Category Ancient India

Why is the Indus Valley Civilization said to be the largest ancient civilization?

       Do you know how large the largest civilization of the ancient world was? The Indus Valley Civilization covered an area the size of Western Europe! It spread across over 1.3 million square kilometres of land! It was spread out over what is today Pakistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

       It has been discovered that the Indus Valley Civilization stretched from Jammu and Kashmir in the north, to the Narmada in the south, and from the Makran coast of Baluchisthan in the west to the River Yamuna in the east.

       Over 1000 sites have been discovered, belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Is it any wonder that it was considered the largest of the four ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China?

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What kinds of ornaments did the people of the civilization wear?

Do you like to wear ornaments? It is believed that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization were also fond of dressing up and wearing ornaments. Archaeological discoveries from this period suggest that both men and women wore jewellery. Necklaces, beads and amulets were made from gold, silver and semi-precious stones, including carnelian, turquoise and lapis lazuli.

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How well designed were the cities of Harappa?

       The cities of Harappa were well planned, and even had covered drains like those of modern cities. Large areas were built with bricks of the same size and weight. They used kilns to make bricks and used burnt bricks, in domestic and public buildings.

      A Harappan city was divided into two parts. At the centre was the massive citadel. It had temples and granaries, an assembly hall and baths. Around it was what is known as the lower town. The streets were straight and broad.

They were paved, and laid at right angles to each other. The houses had protection against noise, odours, and thieves. Houses faced streets, and were at least two stories high. They had brick staircases leading to the upper levels and the roof.

       Life was centred around an enclosed courtyard, and there was a balcony over the courtyard. Each house had its own well, and one even had a large bathtub!

Picture Credit : Google

 

What was the Harappan language like?

       The Harappans knew how to write, and over 2,000 stone seals have been found in the Indus Valley. These seals were small tablets, which left an impression when pressed into a soft substance like clay. They were quadrangular in shape. These seals are some form of writing, but unfortunately, they have not been deciphered yet.

      Harappan writing consists of short strings of symbols. Some say that each symbol represents a picture or idea; others say it represents a sound. The fact, however, is that no one has actually been able to understand or read the writing of the Harappans.

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Did agriculture flourish in the Harappan Civilization?

       One of the most fascinating, yet mysterious cultures of the ancient world is the Harappan Civilization. This culture existed along the Indus River in present day Pakistan. It was named after the city of Harappa, which was the first city of the Indus Valley Civilization to be discovered.

       Farming was an important part of the Harappa way of life. There was plenty of water for good farming. By 4000 BC, people farmed along the banks of the Indus River and by 3000 BC, irrigation began. People also farmed along tributaries, which are small rivers and streams that flow into a larger river. Earthen bunds were also built to control the river’s annual flooding. The farmers ploughed their fields, probably using wooden ploughs. Using a plough made it much easier to grow more crops. The crops that were grown included wheat, barley, peas, melons, rice and sesame. This civilization was the first to cultivate cotton for the production of cloth. Several animals were also domesticated, including the elephant, which was used for its ivory.

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Did the Indus Valley hold some large ancient cities?

       Did you know that some of the cities of the Indus Valley had between 35,000 and 40,000 people living in them? Some of these cities were as big as some modern cities!

       The most important cities were Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Chanhudaro, Kalibangan, Banawali, Lothal, Dholavira, Sutkagendor and Surkotada. The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were well planned and solidly built of brick and stone. They had drainage systems, wells and water storage systems, as well as systems for weights and trade. The people made jewellery and toys for their children, and even developed a system of writing, which we unfortunately have not been able to decipher until today.

Picture Credit : Google