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1. Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization
Indus ValleyIndus Valley
Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro
Harappa
Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo DaroMohenjo Daro

2. C l d f dCivilization defined
• The stage of human social
development and organization
which is considered mostDEFINITION which is considered most
advanced.
• The society, culture and
lifestyle of people in aOR SIMPLY lifestyle of people in a
particular area.
OR SIMPLY

3. d llIndus Valley
• The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in• The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in
what is present day Pakistan.
• It was named after the city of Harappa. Harappa and the
city of Mohenjo-Daro were important centers of the Indus
valley civilization.
• This Indus Valley “civilization” flourished around 4000-
1000 B.C.

4. Old ld C lOld World Civilizations

5. O C OINTRODUCTION
• A bronze age civilization‐ Also known as Mature harappan
civilization (2600‐1900 BC)
• Thrived in the basins of Indus river profiting from the fertility
of the land
• Had a population of 5 million at its peak
• People were mostly tradesmen or artisans
• Known for
― futuristic urban planning
― surprising architecture
― remarkable handicrafts
― work in the field of metallurgy

6. G O A S AREGIONAL SPREAD
• Sites cover most of the modern Pakistan
d h dand northwestern India
• Area covered is about 1.3 million square
milesmiles
• The largest among the old world
civilizations
O 1050 it tt d th• Over 1050 sites; scattered across the area

7. S SSETTLEMENTS
InlandInland
settlements
Dholavira Rupar Ganeriwala Cholistan Rakhigarhi
Coastal
settlements
Lothal
Sutkagan
Dor
Manda
Gomal
river valley
Jammu Alamgirpur

8. A C CARCHITECTURE
• The cities are build on numerous mounds
( l t d d )(elevated grounds)
• Advanced architecture
―Impressive dockyards
―Graineries
―Warehouses
• Walled city (protection from flood water)
• Well planned streets
• Proper sanitation and drainage system
• Baked brick housesBaked brick houses
• Well built bathrooms
• Wells throughout the city
• Remarkable similarity of architecture allRemarkable similarity of architecture all
over the civilization
• No large monumental structures

9. CCities
The similarities in plan and construction between
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa indicate that they were partMohenjo-Daro and Harappa indicate that they were part
of a unified government with extreme organization.
• Both cities were constructed of the same type and shape of• Both cities were constructed of the same type and shape of
bricks.
• The two cities may have existed simultaneously and their sizes
suggest that they served as capitals of their provincessuggest that they served as capitals of their provinces.
• In contrast to other civilizations, burials found from these
cities are not elaborate; they are more simplistic and contain
few material goodsfew material goods.
• Remains of palaces or temples in the cities have not been
found.
• No hard evidence exists indicating military activity though the• No hard evidence exists indicating military activity, though the
cities did contain fortifications and artifacts such as copper
and bronze knives, spears, and arrowheads were recovered.

10. O S A ODIFFERENT THEORIES ABOUT
THE GOVERNMENT
• Due to the similarity in artefacts
and similar planning of the cities;
even standardized ratio of brick
size
Single state
• The city is built on series of
elevated grounds (mounds) thus
leading to a conclusion that it
Several rulers leading to a conclusion that it
might had been governed by
elected officials perhaps one
from each mound
Several rulers
• There is no evidence of kings or
thrones so it is suggested that
every one enjoyed an equalNo ruler every one enjoyed an equal
status

11. OOLIVELIHOOD
Most of the people must have been TRADERS or ARTISANSMost of the people must have been TRADERS or ARTISANS
• Different types of seals and
standardized weights suggeststandardized weights suggest
a system of trade
• The advanced detailing in theThe advanced detailing in the
astonishing artefacts show that
there were great artisansthere were great artisans
among them
• Materials brought in from distantMaterials brought in from distant
regions were found

12. G S A ALIVING STANDARD
• Some houses larger than others BUT most of
them similar in size and buildthem similar in size and build
• The society is an example of social equality
• Low wealth concentration though clear social
levelling
• Access to water supplies and drainage facilities
• Graineries• Graineries
• Ornaments made out of gold and ivory
• No large monument except “THE GREAT BATH” ‐g p
a public bath probably for religious rituals
• Hygiene and cleanliness were among the high
priorities of the societypriorities of the society
• Evidence of quality municipal planning and
efficient municipal government

13. G ORELIGION
• Seals bearing depiction of gods, goddesses and animals
point towards Buddhism and Hinduismpoint towards Buddhism and Hinduism
• The seated human like figure shown is the so called
“proto‐shiva” (Hindu god)
Th li i t hi h th id i t d i th• The religion to which the evidences point emerged in the
late 1000 BC
• No evident religious buildings but some structures dog g
serve to the ambiguity being what looks as remains of
temples
• Buried human bodies evidence of a cemetery• Buried human bodies: evidence of a cemetery
• Burial urns with ashes: evidences of cremation
• The religious beliefs among the dwellers of this
civilization remain uncertain until specific evidence is
found

14. C O OGTECHNOLOGY
Measurements
Great accuracy in measurement inGreat accuracy in measurement in
measuring mass length and time
MASS:
d d h h h d h― standard weights hexahedron in shape
were found weights in the ratio 5:2:1
(0.1,0.2,0.5 ; 1,2,5 ; 10 20 50 units)
―Each unit measuring about 28 grams
―Same as present day English imperial
ounce system
LENGTH:
―a scale with a precision of 1.704 mm
was found near lothalwas found near lothal
―The smallest in the bronze age

15. C O OGTECHNOLOGY
• MetallurgyMetallurgy
The people knew unconventional
techniques of metallurgy and
d dproduced
―Brass
―CopperCopper
―Bronze
―Ivory
These materials were used in
the making of ornaments
utensils seals and artifacts etc…utensils seals and artifacts etc…

16. A AC S A A C A SARTEFACTS AND HANDICRAFTS

17. hMohenjo-Daro
• This shows the high
western mound made up
of a massive mud brick
platform and brick
houses of the Harappan
period ( 2600 to 1900 B.period ( 2600 to 1900 B.
C.).
• On top of the Harappan
t t i B ddhi tstructures is a Buddhist
period stupa made of
mud brick that dates to
the first century A.D.

