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UNIT-IV- THE RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION-
RIVER INDUS
CONTENT
River valley civilization: Origin
Urban Civilization: Its unique urban features
Growth: Development of society and the important
occupations
Religious beliefs: Nature worshippers
The exquisite artefacts: Study of seals, pottery and toys
The architecture: Lay out of the towns, the Great Bath, The
Granary and the drainage system
Downfall of the civilization: The reasons behind the downfall of the River
Valley Civilization.
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UNIT- MATRIX
CONCEPT KNOWLEDGE COMPREHENSION APPLICATION ANALYSIS EVALUATION
A study of the
history and
civilization of
the Indus valley
Know why the citadel
and the lower towns
were built by the
Harappans
Understand the
importance of the
artefact of this period
Understand the
religious beliefs and
customs of this period
Reasons for its decline
Comprehend the
importance of the social
and administrative
structure of this period
Assess the
significance of this
urban civilization
Benefits of water
harvesting
Used in Dholavira.
Create a travel
brochure
highlighting the
important features
of this civilization
Features of
this
civilization as
one of the
greatest in
the world
Analyze the
importance of
standardized
weights and
measures
used in this
period
The positive
impact of this great
civilization on the
rest of the world
Evaluate the
Life of the people
through case
studies
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SCOPE
The unit would give the students an understanding into the glorious past of one of the unique
civilizations of the world- The Indus valley Civilization. This civilization began along the banks
of river Indus and spread to places much further away. The Harappa Culture extended well
beyond the bounds of what is now Pakistan: its centres were in Sindh and the Punjab Also
known as the Indus Valley Civilization, the Harappa Culture arose approximately at 6000BC.
The two greatest cities, Mohenjodaro and Harappa, emerged at 2600 BC, along the Indus river
valley. This civilization had a symbolic (pictographic) script system and urban centres with
complex social and economic system. In fact it was mainly an urban culture sustained by surplus
agricultural production from the rural areas. Both Mohenjodaro and Harappa were built
according to similar plans of streets, flat-roofed brick houses, and administrative or religious
centres. The inhabitants did not know about the use of iron. Water was maintained and
controlled in the city houses, with underground supply and drainage systems. These civilizations
then appear to have a high organisation level, as shown by the remains of water systems and by
the layout of according to a grid like structure.
WHY WE TEACH THIS UNIT
Learning history dealing with this period is an adventure. Students need to know of the
incredible past with the help of the sources available about the Indus valley civilization.
The students will develop a sense of pride in the rich heritage of this amazing culturespecially
the system of drains and the network of roads will be fascinating for them to read about!
They need to study about the Harappan society, architecture, buildings, art and craft, food and
clothes, believes and economy which made them one of the most advanced urban civilizations.
The Indus Valley civilization throws light on the agricultural technologies used by the people
living during those times. How processing of food was done with the help of Saddle Querns?
Mohenjodaro and Harappa exhibit several buildings which have stood the test of time e.g. The
Great Bath, The Granary, Burials, drains and sewers, roads.
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The artefacts especially the Harappan seal tells us a lot about the people who lived in that region,
the tools they used, the ornaments they wore and their trade relations with other civilizations.
It is important for students to realize that this glorious civilization came to an end and find out
what caused it.
By the end of this unit students will be able to form a better and informed opinion about the
Indus Valley Civilization and will be motivated to find out more about this civilization.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Acquaint themselves with the salient features of this civilization.
Acquire knowledge about the Citadel and lower town and the various buildings found
there.
Understand the role and importance of Seals.
Critically analyse the importance of roads and drains.
Appreciate the terracotta pottery and jewellery used by them.
Evaluate the impact and decline of Indus valley civilization.
COMMON ERRORS
Indus valley civilization and Harappan civilization is one and the same but the common
misconception by students is that they think these two are different civilizations.
Students misunderstand that the Aryans destroyed the cities and established a totally
new culture and language in the subcontinent as there are no archaeological and
biological reference to this text.
CROSS DISCIPLINARY LINKS
The methods of trade used by the Harappans can be studied by the students of
Economics in understanding the concept of Barter System.
The students who study Art can make copies / models of the sculptures/ seats /
jewellery.
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TEACHERS NOTES
INTRODUCTION
Indus valley civilization developed along the river Indus 3000 years ago. This civilization is
considered as one of the first known urban civilization of the world. The archaeological
excavations have shown that the inhabitants were well versed with agricultural practices, rearing
of animals, art of making jewellery and artefact and had good knowledge of architecture. The
economy was well developed and the civilization had good trade relations with other countries.
About 5000 year ago once man had learnt to grow his own food he was no longer a nomad. He
started to lead a settled life. This led to Agriculture. The most important requirement for man to
grow food was fertile soil, good climate and plenty of water he naturally preferred to settle near
river valleys.
Introduce the chapter by asking the students to read the story and fill up Worksheet -1.
STORY BOY LIVED IN ABOUT 2100 B.C.
This is a fictional story about a boy living in about 2100 B.C. It was written based on the
artifacts and remains found at an Indus Valley site.
The boy opened his eyes to the warm morning sun. He watched it sneak across the hard earth
floor of his room and up the plastered walls. In the corner of the room he could see his toy cart. It
was filled with small jars and looked as if it was ready for a journey.
