Ancient History Playlist
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1
Stone age
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2
Chalcolithic age(Copper Age)
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3
Indus Valley Civilization
5 topics
4
Vedic age
15 topics
5
The Mahajanapadas
8 topics
6
Buddhism and Jainism
16 topics
7
Mauryan Empire
11 topics
8
Post-Mauryan Period
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9
Gupta Period
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10
Post-Gupta Period
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Sangam Age
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Chapter 3: Indus Valley Civilization
Chapter Test5 topics•Estimated reading: 15 minutes
Indus Valley Civilization: Background and Origin
Key Point
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also called the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations (c. 2500–1750 BCE). It flourished in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, known for advanced city planning, trade, and craft specialization.
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also called the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations (c. 2500–1750 BCE). It flourished in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, known for advanced city planning, trade, and craft specialization.
Detailed Notes (16 points)
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Background
• The Indus Valley Civilization is considered a Bronze Age civilization.
• Flourished along the Indus River and its tributaries (Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Baluchistan).
• Named after the Indus River, first identified at Harappa in 1921.
• Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan) and Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan) were the first major sites excavated.
• Over 1,000 sites discovered across India and Pakistan.
• Known for urban planning, standardized weights, seals, and drainage systems.
Origin
• Developed from local Neolithic-Chalcolithic cultures in the northwestern region.
• Early Harappan (Pre-Harappan) phase (c. 3300–2600 BCE) shows transition from rural to urban settlements.
• Mature Harappan phase (c. 2600–1900 BCE) marked by planned cities, writing system, trade networks.
• Decline phase (c. 1900–1500 BCE) saw deurbanization, migration, and shift to rural life.
• Theories of origin include:
– Evolutionary Theory: Harappan culture evolved out of local Neolithic-Chalcolithic settlements (e.g., Mehrgarh).
– External Influence Theory: Contacts with Mesopotamia and other Bronze Age cultures influenced its growth.
– Most accepted view: It was primarily indigenous in origin with external trade connections.
Phases of Indus Valley Civilization
| Phase | Time Period | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Early Harappan (Pre-Harappan) | 3300–2600 BCE | Village settlements, pottery, trade beginnings |
| Mature Harappan | 2600–1900 BCE | Planned cities, script, seals, drainage, trade |
| Late Harappan (Decline) | 1900–1500 BCE | De-urbanization, rural settlements, cultural decline |
Fun Facts
The Harappans were the first to cultivate cotton, which the Greeks later called 'Sindon'.
Mohenjo-daro’s Great Bath is one of the earliest public water tanks in the world.
No temples have been found, suggesting a unique religious system compared to other Bronze Age cultures.
The standard weights and measures of Harappans indicate a highly regulated trade system.
Mains Key Points
IVC marks the first urbanization of the Indian subcontinent with advanced town planning.
Its origin was largely indigenous, rooted in Neolithic-Chalcolithic cultures like Mehrgarh.
The civilization shows a unique blend of agriculture, craft specialization, and trade.
Religion was different from later Vedic traditions, with fertility cults and proto-Shiva worship.
Its decline highlights the role of environmental and economic factors in civilizational shifts.
Prelims Strategy Tips
Harappa discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni; Mohenjo-daro in 1922 by R.D. Banerjee.
Mehrgarh (7000 BCE) is considered a precursor to Harappan culture.
Indus Civilization flourished mainly between 2600–1900 BCE.
It is a Bronze Age civilization with extensive trade links to Mesopotamia.
Important Indus Valley Civilization Sites
Key Point
The Indus Valley Civilization had over 1,000 sites spread across modern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Each major site has distinctive features that reveal the diversity and advancement of Harappan culture.
The Indus Valley Civilization had over 1,000 sites spread across modern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Each major site has distinctive features that reveal the diversity and advancement of Harappan culture.
Detailed Notes (31 points)
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Major Sites and Features
# Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan)
• First site discovered in 1921 (Daya Ram Sahni).
• Granaries, seals, citadel, cemetery R-37.
• Evidence of bangles, beads, and terracotta figurines.
# Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan)
• Discovered in 1922 (R.D. Banerjee).
• Great Bath, Granary, Assembly Hall.
• Bronze Dancing Girl figurine and Bearded Priest statue.
# Lothal (Gujarat, India)
• Famous for dockyard (evidence of maritime trade).
• Rice remains found.
• Bead-making industry and fire altars.
# Kalibangan (Rajasthan, India)
• Evidence of ploughed fields.
• Fire altars for rituals.
• Distinct pottery and town planning.
# Dholavira (Gujarat, India)
• Large water reservoirs and sophisticated water management.
• Unique signboard with long Harappan inscription.
• Divided into citadel, middle town, lower town.
# Banawali (Haryana, India)
• Evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan phases.
• Town planning, pottery, toy carts.
# Rakhigarhi (Haryana, India)
• Largest Harappan site in India.
