Harappan Civilization Analysis

Features that enable us to characterize the Harappan civilization as urban

Introduction One of the world’s first great urban civilization is the Indus valley civilization. It flourished in the vast river plains and areas around the river. These locations are in Pakistan and Western India today. The earliest cities of Harappan civilization Predates to 4600 years ago. The Harappan civilization flourished along the river plains for at least 700 years, from 2500 to 1800 B.C. This civilization developed at same time as the early city states of Egypt and Mesopotamia were developed.

Indus valley cities The excavated Indus cities are classified as nucleus cities, coastal towns, other cities and

Some houses were artistic in architectural design, which probably belongs to the rich. All the houses were plain, utilitarian comfortable to live and with stand the seasonal floods. Most of the houses in the Mohenjo-Daro had baths, wells and covered drains with are in connected with street drains. Ordinary buildings had ventilation. Doors of the entrance fixed on the side wall not in the front wall, so one could enter the house by the door facing the side lanes of the house. Doors are made of wood and large buildings had spacious doors. The most amazing and bizarre thing is, there was no stone built houses in the cities of full Indus valley civilization. Most of the houses were built by brunt bricks, where that portion of that building were contaminated with water and other parts of the buildings were built by sun-dried bricks. Almost all the bricks are of same size. The staircases of the buildings were strong and solid. The roofs of the houses were flat and made of wood.

Drainage, Public bath and

They produced wheat, barley, rai, peas and more. In addition to this they produced sesamum, mustard, dates and various leguminous plants. Indus people were the early people to produce cotton.

Animal domestication Although the Harappans knew agriculture, cattle were kept on large scale for domestic purpose. Oxen, Humped bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs were domesticated. Dogs and cats were raised as pets.

Technology and crafts The Harappan culture belongs to bronze age. The people of Harappa used many tools made of bronze and stone like axes, chisels, knives, spearheads and more. And there are many indications of workshops for bead makers and work centers for bangle making. Harappan were also practiced for boat making. Weavers wove cloths of wool and cotton from spindle whorls which used for spinning. Potter’s wheel were also used at earlier stages for pot