Indus Civilisation
Class 6 | Social Science — History | Unit 3
Class 6 Unit 3 History
Unit 3 Indus Civilisation
Learning Objectives
To learn how Indus Civilisation is related to other contemporary civilisations
To understand the urban nature of the Indus Civilisation
To know the lifestyle of the people of this civilisation
To identify and study the major sites of Indus Civilisation
To mark their geographical location in maps
All these civilisations were established only in places near the rivers, most commonly along their banks.
Time line
Initially, people lived in groups. Then they formed communities out of these groups. Then evolved the societies which in due course become civilisations.
Why did people settle near rivers?
People preferred to settle near the rivers for the reasons given below.
The soil is fertile.
Fresh water is available for drinking, watering livestock and irrigation.
Easy movement of people and goods is possible.
Discovery of a lost city – Harappa
The ruins of Harappa were first described by the British East India Company soldier and explorer Charles Masson in his book. When he visited the North-West Frontier Province which is now in Pakistan, he came across some mysterious brick mounds. He wrote that he saw a "ruined brick castle with very high walls and towers built on a hill". This was the earliest historical record of the existence of Harappa.
In 1856 when engineers laid a railway line connecting Lahore to Karachi, they discovered more burnt bricks. Without understanding their significance, they used the bricks for laying the rail road. In the 1920s archaeologists began to excavate the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro. They unearthed the remains of these long-forgotten cities. In 1924 the Director General of A S I, Sir John Marshall, found many common features between Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. He concluded that they were part of a large civilisation. Some slight differences are found in the earthenwares of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. This made the researchers conclude that Harappa was older than Mohenjo-Daro.
Do You Know?
The Archaeological Survey of India (A S I) was started in 1861 with Alexander Cunningham as Surveyor. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
How do archaeologists explore a lost city?
Archaeologists study the physical objects such as bricks, stones or bits of broken pottery (sherds) to ascertain the location of the city and time that it belongs to.
They search the ancient literary sources for references about the place.
They look at aerial photographs of the excavation sites or cities to understand the topography.
To see under the ground, they may use a magnetic scanner
The presence and absence of archeological remains can be detected by RADAR and Remote Sensing Methods.
Sites in Indian borders
Archaeologists found major Harappan sites within Indian borders. Observe the picture and fill the tabular column.
| Name of the place | Name of the state | Important finds |
|---|
| | |
| | |
| | |
Time Span of Indus Civilisation
Geographical range: South Asia
Period: Bronze Age
Time: 3300 to1900 BC(BCE) (determined using the radiocarbon dating method)
Area: 13 lakhs square kilometre.
Cities: 6 big cities
Villages: More than 200
Urban Civilisation
Harappan civilisation is said to be urban because of the following reasons.
Well-conceived town planning
Astonishing masonry and architecture
Priority for hygiene and public health
Standardized weights and measures
Solid agricultural and artisanal base
Unique Features of Harappan Civilisation
Town planning is a unique feature of the Indus Civilisation. The Harappan city had two planned areas.
Mehergarh – the Precursor to Indus Civilisation
Mehergarh is a Neolithic site. It is located near the Bolan Basin of Balochistan in Pakistan. It is one of the earliest sites known. It shows evidence of farming and herding done by man in very early times. Archaeological evidence suggests that Neolithic culture existed in Mehergarh as early as 7000 BC (BCE).
Streets and Houses
The streets are observed to have a grid pattern. They were straight running from north to south and east to west and intersected each other at right angles. The roads were wide with rounded corners. Houses were built on both sides of the street. The houses were either one or two storeys. Most of the houses had many rooms, a courtyard and a well. Each house had toilets and bathrooms. The houses were built using baked bricks and mortar. Sun-dried bricks were also used. Most of the bricks were of uniform size. Roofs were flat. There is no conclusive evidence of the presence of palaces or places of worship.
Do You Know?
Do you know why burnt bricks are used in construction? They are strong, hard, durable, resistant to fire and will not dissolve in water or rain.
Info Bits
Bronze Age
It is a historical period characterised by the use of articles made of bronze.
Drainage System
Many of these cities had covered drains. The drains were covered with slabs or bricks. Each drain had a gentle slope so that water could flow. Holes were provided at regular intervals to clear the drains. House drains passed below many lanes before finally emptying into the main drains. Every house had its own soak pit, which collected all the sediments and allowed only the water to flow into the street drain.
The Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro)
The great bath was a large, rectangular tank in a courtyard. It may be the earliest example of a water-proof structure. The bath was lined with bricks, coated with plaster and made water-tight using layers of natural bitumen. There were steps on the north and south leading into the tank. There were rooms on three sides. Water was drawn from the well located in the courtyard and drained out after use.
The Great Granary (Harappa)
The granary was a massive building with a solid brick foundation. Granaries were used to store food grain. The remains of wheat, barley, millets, sesame and pulses have been found there. A granary with walls made of mud bricks, which are still in a good condition, has been discovered in Rakhigarhi, a village in Haryana, belonging to mature Harappan phase.
The Assembly Hall
The Assembly Hall was another huge public building at Mohenjo-Daro. It was a multi-pillared hall (20 pillars in 4 rows to support the roof).
Trade and Transport
Harappans were great traders. Standardised weights and measures were used by them. They used sticks with marks to measure length. They used carts with spokeless solid wheels. There is evidence for extensive maritime trade with Mesopotamia. Indus Seals have been found as far as Mesopotamia (Sumer) which are modern-day Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Syria. King Naram-Sin of Akkadian Empire (Sumerian) bought jewelry from the land of Melukha (a region of the Indus Valley) was mentioned in an epic regarding Naram-Sin. Cylindrical seals similar to those found in Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia have also been found in the Indus area. This shows the trade links between these two areas. A naval dockyard has been discovered in Lothal in Gujarat. It shows the maritime activities of the Indus people.
Dockyard at Lothal
Lothal is situated on the banks of a tributary of Sabarmati River in Gujarat.
Leader in Mohenjo-Daro
A sculpture of a seated male has been unearthed in a building, with a head band on the forehead and a smaller ornament on the right upper arm. His hair is carefully combed, and beard finely trimmed. Two holes beneath the ears suggest that the head ornament might have been attached till the ear. The left shoulder is covered with a shawl-like garment decorated with designs of flowers and rings. This shawl pattern is used by people even today in those areas.
Technology
Indus people had developed a system of standardised weights and measures. Ivory scale found in Lothal in Gujarat is 1704mm (the smallest division ever recorded on a scale of other contemporary civilisations).
Info Bits
The word 'civilisation' comes from the ancient Latin word civics, which means 'city'.
Do You Know?
This little statue was found at Mohenjo-Daro. When Sir John Marshall saw the statuette known as the dancing girl, he said, "When I first saw them, I found it difficult to believe that they were pre-historic modeling. Such as this was unknown in the ancient worlds up to the age of Greece. I thought that these figures had found their way into levels some 3000 years old to which they properly belonged".
Do You Know?
KVT Complex (Korkai-Vanji-Thondi) spread over Afghanistan and Pakistan has many places, names of those were mentioned in sangam literature. Korkai, Vanji, Tondi, Matrai, Urai and Kudalgarh are the names of places in Pakistan. Gurkay and Pumpuhar in Afghanistan are related to the cities and ports mentioned in the Sangam Age. The names of the rivers Kawri and Poruns in Afghanistan and the rivers kaweri wala and phornai in Pakistan also occur in sangam literature.
The hidden treasures of the Indus civilisation
Do You Know?
Inscriptions (written in a script of those times) can provide us information about customs, practices and other aspects of any place or time. So far, the Indus script has not been deciphered. Therefore, we must look for other clues to know about the Indus people and their lifestyle.
Apparel
Cotton fabrics were in common use. Clay spindles unearthed suggest that yarn was spun. Wool was also used.
Love and peace
Settlements were built on giant platforms and elevated grounds. The Indus Civilisation seems to have been a peaceful one. Few weapons were found and there is no evidence of an army. They displayed their status with garments and precious jewellery. They had an advanced civic sense.
Ornaments
Ornaments were popular among men and women. They adorned themselves with necklaces, armlets, bangles, finger rings, ear studs and anklets. The ornaments were made of gold, silver, ivory, shell, copper, terracotta and precious stones.
Horse and iron were unknown to the people of Indus.
Do You Know?
Indus people used the red quartz stone called Carnelian to design jewellery.
Info Bits
Copper was the first metal discovered and used by humans.
Who Governed them?
Historians believe that there existed a central authority that controlled planning of towns and overseas trade, maintenance of drainage and peace in the city.
