INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION
PERIOD: 3000 B.C. – 1500 B.C.
• The Indus Valley Civilization, as it is called, was the earliest known urban culture of the Indian
subcontinent which was the most fascinating yet mysterious cultures of the ancient world.
This culture existed along the Indus River in present day Pakistan, western India and
Afghanistan, which is equivalent to the size of Western Europe.
• It was one of the largest of the four ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and
China. But it is poorly understood because its writing system remains to be deciphered.
Among the Indus civilization’s mysteries are essential questions, including its means of
existence and the causes for its sudden extinction beginning around 1900 BCE.
ENVIRONMENT
• Along the banks of the river Indus ( Sindhu ), the Bronze Age civilization flourished during
the same period of Egypt, Mesopotemia, Babylonia, over an area of 13,00,000 sq. Km. (
mostly in Pakistan and partly in Rajasthan & Gujrat).
• The land was very fertile & clay was used for making bricks & pottery. Wood was ample.
• Each city was composed of several mounds to protect from the periodic floods.
• Climatic conditions favoured flat roofs & smaller windows.
SOCIAL HISTORY
• A number of highly civilized urban centers of traders, artisans and farmers were found -
Harappa & Mahen-jo-daro, Chahanu daro, Kalibangan, Lothal, Rangpur etc
• Trading of agricultural products & crafts to West Asia, Southern Europe & Egypt were found.
• Occupation: i) main occupation - agriculture, animal husbandry, textile& dying, baking bricks,
pottery, ii) other occupations- ornaments & bead making, ivory carving, metallurgy & seal-
engraving.
• Scientific & technical advancements: i) Great accuracy in measuring units of length, mass &
time ii ) study of tides, waves, currents ( marked in the design of port ).
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• Lack of defensive planning suggests that withstanding battle was never intended rather
control of trade & commerce was intended for.
ARCHITECTURE
• Developed engineering genius pioneering in town planning, drainage system & stone, brick
and clay constructions but lacked in the aesthetic qualities
• Advanced architecture is shown in impressive dockyards, granaries, baths, warehouses,
brick platforms & protective walls.
• Each city was composed of a series of enclosed walls on mounds of different orientations
connected by roads. Each major mound was surrounded by massive mud brick fortification
wall.
• Buildings were constructed of burnt bricks laid in mud mortar.
• Upper floors were constructed of timber and roofs were flat.
• Openings were spanned by wooden lintels. Several examples of corbelled arches were
found.
• Example: Mahenjo daro
i) Private houses:
• Private houses were of
different sizes varying from
palatial buildings to two room
unit.
• Houses were planned as a
series of rooms opening into a
central courtyard.
• Main entrances were not provided on the main roads but from the sides.
• No windows provided on roadside. Ventilation and lighting provided from the roof.
• Most houses or group of houses had private bathing areas, latrines as well as private wells.
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ii) Public Buildings:
a. Great Bath:
• The largest building was the Great Bath measuring 55m X 33m. Bathing pool of 12m X 8.5m
and 2.4m deep was in the center and surrounded by verandahs, rooms, galleries.
• A flight of steps led to the pool. The
walls of the pool was made of burnt
bricks in bitumen mortar to make
watertight.
• Pool was filled with water from a
large well situated in the same
complex.
• Periodic cleaning was done through
a big drain.
• Helical pumps were used to pump water to the pool.
• Probably this bath was used for ceremonial bathing. The residence for the priest was found
on the upper level of the bath.
• A series of rooms were located at the eastern side of the bath.
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b. Great Granary:
• Great Granary building of 45m X 15m with smaller halls, corridors, barrack like quarters for
workers, circular brick platforms for pounding grains were provided.
• The foundation was divided into 27 square & rectangular blocks by narrow passageways or
rooms.
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TOWN PLANNING:
(EXAMPLE: MAHEN–JO-DARO)
i) Road Pattern:
• Broad layout of the town - an acropolis(upper town ) containing the great bath, granaries,
monasteries and the lower town with dwellings.
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• Principal thoroughfares were oriented N-S & E-W directions at intersected at right angles
connecting upper & lower town.
Urban Fabric of Mohenjodaro
• Roads were set in a line in grid-iron and running straight for miles with varying width from
4m to 10m ( of different hierarchy ). Main roads divided the city into square and rectangular
blocks which were further divided by lanes.
• Most of these roads were paved by fire-burnt bricks.
• Either side of the road stood houses of various sizes and on platform to protect from floods.
• Some buildings had lamp posts and a well.
ii) Drainage System:
• There was an elaborate drainage system along the roadside that disposed the waste matter
and rain water into the river.
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• Drains were covered with slab and lined with burnt bricks.
• Manholes, soak pits were provided at regular intervals.
ART
• Art was manifested in sculptures, seals, jewelries, potteries & terracotta.
• Sculptures: very few stone sculptures of men or gods in squatting positions & few bronze
sculptures of dancing girls & animals were found.
• Seals: used for commercial purposes, relief work (embossing) on metals & terracotta
showed the beginning of plastic art of pictorial script ( not yet deciphered) & decorative
motifs of men, women & animals.
• Other art forms like music. Dance was also revealed through the sculptures & reliefs.