• Evidence of script, ornaments, granary, burials.
# Mehrgarh (Baluchistan, Pakistan)
• Pre-Harappan Neolithic-Chalcolithic site (7000 BCE).
• Early agriculture and domestication.
• Considered a precursor to Harappan culture.
Major Indus Valley Sites and Key Features
| Site | Region | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|
| Harappa | Punjab (Pakistan) | Granaries, seals, Cemetery R-37 |
| Mohenjo-daro | Sindh (Pakistan) | Great Bath, Dancing Girl, Bearded Priest |
| Lothal | Gujarat (India) | Dockyard, rice remains, bead-making, fire altars |
| Kalibangan | Rajasthan (India) | Ploughed fields, fire altars |
| Dholavira | Gujarat (India) | Water reservoirs, long signboard inscription |
| Rakhigarhi | Haryana (India) | Largest Harappan site in India, burials |
| Banawali | Haryana (India) | Pre-Harappan + Harappan phases, toy carts |
| Mehrgarh | Baluchistan (Pakistan) | Pre-Harappan Neolithic-Chalcolithic, early farming |
| Surkotada | Gujarat (India) | Horse bones, fortified settlement |
| Ropar | Punjab (India) | Burial with dog and human skeletons |
| Chanhudaro | Sindh (Pakistan) | Bead-making, shell and ivory work, no citadel |
| Balathal | Rajasthan (India) | Fortified settlement, copper tools |
| Alamgirpur | Uttar Pradesh (India) | Easternmost Harappan site, evidence of pottery |
| Kot Diji | Sindh (Pakistan) | Pre-Harappan fortification, wheel-made pottery |
| Amri | Sindh (Pakistan) | Pre-Harappan culture, pottery |
| Sutkagendor | Baluchistan (Pakistan) | Coastal trade port near Persian Gulf |
| Sutkakoh | Baluchistan (Pakistan) | Harappan trade with Mesopotamia |
| Shortugai | Afghanistan | Trading outpost, lapis lazuli mines |
Prelims Strategy Tips
Harappa – Granaries and Cemetery R-37.
Mohenjo-daro – Great Bath and Dancing Girl.
Lothal – Dockyard, rice evidence, bead-making.
Kalibangan – Ploughed fields and fire altars.
Dholavira – Water reservoirs and signboard.
Rakhigarhi – Largest Harappan site in India.
Indus Valley Civilization: Civic and Political Features
Key Point
The Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) was remarkable for its advanced civic planning, drainage, fortified towns, and a unique political system without evidence of kingship or palaces.
The Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) was remarkable for its advanced civic planning, drainage, fortified towns, and a unique political system without evidence of kingship or palaces.
Detailed Notes (22 points)
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Street Planning
• Cities built on grid pattern with streets cutting each other at right angles.
• Main streets up to 10 meters wide, straight, and well-laid.
• Narrow lanes connected houses with main streets.
• Houses opened onto side lanes, ensuring privacy.
Drainage System
• One of the most sophisticated in the ancient world.
• Covered drains made of baked bricks ran along streets.
• Each house had soak-pits and drains connected to main drains.
• Inspection holes provided for cleaning.
• Demonstrates high civic sense and urban management.
Fortification
• Most cities had fortified citadels (raised platforms).
• Citadel housed public buildings like granaries, assembly halls, and baths.
• Defensive walls built with baked bricks around citadel.
• Fortifications likely served both defense and flood control.
Political Structure
• No evidence of kings, palaces, or centralized monarchy.
• Standardized weights, measures, bricks, and urban design suggest centralized authority or collective governance.
• Possibly governed by merchants, elites, or council-based administration.
• Emphasis on egalitarian society with urban civic order.
• Presence of seals may indicate administrative or trade regulation.
Civic and Political Features of IVC
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Street Planning | Grid pattern, wide main roads, narrow lanes, right-angle intersections |
| Drainage | Covered brick drains, soak-pits, house-to-street connections, inspection holes |
| Fortification | Citadel with granaries, baths, defensive walls, flood control |
| Political Structure | No kings/palaces, collective governance, seals for regulation |
Prelims Strategy Tips
Streets followed a grid pattern with right-angle crossings.
Covered brick drains with soak-pits were unique to IVC.
Citadel was fortified and used for public buildings.
No evidence of monarchy; collective governance likely.
Indus Valley Civilization: Art, Economy and Trade
Key Point
The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its vibrant art in terracotta, bronze, seals, and pottery. Its economy was primarily based on agriculture, craft specialization, and extensive trade networks with Mesopotamia and Central Asia.
The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its vibrant art in terracotta, bronze, seals, and pottery. Its economy was primarily based on agriculture, craft specialization, and extensive trade networks with Mesopotamia and Central Asia.
Detailed Notes (23 points)
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Art
• Terracotta figurines of animals, toys, and Mother Goddess.
• Bronze figurines: most famous is the 'Dancing Girl' of Mohenjo-daro.
