Indus Valley
Indus
Civilisation is one of the four earliest civilisation of the world along with
the civilization of Mesopotamia (Tigris and Eugphrates), Egypt (Nile) and China
(Hwang Ho).
The
civilization forms part of the proto-history of India and belongs to the Bronze
age.
The most
accepted period is 2500- 1700 BC (by Carbon- 14 dating)
Dayaram
Sahni first discovered Harappa in 1921.
RD
Bannerjee discovered Mohenjodaro in 1922.
Geographical Extent:-
Covered parts
of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some parts of western UP.
Major sites in Pakistan are Harappa (on Ravi
in Western Punjab), Mohenjodaro (on Indus), Chanhu-daro (Sindh), etc. In India
major sites are Lothal, Rangpur and Surkotda (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan),
Banwani (Hissar) and Alamgirpur (Western UP).
Town Planning:-
Elaborate
town-planning. It follows the grid system. Roads well cut, dividing the town
into large rectangular blocks.
Used burnt
bricks of good quality.
Good drainage system.
In
Mohenjodaro, a big public bath (Great Bath) measuring 12 m by 7 m and 2.4 m
deep, has been found.
Agriculture:-
Grew wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesamum,
mustard, rice (in Lothal), cotton (first to produce cotton), dates, melon, etc…
Used wooden ploughs.
Art and Craft:-
The Harappan Culture belongs to the Bronze
Age.
Potter’s
wheel was in use.
Bronze
image of the famous dancing girl (identified as devadasi) has been found at
Mohenjodaro.
Economic Life:-
Barter
system was there. 16 was the unit of measurement.
Harappan
seals (made of steatite, had design on side) and other material has been found
at Mesopotamia.
Religious Life:-
Main object of worship was the Mother Goddess.
Phallus
(lingam) and yoni worship was also prevalent.
Many trees
(pipal), animals (bull), birds (dove, pigeon) and stones were worshipped.
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