Indus Valley Civilization - Points to Remember for UPSC Civil Services Exam

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Indus Valley Civilization - Points to Remember
for UPSC Civil Services Exam

• The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze
  Age civilization (2600-1900 BCE) extending from
  what today is North-east Afghanistan to Pakistan
  and North-west India. It flourished in the
  basins of the Indus River, one of the major
  rivers of Asia, and the Ghaggar-Hakra River,
  that once coursed through North-west India and
  Eastern Pakistan.
• The Early Harappan Period
• The characteristics of the early Harappan period
  are
• The diverse agriculture communities would have
  been living in and around the Indus region i.e.
  Baluchistan, Sindh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
• These small agricultural settlements emerged into
  distinct regional traditions.
• The use of similar kinds potteries,
  representations of a horned deity and finds of
  terracotta mother goddesses show the way to the
  emergence of a unifying tradition.
• Trading relations of Baluch people with the towns
  of Persian Gulf and Central Asia
• took place during this time.
• Technological advancements i.e. use of copper,
  bronze and stone tools led to greater
  exploitation of fertile plains that resulted in
  increased grain production. This created
  possibility for greater surpluses and thus
  development of trade relations with other
  countries.
• The larger surpluses would have permitted the
  elaboration of non-farming specialization.
• This is how emergence of priests, potters and
  craftsmen would have happened.
• Few early Harappan sites in Indus region are

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• Amri -gt Stone and mud brick houses Granaries
  fortification
• Kot-Diji -gt decorative pottery fortification
• Mehrgarh -gt prosperous town use of lapis-lazuli
  seals
• Kalibangan -gt mud bricks houses pottery in
  different shapes ploughed field surface.
• Emergence of the Harappan Civilization
• Some of the reasons that may have led to the
  emergence of the Harappan civilization are
• The Existence of many agricultural groups and
  pastoral nomadic communities were living in
  close contact with each other.
• This must have led to conflict among them.
• The agricultural communities would have fought
  with each other for the control of more fertile
  tracts of land which is the possible reason for
  defensive walls.
• This led to emergence of Mature Harappan period.
• Features of Harappan Civilization
• The Harappan society was characterized by the
  presence of
• specialized craftsmen,

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• During the civilization there were around 1000
  cities.
• Harappa
• It was the first site to be excavated.
• Substantial section of population was engaged in
  activities related to administration, trade,
  craft work or religion.
• It was located in the midst of some important
  trade routes of the world.
• Mohenjodaro
• It is the largest site of Harappan Civilization.
  It is also called Mound of the Dead.
• It is one of the worlds earliest major urban
  settlements.
• Kalibangan
• It has the largest concentration of the Harappan
  Civilization.
• Lothal

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