Indus Valley Civilization for SSC: History, Location, Sites - by govjobsstudy

 What is Indus Valley Civilization?

Indus Valley Civilization, also known as Harappan Civilization, is a Bronze age civilization that existed through its early years of 3300-1300 BCE, and its mature period of 2600-1900 BCE. The area of this civilization was spread along the Indus River from what today is northeast Afghanistan into Pakistan and northwest India.

 

Indus Valley Civilization Map: -

Indus Valley Civilization name was given by Sir John Marshal. It was developed in Chalcolithic Age and spread across India, Pakistan & Afghanistan in a triangular shape. 

• In north it was extended to Manda (Jammu & Kashmir, near Chenab River)

• In east it was extended to Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh, near Hindon River)

• In south it was extended to Daimabad (Maharashtra, near Parvara River)

• In west it was extended to Sutkendgor (Pakistan, near Daksh River)

Discovery of Harappa: - 

Harappa was discovered by Dayaram Sahani in 1921 near Ravi River. Here they found 'A row of 6 Granaries', 'Sandstone statue of humans', 'Bullock carts', 'Cemetry', 'Graveyard' etc. 

 Discovery of Mohenjo-Daro: -  

Mohenjo-Daro was discovered by Rakhal Das Banerjee in 1922 near Indus River. Here they found 'Great Granary', 'Great Bath', 'Pashupati Seal', 'Statue of a bearded man', 'bronze statue of a dancing woman', 'A piece of woven cotton' etc.

• Stuart Pigot called Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro as twin cities.

Other discoveries: -

1. Lothal was discovered by S. Rangaath Rao and there they found 'First manmade port', 'Dockyard', 'Citadel and lower town' etc.
2. In 1931, N.G.Majumdar found Chanhudaro where they found 'Evidence of Bead making', 'footprint of dog and cat' etc.
3. In 1953 Kalibangan been discovered and there they found 'Fire alter', 'Camel bones', 'Wooden plough' etc.
4. In 1929, Sutkendgor was found which was a trade point between Harappa and Babylon.
5. In 1985 Dholavira was found which had 'water harnessing system' and 'water reservoir'. 

 Town planning of Indus Valley Civilization: -

Small Early Harappan villages had grown into sizable urban cities by 2600 BCE. These cities are Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi and Lothal in contemporary India, and Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in contemporary Pakistan. Over 1,052 towns and communities have been discovered in total, mostly around the Indus River and its tributaries.

• Grid System (like Chessboard) of town planning.
• Rectangular houses with brick-lined bathrooms and wells together with stairways are found.
• Use of Burnt bricks.
• Underground drainage system can be found.
• Granaries are an important part of this civilization.

Agriculture of Indus Valley Civilization

• Sindon – Cotton – Major trade good – earliest people to produce Cotton.
• Proofs of Rice husk can be found.
• Wheat and Barley were majorly cultivated.
• Use of wooden ploughshare. They had no idea about Iron implements.
• Objects found there are majorly of Steatite and Terracotta. 

Domestication of Animals

• Oxen, Buffalo, Goats, Sheep, and Pigs were domesticated.
• Asses and camels were used as Beasts of Burden.
• Elephants and Rhino were known.
• Remains of horses found in Surkotada and evidence of horses in Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal are also found.
• Unicorn is engraved in Pashupati seal.

About God

• They used to worship Nature (Maitri Devi and Shakti Devi).
• Male deity is represented as three horned head in a seal which is later called as Pashupati Mahadeva. 

Decline of Indus Valley Civilization:

 The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, remains a subject of scholarly debate, as there is no single agreed-upon explanation. Several factors may have contributed to the decline of this ancient civilization, which thrived in the Indian subcontinent from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Here are some proposed theories:

• Climate Change: Changes in the climate, such as a shift in the course of the rivers or prolonged droughts, may have affected the agricultural practices of the civilization. A decline in water availability could have led to crop failures and economic stress.
• River Changes: Alterations in the course of the Indus River or tectonic activities might have disrupted the irrigation systems crucial for agriculture in the region.
• Earthquakes: The region is prone to seismic activity, and a series of earthquakes could have damaged infrastructure, leading to a breakdown in the social order and economic activities.
• Internal Conflicts: Some researchers propose that internal conflicts, social unrest, or political upheavals within the civilization could have contributed to its decline. However, evidence supporting this theory is limited.
• Collapse of Centralized Authority: If there was a centralized authority governing the civilization, its collapse or weakening could have led to a breakdown in governance, law, and order.
• Invasion by Outside Groups: The possibility of invasions by outside groups, such as the Indo-Aryans, has been suggested. However, the evidence for violent invasions is not universally accepted, and some scholars argue for more gradual migrations or cultural assimilation.
• Trade Decline: A decline in long-distance trade routes or economic networks could have led to economic stagnation. Without external trade, the economy might have struggled to sustain itself.
• Epidemics: The spread of diseases could have had a devastating impact on the population, weakening the social structure and contributing to the decline.

It's important to note that these factors might not be mutually exclusive, and a combination of environmental, economic, and sociopolitical factors likely played a role in the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. The lack of decipherable written records from that time further complicates our understanding of the events leading to its decline. The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization remains one of the mysteries of ancient history.