Indus Civilization – GK Points pdf

Indus Civilization GK Notes PDF

2600BC to 1750BC

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the world’s oldest and most advanced ancient cultures. It flourished around 2600 BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India. Known for its well-planned cities, drainage systems, and trade, it’s also called the Harappan Civilization after its first discovered site, Harappa.

John Marshall was the first scholar to use the term ‘Indus Civilization‘. It is an ancient civilization that thrived along the Indus River, which is now located in Pakistan. Sir Mortimer Wheeler stipulated in 1968 that Harappan civilization seemed to appear fully developed from its earliest phase and had little in common with the people who lived in these areas in the preceding period.

People of this civilization were skilled in farming, pottery, and trade, using a script that’s still undeciphered. Major cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa show how organized and intelligent these ancient people were. Sadly, the civilization declined around 1900 BCE, possibly due to climate change or invasions.

Note: The important Harappan sites are Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Chanhudaro, Banawali, and Dholavira.

Discovery Of Indus Civilization:

• First Discovery (1856) – The ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization were first noticed during the construction of a railway line¹ near Harappa (now in Pakistan). Workers used bricks from the ancient site, not realizing their historical importance.
• Alexander Cunningham’s Role (1870s) – The first proper archaeological study was done by Alexander Cunningham, who was the founder of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)². He found seals with strange symbols but didn’t recognize their significance.
• Dayaram Sahni’s Excavation (1921) – Archaeologist Dayaram Sahni officially excavated Harappa³. This reveals a lost ancient city.
• R.D. Banerjee & Mohenjo-Daro (1922) – Rakhaldas Banerjee discovered Mohenjo-Daro⁴ (“Mound of the Dead”) in Sindh, Pakistan.
• John Marshall’s Contribution (1924-1931) – Sir John Marshall, the then Director-General of ASI, led large-scale excavations and officially announced the existence of a 5000-year-old urban civilization⁵. He named it the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Later Discoveries – More sites were found in India (Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi) and Pakistan (Mehrgarh, Ganeriwala), showing how widespread the civilization was.

For Prelims: Dayaram Sahani in 1921 discovered Harappa Civilization. Rakhal Das Banerjee discovered Mohenjo-Daro in 1922.

Geographic Extent of Indus Civilization:

• Covered a Huge Area – The Indus Valley Civilization was spreading over 1.25 million sq km⁶—bigger than ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
• Modern-Day Countries – Most sites are in Pakistan and Northwest India, but some are in Afghanistan (Shortugai) and even near Iran⁷.
• Major Indian Sites – Important cities in India include:
  • Gujarat (Lothal, Dholavira)
  • Rajasthan (Kalibangan)
  • Haryana (Rakhigarhi, Banawali)
  • Punjab (Rupar)
• Major Pakistani Sites – Famous ruins are in:
  • Punjab, Pakistan (Harappa)
  • Sindh, Pakistan (Mohenjo-Daro)
• Farthest Sites –
  • North – Shortugai (Afghanistan) – a trading post for lapis lazuli.
  • South – Daimabad (Maharashtra) – the southernmost site.
  • East – Alamgirpur (UP) – the easternmost site.
• Geographic Features –
  • Built near rivers (Indus, Ghaggar-Hakra, Saraswati⁸) for water and farming.
  • Coastal cities (Lothal) had docks for sea trade.

The Indus civilization was spread across Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and northern Maharashtra.

Remember: Harappa is situated along the Ravi River in the district of Montgomery of Punjab province, now in Pakistan. Mohenjo-Daro is situated along the Indus River in the Larkana district of Sindh province in Pakistan. The capital cities of the Indus civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Metal Used in Harappa Civilization:

1. Bronze – The Harappans were in the Bronze Age⁹. They were using bronze (mix of copper + tin) for tools, weapons, and statues (like the famous Dancing Girl).
2. Copper – They used pure copper for knives, mirrors, pots, and even early coins. Sources:
   • Rajasthan (Khetri mines)
   • Oman (imported via trade)
3. Gold & Silver – Only rich people and priests used these:
   • Gold – Jewelry, beads, small ornaments.
   • Silver – Vessels, decorations.
4. No Iron! – Unlike later Vedic people, Harappans did NOT know iron¹⁰—it came to India much later (around 1200 BCE).
5. Lead & Tin – Used in small amounts:
   • Lead – For small pots and weights.
   • Tin – Mixed with copper to make bronze (likely imported from Afghanistan).
6. Advanced Metallurgy – They knew casting, soldering, and forging (proved by fine jewelry and tools).

