Economic Life of the Indus Valley Civilization

The civilization of the Indus Valley was very successful. The main source of income for them was agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, trade and commerce. Pots, weaving tools, and pieces of metals were also found by archaeologists, indicating that they traded these goods with other cities. Seals belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization also shows their involvement in exports. The main occupation of the Indus Valley people was agriculture, and the second was the domestication of animals. The land received a good amount of rainfall and was rich in natural vegetation.

Agriculture

Agriculture was the main profession of the people of Indus Valley. The land was pretty fertile when the Harappans used to live there. In the cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, leftovers of large granaries were found that suggest that they produced was more than their requirements. 

Barley and wheat were grown by them on a large scale. They also grew some other crops such as pulses, cotton, cereals, dates, melons, pea, etc. There was no clear evidence of rice, but some grains of rice were found in Rangpur and Lothal.

The Indus Valley Civilization is said to be an agro-commercial civilization as most of the people were peasants. The Harappan were the first people to grow cotton.

Domestication of Animals

Animal husbandry was another occupation for the sustenance of the Indus Valley Civilization. The seals depicted animals and suggested that they domesticated cows, buffalo, goats, sheep, pigs, etc. 

Camels and jackasses were also domesticated and were used as beasts of burden. Bones of camels have been obtained in large numbers from many sites, but there is no sign of them on the seals. 

During the excavation in Surkotado in Gujarat, the jawbone of a horse was found. Terracotta figures of a horse have been found at Nausharo and Lothal.

Crafts and Industries

The Indus Valley people were highly skilled. They made pottery, metal vessels, tools and weapons, weaving and spinning, dyeing and other crafts. The weavers wore clothes of cotton and wool. They knew about leather, but there is no evidence of silk to be found.

The people of this civilization belonged to the bronze age and used tools made of stone, but they knew about gold, silver, copper, lead, and bronze. Ornaments making was also an occupation of the Indus Valley people. They made very fine-looking and artistic ornaments using gold, silver, precious stones, etc. Many people were engaged in bead-making at Mohenjodaro, Chanhodaro, and Lothal. They used various precious stones such as Carnelian, Lapis, Lazuli, Agate, and Jasper to make beads.

Shell-working was also a prosperous industry for the Indus Valley Civilization. The artisans of coastal settlements used shells to make pendants, rings, bracelets, beads, etc. They used a potter’s wheel to make glossy pottery. Some structures were made of burnt or mud bricks, which means bricklaying was an essential craft.

Trade and Commerce

The archaeological remains such as enormous granaries, multiple seals of clay, instruments to measure weight were found by archaeologists in Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Lothal, suggesting that the people of Indus Valley were involved in trade and export. 

To produce crafts, they needed a variety of raw materials. Clay was available locally, but they had to acquire metal outside the alluvial plain. Raw materials were brought into town through trade routes by traders and craftsmen. They were then used to make jewellery, pottery, and metalware. 

Bullock carts were used to transport goods from one place to another. They also used the river routes along the Indus and its tributaries for transportation.

Conclusion

The Indus Valley Civilization’s economy was largely based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The land they lived in was quite fertile and was rich in vegetation. It received a good amount of rainfall, which helped the people grow wheat, barley, pea, mustard, etc. 

They also domesticated animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, pigs, etc. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization had high skills in making arts and crafts. Pieces of evidence, such as large granaries and weights and measurements, suggest that they were involved in trade and export.