History For SSC CGl/CHSl Exam

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The Indus Valley Civilization

(2350-1750 BC)

Introduction

·         Indus valley civilization is also called as Harappan civilization because Harappa was the first site to be excavated in 1921 under the supervision of Daya Ram Sahni.

·         The known extent of this civilization in the west is upto Sutkagendor in Baluchistan; Alamgirpur (UP) in the east; Daimabad (Maharashtra) in South; and Manda ( J&K) in the north.

·         This civilization belongs to Bronge Age/Chalcolithic Age. Hence, it is also called Bronze Age civilization.

·         Contemporary civilization of Harappan civilization are Mesopotamian or Sumerian civilization, Egyptian civilization and Chinese civilization.

Important Sites of Harappan Civilization

Site	Location	River Bank
Harappa	Montegomari, Punjab (Pakistan)	Ravi
Mohenjodaro	Larkana, Sindh (Pakistan)	Indus
Sutkagendor	Baluchistan (Pakistan)	Dashta
Chanhudaro	Sindh (Pakistan)	Indus
Rangpur	Ahmedabad (India)	Meedar
Ropar	Punjab (India)
Kalibangan	Ganganagar (Rajasthan)	Ghaggar
Kotdiji	Sindh (Pakistan)	Indus
Lothal	Ahmedabad	Sabarmati & Bhogva
Alamgirpur	Meerut (UP)	Hindon
Banawali	Hissar (Haryana)	Saraswati
Ø  Note: The largest numbers of sites are found in Gujarat.

General Facts About Some Sites

1.Harappa

·         Working floors consisting of rows of circular brick platforms which were meant for threshing grain have been found here.

·         Six granaries and sixteen agnikundas (firepits) have been found here

·         People of Harappa knew the process of making tarcoal.

·         Main gate for the entry in the houses of Harappa was in the north direction.

·         R-37 cemetery have been found here.

·         Tarracotta figurine of Mother Goddess have been found here.

2. Mohenjodaro

·         The literal meaning of mohenjodaro in sindhi language is mound of the dead.

·         The Great Bath, a granary , big halls, a bronze statue of a dancing girl, idol of a yogi and numerous seals have been found here.

·         The evidences of a assembly hall and proper planned houses with a kitchen and courtyard have been found at Mohenjodaro.

·         Mohenjodaro was discovered in 1922 under the supervision of R.D. Bannerji.

·         Seven layers of Mohenjodaro city directs that the city was destroyed and rebuilt seven times.

 3. Lothal

·         A dockyard have been found at Lothal.

·         In 1957, Lothal was discovered by S.R. Rao in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat.

·         Red & black clay pots, copper tools, brick built tank like structure, a bead making factory and a seal from Iran have been found at Lothal.

·         Linear scales of bronze have been found here.

4. Kalibangan

·         It was not as well planned or organized as Mohenjodaro was.

·         It did not have a drainage system.

·         A number of firepits agnikundas (firepits) have been found here.

·         Kalibangan was discovered in 1953. It is located in upper Rajasthan.

·         It saw two culture phases viz. pre-Harappan and Harappan.

·         A ploughed field have been found here.

5. Dhaulavira

·         Dhaulavira in Gujarat was discovered in 1992 by J.P. Joshi.

·         Dhaulavira shows all the three phases of Harappan civilization.

·         A script consists of big alphabets has been found on a gate in Dhaulavira.

Important Feature of Indus Valley Civilization

·         Town planning was the most distinguishable feature of the Harappan civilization. Hence, this civilization is also called first urbanization.

·         Towns were divided into parts viz. citadel and lower town. Citadels were occupied by members of ruling class and lower town was inhabited by the common people.

·         Dhaulavira is an exception because it existed in three parts.

·         Harappan cities were developed in Block Pattern/ Chess Board Pattern because roads of these cities used to cut each other at right angles.

·         Most peculiar feature of town planning was their drainage system. Drains were built of burnt bricks and covered by stone lids and manholes for cleaning. It shown that Harappan people were very conscious of hygiene.

·         Banawali and kalibangan shows two phases, viz. pre-Harappan and Harappan.

·         Chanhudaro was the only city without a citadel.

·         The Harappans knew the art of measurement as some sticks inscribed with measure marks have been found at some sites.

·         Rojadi, Desalpur and Surkotada faced all the three stages of Harappan civilization viz. pre-Harappan, Harappan and post-Harappan.

·         Complete burial was the most common method of the disposal of the dead.