Occupation
The main occupation of the Indus Civilisation people is not known. However, agriculture, handicrafts, pottery making, jewellery making, weaving, carpentry and trading were practiced. There were merchants, traders and artisans. Rearing of cattle was another occupation. People of those times knew how to use the potter's wheel. They reared domesticated animals.
Pottery
Pottery was practiced using the potter's wheel. It was well fired. Potteries were red in colour with beautiful designs in black. The broken pieces of pottery have animal figures and geometric designs on it.
Religious Belief
We don't have any evidence pointing to specific deities or their religious practices. There might have been worship of Mother Goddess (which symbolized fertility), which is concluded based upon the excavation of several female figurines.
Toy Culture
Toys like carts, cows with movable heads and limbs, clay balls, tiny doll, a small clay monkey, terracotta squirrels eating a nut, clay dogs and male dancer have been found. They made various types of toys using terracotta, which show that they enjoyed playing.
Info Bits
The earliest form of writing was developed by Sumerians.
What happened to Harappans?
By 1900 BCE, the Harappan culture had started declining. It is assumed that the civilisation met with repeated floods ecological changes invasions natural calamity climatic changes deforestation an epidemic
Do You Know?
Archaeological site at Mohenjo-Daro has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Do You Know?
Radiocarbon Dating Method: A Standard Tool for Archaeologists
Also known as C14 method, the radiocarbon method uses the radioactive isotope of carbon called carbon14 to determine the age of an object.
General Facts about Indus Civilisation
It is among the oldest in the world.
It is also the largest among four ancient civilisations.
The world's first planned cities are found in this civilisation.
The Indus also had advanced sanitation and drainage system.
There was a high sense of awareness on public health.
Summary
When man began to live in a settled life, it marked the dawn of civilisation. River valleys were responsible for the growth of civilisation. Harappan culture was mainly urban in nature. Cities were well planned with covered drainage and straight wide roads, cutting each other at right angles. The people of that time had great engineering skills. The Great Bath is one of the earliest public tanks. The civilisation extended from:
Makran coast of Baluchistan in the west.
Ghaggar-Hakra river valley in the east.
Afghanistan in the north east.
Maharashtra in the south.
Glossary
Archaeologist one who studies the remains of the past by excavations and exploration Excavate to uncover by digging away Urbanisation population shift from rural areas to urban areas Pictograph a record consisting of pictorial symbols Steatite a soft variety of talc stone Spindles a device used to spin clothes Bitumen water-proof tar Artefact an object shaped by human craft of historical interest Dockyard an enclosed area of water in a port for loading, unloading and repair of ships Seal an embossed emblem, figure or symbol
Elsewhere in the World
The Great Pyramid of Giza built by king Khufu in 2500 BCE, built with lime stone.
Mesopotamia (Sumerian period) Ur Ziggurat built by king Ur Nammu in Honour of the Moon God Sin.
Abu Simbel Site of two temples built by Egyptian king Ramises II.
Exercises
Exercise 1. Choose the correct answer
1. What metals were known to the people of Indus Civilization?
a. Copper, bronze, silver, gold, but not iron b. Copper, silver, iron, but not bronze c. Copper, gold, iron, but not silver d. Copper, silver, iron, but not gold
2. Indus Civilisation belonged to
a. old Stone age b. Medieval stone age c. new stone age d. Metal age
3. River valleys are said to be the cradle of civilisation because
a. Soil is very fertile. b. They experience good climate. c. They are useful for transportation. d. Many civilisations flourished on river valleys. Exercise 2. Match the Statement with the Reason. Tick the appropriate answer
1. Statement: Harappan civilization is said to be an urban civilization.
Reason: It has well planned cities with advanced drainage system.
a. Statement and reason are correct. b. Statement is wrong. c. Statement is true, but the reason is wrong. d. Both statement and reason are wrong.
2. Statement: Harappan civilization belongs to Bronze Age.
Reason: Harappans did not know the use of iron.
a. Statement and reason are correct. b. Statement is wrong. c. Statement is correct, but the reason is wrong. d. Both statement and reason are wrong.
3. Statement: The engineering skill of Harappans was remarkable.
Reason: Building of docks after a careful study of tides, waves and currents.
a. Statement and reason are correct. b. Statement is wrong. c. Statement is correct, but the reason is wrong. d. Both statement and reason are wrong.
