Indus Valley Civilization

Human Society mainly depends on economy. As economy changes, human society changes accordingly.

Harappa is an archaeological site related to Indus Valley Civilization. Since the first archaeological evidence of this civilization was obtained from Harappa, Indus Valley Civilization. Along with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, it was one of the three ancient civilization of the world.

Historical period is determined with respect to the available written literature. The period before which knowledge of the art of writing was not available is called early historical age. Indus civilization is Proto historical civilization although the writing was known during this period, but it is still to be deciphered.

Indus Valley Civilization was an earliest known urban civilization of Indian subcontinent whereas Aryan Civilization was rural civilization.

The knowledge of script and town planning of Indus Valley Civilization was more developed than that of Pre-Aryans. Different archaeological pieces of evidence of pottery have been found in the early settlements of Mehrgarh from the Indus Valley Civilization. Pottery found during excavations proves that Indus Valley Civilization existed before Aryan Civilization. The red potteries painted with black figures were the speciality of Harappan Civilization, whereas the grey painted potteries were used by Aryans.

The culture of the Indus Valley Civilization was different from the Vedic culture in many ways. The Indus Valley Civilization was urban while the Vedic culture was rural. The script of Indus Valley Civilization was of depictive expressions. The people of Indus Valley Civilization did not know the use of iron, whereas the people of Vedic Civilization used iron weapons extensively.

The first artefact uncovered in Harappa was a unique stone seal carved with a unicorn and an inscription. Similar seals with different animal symbols and writings have been found throughout the region. Although the writing has not yet been deciphered, evidence found during the early archaeological excavations is the major source to know about the Harappan culture.

The first artefact uncovered in Harappa was a unique stone seal carved with a unicorn and an inscription. Similar seals with different animal symbols and writings have been found throughout the region. Although the writing has not yet been deciphered, evidence found during the early archaeological excavations is the major source to know about the Harappan culture.

The site of Indus Valley Civilization was excavated (started) in year 1921 and objects such as tools, weapons, ornaments of archaeological or historical interest were found there but the main source to know about this civilization is seals. There were more than 3000 seals found.

About the origin of the Harappan civilization, many scholars have presented different views. E.J.H. Mackay has considered that the origin of the Harappan civilization was due to the migration of people from Sumer (Mesopotamia), while historian D.H. Gordon and Mortimer Wheeler condidered that the Harappan civilization was the result of migration of idea of civilization from Western Asia. In this context, Amalananda Ghosh condidered that pre-Harappan culture matured into Harappan civilization. M.F. Rafique Mughal consider that the development of Harappan civilization occurred in the region of Ravi river at Harappa. He refutes the old belief that Harappan civilization was inspired by Mesopotamian civilization.