The boy smiled. It was market day today and he would go with his father to the marketplace.
There his father would trade his beads with the travelling merchants.
The rough stones were brought into the city by traders from the east. The boy's father heated the
stones in a hot oven until they turned a deep reddish colour. This colour was very highly valued
by wealthy citizens and traders.
The boy's father then chipped away at the red stone until it was the correct shape and size. Then
he worked the stones into beads using small drills. The drills were difficult to use, and sometimes
beads would break.
When the beads were finished, they were polished using a mixture of water and a fine, sand-like
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powder.
The boy picked up a bead and felt its cool, smooth surface and gentle curve. His favourite beads
were the ones with the delicate white designs.
The boy looked forward to the time when his father would teach him how to make the red beads
with the white designs. He still had so much to learn before he would be trusted with
the precious materials. For now, he would continue to practice chipping, drilling and polishing
less costly stones.
As he stood in the courtyard with his father, the boy heard the gentle hollow clicking of his
mother's bracelets as she entered the courtyard.
She wore several bracelets on her wrists like most of the women in the town. However, hers
were special ones made of shell instead of clay.
When the boy's father had finished sorting the beads, he and the boy left the house to go to the
marketplace. They stepped out of their doorway into an alley. Then they walked to the main road
and turned towards the upper town.
The main road was wide and busy with people and animals. This road ran straight across the
lower town. The boy and his father passed by two or three other main roads which cut across the
lower town. Along the sides of these roads ran the drains which carried waste water out of town.
As the boy and his father passed through the gate, they saw merchants and traders carrying their
goods with them.
There were the local men carrying their dried fish and grain, and there were the traders from far-
away places. The boy watched the traders with great interest. The traders walked through the
market looking at the goods and greeting each other. The boy wondered about the far-away lands
that these men had visited.
Some had journeyed from the east where they had traded for the stones his father used to make
beads. The traders sometimes brought unusual stones with them. As they showed the stones, they
would tell stories about where they had come from.
Other traders came from the west. They spoke of the long journeys in boats. These traders also
told stories about people who lived in the towns they visited.
It was afternoon before the boy and his father had finished at the market. The boy's father was
satisfied with the day's work and he smiled as they walked through the middle town back to their
home.
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As the sun faded in the sky, the boy imagined the time when beads that he made would begin the
long journey to far-away lands, tucked safely into the folds of a trader's cloth.
USE WORKSHEET-1
ACTIVITY 1
LETS FIND OUT
The teacher will initiate a group discussion in class where students in groups will discuss
a comparison between agricultural practices prevalent today and compare it to the past.
With the help of a PowerPoint presentation (What is Archaeology?) the teacher will
show how archaeologists work on a site and unearth important facts.
She can initiate a discussion on the features of a city and the importance of town planning
and how it helps in the gradual growth of society at large.
The map of the Indus Valley civilization will be shown and students will be asked to
write down the names of five important cities.
INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION
The earliest River Valley Civilization to emerge was the Indus Valley Civilization
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INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION: AN OVERVIEW
The Indus region was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations- Egypt,
Mesopotamia, South Asia and China. It was not discovered until the 1920's. Most of its ruins,
even its major cities, remain to be excavated. Their script has not been deciphered.
Many questions about who created this highly complex culture remain unanswered, but other
aspects of their society can be answered through various types of archaeological studies.
All great civilizations developed and flourished in the river valleys
River supplied a continuous flow of water for agriculture.
Flood waters enriched the soil and made it fertile. It was much easier to cultivate the fertile
land and grow a variety of crops. It not only helped the Harappans to produce enough food
grains for themselves but also keep surplus. The main crops grown were wheat, barley and
peas and in some places rice was also grown.
Animals that came to the river beds to drink or bathe became a source of food. Animals were
domesticated for milk and meat. Some of them were also used for carrying load.
Rivers were used for fishing and transportation of goods. This was the easiest and cheapest
form of transport which later helped in the development of trade. People could go too far off
places by using their crude boats.
Rivers also posed challenges. Farmers had to control floods and channelize water to their
crops. Dams, canals, dykes had to be built. Farmers worked together to build dykes, dig
canals, and carve out irrigation ditches. Such large scale projects required leadership and an
organized government.
Between 3000-2000 BCE River Valley civilizations were formed independently of each
other along four rivers in different parts of the world. It is remarkable that some of them
developed features and characteristics that were quite similar though they were located far
apart from each other.
The Harappan civilization grew and developed along the River Indus.
The three main phases of the Indus Valley Civilization are:
Early Harappan
Mature Harappan
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Late Harappan
The earliest sites to be discovered were Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
The Harappan civilization is called an urban civilization as there was
Agriculture
Proper division of labour
An enigmatic script
Specialized crafts
Planned cities
Science
The people of Indus Valley were the first to develop a system of uniform weights and
measures.
Arts
Various sculptures, seals, pottery, gold jewellery and figurines in terracotta, bronze and
