Overview
This lecture provides a complete and simple explanation of Class 12 History's first unit "Bricks, Beads and Bones" (Indus Valley/Harappan Civilization), covering main concepts, topics, sources, and exam-relevant points.
Introduction to Indus Valley/Harappan Civilization
- The Indus Valley Civilization is also called the Harappan Civilization because Harappa was the first excavated site.
- This civilization spread along the Indus River and its tributaries (present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran).
- Timeframe: 3300 BCE тАУ 1300 BCE; main phases: Early, Mature, Late Harappan.
- It was India's first urban civilization; contemporary with Egypt, China, Mesopotamia.
Major Sites, Sources, and Discoveries
- Important sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, etc.
- Sources: remains of houses found in excavations, pottery, jewelry, tools, seals.
- Harappan seals (made of steatite stone) with animal signs and script.
Culture, Social Life, and Economy
- Culture term: a collection of objects found in a specific time and place.
- Diet: wheat, barley, lentils, sesame, maize, milk, animal husbandry (cow, goat, buffalo, etc.), fish, chicken.
- Agricultural technology: plow, oxen, wells, reservoirs, large drainage system.
- Social differences: burial remains, unique jewelry/pots, utilitarian and luxury items.
- Housing: courtyard, privacy, brick houses, own bathroom, wells in many houses.
Major Structures and Planning
- City layout: citadel (high area, special purpose), lower town (residential), grid pattern of streets.
- Great Granary (grain storage) and Great Bath (public pool), storage, ritual purposes.
- Advanced drainage system, standard bricks.
Crafts, Trade, and Contacts
- Craft centers: Chanhu-daro (main), Nageshwar, Balakot, Lothal, etc.
- Beads, seals, faience, terracotta, and metal crafts.
- Trade: contacts with Mesopotamia, Oman (Magan), Bahrain (Dilmun), sea routes.
- Weights and measures, seals for identification and sealing in trade.
Administrative Structure and Decline of Civilization
- Uniform bricks, planning, division of labor, possible single or multiple rulers.
- Decline of civilization: climate change, floods, epidemics, deforestation, river changes, Aryan invasion.
Major Discoverers and Archaeologists
- Alexander Cunningham тАУ first DG of ASI, could not date Harappan discovery correctly.
- John Marshall тАУ discovered and announced Indus Valley (1924), professional archaeologist.
- R.E.M. Wheeler тАУ emphasized importance of stratigraphy method.
- New scientific & international techniques applied after 1980.
Religious Beliefs
- Terracotta Mother Goddess statue, priest-king statue, Great Bath (for rituals), fire altars.
- Unique unicorn, plant motifs, Pashupati/proto-Shiva, lingam worship symbols on seals.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Citadel тАФ the high, secure part of the city (for special purposes).
- Steatite тАФ stone used for seals.
- Faience тАФ special type of pottery (made from silica + gum).
- Stratigraphy тАФ method to determine chronology by layers in excavation.
- Procurement тАФ bringing/obtaining raw materials from far away.
- Pastoral тАФ related to animal husbandry.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Study NCERT Chapter 1 ("Bricks, Beads and Bones").
- Make tables of your own map-sites and craft centers and revise.
- Prepare a list of religious symbols, archaeologists, and their contributions.
- Keep notes and questions ready for the next lecture.