4. Which of the following statements about Mohenjo-Daro is correct?
a. gold ornaments were unknown. b. Houses were made of burnt bricks. c. Implements were made of iron. d. Great Bath was made water tight with the layers of natural bitumen
5. Consider the following statements.
1. Uniformity in layout of town, streets, and brick sizes
2. An elaborate and well laid out drainage system
3. Granaries constituted an important part of Harappan Cities
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. 1&2 b. 1&3 c. 2&3 d. all the three
6. Circle the odd one
Oxen, sheep, buffaloes, pigs, horses
7. Find out the wrong pair
a. A S I - John Marshall b. Citadel - Granaries c. Lothal - Dockyard d. Harappan civilization - River Cauvery Exercise 3. Fill in the Blanks
1. is the oldest civilisation.
2. Archaeological Survey of India was founded by
3. were used to store grains.
4. Group of people form
Exercise 4. State True or False 1. Mehergarh is a Neolithic site. 2. Archaeological survey of India is responsible for preservation of cultural monuments in the country. 3. Granaries were used to store grains. 4. The earliest form of writings was developed by Chinese. Exercise 5. Match the following
| Mohenjo-Daro | |
| Bronze | |
| Citadel | |
| Carnelian | |
Options: raised platform, red quartz stone, alloy, mound of dead
Exercise 6. Answer in one or two sentences
1. What are the uses of metal?
2. Make a list of baked and raw foods that we eat.
3. Do we have the practice of worshipping animals and trees?
4. River valleys are cradles of civilisation. Why?
5. Just because a toy move doesn't mean its modern. What did they use instead of batteries?
6. Dog was the first animal to be tamed. Why?
7. If you were an archaeologist, what will you do?
8. Name any two Indus sites located in the Indian border.
9. In Indus civilisation, which feature you like the most? Why?
10. What instrument is used nowadays to weigh things?
Exercise 7. Answer the following
1. What method is used to explore buried buildings nowadays?
2. Why Indus Civilisation is called Bronze Age civilisation?
3. Indus Civilisation is called urban civilisation. Give reasons.
4. Can you point out the special features of their drainage system?
5. What do you know about the Great Bath?
6. How do you know that Indus people traded with other countries?
Exercise 8. HOTS
1. Observe the following features of Indus Civilisation and compare that with the present day.
a. Lamp post
b. Burnt bricks
c. Underground drainage system
d. Weights and measurement
e. Dockyard
2. Agriculture was one of their occupations. How can you prove this? (with the findings)
3. Many potteries and its pieces have been discovered from Indus sites. What do you know from that?
4. A naval dockyard has been discovered in Lothal. What does it convey?
5. Can you guess what happened to the Harappans?
Exercise 9. Student Activity
1. Prepare a scrap book. (Containing more information about objects collected from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.)
2. You are a young archaeologist working at a site that was once an Indus city. What will you collect?
3. Make flash cards. (Take square cards and stick picture in one card and the information for the same picture in another card. Circulate among the groups and tell them to match the picture with information.)
4. Draw your imaginary town planning in a chart.
5. Make a model of any one structure of Indus Civilisation using clay, broken pieces of bangles, matchsticks, woolen thread and ice cream sticks.
6. Can you imagine how toys have changed through the ages? Collect toys made of Clay, stone, wood, metal, plastic, fur, electric, electronic.
7. Crossword puzzle.
Top to Bottom
1. Director General of A S I.
2. _____ is older than Mohenjo-Daro.
3. This is _____ age civilisation.
4. Each house had a _____.
Left to Right
5. Place used to store grains.
6. A dockyard has been found.
7. _____ is unknown to Indus people.
8. It is used to make water tight.
Right to Left
9. From this we can get lot of information.
10. This is responsible for research.
Exercise Rapid Fire Quiz (Do it in groups)
1. Which crop did Indus people use to make clothes?
2. Which was the first Indus city discovered?
3. Where was Indus Civilisation?
4. Which animal was used to pull carts?
5. Which metal was unknown to Indus people?
6. What was used to make pots?
7. Which is considered the largest civilisation among four ancient civilisations of the world?
Exercise 10. Life skill
1. Making an animal or a pot out of clay.
2. Making terracotta toy with movable limbs.
3. Pot painting (with geometric pattern).
4. Make informational charts and posters.
Exercise 11. Map Work
1. Mark any four Indus sites located within the Indian border.
2. On the river map of India, colour the places where Indus civilisation spread.
3. Mark the following places in the given India map:
a. Mohenjo-Daro
b. Chanhudaro
c. Harappa
d. Mehergarh
e. Lothal
Exercise 12. Answer Grid
What did Charles Masson see?
