The Indus Valley Civilisation
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The Indus Valley Civilisation
TIME CHECK: Indus Valley Civilisation
By Mubarak Ali
This originally appeared as a seven-part article in Dawn in August-Sept 2008
Discovery of Mohenjodaro
The second important city which was excavated in 1922-23 was Mohenjodaro. The name of the city is pronounced either as Mohenjodaro meaning ‘the mound of the dead’ or Mohenjodaro attributing it to Mohan tribe of Sindh.
There are also differences among historians about the nomenclature of the civilisation. Some experts call it ‘Harappan Civilisation’ because Harappa was the first site which was excavated. However, after the excavation of more sites, it was named as the ‘Indus Valley Civilisation’.
This Bronze Age civilisation is not as old as Mesopotamian or Egyptian civilisations; the archaeologists believe it to have been established around 2,500 BC. Indus Valley Civilisation, being a newly-discovered civilisation, is the centre of attention for experts who want to excavate its ancient sites to discover new findings. So far, they have unearthed 500 sites ranging from 2500 to 1900 BC. These sites were found in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and western Utter Pardesh. It shows the expansion of the civilisation in the Indian subcontinent.
Expansion of Indus Valley Civilisation
History tells us that a kingdom, after gaining its political power, united different groups of people and linked their social, cultural, and economic interests with each other. However, experts are still confused as they haven’t found any trace of any empire or political power in the Indus Valley Civilisation. Therefore, the question arises about the reason behind the expansion of the Indus Valley Civilisation to such a vast area and having varied groups of people living together. How such a vast area was administered by a single system? They tried to find out the causes but, of course, their responses are based on speculations. Some suggested that perhaps all of them spoke the same language which created in them an affinity. Some argued that perhaps trade and commerce linked them; or perhaps some internal or external danger forced them to depend on each other. However, without evidence, it is difficult to reach any conclusion.
City
History tells us that civilisations originate in cities; therefore, if a civilisation has many cities, it means it’s a growing and expanding one. Cities are important because they reflect different shades of culture and by studying them we get to know about the lifestyles of people and their activities.
Indus Valley Civilisation is different from Mesopotamian or Chinese civilisations because like them it had no ‘city republics’. On the other hand, its cities were linked with each other very closely. Another point of difference is that like Mesopotamia and Egypt, Indus Valley Civilisation had no magnificent temples and tombs. Even its public buildings were built in simple style. Moreover, there were no high-rise buildings. As stone was not available in this area, these buildings were constructed with bricks. They were either sunburnt or baked in fire. Special care was taken to maintain proportion in their size. These bricks are so strong that the buildings made from them are still standing in spite of the changing weather conditions.
Mohenjodaro and Harappa
After the excavation Mohenjodaro came out in its original form unlike other cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. It shows that the city was built systematically after proper planning. Analyzing the structure of the city, one can also calculate the number of its inhabitants. One part of the city was situated on a mound which was the residential area of the upper classes. Lower classes had their quarters on the outskirts of the city.
The main roads of the city were wide, straight and well paved. Side streets were integrated with the main road which facilitated the commuters to move around freely. Sanitation system was well organised and all drains were covered. There was a ‘Great Bath’ in the city, which was, without any doubt, the earliest public water tank in the ancient world. After its excavation, archaeologists found a series of steps which go inside the tank. Its floor is made of burnt bricks and inner walls are built in such a way that seepage was not possible. Around the tank are small rooms which according to experts were used for performing religious rituals.
There was a store to preserve grain. It is assumed that the reserved grain was either utilised in case of famine or drought or for trade. There was also a ‘Great Hall’ in the city, which might have been used for political, social or religious meetings. There were about 2,000 to 3,000 houses and 700 wells in the city. It is estimated that the population of the city was 85,000.
The city of Harappa was also constructed the same way. It was surrounded by walls. As the city could not retain its original shape, experts assume that the city had a bath tank, public hall, and roads, well planned houses and wells just like Mohenjodaro. Its population is assumed to be 35,000.
Keeping in view the planning of these ancient cities, one can safely say that the people of Indus Valley were cleanliness-conscious. The existence of bathrooms in every house shows that they were used to take bath and also kept their houses and streets clean.
