Indus Valley Civilization
Harrapa and Mohenjo-daro
Harrapa and Mohenjo-dare were two very advanced cities for the
time that they were built. An interesting feature of their design
was that they were completely pre-planned. The cities both had
an approximate population of 35 000. The city was built upon a
large brink platform, which made defense easier, and also
allowed for their advanced sewage system. All houses had a
'toilet' that dropped into the sewers, and a well in most buildings
for fresh cool water. The streets were set up to have a larger
width in more high traffic areas, and were thinner in lower traffic
areas. The houses had flat roofs which were perfect for drying
out grains before storing them in cool rooms in the buildings, or in one of the granaries. The
granaries were huge buildings that was used generally by everyone within the city. Their
farming method was very similar to the method used by the Egyptians, and revolved around the
flood-dry pattern of the Indus river, they used oxcarts and plows for farming, and the oxcarts
also were used for travelling with grains and other things. In the centre of Mohenjo-daro there
was a citadel at least forty feet high, which contained a huge water supply known as the Great
Bath that is believed to be for religious ceremonies. The citadel also served as a palace and a
temple.
Harrapa and Mohenjo-dare were two very advanced cities for the
time that they were built. An interesting feature of their design
was that they were completely pre-planned. The cities both had
an approximate population of 35 000. The city was built upon a
large brink platform, which made defense easier, and also
allowed for their advanced sewage system. All houses had a
'toilet' that dropped into the sewers, and a well in most buildings
for fresh cool water. The streets were set up to have a larger
width in more high traffic areas, and were thinner in lower traffic
areas. The houses had flat roofs which were perfect for drying
out grains before storing them in cool rooms in the buildings, or in one of the granaries. The
granaries were huge buildings that was used generally by everyone within the city. Their
farming method was very similar to the method used by the Egyptians, and revolved around the
flood-dry pattern of the Indus river, they used oxcarts and plows for farming, and the oxcarts
also were used for travelling with grains and other things. In the centre of Mohenjo-daro there
was a citadel at least forty feet high, which contained a huge water supply known as the Great
Bath that is believed to be for religious ceremonies. The citadel also served as a palace and a
temple.
Lost Harrapan Civilization
The Harrapan Civilization began around 2500 B.C.E. The cities
of Harrapa and Mohenjo-daro were settled by the Harrapan
Civilization, and may have acted as dual capitals. The country
was ran by Priest-Kings who kept order within the country. The
Harrapan civilization was moderately advanced, and for trade
purposes, they had a seal that represented their nation. The
Harrapan trade seal has been found as far away as Sumer from as early as 2300 B.C.E. Their
technology also included bronze, stone, and copper weapons and tools. Along with gold jewelry
and a blue stone known as the lapis lazuli. Not much is known about the Harrapan culture
today, because the language of the Harrapans has yet to be understood and is frequently
argued upon by linguists. For unkown reasons the Harrapan civilization began to decline
around 1700 B.C.E., it is possible that many of the people were killed off when the course of the
Indus River changed in 1500 B.C.E. The technological advances made by the Harrapans
began to decline, pottery lost its quality, houses were built poorly. By 1200 B.C.E the Harrapan
civilization ceased to exist at all.
The Harrapan Civilization began around 2500 B.C.E. The cities
of Harrapa and Mohenjo-daro were settled by the Harrapan
Civilization, and may have acted as dual capitals. The country
was ran by Priest-Kings who kept order within the country. The
Harrapan civilization was moderately advanced, and for trade
purposes, they had a seal that represented their nation. The
Harrapan trade seal has been found as far away as Sumer from as early as 2300 B.C.E. Their
technology also included bronze, stone, and copper weapons and tools. Along with gold jewelry
and a blue stone known as the lapis lazuli. Not much is known about the Harrapan culture
today, because the language of the Harrapans has yet to be understood and is frequently
argued upon by linguists. For unkown reasons the Harrapan civilization began to decline
around 1700 B.C.E., it is possible that many of the people were killed off when the course of the
Indus River changed in 1500 B.C.E. The technological advances made by the Harrapans
began to decline, pottery lost its quality, houses were built poorly. By 1200 B.C.E the Harrapan
civilization ceased to exist at all.
| Remains of the city Harappa |
| Remains of Mohenjo-daro |
| Citadel in Mohenjo-daro |
| Harrapan trade seals |
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