Introduction To Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization is widely considered to be the oldest major civilization in the world. It was founded over 5,000 years ago, and it flourished for more than 1,500 years. This ancient culture left behind a wealth of impressive achievements, including an intricate system of drainage systems and sanitation, as well as some of the earliest examples of writing and architecture in human history. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the Indus Valley Civilization.

A Brief Overview Of The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin from about 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. The civilization was primarily located in what is now Pakistan, but it extended into present-day India, Afghanistan, and Iran. The Indus Valley Civilization was the largest of the four ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, South Asia, and China.

The civilization encompassed an area of about one million square kilometers (400,000 sq mi), making it the most extensive of the early civilizations. The Indus Valley Civilization may well have a citizenry of over 5 million people at its peak. The civilization was notable for its cities, which were well-planned and organized, with streets laid out in a grid pattern.

The civilization also developed new techniques in handicrafts, including pottery, metallurgy, and textile production.

The Indus Valley Civilization is also known for its distinctive art and architecture, which includes the world’s first known system of writing, the Indus script.

The civilization was also notable for its use of the wheel and its construction of dams and canals.

The Indus Valley Civilization declined in the late third millennium BCE and was eventually succeeded by the Vedic civilization.

Seals Of Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was distinctive for its use of seals, which were used to mark objects such as clay tablets and metal vessels. The seals were usually made of steatite, a soft stone that could be carved with images and inscriptions.

The seals typically depict animals, such as bulls, elephants, and tigers. The largest of the seals is about nine centimeters (three inches) long and depicts a horned animal, possibly a bull.

The Indus Valley Civilization was the first civilization to use seals, and the seals are thought to have been used for a variety of purposes, including trade, administration, and religious rituals.

The seals have been found in a variety of locations, including Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.

The Indus Valley Civilization was the first civilization to use the wheel. The wheel was probably first used for pottery, and it later became important in transportation.

Town Planning of Indus Valley Civilization

The Harappan people were masters of town planning. All the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization had well-laid streets and lanes. The houses were built of brick and had tiled roofs. They had bathrooms and wells. There was a system of drainage in all the cities. The buildings were constructed according to a grid system. This is one of the earliest examples of town planning in the world.

The city of Mohenjo-Daro was the largest and most important city of the Indus Valley Civilization. It covered an area of over 200 hectares. The city was divided into two parts – the Citadel and the Lower City. The Citadel was the fortified upper part of the city where the wealthy citizens lived. The Lower City was the unfortified part of the city where the common people lived.

The Harappan civilization was an urban civilization. Over 80% of the population lived in cities. This was a very high percentage for any civilization at that time. The Harappan people were the first to use burnt bricks for construction. They were also the first to use a grid system for town planning.

Conclusion

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the most advanced civilizations of its time. It is still studied today for the knowledge and advancements that it made in areas such as agriculture, architecture, and trade. If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating civilization, there are plenty of resources available to you. This guide has hopefully provided a good starting point for your exploration into the Indus Valley Civilization.