INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

Indus valley Civilization was discovered in 1921. Dravidians were the founders of this civilization. It belongs to proto-historic period. The ancient name of the Indus region was Meluha. Sir John Marshal carried out extensive excavations in the Indus region.The first discovered Indus site was Harappa. Harappa and Mohenjodaro were the largest sites of Indus Valley Civilization. This civilization flourished during the period of 3250-2750 B.C This period is only approximate. Many historians proposed different dates. The generally accepted period of Indus Valley Civilization is 2300-1750 B.C. The main feature of Harappa civilization was Town Planning. The Houses and drainage canals were mainly built with Burnt-Brick. Underground drainage system depicts the skill of the Indus people in Town Planning.

The important sites of this civilization are: Harappa: It is located in Montegomari district of Punjab in Pakistan on the banks of river Ravi.. It was the first excavated Harappan site. 6 granaries were found at Harappa. A stone symbol of female sex organs discovered. A stone male dancing figure Nataraja was found.

Mohanjodaro: It is located in Larkana district of Sindh in Pakistan on the banks of river Indus. Mohenjodaro was discovered by R.D.Benerjee. A swimming pool called 'Great Bath' was found. It had 9 vertical layers. Mohanjodaro is largest of all Indus sites. The Bronze figure of dancing girl was found. The evidence of ship was found in Mohanjodaro. Granaries were found. Lothal: It was located in Gujarat. It was the port town. A dockyard structure was found here. It had houses with doors on the main streets. Rice husk has been discovered.

Kalibhangan: It was located in Rajasthan. The evidence of ploughing the land was found in Kalibangan. Bones of Camel were discovered. Fire alters discovered. The evidence of land ploughing was found.

Chanhudaro: It was located in Sindh. Ink Pot was discovered.

Banwali: It was located in Haryana.

Alamgirpur: It was located in Uttar Pradesh.

Surkotada: It was located in Gujarat. The remains of horse have been found here.

Kotdiji: It was located in Sindh. It was destroyed by fire.

Dholavira: It was located in Gujarat. Dholavira in Gujarat is the largest Indus site in India.

Rangapur: It was located in Gujarat. Rice husk has been discovered.

Rupar: It was located in Punjab.

The main male diety was Pasupati. The main female Goddess was Mother Goddess. They worshipped the bird Pigeon. They also worshipped Water, Trees and Snakes.

The main occupation of Indus people was cattle breeding. They also know the agriculture. The main crops they produced were: Wheat and Barly. Indus people produced Cotton for the first time in the world.

Indus People had trade relations with Babylonia, Egypt and Mesopotomia.

They exported Cotton goods, Pottery and Terracottas.

Animals domesticated by Indus people were Bull, buffaloes, Goat, Sheep, Asses, Pigs and domenstic fowls. The animals depicted on the Indus seals were Bull, Unicorn, Tiger. The animals Buffaloe, Rhinoceros, Elephant and Deer are present around the Pasupati on a seal. The animal Horse doesn`t know the Indus people.

Indus people made seals with Steatite, Ivory and Clay. They obtained copper from Beluchistan and Rajasthan and Gold from Kolar and Anantapur. The metal Iron was not known to Indus people. The ornaments of Indus people were made up of Copper, Bronze, Gold, Silver and Precious Stones. They made household articles with Stome, Mud and Copper.

They used Pictographic script. The script of Indus people was written from left to right and from right to left. It is called Boustrophedon.

Music, Dance and Chess were the main pastimes of Indus people.

The reasons for the decline of Indus Valley Civilization were Aryans invasions, Floods and Earthquakes.