• Stone sculptures: Bearded Priest, animal motifs.
• Pottery: Red and black painted pottery, geometric and floral designs.
• Seals: Over 4,000 discovered with animal motifs (bull, elephant, unicorn).
• Jewellery: Gold, silver, semi-precious stones (carnelian, lapis lazuli).
• Bead-making centers at Lothal, Chanhudaro.
Economy
• Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice (Lothal), sesame, dates, cotton.
• Irrigation used in some regions; surplus stored in granaries.
• Domesticated animals: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, elephants, fowl.
• Cotton cultivation and textile weaving were advanced.
• Handicrafts: pottery, bead-making, metallurgy (copper, bronze, gold, silver).
• Fishing and hunting supplemented food resources.
Trade
• Internal trade: use of bullock carts, boats; seals for identification.
• External trade: with Mesopotamia, Oman, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iran.
• Imports: silver, copper, tin, lapis lazuli, jade.
• Exports: cotton textiles, beads, carnelian, terracotta, food grains.
• Lothal dockyard: maritime trade center.
• Standardized weights and measures facilitated trade.
• Harappan seals found in Mesopotamian cities (Ur, Susa).
IVC Art, Economy and Trade
| Aspect | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Art | Terracotta figurines, bronze Dancing Girl, seals, jewellery, painted pottery |
| Economy | Agriculture (wheat, barley, rice), domestication, cotton weaving, handicrafts |
| Trade | Internal (bullock carts, seals), External (Mesopotamia, Oman), Lothal dockyard |
Prelims Strategy Tips
The 'Dancing Girl' is a bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro.
Harappans were the first to grow and export cotton.
Lothal was the center of bead-making and maritime trade.
Seals with animal motifs were used in trade and administration.
Standardized weights show regulated trade.
Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization
Key Point
The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 1900–1500 BCE) was not sudden but gradual and varied across regions. It was caused by ecological, economic, and social factors rather than a single invasion.
The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 1900–1500 BCE) was not sudden but gradual and varied across regions. It was caused by ecological, economic, and social factors rather than a single invasion.
Detailed Notes (25 points)
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Nature of Decline
• Decline was gradual and region-specific.
• Urban centers shrank; shift from cities to villages.
• Standardization of weights, seals, and town planning disappeared.
• Late Harappan cultures (Cemetery H, Jhukar, Rangpur, etc.) replaced Mature Harappan.
Major Causes
# Ecological Factors
• Drying up of Saraswati River and shifting of Sutlej and Yamuna.
• Floods at Mohenjo-daro layers.
• Climate change led to declining rainfall and desertification.
# Economic Factors
• Decline of trade with Mesopotamia around 1900 BCE.
• Agricultural decline due to soil exhaustion and reduced fertility.
• Craft specialization reduced, weights and seals disappeared.
# Social and Political Factors
• Possible social unrest and migration.
• Overpopulation in urban centers strained resources.
• Lack of centralized authority to manage crises.
# Invasion/Migration Theory
• Earlier scholars like Mortimer Wheeler suggested Aryan invasion (Rigvedic references to 'forts' and 'Indra destroying cities').
• Modern research: no large-scale invasion; decline was internal and environmental.
Consequences
• De-urbanization: people moved to rural settlements.
• Regional cultures emerged: Cemetery H (Punjab), Jhukar (Sindh), Rangpur (Gujarat).
• Elements of Harappan culture continued (pottery, agriculture, symbols).
Theories of Harappan Decline
| Theory | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ecological | River drying (Saraswati), floods, desertification, climate change |
| Economic | Decline of trade with Mesopotamia, agricultural failure |
| Social/Political | Unrest, migration, lack of authority |
| Invasion Theory | Earlier idea of Aryan invasion (not widely accepted today) |
Fun Facts
Despite decline, some Harappan traditions like pottery styles and symbols survived into the Gangetic culture.
The Dancing Girl figurine and seals continued to inspire later Indian art motifs.
Rakhigarhi (Haryana) shows Late Harappan continuity, proving decline was uneven.
Modern satellite studies confirm Saraswati’s drying as a major factor in the decline.
Mains Key Points
The decline of IVC was gradual and region-specific, not a single catastrophic event.
Ecological factors like river shifts and climate change were key to decline.
Economic breakdown due to loss of Mesopotamian trade and soil fertility weakened urban centers.
The Aryan invasion theory is outdated; internal and environmental reasons are accepted.
Harappan decline shows how environment and economy drive civilizational changes.
Prelims Strategy Tips
Decline began around 1900 BCE, final phase around 1500 BCE.
River changes (Saraswati drying, Sutlej/Yamuna shifts) were major factors.
Trade with Mesopotamia ended after 1900 BCE.
Mortimer Wheeler’s Aryan invasion theory is outdated.
Cemetery H, Jhukar, Rangpur cultures mark the Late Harappan phase.
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