steatite, etc, have been excavated from the sites of the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
TradeTransportation
Trade seems to be the major occupation of the people of the Harappan Civilization. The
main forms of transport included bullock carts and boats. Archaeologists have also
discovered an enormous, dredged canal and docking facility at the coastal city of Lothal.
Religion
The large number of figurines found in the Indus Valley Civilization suggests that the
Harappan people worshipped a Mother Goddess, who symbolized fertility. Some of the
seals of that time also have the swastikas engraved on them. Then, there are some others
in which a figure is seated in a yoga-like posture and is surrounded by animals. The
figure is quite similar to that of Lord Pashupati, the Lord of Creatures.
Harappa and Mohenjodaro
The first major excavations carried out from the year 1946 have shown Harappa to have a large
settlement supporting a population of 50,000 people.
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Excavations also show that another large river the ancient Saraswati flowed parallel to the west
of river Indus.
Our only source for studying the Harappan civilization is Archaeology. And the most
distinctive artifact is the Seal. Much of what we know about the river valley
civilizations is based on artifacts dug out from under the ground.
Such diggings are called Excavations.
There are two kinds of digs-Vertical and Horizontal.
Vertical digging is better than horizontal digging as it is
Cheaper
A lot more can be discovered as layers are unfolded
DO YOU KNOW?
Ornaments reportedly belonging to the Harappan period (2600-1900 B.C.) was
discovered by the villagers of Mandi in the Muzaffarnagar District of Uttar Pradesh
state, 93 miles east of New Delhi, is challenging previous notions about the
geographic reach of the Indus Valley civilization.
Scholars from the ASI and state's Department of Archaeology immediately visited
the site and declared the jewellery to be Harappan. Gold and silver bangles, gold
beads, and agate and onyx beads all resemble jewellery found at Indus Valley sites
such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan and at Lothal, Rakhigarhi, and
Dholavira in India.
Harappa and Mohenjodaro were the first two cities to be excavated and functioned as capitals of
this civilization. Later excavations reveal smaller cities such as Kot Diji in Sindh, Kalibangan in
Rajasthan, Ropar in Punjab and Lothal in Gujarat.
Harappa and Mohenjodaro show a surprising similarity despite being 350 miles apart
Important features of these two cities:-
Both cities consist of an acropolis and a lower city, each fortified separately.
The acropolis contains large assembly halls, granaries and edifices for religious purposes.
There are large public baths built on highly scientific lines.
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The lower cities are divided into rectangles by broad streets.
All the houses were connected directly to the well planned drainage system of covered
drains and soak pits.
Each house had a courtyard, private wells and bathrooms and was built with well baked
standardized bricks.
People of the Harappa Culture appear to have known the use of the potters wheel.
They were fond of ornamentation as proved by a large number of necklaces, anklets,
rings, earning and nose studs.
The first civilization to be discovered in India was The Indus valley Civilization almost 3000
years ago.
It was named so as this civilization developed close to the river Indus and was discovered
in the 1920s by archaeologists.
This civilization was a highly developed .and urban in nature.
Mohenjodaro and Harappa, represent the high watermark of the settlements. Later
archaeological excavations established that the extent of this civilization were not
restricted to the Indus valley but spread to a wide area in northwestern and western India.
Thus this civilization is now better known as the Harappan civilization. Mohenjodaro and
Harappa are now in Pakistan and the principal sites in India include Ropar in Punjab,
Lothal in Gujarat and Kalibangan in Rajasthan.
Urban Development
This civilization was known for its remarkable stability for nearly a thousand years.
All the cities were well planned and were built with baked bricks of the same size.
The streets were laid at right angles with an elaborate system of covered drains.
The houses were earmarked for the upper and lower strata of society. A clear division of
localities can also be seen at most places.
There were also public buildings, the most famous being the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro
and the vast granaries.
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Production of several metals such as copper, bronze, lead and tin was also undertaken and
some remnants of furnaces provide evidence of this fact.
The discovery of kilns to make bricks support the fact that burnt bricks were used
extensively in domestic and public buildings.
USE: WORKSHEET NO.2
ACTIVITY-2
Design a Newspaper
Divide the class into groups, four students in a group. Ask them to make a newspaper on the
following headings.
1. Choose the picture- Map or any other depicting any feature of civilization.
2. Select a theme- Any one Religion, Trade, Craft, and Rules.
3. Choose any 2 sign- How they wrote.
4. Special report- Write any other 2 facts of the civilization.
5. Take a printout of the newspapers and display them in the class.
Occupations
Harappans domesticated animals, including camels, goats, water buffaloes and fowls.
They cultivated wheat, barley, peas and sesame and were probably the first to grow and
make clothes from cotton.
Trade seemed to be a major activity at the Indus Valley. Seals discovered suggest that
each merchant or mercantile family made their own seals.
These seals are in various quadrangular shapes and sizes, each with a human or an animal
figure carved on it.
Discoveries suggest that the Harappan civilization had extensive trade relations with the
neighboring regions in India and with distant lands in the Persian Gulf and Sumer (Iraq).
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Society and Religion
Division of society was done according to occupations and the existence of an organized
government has been found.
The figures of deities on seals indicate that the Harappans worshipped gods and
goddesses in male and female forms.
No monumental sculpture survives.
A large number of human figurines have been discovered, including a steatite bust of a
man thought to be a priest, and a striking bronze dancing girl.
Countless terra-cotta statues of Mother Goddess have been discovered suggesting that
she was worshipped in nearly every home.
Different yet similar (Distinctive Features)

