The Harappan Civilization Class 6 History Notes Maharashtra State Board
Harappan Civilization
Archaeological excavation began in 1921 CE at Harappa in the Punjab on the banks of the river Ravi. That is how this civilization came to be known as the Harappan Civilization. It is also known as the Indus Civilization. Excavations were also carried out at Mohen-jo-daro, a place about 650 km to the south of Harappa in the Indus Valley. There was a striking resemblance between the remains of structures and artifacts found at the two places. Similar remains have been found at Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan, Daimabad, etc.
Generally, the same characteristics are seen in all the places of Harappan Civilization. These include town planning, roads, construction of houses, drainage systems, seals, pots and toys, and burial customs.
Housing and Town Planning
The houses and other structures in the Harappan Civilization were mainly built with baked bricks. In some places, unbaked bricks and stones were also used for construction. The houses had rooms built around a central courtyard. The houses had wells, bathrooms, and toilets. There was an excellent drainage system in which baked earthern conduits were used. The streets had covered drains built with bricks. This shows great concern regarding public health. The streets were broad and laid out in a grid pattern. Houses were built in the rectangular blocks created by them. The towns were divided into two or more sections and each section had a separate fortification.
Seals and Pots
The seals of the Harappan Civilization were mainly square-shaped and made from a stone called steatite. These seals bear pictures of animals. They include pictures of real animals like bulls, buffaloes, oxen, elephants, rhinos, tigers, etc., and also of imaginary ones like the unicorn. Human figures are also seen. These seals were used as stamps.
Earthen pots of various types and shapes have been found at the excavation sites of the Harappan Civilization. There are red terra cotta pots with patterns and designs in black colour. The patterns include fish scales, interlocking circles, pipal leaves, etc. The Harappan people buried their dead. They used to bury earthern pots with the bodies.
The Great Bath
A spacious bath has been discovered at Mohen-jo-daro. The tank in the Great Bath was nearly 2.5 meters deep. It was 12 meters long and 7 meters wide. It was lined with baked bricks to prevent seepage of water. There were steps leading down to the tank. There was also a provision for draining, cleaning, and re-filling the tank from time to time.
Life in the Harappa Civilization
The Harappan people practiced agriculture. The excavation at Kalibangan provides evidence of a plowed field. The people there grew different crops, mainly wheat and barley. In Rajasthan, barley was grown on a large scale while in Gujarat, it was ragi. Peas, sesame, and lentils (masoor) were also cultivated. The Harappan people were also familiar with cotton. The statues, the pictures on the seals, and the remains of cloth found in the excavations indicate that the Harappan people used to weave cloth. The dress of both men and women consisted of knee-length cloth and an upper garment.
Many types of ornaments have been found in excavations. They are made of gold, copper, precious stones as also shells, cowries, seeds, etc. Men and women both used multistrand necklaces, rings, armlets, and waistbands. Women wore bangles right up to their upper arms. A statue found at a Harappan site presents an excellent specimen of their art. It shows the man’s facial features very clearly. A cloak with a beautiful trefoil pattern is draped across his shoulder.
Trade
The Harappan people carried on trade within India as well as with countries outside. The Indus Valley was known for its high-quality cotton. This cotton was exported to other regions like West Asia, Southern Europe, and Egypt. Cotton cloth, too, was exported. The traders of the Harappan Civilization provided muslin cloth to Egypt. Silver, zinc, gemstones, rubies, and deodar wood were some of the items that were imported from Kashmir, South India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Baluchistan. Trade was carried out on both land routes and sea routes. Some of the excavated seals bear pictures of ships. A huge dockyard has been discovered at Lothal. The trade of the Harappan Civilization was carried on along the coastline of the Arabian Sea.
Reasons for the Decline of the Harappan Civilization
Frequent floods, invasions by foreign tribes, decline in trade were some of the reasons for the decline of the Harappan Civilization. Some regions became arid due to the weakening of monsoon, drying up of river basins, earthquakes, changes in sea level, etc. People migrated to other places leading to the decline of cities. The Harappan Civilization was a prosperous and flourishing urban civilization. It laid the foundation of the Indian Civilization.
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