Indus Valley Civilization [2600 BCE – 1300 BCE] : 

Indus valley civilization was an ancient Indian civilization which started almost during the Bronze Age in the north-western region of South Asia particularly in Western India and present day Pakistan. The Indus Valley Civilization lasted almost from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE and in its mature form from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. The protohistory of India i.e. a period between pre-historic and historic times of India started began with Indus Valley Civilization.

Indus Valley Civilization : Features

Town Planning :

• The towns of Indus Valley Civilization were mainly divided into two parts.
  The western part where CITADEL (Fort) was made for Kings and important persons to live in.
  The eastern part which was the LOWER TOWN made for the common people to live in.

• Only DHOLAVIRA was an exception from others regarding Town Planning as it had three divisions –
  i.   A CITADEL (Fort) at the highest platform (almost 16m high).
  ii.  A ‘ Bailey ‘ or the middle town (almost 8m – 9m high).
  ii. A lower part of the city (almost 7.5m high).

• Dholavira is also called the ‘ LAKE CITY ‘ of the Indus Valley Civilization.

• The towns of Indus Valley Civilization were divided into blocks or in chess board pattern as the roads cut each other at right angles.

• The most important feature of the town planning of the Indus Valley Civilization was their ‘ DRAINAGE SYSTEM ‘.

Economy :

• AGRICULTURE was the most important part of their economy. They grew WHEAT, BARLEY and it was their regular diet.

• They also grew PULSES, CEREALS, OIL SEEDS.

• They were the first to grow COTTON in the world and it was used as their commercial crop.

Crafts :

• The people of Indus Valley Civilization learned to work with many metals such as GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, BRONZE. They also learned Metal Mixing and made alloys.

• The most important fact of this time is that IRON was not known to Indus People.

• The most important crafts during Indus Valley Civilization were SEALS (Stamps) which were square in shape and deception of an animal figure BULL and script. Around 2500 SEALS were found.

• Some seals are found from Mesopotamia(Iraq) which was their main trading partner at that time and trade was done by BARTER SYSTEM.

Religion :

• Indus people worshipped ‘ YOGI ‘ (Lord Shiva) surrounded by various six (6) animals. We get to know about this from Pashupati seal of Mohenjodaro.

• They wiorshiped Mother Goddess, Peepal tree.

• From Mohenjodaro, we see Great Bath which was used for religious bathing.

• Indus people had superstitious belief pattern.

• There were no temples during this time.

Scripts :

• The main script used during Indus Valley Civilization were Seals(Stamps).

• They also made PICTORIAL SEALS.

• More than half of the seals found are still undeciphered or still unknown.

Decline :

There  are many theories about the decline of Indus Valley Civilization :

• ARYAN ATTACK.

• SUDDEN END.

• NATURAL CALAMITIES or GRADUAL DECAY.

• FLOOD.

Mohenjodaro was found 7 layers below the earth’s surface.

Ancient Indian History Notes for SSC and RRB exams