Houses
The ruins of the cities depict the construction of their houses. The houses were made of burnt bricks and built on both sides of roads. Generally, the houses were double storeyed. The rooms were built on the side of the courtyard and were windowless. Food was cooked and eaten in the courtyard. Every house had a bathroom and a well for water supply. House drainpipe poured its waste water into the street drain. All street drains were covered. Their houses were built not only for living and meeting social requirements but also to protect them from the hot climate.
Instruments and Weapons
In the bronze civilisations, the tools and weapons that were used were made of bronze; these were more durable than the ones made of stone used in the stone civilisations. These weapons and equipment included knives, axes, pins, needles and saw. The sharp points of spears and arrows were also made of bronze that made hunting easier than before.
As the need for weapons and different instruments grew, a class of artisans who were expert in making such instruments also emerged. The job of these craftsmen was to manufacture different tools. They not only used bronze to make weapons and instruments but also utilised stones, clay, bones of animals, gold and silver for this purpose. Carpenters might have made wooden handles for some weapons. As these wooden handles were not found, it is assumed that they were buried beneath the earth.After excavation, experts found in the Indus Valley various earthen pots such as plates, bowels and cups of different size. These pots were decorated with different colourful designs on their surfaces. Archaeologists also found deities and tablets made of clay.
Carts and Boats
When people domesticated animals, they used them for different purposes. Animals were yoked in plough for digging the fields and for sowing seeds. The animals were also used to draw two-wheeler carts for transportation of goods. The experts also found four-wheeler carts which provided more space for goods. These carts were also used to take passengers from one place to another.
Besides carts, boats were also used to transport men and goods. The life in Indus Valley was full of energy and the efficient communication system promoted trade and commerce and thus facilitated smooth transportation of people and goods from one place to another.
Seals
After excavation, archaeologists found a large number of seals from different places. According to the experts, when traders used to transport their goods they put seals on the boxes and baskets in order to prevent stealing. The seals were square in shape, with something written on the top and engravings of some animals such as unicorn, bull, elephant, rhino and zebra at the bottom. Nearly 60 per cent of the seals had unicorn drawn on their lower portions. Some seals also had geometrical designs and sign of swastika. (The swastika is the oldest cross and emblem in the world. It forms a combination of four “Ls” standing for luck, light, love and life.) Despite every possible effort, the writings on the seals could not be deciphered, which is why most of the mysteries linked to the Indus Valley Civilisation have not been unveiled yet.
Development
Script
In an attempt to understand any civilisation, script plays an important role; by decoding the scripts, one can comprehend the documents of state that provide information about tax system, distribution of grain, administrative rules and regulations, laws, declarations of rulers on political, social, and economic matters, treaties between two states, contracts with traders and business relationships. It also provides information about art, literature and social and cultural practices of a society.
Script kept on changing in every civilisation. In its earliest form, it was pictographic. Later on it became ideographic in which ideas and thoughts were explained with the help of signs and symbols. The script of Indus Valley contains a number of signs but despite all their efforts experts have not been able to decipher the meaning of these signs. Hence the symbolic script of Indus Valley is still a mystery. Unlike Egypt, experts did not find any source which could help them decode the script of Indus Valley. Consequently, researchers couldn’t get to know about most of the aspects of this civilisation.
Agriculture
Majority of the population of the Indus Valley consisted of peasants and cultivators. They were the people who cleared the land from forests for cultivation and dug canals for irrigation. They grew a variety of crops including wheat, barley, millet, pulses, pease, rice, mustard and cotton.
Fruits including watermelon, dates and grapes were also cultivated. Besides these, wild fruits were also produced in abundance.
People used a stone slab to grind the wheat. A number of animals were domesticated and used for different tasks. Oxen, cows, unicorns, buffaloes, goats and sheep provided milk and meat; they were also used to drive carts and plough the field.
Society
The Indus Valley society was divided into different classes based on social status. Difference between the lifestyles of rich and poor could be observed in the residential areas. Rich and privileged had their houses on the upper level of the city. Their houses were spacious and had separate quarters for servants. Poor people lived in the lower part of the city in small houses. The evidence of slavery was also found there.
Majority of the population consisted of peasants and wandering tribes. Peasants lived in villages while wandering tribes lived in forests and kept on moving from one place to another in search of grazing fields for their animals.
In cities there were artisans, priests and scribes. They were identified on the basis of their professions. There was division of labour between men and women. It was the women’s job to grind flour, weave cloth and look after animals. Men engaged in cultivation and hunting. The average age of the people was 30 years. Dead either were buried or burnt. In some cases, the dead body was abandoned in the forest.