Fact: The “Lost Wax Technique¹¹“ (used for bronze statues) was mastered by Harappans—still used in India today!

Town Planning of Indus Civilization:

1. Grid System Cities – Harappan cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Kalibangan were built in a chessboard pattern with straight, wide roads cutting at right angles.
2. Advanced Drainage System – Every house had a bathroom and drainage connected to covered street drains – the world’s first proper sewage system!
3. Citadel & Lower Town – Cities were divided into two parts:
   • Citadel (Upper Town) – For rulers, priests, and big public buildings (Great Bath, Granaries).
   • Lower Town – For common people with residential houses.
4. Uniform Bricks – They used standardized burnt bricks (ratio 1:2:4) for all constructions – strong and waterproof.
5. Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro) – A huge public water tank (probably for ritual bathing) with steps and a watertight floor.
6. Granaries – Large storage buildings (like in Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro) show they managed food surplus efficiently.
7. Houses with Privacy – Most homes had a courtyard, wells, and private bathrooms – some even had two floors!
8. No Palaces or Temples – Unlike Egypt & Mesopotamia, no grand royal monuments were found.
9. Port City (Lothal) – Had a dockyard for trade, warehouses, and bead factories.

Point: Urbanization is the most remarkable and major characteristic of this civilization. People used burnt bricks of good quality as the main building material. Usually, towns or cities were laid out in a parallelogram in form. The most striking structure was the ‘Great Birth‘ at Mohenjo-Daro.

INFO: One of the biggest structures found in Mohenjo-Daro is a granary which was 46 meters long width and 15.5m breadth. Indus civilization was primarily urban.

Fact: Harappan cities had dustbins on streets – they cared about cleanliness 5000 years ago!

Agriculture and crops of Indus Civilization:

1. Main Occupation – Farming was the backbone of the Harappan economy. They knew the advanced irrigation techniques.
2. Major Crops –
   • Staple Foods: Wheat & barley (most common).
   • Other Crops: Rice (found in Lothal), pulses (peas, chickpeas), mustard, sesame, and cotton (first to cultivate it).
3. Cotton – Harappans were the first in the world to grow cotton (called Sindon by Greeks), used for textiles and trade.
4. Irrigation Methods –
   • Used floodwater from rivers (Indus, Ghaggar-Hakra).
   • Built canals and wells (evidence in Dholavira).
5. Farming Tools –
   • Wooden plows (no iron tools yet).
   • Stone blades for harvesting.
6. Domesticated Animals –
   • Cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep (for milk, meat, and farming).
   • No horses (came later with Aryans)¹².
7. Trade in Food – Stored surplus grains in granaries (like in Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro) for trade and emergencies.

Point: The main cultivated crops were wheat, barley, peas dates, mustered cotton, etc. Rice was only grown in Lothal and Rangpur in Gujarat.

Fact: The word “Sindhu” (Indus) might be the root of “India” – and these farmers started it all!

Animals of Indus Civilization:

1. Domesticated Animals –
   • Cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep were their main livestock (for milk, meat, and farming help).
   • Dogs were kept as pets (evidence from burial sites).
2. Wild Animals –
   • Elephants, rhinos, tigers, and deer appear on seals and pottery (shows they lived nearby).
   • Fish & turtles were part of their diet (found in bone remains).
3. Horses –
   • No clear proof they used horses (bones found are debated).
   • If they existed, they were rare (unlike Vedic times).
4. Important Animals in Trade & Culture –
   • Bull (most common on seals – likely used in farming).
   • Unicorn (mythical creature on seals – may represent a special belief).
5. Birds & Smaller Creatures –
   • Peacocks, pigeons, and ducks were known (art and bones found).
   • Rats and cats likely lived in cities too!

Fact: The Harappans might have been the first to domesticate chickens!

