and John Marshall played crucial roles in discovering and understanding the Harappan Civilization.
Notably, the boundaries of the Harappan civilization do not align with modern national borders; many major sites are now located in Pakistani territory.
In India, numerous Harappan settlements have been found in Punjab and Haryana. Key centers of this civilization within India include Kalibangan, Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhi Garhi, and Banawali.
Seals, Script, and Weights of the Harappan Civilization:
Seals and sealings served as tools for long-distance communication and identified the sender.
The Harappan script remains undeciphered, featuring a non-alphabetical system with numerous signs numbering between 375 and 400.
Economic exchanges in the Harappan Civilization were regulated by a precise system of weights, usually made of a stone called chert, with no markings. Lower denominations followed a binary system, while higher denominations followed a decimal system.
Food Habits and Agricultural Techniques of the Harappan People:
The people of the Harappan Civilization had a diverse diet, incorporating various plant and animal products, including fish, meat, wheat, maize, millet, pulses, rice, and other food items. They achieved this through the domestication of cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, and pigs.
Archaeological evidence suggests the use of oxen for plowing fields and the practice of cultivating two different crops together. Given the semi-arid nature of many Harappan sites, they relied on canal and well water for irrigation.
Social and Economic Variations Among the Harappan People:
Archaeologists studied burials and artifacts to discern social and economic disparities among the Harappan people. These artifacts could be categorized into utilitarian and luxury items.
Valuable materials tended to be concentrated in larger settlements and were rarely found in smaller ones.
Craft Production in the Harappan Civilization:
The Harappans were skilled artisans, creating exquisite sculptures, toys, pottery, and ornaments. Craft production was concentrated in various specialized centers, including Chanhudaro, known for bead-making, shell-cutting, metalworking, seal-making, and weight production.
Craftsmen used techniques like grinding, polishing, and drilling for bead-making. Nageshwar and Balakot specialized in creating shell objects due to their proximity to the coast.
Acquiring Materials for Craft:
- The Harappans sourced raw materials for craft production in different ways, sometimes establishing settlements near material sources and occasionally sending expeditions to distant regions, such as the Khetri region for copper (Rajasthan) and South India for gold. They also engaged in trade with other lands.
Economic Life and Trade During the Harappan Civilization:
The economic life of the Harappan people was prosperous, with agriculture and animal husbandry as the primary occupations.
Well-developed trade networks existed, encompassing both internal and external trade. Seals featuring images of ships and boats indicate Harappan contacts with distant regions.
Religious Beliefs of the Harappan People:
- The people of the Harappan Civilization practiced a diverse religion, worshiping various gods and goddesses, including Lord Shiva, mother goddesses, animals, birds, trees, and the sun.
Absence of Caste System in the Harappan Civilization:
- Unlike later periods in India, the caste system was absent in the Harappan society, fostering an environment of mutual love and understanding among all people.
The Planned Town of Mohenjodaro in the Harappan Civilization:
Mohenjodaro was a renowned urban center of the Harappan Civilization. Its settlement was divided into two sections: the Citadel, smaller but higher in power, and the Lower Town, larger in area but lower in power.
All Harappan cities featured carefully planned drainage systems. Residential buildings in Mohenjodaro had courtyards and bathrooms with drains connected to street drainage.
Many houses in Mohenjodaro had wells, and structures like warehouses and the Great Bath were used for public purposes.
The Decline and End of the Harappan Civilization:
By 1800 BCE, most mature Harappan sites had been abandoned, and around 1200 BCE, the civilization had vanished entirely. 'Late Harappan' or 'successor cultures' emerged after 1900 BCE, reflecting a shift to a rural way of life.
Multiple factors contributed to the decline and eventual disappearance of the Harappan Civilization, including climatic changes, deforestation, excessive floods, river course alterations, overuse of the landscape, and potential large-scale destruction or invasion.
Key Terms:
Seal: Artifacts containing animal motifs and script signs used for various purposes.
Hoards: Collections of metal objects and jewelry stored in containers.
Stratigraphy: The study of historical layers in archaeological sites.
Motif: A distinctive design or pattern, often used as a trademark.
Proto-Shiva: A seal featuring a figure in a yogic posture, considered an early form of one of the deities of Hinduism.
Lingas: Polished stones often worshiped as symbols of the god Shiva.
Shamans: Individuals claiming magical and healing powers, capable of communicating with the spirit world.
Culture: A group of objects with a distinctive style found within a specific geographical area and time period.
Pictographs: Picture-like signs used to represent letters or words.
The Great Bath: A famous structure in Mohenjodaro primarily used for bathing.
Granaries: Buildings used for the storage of grains.
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