|
[FrontPage Include Component] Ancient Indian history: The Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BC - 1500 BC) |
||
|
Timeline
|
In the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, there flourished a highly developed civilization. It derived its name from the main river of that region, 'Indus '. At its peak, it stretched across the whole of Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab, Northern Rajasthan, Kathiawar and Gujarat. |
 |
|
The cities were far more advanced than their counterparts in prehistoric
Egypt, Mesopotamia or anywhere else in Western Asia. As in most other
contemporary civilizations, agriculture was the backbone of the Indus
economy. The people made extensive use of the wooden plough. Barley
and wheat were the main food crops. Perhaps the most remarkable
achievement was the cultivation of cotton. The people ate, besides
cereals, vegetables and fruits, fish, fowl, mutton, beef and pork. There
is also evidence of the domestication of cats, dogs, goats, sheep and
perhaps, the elephant. The Indus people made extensive use of bronze and copper. However, they did not know iron. The people were very artistic. Evidence can be found in the pottery, stone sculpture and seal making. The pottery was made up of well-fired clay, with painting in black pigment. People worshipped natural forces like the tree, humped bull and Mother Goddess. To ward off evil spirit, the people even used amulets and charms. |
||
|
Unlike their counterparts in the rest of the world, who were managed by
kings, the Indus people were ruled by groups of merchants. They had
commercial links with Afghanistan, Persia, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the
Samaritans. Trade was in the form of 'barter '. There was a cleverly
organized system of weights and measures. The script during this time,
which was seemingly pictographic, has not yet been deciphered. |
 |
|
|
There
is a striking contrast between the rest of the civilization and the
Indus valley in the way it was managed. In other areas, much money and
thought were lavished on the building of magnificent Temples of Gods,
Palaces and Tombs of kings. The common people seemingly had to content
themselves with insignificant dwellings of mud. In the Indus, valley the
picture is reversed. The finest structures were erected for the
convenience of the citizens. After
2000 BC, the Mohenjo-daro and Harappan culture slowly declined and
gradually faded out. Some ascribe this to the decreasing fertility of
the soil on account of the increasing salinity, caused by the expansion
of the neighboring desert. Others attribute it to some kind of
depression in the land, which caused floods. Still others point out that
the Aryans destroyed it. Even though there are various theories for the
downfall of this civilization, there is no clear picture as to how or
why it came to an end. |
||