HARAPPAN

CIVILIZATION
- An ancient Indian
civilization

PRESENTED TO: MAMTA TYAGI

PRESENTED BY: ANANT NARAYAN
COURSE: BA PROGRAMME
(HISTORY+PHILOSOPHY)
ROLL NO. - 20233018
INTRODUCTIO
NThe Harappan civilization, also called the
Indus Valley civilization, emerged around
3000 BCE along the Indus River valley in
modern day northwest India and Pakistan.
Harappan culture thrived for over a thousand
years, building sophisticated urban centers
characterized by advanced town planning,
sanitation systems, standardized weights and
measures, long distance trade, and the
earliest form of writing in the Indian
subcontinent.
 EARLY HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
3300-2600
BCE

Early Harappan settlements were

The Early Harappan phase
centered in isolated villages
emerged in the early 3rd
across Punjab, Sindh, and
millennium BCE and lasted from
Gujarat. Houses were
around 3300 BCE to 2600 BCE. It
constructed from mud bricks and
marked the transition from
baked bricks in some cases.
purely Neolithic village farming
Subsistence was based on
cultures towards the beginnings
horticulture, cattle rearing and
of urbanization in the Indus
incipient cultivation of crops like
River valley.
wheat, barley and legumes.
FEATURE
S
Settlements Trade and Craft
Small, rural villages located
Economy Production
near rivers and streams for
agriculture Lack of standard weights and Local household-based craft
measures production
Houses made of mud bricks and
baked brick Limited local trade of raw materials Metal casting - copper, bronze
and craft items artefacts like flat axes
Lack of advanced town planning
seen later
Spindle whorls indicate cotton
textile production
Technology Subsistence
Coarse handmade pottery; Primarily based on
jars, bowls, dishes, storage horticulture, cattle rearing
containers etc. Red ware, Wheat, barley, legumes
black ware common cultivated

Ovens, hearths made of clay Domestication of Zebu cattle

for cooking and buffalo

Stone tools - querns, mullers, Hunting, fishing also attested

blades - for processing food
 MATURE HARAPPAN
2600-1900
PHASE BCE
These cities demonstrated
The Mature Harappan phase advanced town planning not seen
lasted from 2600 BCE to around before in ancient India, including
1900 BCE. It marked the peak of well planned grid pattern of
urbanization in the Indus valley streets, public sanitation systems,
as large cities like Mohenjo- citadel mounds, and spatial
Daro, Harappa, Lothal, separation of private, public and
Kalibangan, and Dholavira industrial areas. Houses were
emerged. made of standardized sized bricks
and had multiple rooms and
courtyards.
FEATURE
S
Urbanizatio Public Architecture
n Works Usage of mud bricks and
baked bricks as building
Large urban centers like Elaborate drainage system materials
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa and water supply
Houses have multiple rooms
Population estimates range Great Bath complex at and courtyards
from 20,000 - 40,000 people Mohenjo Daro for ritual
bathing Distinct public, private and
Advanced town planning industrial spatial zones
with citadel mounds and Granaries for food storage
fortified areas

Well planned grid pattern of

streets
Technology Economy and
Trade
Standardized weights based
on ratio 16, high accuracy
Long distance trade with
Mass produced red ware Mesopotamia, Central Asia
pottery on potter wheels evidenced

Bronze and copper tools - Localized craft specialization at

saws, chisels etc. household levels

Seals for trade, administrative

functions; early writing
CONCLUS
ION
The causes for eventual Harappan decline after
1900 BCE are still debated. Possibilities include
climate change, natural disasters, disease, shifting
river patterns, and the gradual breakdown of
urban networks. The legacy of the Harappan
civilization is vital - it formulates the base lifestyle
in the Indian subcontinent leading up to formation
of early Vedic [Link] summary, the Harappan
civilization demonstrates early evidence of
sophisticated urban planning, technology,
standardized trade, and writing in ancient India
over 4,000 years ago. Its archaeological riches
continue to yield insights into early complex
societies in the subcontinent.