Indus River Valley

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Indus River Valley Harappa
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Introduction
The Indus River Valley flourished in 2,500
B.C.E. It is located in the western part of
South Asia, what is today called Pakistan and
western India It is the largest of the four
ancient urban civilizations of Egypt,
Mesopotamia, India and China. First discovered
city was Harappa. It was discovered in
1920s. Harappans used same size bricks and
standard weights. Civilization extended several
hundred miles Himalayas to coast of Indian
Ocean Harappa supported population of
50,000 Excavations continued into 1998
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City Structure
The Indus civilization extended over half a
million square miles across the Indus River
Valley.
The city was split into two different areas
Citadel Area - the establishment for religious
ceremonies and worship. Residential Area - the
establishment where the population lived. In the
residential area the streets formed a grid-like
system. Each street intersected another at a 90
angle. The streets show a sense of planning,
leadership, and organization.
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Houses
Houses were also built in a grid-like pattern
and were on both sides of the road. They were
built from hand made baked bricks. Houses varied
in size and some were even two stories high. A
courtyard was in the middle of the house and
windows overlooked it. The outside walls had no
windows. The roofs of the houses were flat and
made from wood, reed, and mud plaster. Because
they were for the convenience of the citizens
the houses were the finest structures that were
built.
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Drainage Systems and Wells
The Indus River Valley civilization had a
remarkable system to remove waste and
water. Drains were made from clay pipes that were
placed underground.
There were even drainage holes on the sides of
the streets to remove water. They evenly spaced
rocks over the holes to allow only water, not
debris, to enter the drain.
Almost every house had its own private drinking
well, drainage system, and private bathroom.
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Public and Private Baths
The baths were made from tightly fitted
bricks. A natural tar substance was placed on
the bottom and sides of the bath to prevent the
water from leaking. Public baths may have
served as a public pool or a ritual bathing
area. Almost every house had its own private
bathroom and bath area.
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Other City Structures
The city was surrounded by a giant wall which
protected it from invaders. There are no large
cemeteries or royal burial monuments found which
suggests that they did not bury the dead but
cremated them. Granaries were found inside the
city. They held all the agricultural goods that
were produced. The grain held in the structure
pictured below could be accessed by holes at the
bottom.
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Economy
Area received abundant rainfall. Indus River
and tributaries provided water and fertile
soil. 4000 B.C.E farmed along bank of Indus
River. 3000 B.C.E irrigation began. Grew
wheat, barley, peas, sesamum, dates, rice,
melons, and other fruits. Fist civilization to
discover the growing of cotton used it to make
clothes. Domesticated sheep and goats later
cattle and used them to pull wagons. Granaries
developed indicated crop surplus. Developed
flood control techniques