Trade & Commerce in Indus Valley Civilization

1. Trade Economy – The Harappans were master traders. They deal locally and internationally.
2. Major Exports –
   • Cotton textiles (world’s first cotton producers!)
   • Beads (made from carnelian, lapis lazuli)
   • Pottery, bronze tools, and jewelry
   • agricultural products
   • Ivory products
3. Key Imports –
   • Gold (from Karnataka, Afghanistan)
   • Silver (from Persia, Afghanistan)
   • Lapis Lazuli (from Afghanistan)
   • Tin (for bronze-making, from Afghanistan/Iran)
   • Jade, amethyst, turquoise, etc.
4. Trade Partners –
   • Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) – Called Harappan region “Meluha” in their texts¹³!
   • Oman, Bahrain (copper trade)
   • Afghanistan (precious stones)
5. How Did They Trade? –
   • Land routes (bullock carts, pack animals)
   • Sea routes (Lothal’s dockyard proves shipping!)
   • Seals & Script – Used for marking goods (though we can’t read it yet).
6. Weights & Measures –
   • Used standardized stone weights (hexagonal, spherical).
   • Scale ratios followed a binary system (1, 2, 4, 8, 16…).
7. Market System? –
   • Large warehouses (like in Lothal) suggest organized trade.
   • No evidence of money – likely barter-based.

Every merchant probably had a seal.

A Mesopotamian text mentions a Harappan “Meluha village” near Ur – proving they lived there as traders

Crafts and Arts of Indus Civilization:

1. Master Craftsmanship – Harappans were skilled with clay, stone, metals and beads.
2. Bronze Works –
   • The Dancing Girl statue (Mohenjo-Daro) shows advanced metal casting
   • Bronze tools, weapons and figurines were common
3. Pottery –
   • Made both plain and painted pottery (red/black designs)
   • Included household items like jars, dishes and lamps
4. Stone –
   • Created stone weights, beads and sculptures
   • The Priest-King statue shows fine stone carving skills
5. Bead Making –
   • Produced beads from gold, silver, shell and semi-precious stones
   • Carnelian beads with white designs were special exports
6. Shell and Ivory Works –
   • Made bangles, combs and ornaments from shells
   • Ivory was used for decorative items and seals
7. Textile Production –
   • Were pioneers in cotton weaving (earliest evidence worldwide)
   • Made clothes, fishing nets and possibly trade textiles
8. Seal Making –
   • Famous soapstone seals with animal motifs and script
   • Used for trade identification and possibly rituals

A wide range of occupations, such as pottery-making, bead-making, seal-making, etc, were observed. Terracotta manufacturing was very famous. Metalworking was highly skilled.

The culture belonged to the Bronze Age; therefore, various crafts were made of bronze, such as a famous dancing girl (devadasi).

Fact: The Harappans might used drills with diamond tips to make perfect holes in hard stone beads

Science of Indus Civilization:

1. Precision in Measurement
   • Used standardized weights (hexagonal and spherical stones)
   • Followed a decimal system for measurements (proved by brick ratios)
2. Advanced Metallurgy
   • Mastered bronze-making (copper + tin alloy)
   • Used lost-wax technique for metal casting (seen in Dancing Girl statue)
3. Water Engineering Marvels
   • Created the world’s first planned drainage system
   • Built the Great Bath with watertight technology (using bitumen)
4. Medical Knowledge
   • Evidence of dental drilling (found in Mehrgarh, precursor to IVC)
   • Used herbal remedies (traces found in pottery residues)
5. Astronomy Connections
   • Some structures show cardinal directions alignment
   • Fire altars at Kalibangan suggest ritual astronomical knowledge
6. Textile Science
   • Pioneered cotton cultivation and weaving
   • Developed dyeing techniques (evidence from colored fabrics)
7. Ceramic Technology
   • Produced high-temperature fired pottery (up to 1100°C)
   • Created glazed pottery (earliest known in South Asia)

Bead-making, constructing a well-planned building, art long-lasting painting, etc advance procedures indicate that Harappan was aware of science.