Answer:
List three things' people used which we use today?
Answer:
What else has been found?
Answer:
Can you say three things unknown to Indus people?
Answer:
Which metal was unknown to Indus people?
Answer:
Which is the oldest civilisation in the world?
Answer:
Why dog was the first animal to be tamed?
Answer:
Who were the first people to grow cotton?
Answer:
Which institution is responsible for archaeological research?
Answer:
Was there any river valley civilisation found in Tamil Nadu?
Answer:
Name any two Harappan sites which were found in Indian border?
Answer:
Can we say the Indus cities as cities of children?
Answer:
Internet Resources
1. http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/harappa.html
2. http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifact/harappa-mohenjodaro.html
3. http://en.m.wikipedia.org
4. www.harappa.com
Book-back Exercises — Questions & Answers
Answers generated strictly from the Samacheer Kalvi textbook content. Attempt each question first, then click "Show Answer" to check.
1. Choose the correct answer
1. What metals were known to the people of Indus Civilization?
a) Copper, bronze, silver, gold, but not iron b) Copper, silver, iron, but not bronze c) Copper, gold, iron, but not silver d) Copper, silver, iron, but not gold
Answer: a) Copper, bronze, silver, gold, but not iron
Explanation: The chapter mentions that horse and iron were unknown to the people of Indus. The civilization belonged to the Bronze Age period.
2. Indus Civilisation belonged to
a) old Stone age b) Medieval stone age c) new stone age d) Metal age
Answer: d) Metal age
Explanation: The chapter states that the Indus Civilisation belonged to the Bronze Age, which is part of the Metal age period (3300 to 1900 BC).
3. River valleys are said to be the cradle of civilisation because
a) Soil is very fertile b) They experience good climate c) They are useful for transportation d) Many civilisations flourished on river valleys
Answer: d) Many civilisations flourished on river valleys
Explanation: The chapter states that all ancient civilisations were established only in places near rivers, along their banks, making river valleys cradles of civilisation.
2. Match the Statement with the Reason. Tick the appropriate answer
1. Statement: Harappan civilization is said to be an urban civilization. Reason: It has well planned cities with advanced drainage system.
a) Statement and reason are correct b) Statement is wrong c) Statement is true, but the reason is wrong d) Both statement and reason are wrong
Answer: a) Statement and reason are correct
Explanation: The chapter states that Harappan civilisation is urban because of well-conceived town planning and its drainage system features.
2. Statement: Harappan civilization belongs to Bronze Age. Reason: Harappans did not know the use of iron.
a) Statement and reason are correct b) Statement is wrong c) Statement is correct, but the reason is wrong d) Both statement and reason are wrong
Answer: a) Statement and reason are correct
Explanation: The chapter mentions the civilization belonged to Bronze Age (3300 to 1900 BC) and states that iron was unknown to the people of Indus.
3. Statement: The engineering skill of Harappans was remarkable. Reason: Building of docks after a careful study of tides, waves and currents.
a) Statement and reason are correct b) Statement is wrong c) Statement is correct, but the reason is wrong d) Both statement and reason are wrong
Answer: a) Statement and reason are correct
Explanation: The chapter mentions that a naval dockyard was discovered in Lothal, demonstrating their remarkable engineering skills in maritime activities.
4. Which of the following statements about Mohenjo-Daro is correct?
a) gold ornaments were unknown b) Houses were made of burnt bricks c) Implements were made of iron d) Great Bath was made water tight with the layers of natural bitumen
Answer: d) Great Bath was made water tight with the layers of natural bitumen
Explanation: The chapter specifically states that the Great Bath was made water-tight using layers of natural bitumen.
5. Consider the following statements. 1. Uniformity in layout of town, streets, and brick sizes 2. An elaborate and well laid out drainage system 3. Granaries constituted an important part of Harappan Cities Which of the above statements are correct?
a) 1&2 b) 1&3 c) 2&3 d) all the three
Answer: d) all the three
Explanation: The chapter mentions uniform brick sizes, covered drainage systems, and granaries as important features of Harappan cities.
6. Circle the odd one: Oxen, sheep, buffaloes, pigs, horses
Answer: horses
Explanation: The chapter states that horse was unknown to the people of Indus, while other animals were domesticated by them.
