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Indus Valley Civilization
Write a short note on Indus Valley Civilization.
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The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the earliest urban civilizations in the world. It flourished in the Indus River valley, primarily in what is present-day Pakistan and northwest India, from around 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. This ancient civilization is significant because it showcases remarkable achievements in urban planning, trade, writing, and technology.
The Indus Valley Civilization was characterized by well-planned cities with advanced infrastructure. The cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, featured a grid-like street layout, sophisticated drainage systems, and multi-story houses made of baked bricks. This demonstrates their knowledge of city planning and engineering.
Trade played a crucial role in the civilization’s prosperity. Excavations have revealed a wide range of artifacts, including seals, pottery, beads, and tools made of various materials like stone, metal, and shell. These findings indicate a well-established trade network, both within the region and with other civilizations such as Mesopotamia.
One of the most distinctive features of the Indus Valley Civilization is their script, known as the Indus script. While it remains undeciphered, the presence of writing suggests a level of literacy and intellectual development. The seals discovered indicate administrative and commercial activities, potentially representing a system of record-keeping.
Agriculture was the backbone of the Indus Valley Civilization. The inhabitants cultivated a variety of crops, including wheat, barley, peas, and cotton. The sophisticated irrigation systems, including canals and reservoirs, supported agricultural productivity. The availability of surplus food allowed for specialization in other crafts and trades.
The society of the Indus Valley Civilization appears to have been well-organized, with evidence of a hierarchical system. Artifacts, such as statues and figurines, suggest the presence of social stratification. Religion and worship were an integral part of their lives, as seen in the presence of temples and the depiction of various deities.
Despite the civilization’s remarkable achievements, the decline and eventual collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization remain a mystery. The causes are still debated among historians and archaeologists, with proposed factors including environmental changes, ecological degradation, or invasion by external forces.
In conclusion, the Indus Valley Civilization was an advanced urban civilization that thrived in the Indian subcontinent thousands of years ago. Its well-planned cities, trade networks, writing system, and agricultural practices demonstrate their impressive accomplishments. The study of this ancient civilization provides valuable insights into the origins of complex societies and their cultural, technological, and economic development.
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Indus Valley Civilisation, also be known as Harappan Civilisation or Bronze Age Civilisation ,was found in the regions of northerneast of South Asia which is now the areas of Pakistan,Afghanistan and India . It was started around 4700 years ago that is 2600 BCE and ended around 1300 BCE. The Indus Valley Civilisation was named after the river Indus because the cities of the civilisation was first found in the valleys of the Indus. There were many cities identified in the valley but the two grear cities were Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Harappa was the first discovered city of the cilvilisation therefore it is also known as Harappan Civilisation . This Civilisation had characteristics which were moder and systematic such as urban planning , drainage systems, political and social administration , some artefacts such as pots, pottery , jewellery, bronze stone sculptures etc. Now lets talk about the two great cities of the Indus Valley .
Harappa city which is now Pakistan was discovered accidentally. This ancient city was important because the urban planning , architecture and culture and some special features. There were house made of baked brick this shows that people of Harappa had the skills of construction as well as in planning ,there were double – story houses amd the houses were built on the both sides of the road where a wide road was cut . The houses also had a proper drainage system which was connected to the city’s sewage, there were also granaries, public buildings, assembly halls and religious buildings . A sculpture of bronze ,terracotta, stone were found . The people of Harappa knew the farming methods of different crops and also reared sheeps , goats , cattles . Other than Harappa Mohenjodaro was also oldest and greatest city of the Indus Valley Civilisation ,this city was famous for the large swimming pool which archeologists named as The Great Bath was 7 meters wide and 2.4 meters deep with two staircases, the floor was made of standardised bricks fitted tightly on the floor. It is said that the pool was used for some special occasions or for any religious activity . Mohenjodaro had the largest granary and some famous statues were also found such as the dancing girl made of bronze , bearded man , bull and mother goddess and not only these but fine pottery and ornaments were also discovered. There were well planned water supply and wells along with that people of the city had large houses with large flooring. It was earliest and also an advanced city at that time with a population of about thirty thousand to fifty thousand. It is believed that the cities were drowned due to a heavy flood and then buried for a long time until the Britishers came to India to invade.
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