Harappan and Indus Valley Civilization

1
Harappan and Indus Valley Civilization

• By Tori Olive and Amy Johnson

2
Geography

• Located in present-day Pakistan along the Indus
  River
• Mountainous regions west of the river
• Abundant precipitation and humidity

3
Migration

• Nomads settled in region west of the Indus River
  on the Pakistan/Iran border
• They moved eastward to the Indus River at Karachi

• Indo-Aryans migrated to Harappa during 2000 BCE
• They shifted from North Western South Asia to the
  Ganges River and South Asia

4
Population

• The projected population for the entire region is
  between one and five million (6 people per square
  kilometer)
• Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa combined had a
  population of 150,000
• The total urban population was 250,000

• Its hypothesized that a population increase in
  3000 BCE is what lead the settlements on the
  Pakistan/Iran border to migrate towards the Indus
  River
• Its also hypothesized that the general
  population of the civilization decreased when the
  Aryans invaded

5
Trade

• The Harappan civilization had active trading with
  Sumer, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Persia, Africa,
  Central Asia, and throughout the Arabian Gulf

• Traded lumber, copper, gold, ivory, beads,
  shells, pottery, turquoise, cotton, grain, and
  livestock
• For transporting materials they used pack
  animals, river boats, and bullock carts

6
Agriculture

• Driven by horticultural endeavors
• Massive granaries stored cereal crops and rice
• Grew mustard, sesame seeds, and dates
• Several species of animals were domesticated,
  such as camels, cats, dogs, goats, sheep, and
  buffalo

7
Social, Gender, and Family Structure

• Most of the civilization was urban and mercantile
• Simplistic lifestyle, few material goods
• No distinct social classes
• The powerful had many resources

• Like most early civilizations, the Indus River
  Valley was dominantly patriarchal
• Men were the head of the household
• Women and children did nothing unless their
  husband or father gave them explicit permission

8
Disease

• Bone samples show few signs of disease or
  malnourishment
• Its predicted that there were minimal
  gastrointestinal and similar infections due to
  high standards of hygiene

• The occasional skull showing cranial lesions hint
  that people may have had iron deficiencies and
  subsequently got chronic anemia

9
Military

• There is no hard evidence of military activity,
  although the cities did have fortifications

• A theory about the disappearance of the Indus
  River civilization is that war-like Aryans and
  Indo-Europeans invaded in 1700-1500 BCE

10
Weaponry

• Knives, spears, and arrowheads were used,
  although this society was peaceful
• Weapons were crafted from copper and bronze, but
  never iron

11
Government

• Harappa was the capital of its province
• Individuals with important resources had most
  power (merchants, ritual specialists, etc.)
• Unified with extreme organization
• High regulation streets were crafted from a
  rectangular grid pattern
• Political structure was weakened by unknown
  forces and then killed by invasion from Eurasia
• Governed through control of trade and religion
• Rulers showed status through seals and fine
  jewelry

12
Art and Technology

• 1st standardized system of weights and measure
• Dancing, painting, pottery, modeling, weaving,
  and metalworking
• Carved copper seals
• Advanced architecture

• Very small, intricate sculptures
• Beautiful crafts made of bronze, gold, silver,
  ivory, terracotta, and glazed ceramics

13
Religion

• Bath remains in Mohenjo-Daro suggest that
  cleansing rituals might have been practiced
• Archeological expeditions have uncovered
  figurines of holy animals (bulls) and women
• Special emphasis placed on fertility and earth as
  the giver of life
• People believed in an after-life dead were
  buried with amulets and pottery

14
Writing/Literature

• Pictographic script still not deciphered
• No relationship to any other writing system
• Writing vanished after the decline of the
  civilization

• Literature from the Harappan civilization has not
  been found
• They used a Dravidian language, which hasnt been
  translated