18. h G hThe Great Bath
• The "great bath" is the earliest public water tank.g p
• The tank measures approximately 12 meters north-south and
7 meters wide, with a maximum depth of 2.4 meters.
• Two staircases lead down into the tank from the north and
south and small sockets at the edges of the stairs are
thought to have held wooden planks or treads.g p
• At the foot of the stairs is a small ledge with a brick edging
that extends the entire width of the pool.

19. G hGreat Bath

20. SStreets
• At Mohenjo-Daro narrowj
streets and alleyways are off
of the major streets, leading
into more privateinto more private
neighborhoods.
• Many of the brick houses were
two stories high, with thick
walls and high ceilings to keep
the rooms cool in the hot
summer months.

21. llWells
• Private wells were rebuilt• Private wells were rebuilt
over many generations for
large households and
neighborhoods.
• One of the well at Mohenjo-
daro stands like a chimney
because all of the
surrounding earth has beensurrounding earth has been
removed by excavation.

22. Harappa
• The high mound atg
Harappa (Mound AB) is
surrounded by a
massive mud brick citymassive mud brick city
wall with large square
ramparts.
• One of these eroding
ramparts (fortification)
is visible through theg
underbrush that now
covers the site. The
flags mark the tomb offlags mark the tomb of
a Muslim saint.

23. SHarappa Site

24. GGranary
• The "granary" of Harappa is found
on Mound F.
• It is a brick structure that was
built on a massive brick
foundation over 45 meters north-foundation over 45 meters north-
south and 45 meters east-west.
• Two rows of six rooms that
t b f d tiappear to be foundations are
arranged along a central
passageway that is about 7
meters wide and partly pavedmeters wide and partly paved
with baked bricks.
• Each room measures 15.2 by 6.1
meters and has three sleeper
walls with air space between
them.

25. llWell
• A large public well andg p
public bathing
platforms were found
in the southern part ofin the southern part of
Mound AB at Harappa.
• These public bathing
areas may also have
been used for washingbeen used for washing
clothes as is common
in many traditional
cities in Pakistan andcities in Pakistan and
India today.

26. d dHarappa: Mound E and ET
• Inside the city is an area
that has been identified as
a crafts quarter.
• Large quantities of
manufacturing debris haveg
been found in this area
indicating the presence of
workshops for making stoneworkshops for making stone
beads, shell ornaments,
glazed faience ornaments,
stone tools and possiblystone tools and possibly
even gold working.

27. dEconomy-Trade
• The Harappan civilization was mainly urban and• The Harappan civilization was mainly urban and
mercantile.
• Inhabitants of the Indus valley traded withInhabitants of the Indus valley traded with
Mesopotamia, southern India, Afghanistan, and Persia
for gold, silver, copper, and turquoise.

28. A lEconomy-Agriculture
• The Mesopotamian model of irrigated agriculture was used
to take advantage of the fertile grounds along the Indus
River.River.
• Earthen walls were built to control the river's annual
flooding. Crops grown included wheat, barley, peas,g p g , y, p ,
melons, and sesame.
• This civilization was the first to cultivate cotton for the
d i f l h S l i l d i dproduction of cloth. Several animals were domesticated
including the elephant which was used for its ivory.

29. Economy
• Cubical weights in graduated
sizes.sizes.
• These weights conform to the
standard Harappan binary weight
system that was used in all of thesystem that was used in all of the
settlements.
• The smallest weight in this series
i 0 856 d th tis 0.856 grams and the most
common weight is approximately
13.7 grams, which is in the 16th
ratioratio.
• These weights were found in
recent excavations at Harappa
d h b d fand may have been used for
controlling trade and possibly for
collecting taxes.

30. A fArtifacts
• These egg shaped
whistles maywhistles may
have been used
for music, a
tradition that istradition that is
still present in
rural areas of
P ki t dPakistan and
India.

31. Cl S lClay Sculpture

32. Figurines

33. CCeramics

34. CCopper
• Copper plate with
i l idvertical sides.

35. OOrnaments
• This collection of gold and agate ornaments (see next slide)
includes objects found at both Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
• At the top are fillets of hammered gold that would have
been worn around the forehead.
• The other ornaments include bangles, chokers, long
pendant necklaces, rings, earrings, conical hair ornaments,
and broaches.
• These ornaments were never buried with the dead, but
were passed on from one generation to the next.
• These ornaments were hidden under the floors in the
homes of wealthy merchants or goldsmiths.

36. OOrnaments

37. klNecklace
• Necklace from Mohenjo-DaroNecklace from Mohenjo Daro
made from gold, agate, jasper,
steatite and green stone.
• The gold beads are hollow and
the pendant agate and jasperthe pendant agate and jasper
beads are attached with thick
gold wire.
• Steatite beads with gold caps
serve to separate each of theserve to separate each of the
pendant beads.