HISTORY CLASS 3
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Harappan Script:
- · Very limited scripts because most of them are depicted on seals, no inscriptional evidence.
- · Symbolic in nature: gives meaning but not yet deciphered.
- · Around 40 – 50 seals are identified.
- · The script is not alphabetical but mainly pictographic.
- · Written from right to left then left to right – BOUSTEROPHEDON
There were few theories where Indus Valley Civilization was related to Dravidians because a doll based on the letter of Tamil language ‘tha’ was found and that happened during Indus Valley Civilization.
Dravidian – ethically and linguistically united; another definition that goes is people who speak in Tamil and other related languages. Evidence for this can be found in literature of Ancient Tamil. While in Southern part of India, Aryan culture was introduced in Sangam Age by Mudukudumi Peruvazhuthi who was grandson of Pandian King of Madurai.
While inscriptional evidence was found outside India (Syria, Mesopotamia) about Aryans and their origin, which shows Aryan people were someone who came to India. Whereas Indus Valley Civilization was based on archeological evidence and excavation.
Occupation during IVC:
- · Bronze smiths – important group – involved even in building and construction work
- · Weavers wove cloth of wool and cotton NOTE: India was known for cotton. Among the Greeks, Indus River was known as Sindhu which in Greek Sindhon is called cotton.
- · Brick laying was an important craft. As we can see, they have well planned highly developed engineering technology.
- · Boat making (for trade with outside people), bead making, seal making, terracotta manufacture was also important crafts.
NOTE: Uniform and backed bricks with numbering was first found here.
HARAPPA:
- · Important center of Indus Valley Civilization
- · Situated on the right bank of river Ravi in Montgomery District in West Punjab – present day Pakistan
- · Excavated by Dayaram Sahni in 1921.
- · Known as ‘city of granaries’ as 12 granaries were found in two rows (each had six)
- · In Rigveda, Harappa has been written as ‘Hariyupaya’
Interpretation:
Sanskrit was a language which evolved in Central Asia and Western Asia, Syria, etc... It was developed through Aryans in the Mesopotamian region (settled here)
Zend Avesta – religious text which have the proof of Aryans existence. They were not technically strong but they were strong in defense oriented. So, it was believed that Aryans came and invaded the place, dethroned Indus Valley Civilization people.
Peculiar things noticed here in Harappan region:
- · H type cemetery was found outside citadel. Has never existed in Harappan culture.
- · Establishes the fact that Harappan must have been attacked by foreigners
NOTE: Phallus worship, painted pottery, mother goddess, dices were also found
MOHENJADARO:
- · Means ‘mound of the dead’.
- · Huge no. of skeletons in a single place were found. They were also found to be wounded or hurt.
- · Third largest site. 1st and 2nd go to Rakhigarbhi and Dholaviva respectively
- · Most populated city.
- · Biggest granary called ‘The Great Granary’.
- · Had big assembly, Big Temple like structure but never had idols, and even Great Bath but its actual purpose was never found.
- · Seals made of soft rocks called Steatites were found here. These kinds of rocks are found in Iran and Afghanistan.
- · The seal of Pashupati (Mahadev) with four animals (buffalo, rhino, elephant and a tiger) standing in four different directions with two deer at his feet was also found - also shows domestication of animals (interpretation).
- · Pashupati is shown with two horns and three faces and is also found in the posture of deep meditation i.e; proto-Shiva formation. Evidence found in Mohenjo-Daro.
- · Bronze image of a dancing girl, a piece of cloth, scale for measuring distance, seal with a representation of horse (used for carrying load) were also found in Mohenjo-Daro.
- · The cities on bank of river Indus were prone to floods.
- · Mohenjo-Daro was flooded seven times and reconstructed seven times.
- · While excavating, they found one mud city next to another. Shows that people migrated from one place to another due to floods in one region.
CHANHUDARO:
- · Least developed among the sites in the Indus Valley Civilization.
- · Only site built without a citadel.
- · The buildings here was built on stones.
- · Situated on the right bank of river Indus, south of Mohenjo-Daro
- · Excavated by M.G.Majumdar in 1931
- · Was flooded thrice
- · Ink pot was discovered.
KALIBANGAN:
- · Witnessed both stages of culture (Proto Harappan and Harappan)
- · One of the oldest cities in India.
- · Important sites for bangles and beads manufacture.
- · Situated on the banks of river Ghagar in Rajasthan.
- · Evidence of wooden ploughed field signifies cultivation of developed level.
- · Kalibangan culture is also called Sothi (Afghanistan) culture.
LOTHAL:
- · Located on the banks of Cambay in Gujarat
- · NOTE: maximum no. of Indus Valley sites are located in Gujarat.
- · Excavated by S.R. Rao
- · First known/ earliest sea port in Indian history with an artificially built Naval dockyard.
- · First to cultivate rice by 1800 BC.
- · Major center for trade and commerce especially with Persia.
- · Fire altars were found here representing fire cults.
- · People here did coastal trade and were also aware about boat making and ship making industry.
DHOLAVIRA:
- · Has a water reservoir and a dam.
- · Has a huge stadium for playing purpose.
- · Was divided into three parts: lower town, middle town and upper town.
DECLINE OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION:
- · Aryan invasion theory, supporting evidence from Mohenjo-Daro. Multiple wounded dead bodies at one place.
- · Destruction of sites due to floods (Mohenjo-Daro was destroyed by floods)
- · Tectonic plates and earthquakes (evidence from Kalibangan)
- · Another theory which was also widelywas ecological theory, this is mainly due to deforestation (affects rainfall), mud taken from rivers (changes the course of river)
Content credits: Leo Tejasveena