Fact: Harappan bricks have stood strong for 5000 years – their perfect 1:2:4 ratio is still used in modern construction

Religion of Indus Civilization:

1. Nature Worship
   • Likely worshipped trees (peepal) and animals (bulls, elephants) as sacred
   • Evidence from seal engravings showing ritual scenes
2. Mother Goddess Cult
   • Found many terracotta female figurines (possibly fertility symbols)
   • May represent an early form of Shakti/Devi worship
3. Proto-Shiva Concept
   • Famous Pashupati Seal shows cross-legged figure surrounded by animals
   • Possibly an early version of Lord Shiva as Lord of Beasts
4. Fire Rituals
   • Found fire altars at Kalibangan and Lothal
   • Suggests possible yagna/homa traditions
5. Water Worship
   • Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro indicates ritual bathing importance
   • Connects to later Indian traditions of sacred water bodies
6. Burial Practices
   • Mostly grave burials with pottery and ornaments
   • Some evidence of cremation (at Kalibangan)
7. Sacred Symbols
   • Used swastika designs (later seen in Hindu/Buddhist traditions)
   • Horned headdresses in art may represent divine figures

They believed in the rebirth system and life after death. That’s why they put ornaments, household things, etc, in the grave with the bodies. They did not worship their god in the temple; the idea of their religion is formed from the statues and figurines found.

Fact: The Harappan swastika symbol (4000 years old) is still used in Hindu rituals today!

Politics of Indus Civilization:

1. No Clear Evidence of Kings
   • Unlike Egypt/Mesopotamia, no palaces or royal tombs found
   • Suggests different governing system than monarchy
2. Possible Oligarchy or Council Rule
   • May have been ruled by group of merchants/priests
   • Uniform city planning suggests strong central authority
3. Citadel as Administrative Center
   • Raised citadels in cities likely housed ruling class
   • Contained important buildings like granaries and Great Bath
4. Trade-Based Authority
   • Economy focused on trade – possibly merchant class dominated
   • Seals may have been used for trade regulation
5. Peaceful Civilization
   • Few weapons found – suggests less militaristic society
   • No evidence of major wars or conquests
6. Possible Priest-King Figure
   • Famous “Priest-King” statue may represent spiritual-political leader
   • But no evidence of monarchy system

Fact: The Harappans built massive cities but we still don’t know exactly who governed them – one of history’s great mysteries.

End or Decline of Indus Civilization:

Though it has lasted 1000 years, there is no clear evidence of how the civilization ended up. There are many possible theories, such as the invention of Aryans, floods, society imbalance, etc, by which the big Indus civilization came to an end.

1. Gradual Collapse (1900–1300 BCE) – The civilization didn’t vanish overnight but slowly declined over centuries.
2. Climate Change Theory –
   • Saraswati River dried up (shift in monsoons, tectonic changes).
   • Reduced water supply led to failed agriculture and migrations.
3. Natural Disasters –
   • Evidence of major floods in Mohenjo-Daro (silt layers).
   • Possible earthquakes disrupting river systems.
4. Aryan Migration Theory (Debated) –
   • Some historians link decline to Indo-Aryan arrivals (~1500 BCE).
   • No clear proof of violent invasion – may have been cultural mixing.
5. Trade Breakdown –
   • Collapse of Mesopotamian trade (their major partner declined too).
   • Economic crisis weakened urban centers.
6. Disease & Overpopulation –
   • Poor sanitation in later phases may have caused epidemics.
   • Cities became overcrowded and unsustainable.
7. Shift to Rural Life –
   • People moved to smaller villages in Ganga-Yamuna plains.
   • Urban features (drains, planned cities) disappeared.

Fact: Some Harappan traditions (e.g., worship of Shiva, sacred baths) survived in later Indian culture!

FAQs

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1. Anshika Jain | 22 February 2019 Link ↩︎
2. Joshua J. Mark | 07 October 2020 Link ↩︎
3. Patrick Patterson and George L. Israel Link ↩︎
4. The First Excavation Of Mohenjo-Daro Link ↩︎
5. Mohen-Jo-Daro By Prof. C. L. Mariwalla Book ↩︎
6. worldatlas Link ↩︎
7. Deepak Chaudhari, Medium Link ↩︎
8. Some historians believe the Ghaggar-Hakra river was the ancient Saraswati River mentioned in the Vedas! ↩︎
9. NM New Delhi Link ↩︎
10. https://brainly.in/question/32250653 ↩︎
11. Indian Sculpture – What is the lost Wax Process? Link ↩︎
12. Link ↩︎
13. From Meluha to India Link ↩︎