The River Valley civilization Class 6 ICSE Notes
•From Villages to Town
In the Neolithic Age, man lived in small villages. With the passage of time, population increased, and larger villages appeared. As more and more population increased and man’s needs expanded further, the larger villages grew into cities and towns. As a result, many new arts, skills, crafts and occupations also developed side by side. All this brought about a new lifestyle. When man began to live in towns, it marked the beginning of civilization.
Civilization may be explained as that stage of man’s development when he started looking beyond the simple satisfaction of his basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.
MAJOR ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
1. The Indus Valley Civilization
2. The Tigris-Euphrates Civilization in Mesopotamia
3. The Nile Valley Civilization in Egypt
4. The Hwang-Ho-Valley Civilization in China
5. Greek Civilization
6. Iranian Civilization
1. The Indus Valley Civilization
2. The Tigris-Euphrates Civilization in Mesopotamia
3. The Nile Valley Civilization in Egypt
4. The Hwang-Ho-Valley Civilization in China
5. Greek Civilization
6. Iranian Civilization
WHY PEOPLE STARTED SETTLING NEAR RIVERS ?
Most of the early civilizations flourished around river banks because :
• The people of early civilizations needed water for drinking and to irrigate their fields.
• The soil near rivers is very fertile— or full of plant food and good for growing.
• Water was also used to transport goods.
• The people of early civilizations needed water for drinking and to irrigate their fields.
• The soil near rivers is very fertile— or full of plant food and good for growing.
• Water was also used to transport goods.
THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
The Indus Valley Civilization (mature period 2600-1900 B.C.), was an ancient civilization in the Indian Subcontinent that flourished around the Indus River basin. Primarily centered along the Indus river, the civilization encompassed most of what is now Pakistan, mainly the provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan, as well as extending into modern-day Indian states of Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Remains have been excavated from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, as well. The mature phase of this civilization is technically known as the Harappan Civilization, after the first of its cities to be unearthed : Harappa in Pakistan.
The Indus Valley Civilization (mature period 2600-1900 B.C.), was an ancient civilization in the Indian Subcontinent that flourished around the Indus River basin. Primarily centered along the Indus river, the civilization encompassed most of what is now Pakistan, mainly the provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan, as well as extending into modern-day Indian states of Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Remains have been excavated from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, as well. The mature phase of this civilization is technically known as the Harappan Civilization, after the first of its cities to be unearthed : Harappa in Pakistan.
•The Discovery of Indus Valley Civilization
In 1921, R.B. Dayaram Sahni, an Indian archaeologist, found a number of seals from the village Harappa (now in Pakistan). Next year, in 1922, a huge city was excavated hidden under the sands and bricks of Harappa. The same year, R.D. Banerjee made similar excavations in Mohenjodaro in Sindh. Thus, the Archaeological Survey of India unearthed one of the greatest ancient civilization of the world, known as the Indus Civilization or the Harappan culture.
SOURCES OF THE HARAPPAN CULTURE
The main sources of the Harappan Culture are the archaeological evidences ; these include the ruins of the ancient cities, buildings, pottery, seals, toys, weights and measures, ornaments, tools and weapons.
The main sources of the Harappan Culture are the archaeological evidences ; these include the ruins of the ancient cities, buildings, pottery, seals, toys, weights and measures, ornaments, tools and weapons.
SITES OF THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Some of the major sites, other than Mohenjodaro and Harappa, where the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found are:
Some of the major sites, other than Mohenjodaro and Harappa, where the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found are:
1. Lothal, Gujarat (Gulf of Cambay)
2. Kalibangan, Rajasthan (Ganganagar)
3. Ropar (Punjab)
4. Alamgiri (Uttar Pradesh)
5. Banwali, Hisar (Haryana)
6. Kotdiji (Pakistan)
2. Kalibangan, Rajasthan (Ganganagar)
3. Ropar (Punjab)
4. Alamgiri (Uttar Pradesh)
5. Banwali, Hisar (Haryana)
6. Kotdiji (Pakistan)
CHIEF FEATURES OF THE HARAPPAN CULTURE
1. Town planning :
• The Indus Valley people had an excellent skill in town planning.
• The Indus Valley people had an excellent skill in town planning.
• The streets and lanes of their towns were laid out according to a set plan.
• These were straight and cut each other at right angles.
• The roads were wide enough.
• The streets were paved with fire-burnt bricks.
• There were covered drains running under them.
• There were lamp posts at regular distances.
• These were straight and cut each other at right angles.
• The roads were wide enough.
• The streets were paved with fire-burnt bricks.
• There were covered drains running under them.
• There were lamp posts at regular distances.
2. Drainage system :
Mohenjodaro, Lothal and other cities are known to have a good drainage system. House drains emptied into the main drains. The main drains ran under the main street.
Mohenjodaro, Lothal and other cities are known to have a good drainage system. House drains emptied into the main drains. The main drains ran under the main street.
Inspection manholes were provided at regular distances. Water supply was also good.
3. Buildings and houses : The people of the Indus Valley had built three categories of buildings, namely
• the large buildings
• the public bath
• the people’s dwelling houses.
• the large buildings
• the public bath
• the people’s dwelling houses.
The cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa were divided into two parts :
• Part one of the city was built on a raised ground, and it was called the citadel.
• Part two was built at a lower level.
• Part one of the city was built on a raised ground, and it was called the citadel.
• Part two was built at a lower level.
The citadel had large public buildings on it. These included the granaries, workshops, assembly hall and the factories.