In the Indus Valley Civilisation, rulers and nobles had no grand tombs like Egypt. They were buried like others in ordinary graves. As it was the custom to bury all belongings with the dead, the buried items helped researchers to identify the social status of the deceased and at the same time they got to know about the manufacturing process adopted by the artisans to prepare things for daily use.
Dress
One of the most significant findings from the ruins of Indus Valley Civilisation is a piece of cloth, which indicates that the people of the valley cultivated cotton and were also familiar with the art of weaving and making fabric. Later on, looms were also found, which confirmed the existence of skilled weavers in the society. It is also assumed that women in their spare time — besides other household jobs — weaved cloth. Statues discovered from the ruins depict the clothing of Indus Valley people. Both men and women covered themselves with an unstitched long piece of cloth. Women also used necklace and bangles for adornment. Rich people also put a shawl type garment on their shoulders to distinguish themselves from commoners.
Jewellery
History reveals that the use of jewellery in any civilisation started only after the discovery of metals. With the discovery of metals, another class of artisans emerged who knew the art of moulding metals into different kinds of ornaments. The ornamental items give an idea about the aesthetic taste of any society. The jewellery found after the excavation of Indus Valley indicates the class difference in the society. Rich people used to wear costly ornaments made of gold, silver or precious stones, while poor people wore jewellery made of cheap metals and inexpensive stones.
The ornaments found from the ruins are made of gold, silver, copper, bronze, shell, ivory, and costly and cheap stones. These include bangles, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, hairpins and anklets. The bangles had different designs engraved on them. The ornaments were worn both by men and women.
Makeup
Indus Valley, being an advanced society, had people who were beauty conscious and made efforts to look elegant. They were fond of using cosmetics. Experts found many used holders of antimony which was used for eyes. They also found red powder in small shell boxes which was probably used as blusher. Moreover, experts have also found round shaped mirrors.
Toys
Archaeologists found a number of toys from different sites of Indus Valley which show the love and care of people for their children. The toys symbolise their maturity as they used toys to educate their children besides engaging them in healthy fun activities. Many animal-shaped toys such as elephant, rhino, buffalo, bull, tiger, pig, monkey, goat, sheep and hare were found. They were made of clay, shell, ivory and stones. A toy cart made of clay was also found.
Sports And Entertainment
There were two types of sports popular among Indus Valley people: outdoor and indoor. Experts found a dice made of clay and stone, which is assumed to be used in gambling or fortune-telling. Interestingly, experts also found pieces like the ones that are used in modern-day chess.
It is also assumed that animal and bird fighting contests also took place in the society. Indus Valley people were also fond of music and dancing. The dancing girl statue found after excavation reveals not only craftsmanship but also their love for dance.
Ruling classes
The important classes which emerged as powerful in the Indus Valley included landlords, priests, high officials, traders and merchants. Their social status depended on their financial condition and political and social influence in the society. Traders and merchants accumulated wealth as a result of their trade and became rich but politically they were not powerful. Landlords extorted surplus products from the peasants and enjoyed all the luxuries of the time. Priests as spiritual representatives of gods received offerings from people which made them wealthy as well as respectable. Government officials had authority as managers of administration. In any society, when wealth and power combined the ruling classes’ assumed high privileged status.
As no evidence of kingship in the Indus Valley has been found, therefore, it is assumed that the administration was conducted by a council or a committee consisting of influential people. This system continued very successfully for nearly 700 years. During this period nearly 30 generations lived under this system without much change. The administration remained resourceful and efficient. Whenever the need arouse it arranged for the repair of the cities’ walls for protection of inhabitants and managed disposal of solid waste and kept the drainage system in working order.
Though Indus Valley Civilisation was spread over a large area, there is no evidence of the presence of a large army, conquests of other parts of the subcontinent and consequently massacre of vanquished people. Unlike other ancient civilisations, there are no engravings that show war prisoners or war booty as a sign of victory, nor are there any monuments of victory. Though there is evidence that there were weapons, they were not used for the expansion of empire.
Therefore, historians are amazed that how such peaceful people could have such a vast area under their control without wars and conquests.