7. Find out the wrong pair
a) A S I - John Marshall b) Citadel - Granaries c) Lothal - Dockyard d) Harappan civilization - River Cauvery
Answer: d) Harappan civilization - River Cauvery
Explanation: Harappan civilization was located along the Indus river system, not River Cauvery which is in South India.
3. Fill in the Blanks
1. _____ is the oldest civilisation.
Answer: Indus
2. Archaeological Survey of India was founded by _____
Answer: Alexander Cunningham
3. _____ were used to store grains.
Answer: Granaries
4. Group of people form _____
Answer: communities
4. State True or False
1. Mehergarh is a Neolithic site.
Answer: True
2. Archaeological survey of India is responsible for preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Answer: True
3. Granaries were used to store grains.
Answer: True
4. The earliest form of writings was developed by Chinese.
Answer: False
5. Match the following
5. Match the Following
| Mohenjo-Daro | raised platform |
| Bronze | red quartz stone |
| Citadel | alloy |
| Carnelian | mound of dead |
Answers: 1-mound of dead, 2-alloy, 3-raised platform, 4-red quartz stone
6. Answer in one or two sentences
1. What are the uses of metal?
Answer: Metals were used to make ornaments like necklaces, armlets, bangles, finger rings, ear studs and anklets. They were also used to make articles and implements.
4. River valleys are cradles of civilisation. Why?
Answer: People settled near rivers because the soil is fertile, fresh water is available for drinking and irrigation, and easy movement of people and goods is possible.
6. Dog was the first animal to be tamed. Why?
Answer: Refer to the chapter text for this answer.
8. Name any two Indus sites located in the Indian border.
Answer: Lothal and Rakhigarhi are two major Harappan sites found within Indian borders.
7. Answer the following
2. Why Indus Civilisation is called Bronze Age civilisation?
Answer: Indus Civilisation is called Bronze Age civilisation because it belonged to the Bronze Age period (3300 to 1900 BC). Bronze Age is a historical period characterised by the use of articles made of bronze. The people knew metals like copper, bronze, silver and gold but iron was unknown to them.
3. Indus Civilisation is called urban civilisation. Give reasons.
Answer: Harappan civilisation is called urban because of well-conceived town planning, astonishing masonry and architecture, priority for hygiene and public health, standardized weights and measures, and solid agricultural and artisanal base. The cities had proper street planning with grid pattern and advanced drainage systems.
4. Can you point out the special features of their drainage system?
Answer: Many cities had covered drains covered with slabs or bricks. Each drain had a gentle slope so water could flow. Holes were provided at regular intervals to clear the drains. House drains passed below lanes before emptying into main drains. Every house had its own soak pit which collected sediments and allowed only water to flow into street drains.
5. What do you know about the Great Bath?
Answer: The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank in a courtyard at Mohenjo-Daro. It may be the earliest example of a water-proof structure. The bath was lined with bricks, coated with plaster and made water-tight using layers of natural bitumen. There were steps on north and south leading into the tank with rooms on three sides.
6. How do you know that Indus people traded with other countries?
Answer: Evidence shows extensive maritime trade with Mesopotamia. Indus Seals have been found as far as Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Syria). King Naram-Sin of Akkadian Empire bought jewelry from Melukha (Indus Valley region). Cylindrical seals similar to Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia were found in Indus area. A naval dockyard was discovered in Lothal, Gujarat.
📝 Summary
- The Indus Civilisation was a Bronze Age urban civilisation that existed from 3300 to 1900 BC, covering an area of 13 lakhs square kilometres across South Asia with 6 big cities and more than 200 villages.
- The civilisation was discovered when Charles Masson first described Harappa ruins, and later in the 1920s archaeologists excavated Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, with Sir John Marshall concluding they were part of a large civilisation in 1924.
- People settled near rivers because the soil was fertile, fresh water was available for drinking and irrigation, and easy movement of people and goods was possible along the riverbanks.
- The Harappan civilisation is considered urban due to its well-conceived town planning, astonishing masonry and architecture, priority for hygiene and public health, standardized weights and measures, and solid agricultural base.
- Mehergarh, located near the Bolan Basin of Balochistan in Pakistan, served as the precursor to Indus Civilisation and shows archaeological evidence of Neolithic culture existing as early as 7000 BC with evidence of early farming and herding.