Let us know a bit more about some of these :
(a) The Great Granaries : The great granary at Harappa was the most important building in the citadel.
(a) The Great Granaries : The great granary at Harappa was the most important building in the citadel.
It ran 46 metres long and 15 metres wide. The granaries were used to store foodgrains.
(b) The Great Public Bath at Mohen-jodaro : A great public bath was excavated at Mohenjodaro.
It was the most imposing structure in the city. It consisted of a large quadrangle in the centre with a large swimming enclosure, 40 ft in length, 23 ft. in width and 8 ft. in depth. It had galleries and rooms on all sides some of which had arrangements for hot water baths.
(c) The Assembly Hall : The Assembly Hall was another huge public building at Mohenjodaro. It was used for general meetings by the ruler.
(d) The Lothal docks : At Lothal, near Ahmedabad, a naval dockyard has been discovered. This shows that the people of the Indus Valley carried out some maritime activities during this period.
•Four Social Groups of Peoples
The people were grouped into four different classes :
• the learned or the ruling class who lived in the citadel area.
• the learned or the ruling class who lived in the citadel area.
• the rich merchants and the warriors
• traders and artisans who worked in brick kilns, workshops and factories.
• manual labourers who lived in singleroom houses down the city.
• traders and artisans who worked in brick kilns, workshops and factories.
• manual labourers who lived in singleroom houses down the city.
ART OF SCULPTURE
The Harappans made beautiful and artistic sculptures of clay, stones, and different metals. Statues and figurines of a young bull, a stout watch dog, a shawl-wearing yogi, a dancing girl and a male dancer have been found at different sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. The metal workers at Mohenjodaro and Harappa were quite skilled in their art. A bronze statue of a dancing girl is shown relaxing after a dance performance. Her right hand is on her hip and left hand is dangling free. She is wearing a large number of bangles. Her large eyes, flat nose and big lower lip show her Negroid features. Similarly, the figures of a mother goddess and a bull are a fine example of sculpture in terracotta.
The Harappans made beautiful and artistic sculptures of clay, stones, and different metals. Statues and figurines of a young bull, a stout watch dog, a shawl-wearing yogi, a dancing girl and a male dancer have been found at different sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. The metal workers at Mohenjodaro and Harappa were quite skilled in their art. A bronze statue of a dancing girl is shown relaxing after a dance performance. Her right hand is on her hip and left hand is dangling free. She is wearing a large number of bangles. Her large eyes, flat nose and big lower lip show her Negroid features. Similarly, the figures of a mother goddess and a bull are a fine example of sculpture in terracotta.
SEALS
More than 2,000 seals have been found at different sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. These are made of different materials such as pottery, steatite, glazed earthenware, ivory, etc. Seals of terracottas and copper have also been found. Most of these are square or rectangular in shape. Figures of animals and human beings are engraved on the seals. Of 2,000 seals discovered so far, the most important one is the seal of Shiva or Pashupati discovered at Mohenjajodaro.
More than 2,000 seals have been found at different sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. These are made of different materials such as pottery, steatite, glazed earthenware, ivory, etc. Seals of terracottas and copper have also been found. Most of these are square or rectangular in shape. Figures of animals and human beings are engraved on the seals. Of 2,000 seals discovered so far, the most important one is the seal of Shiva or Pashupati discovered at Mohenjajodaro.
From the seals we get to know about :
• the dress, hair style and ornaments of these people.
• their religious beliefs, commercial activities and trade relations of those times.
• the script of these people.
• the dress, hair style and ornaments of these people.
• their religious beliefs, commercial activities and trade relations of those times.
• the script of these people.
•Religion of the Indus Valley Civilization
• A common figurine discovered is that of a female deity, somewhat similar to Shakti or “the mother goddess”. She was regarded as the source of all power and creation.
• Similarly, a seated figure, of a male-god, carved on a small stone-seal.
has been found. It is a three-facedgod, resembling Shiva or Pashupati of later Hinduism. So, the people of the Indus Valley seemed to have worshipped Shakti and Shiva. The Peepal tree, stones and animals were also worshipped.
They also believed in some form of life after death. So they buried their dead in graves. Some others practiced urn-burial. They placed the main belongings of the dead like food, utensils, ornaments, mirror-set, etc. along with the dead body, as they thought that the dead might need those things for the next life.
• The discovery of amulets (a thread or taveez) suggests that they believed in magic and charms to keep the evil spirits away. They had also begun the worship of fire.
•Art of writing
The Indus Valley people used the pictographic script for writing purposes. But their script is still a mystery for scholars and has not been deciphered so far.
•Contribution of the Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization has made a rich contribution to the world civilizations, as noted below :
1. Being the first urban civilization, it gave to the world the first urban civilization, first town planning, its first architecture in stone, its first example in sanitary engineering, sewerage work and civic administration.
1. Being the first urban civilization, it gave to the world the first urban civilization, first town planning, its first architecture in stone, its first example in sanitary engineering, sewerage work and civic administration.
2. The Indus Valley Civilization also has the credit of producing pottery and wheel cart and harnessing the animal force for man’s use.
3. The worship of Shakti and Lord Shiva, respect for certain trees like peepal, animals like cow and bull could be regarded as a legacy of the Indus Valley people.
•End of the Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization came to a sudden end. Nothing certain can be said about the reason of this sudden end. It is all a guess work. May be :
• Invasion by the conquering tribes like the Aryans could have sacked Mohenjodaro destroying its civilization.
• Either a natural calamity like a flood of the River Indus or its gradual drifting away from the cities could have made the valley unfertile.
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