Harappa Civilization :Study Material

Harappa Civilization: Introduction

Harappa Civilization was one of the important ancient civilization of the world.  It was the urban civilization and it was also called Indus Valley Civilization (Sindhu Ghati ka Sabhyata). This Civilization was bronze historic Civilization. The period of Harappa Civilization was approx 2300 BC to 1700 BC.

Approx 5000 (five thousand) years ago, the Human Civilization was turn into rural to urban area in the four different places in the World. After this, that four places were slowly slowly convert in total urban Civilization and four important Civilization were came to existence in the World and  and these Civilizations are:-
1. Mesopotamian  Civilization : This Civilization was came in the existence on the bank of Tigris and Euphrates River.
2. Egypt Civilization:  This Civilization was situated on the bank of Nile River.
3. Harappa Civilization: This Civilization was situated on the bank of  Indus River. It is also Called Indus Valley Civilization.
4.Chinese Civilization: This Civilization was situated on the bank of Hwang ho river (Yellow River).

           The above mentioned four Civilization were the important ancient Civilization in the World.
Now, we are discuss about the Harappa (Indus) Civilization. Harappa Civilization was and Bronge Historic Civilization. The area of the Harappa Civilization was approx 13 lakh square kilometer , which was bigger than both Mesopotamian and Egypt Civilization. Approx 1000 (One Thousand) Harappa Civilization's Site has been recognised.The word India (Country Name) is based on Indus River.

The dimension of the Harappa Civilization was:-
Sutkagen Dor (west) to Alamgirpur (U.P) (East)
Daimabad (Maharashtra) (South) to Manda (J&K) (North).

There was following Important Cities in the Harappa Civilization:-

1. Mohenjo daro :- It is situated on the right side of Indus river. (Founder name Rakhal Das Banerjee,1922 AD)
2.Harappa :-It is situated on the left side of Ravi river and its current location is the Punjab in Pakistan. (Founder name Dayaram Sahani,1921 AD).
3.Chanhudaro :-It is situated on the left side of Indus river and approx 125 Km South of Mohenjo Daro City. (Founder Name N. Majumdar, 1962 AD).
4.Kalibanga :-It is situated on the bank  Ghagghar river in Rajasthan (India). (Founder name B.B. Lal & A.K. Thapar ,1961 AD)
5.Lothal: It is situated on bay of Khambhat. Its current location is Ahmedabad district of Gujarat (India). (Founder Name Raghunath Rao,1957 AD).
6. Banmali :It is Situated on the bank of Saraswati river and its current location is Hisar district in Haryana. (Founder name Rabindra Singh Vista, 1973 AD).
7.Surkotada : It is situated in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. (Founder Name Jagapathi Joshi, 1972 AD).

The "GRID SYSTEM" was the important specification of the Harappa Civilization. All Cities of Harappa Civilization were made with Grid System. While, Other Civilization of Such Period haven't Grid System. Bricks are used in Harappa Civilization for Housing. and the Dimension of bricks is
(7.5 cm height, 15Cm width and 30cm length).
There was an acropolis in the west direction of Mohenjo Daro City of Harappa Civilization. There was many important significant house in that acropolis of Mohenjo Daro.

According to Historian, the population of Mohenjo Daro was approx 35,000 to 40,000. The Bathing House of Mohenjo Daro was the most important heritage of the Harappa Civilization. The dimension of that bathing house was:-
Length -39ft
Width - 23ft
Depth- 08 ft.
i.e L*B*H= 39 ft * 23ft * 08 ft.

In 1921 AD, Harappa City was discovered by Shri Dayanand Sahani and it  it is the first city of Harappa Civilization, which was discovered at first. There are no acropolis in the Chanhudaro city of Harappa Civilization.

Economical Condition of the Harappa Civilization:-

The main Sources for living in the Harappa Civilization was Agriculture. The Important Crops of Harappa Civilization was Wheat & Oat. While Rice is also found in Harappa Civilization . The Evidence of Rice was found in Lothal and Rangpur. There are two types of Wheat are found in the Harappa Civilization- Club Wheat and Indian Dwarf Wheat. The evidence of Oat is found in Mohenjo Daro and Harappa.

Animal Husbandry is also found in the Harappa Civilization. The evidence of Goat and Sheep is found in Harappa Civilization. The Image of Bull is also found in the Coin of Harappa Civilization. The Pot of Copper and kansa is the main pot of Harappa Civilization. The evidence of Gold and Silver is also found in the Harappa Civilization's Jewellery. It is also called that  Silver was discovered by Harappan. Bangle is also found in Harappa Civilization. Manka was Constructed with Carnelian in Harappa Civilization.

The tradition of International trade was also found in the Harappa Civilization. According to evidence, the International trade of Harappa Civilization was mostly with Iran , Iraq and Bahrain.
Harappan was import Gold (from Afghanistan, Iran and Karnataka) Copper (from Rajasthan), Tin (from Afghanistan) and export to them Oat, Wheat, Pea etc.

There are no Specific Coin of Harappa Civilization. The trade in Harappa Civilization was done by Roads and Sea. According to evidence, the religion of the Harappa Civilization was Hinduism and the main God and Goddess in this Civilization was Lord Shiv (Pashupatinath) and The Earth respectively.

There is no evidence about the language of Harappa Civilization.
The Book "Vadic Glossary on Indus Seal (1997 AD) " is related to Harappa Civilization and its writer is Shri Natwar Jha. Toys are made with Terracotta in Harappa Civilization.

Destruction of the Harappa Civilization:-

According to few Historian, the main reason for the destruction of the Harappa Civilization was the attack of Arya, because this evidence is mentioned in Rigved. It is also Called that word "Kabristan-H" is related to Harappa Civilization for the attack for Arya. But few Historian are not agree with it. According to them the main reason for the destruction of the Harappa Civilization was Flood not attack of Arya.

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