Harappan Civilization

 Harappan civilization is the oldest civilization. There are debates with regard to its origin.
It was first known to us in 1920s when Britishers were laying railway tracks. Then the
work of excavation of began. It is said that this civilization could have started in 2600
BC- 1800 BC.

 The first one was a neolithic site, showing that no one came from outside, and the
civilization started there itself. At certain places, evidences show that agriculture was
prevalent, again showing that it was an indigenous civilization.

 It was initially named as Indus valley civilization, but later on when we discovered other
sites which far away from the Indus River then the name was changed to the Harappan
civilization.

 Three phrases:

1. Early Phase

2. Mature Phase - The mature phase is around 2400- 2000 BC

3. Late/Declining Phase

 The northern most site is Shortughai, there have been certain sites where silver is found,
which is not found in India, which shows that maybe they traded with other regions.

 The southernmost site is Daimabad in Maharashtra. The western most site is Sotakakoh
and further there is sutkajendor.

 Horse has not been found in these sites and hence it is said that Aryans had introduced
horse. But there is a horse skeleton found in sutkajendor, but historians don’t consider it.

 Though there was pictographic script, which has not been deciphered it. After these
writings can directly be found in the Ashokan era. There is a huge gap in this.

 Most of these sites are divided into two parts: citadel and lower town. There is a seal
which shows a man in a eyes half closed as in meditation. Which can be considered as the
priest. It is believed that harrapan being the biggest site, may have been the administrative
centre and there may have been other cities under its administration.

 Most of these cities are fortifies. And there is a raised platform, which is said to have
believed to be the place of administration (citadel).
 The road is all in right angle. The doors don’t open on the main road but rather on the
small roads at the back at the home. There is only one exception to this, in Lothal all the
doors open on the main road, but historians justify this saying that Lothal is a port city,
and hence it would be the houses of merchants who had their doors on the main road, may
be for trading purpose or their leisure.

 There are burnt bricks as well. World’s first drainage system. There is great bath, it is
important to understand how would they have stopped this water there despite the reason
that the bricks were baked. Near this bath, there are rooms, that too with door, which is
not even available in the Mughal era.

 There are certain rooms without door, which are said to have been used to religious
purpose.

 The main citadel in Harappan may had two parts: 1) there are certain rooms with mud
flooring, which would have been for the workers. 2) there are granaries found which
would have been meant for the workers.

 The grains found here helps historians in carbon-dating. It is a part of debate if these
workers were slaves, worker, or the same Harrapans who couldn’t be as successful as the
others. If there were slaves it could have been that they would have been captured from
neolithic and palaeolithic sites. In citadel area the houses vary in sites. May be depending
upon the person’s position.

 Harappans had knowledge of metallurgy, trading networks, construction, agriculture,

production of non-agricultural goods, sundried and fired bricks which are in a very proper
proportion, joining of bricks, there was also no seepage in the bricks due to which they
could store water, artifacts, cloth, trading with other civilizations.

 Certain site has been dedicated to craft- Chanudaro, a village, where historians have
found beads in large quantities. There is floor of footprints of dogs chasing a cat which
shows domestication of animals. Small idols have been found, a kind of terracotta,
especially of female goddess. There is a seal of a women climbing peepal tree and other
people lowering their head. Harappan bull has been seen at lot places. It can be
considered that bull was being worshipped. also, certain seals have gods surrounded by
animals due to which it can be considered that animals were worshipped. Ancestral
worship would also be prominent. They would have believed that those who die continue
to live in some another form. Ritual dancing would also been there. Dancing statues have
been found in the citadel area, she is without clothes but a lot of bangles, the mudra is a
little similar to that of the basic mudra of Bharatnatyam.

Decline of Harappan Civilization

1) The civilizations with which they traded went into decline, therefore the economy
would have been declined and hence they would have abandoned the sites.

2) Invasion cannot be considered as there are no skeletons founds that would signify
marks of invasion and injury.

3) There may have been earthquake or floods. There have been evidence found that the
fortified wall was built 6 times, which may be because of flood.

4) The most supported is that of climatic change. Cutting of trees in large areas, who
have led to desertification. Also, the animals on seals are usually found in thickly
forested area, today those areas are actually very arid. Hence ecological changes
may have been responsible.

5) Rivers would have been dried out, or changed its courses, as Indus has a lot of
tributaries especially in Pakistan.

6) If we today see the thar area, there is no vegetation left and hence there could have
been abandonment of these cities.