Religion
We do not have much information about their religion. Whatever evidence we have shows that they were very much attached to nature because it provided them food, security, safety, and healthy environment. Therefore, their concern was to preserve nature and not to destroy it. They used to pay their respect to and worshiped animals, birds, and trees as their benefactors. This tendency is evident from the seals which experts found which contain their images; especially the image of unicorn is present on a large number of seals which was perhaps regarded as sacred. The seals also have engraving of deities which were worshiped by them. The statue of the priest king found at Mohenjodaro is very elegant and impressive.
During the excavations at Mohenjodaro, the remains of a Great Bath have also been found; it is believed that it was used for religious rituals like for bathing before worship.
Trade
Society’s overall economic prosperity depends on its commercial activities. Traders not only provided essential items to the people but also items of luxury and comfort. Therefore, in all ancient civilisations, trade and commerce played an important role in their well-being and also connected them with other countries, thus enhancing their vision regarding world affairs.
Indus Valley Civilisation was extended over a vast area including different regions of the Indian subcontinent, that’s why it provided ample opportunities to the traders to build commercial links with far off regions. Besides domestic trade, evidences of foreign trade activities are also found. The traders and merchants played a vital role in the development of the society; they earned wealth and high repute and became a part of the ruling class.
Weighing and measurement instruments have a significant importance in trade. After excavation, experts found out various square-shaped weighing instruments made of stone. But no measuring instrument could be found, though it is assumed that there must be some; for this reason it is difficult to state anything about their measuring system. Besides this, there are many queries about their calculation system, the signs for counting figures and so on. But these questions are still unanswered.
As coin was not invented till then, the traders of Indus Valley adopted barter system. It is assumed by the experts that they might have used seals in place of coins for exchange of commodities, but this can’t be said with certainty.
Generally, trading was carried out by bringing agriculture products from villages to cities and selling them in the markets. Traders were also engaged in foreign deals and exported commodities and manufactured goods to other countries. Exportation of various goods indicates that production was in abundance, which shows the economic prosperity of the society. It also gives us an idea about the expertise of the artisans because their work was in high demand by the foreigners.
Trade was carried out via both land and water. For road transportation, four-wheeler carts were used, while boats were used for transportation via river and sea. These commercial activities reveal that both sea and land routes were safe.
The export items included pottery, grain, raw cotton and cotton fabrics, spices, beads, pearls and antimony. The goods that were imported included a variety of objects made of metal.
The countries which had commercial relations with the Indus Valley traders were Persian Gulf, Central Asia and Mesopotamia. The seals found from the ruins indicate the links of the Indus Valley with these countries.
Conclusion
The evidences found from the ruins of the Indus Valley indicate that the civilisation was highly developed. The cities of the Indus Valley, which were the centre of commercial, social, and cultural activities, point towards the advancement of the civilisation.
We do not find such a large number of big cities in other ancient civilisations. Cities of the Indus Valley had large number of artisans who were skilled in manufacturing different types of items made of metals, stones and clay. These items were utilised by the city dwellers as well as by the villagers. These objects also reveal the artistic and technical skills of the people.
The significant classes of the society consisted of traders, priests and high officials. Most of the people were peasants but due to the absence of any trace of grand and splendid buildings such as palaces, temples, and tombs, it is assumed that the peasants were not as exploited by the elite class as in other civilisations. Common people were not forced to work without any payment.
No evidence of monarchy or any single authority was found, which indicates that there was no tax extortion. Probably, administrative tasks were handled by the councils consisted of priests and tribal leaders. As members of councils had no state power, common men could not be harassed by the people on the managerial posts.
The language is one of the most important sign of the development of any society. Based on the specimen that we have, we find that the language of the Indus Valley was not fully developed.
It proved that there was not institution of state because we find that in other ancient civilisations where state and its institutions were established, language became an administrative tool. Language was used as a mean to issue different declarations to propagate laws, to register receipt of taxes and to write down contracts. With the help of written statements, various important state documents were also preserved.
Moreover, language also played an important role in the enrichment of the literature. But as the script of the Indus Valley could not be deciphered, we are still unaware of its state documents and commercial contracts. Any single piece of literature was also not found, which indicates the deficiency of the language or non-availability of these sources.
Experts also did not find any trace of calendar. However, sculptures, pottery and other artefacts found after excavation clearly state the artistic skills of the people. Though Indus Valley civilisation was widely spread and centrally connected but this association or the strong bond between the people was not because of any political power. It was either culture or economy that connected the people from each other.
Experts assume that due to the absence of any political power, it can be safely said that people of the Indus Valley were not chaotic and messy; instead they were highly civilised and peaceful people.
