Exploring the Indus Valley Civilization

Aug 11, 2024

Indus Valley Civilization Lecture Notes

Introduction to James Lewis

  • In 1827, James Lewis, a soldier of the British East India Company, deserted to pursue his passion for traveling.
  • He documented his travels, including the ruins of an ancient city he found in the Punjab region in 1829.
  • Unbeknownst to him, he discovered the ancient city of Harappa.

Rediscovery of Harappa

  • In the 1920s, under John Marshall, the director of ASI, more information was uncovered about Harappa.
  • It was revealed that these ruins were over 5,000 years old.
  • Another site, Mohenjo-Daro (meaning "Mound of the Dead"), was discovered with human skeletal remains.
  • Collectively, these sites became known as the Indus Valley Civilization.

Current Understanding (2022)

  • The Indus Valley Civilization is part of school curriculums, yet two major mysteries remain:
    • The Harappan language: Meaning and decoding of the script.
    • The decline of the civilization: What led to its end?

Overview of Indus Valley Civilization

  • Existed 4,000 years ago during the Bronze Age in present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Northwest India.
  • Over 1,400 archaeological sites discovered, with 900 in India.
  • Coexisted with a few other ancient civilizations: Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Chinese.
  • 2016 study by IIT Kharagpur suggested the civilization might be 8,000 years old.

Pre-Harappan and Urbanization Phases

  • Pre-Harappan Phase (7000 BC - 5500 BC): Early settlements with agricultural tools and pottery.
  • Urbanization began post-5500 BC, leading to advanced cities by 2600 BC.
  • Key features of cities:
    • Multistoried brick houses with standard-sized bricks.
    • Advanced drainage systems and public amenities.

Indus Script

  • More than 4,000 artefacts found with Indus Script inscriptions.
  • Over 400 signs identified, possibly a logosyllabic script.
  • The writing appears to be from right to left.
  • No successful deciphering of the script despite numerous attempts since the 1920s.

Comparison with Egyptian Hieroglyphs

  • Egyptian hieroglyphs were successfully decoded through the Rosetta Stone, which had a bilingual inscription.
  • No such bilingual tablet exists for the Indus Script.
  • Patterns observed in Indus Script suggest possible structural similarities with other languages.

City Structure and Urban Planning

  • Indus Valley cities typically divided into:
    • Lower Mound: Surrounded by boundary walls.
    • Upper Mound (Citadel): Elevated area with important public spaces.
  • The Great Bath in Mohenjo-Daro: Significant structure indicating advanced urban planning.

Unique Aspects

  • Lack of temples, religious sites, or evidence of monarchy.
  • Indicates a peaceful civilization without strong social hierarchies.

The Decline of Indus Valley Civilization

  • Rapid decline recorded between 1900 BC and 1300 BC due to:
    • Possible drying up of the Saraswati River.
    • Deforestation leading to habitat loss.
    • Potential outbreak of diseases like malaria or cholera.
  • By 600 BC, the civilization had completely vanished.

Conclusion

  • The Indus Valley Civilization thrived for at least 5,000 years before its mysterious decline.
  • Modern rediscovery of the civilization started with James Lewis, who documented his findings.
  • The civilization's remnants remained buried until excavated centuries later.