Although Mohenjo-Daro is the most well known site, Harappa was discovered first.

Both Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa are generally characterized as having living quarters, flat-
roofed brick houses, and strong administrative and religious centers.

The weights and measures of the Indus Valley Civilization, were highly standardized, and
conform to a set scale.

Distinctive seals were used, among other applications, perhaps for identification of property
and shipment of goods.

Copper and bronze were in use, iron was not yet employed. "Cotton was woven and dyed for
clothing; wheat, rice, and a variety of vegetables and fruits were cultivated; and a number of
animals, including the humped bull, were domesticated.

Saddle querns have been found in large numbers in Mohenjodaro. Pottery was made with the
help of the potters wheel.

According to some archaeologists the society had no rulers, but some historians feel that each
site had its own ruler but complex decisions were maybe taken collectively.
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There appears to be a complete lack of priestly "pomp or lavish display" that was common in
other civilizations
USE: WORKSHEET NO.3
ACTIVITY-3
DIRECTIONS FOR TRAVEL BROCHURE
Directions: Imagine you work for a travel agency that offers time-travel packages to great
ancient civilizations. Work with your team members to create a travel brochure advertising a
visit to the ancient civilization that developed in the Indus Valley. The brochure should provide
travelers with information on the location, government, religion, agriculture, cultural and
scientific contributions that they would see in ancient India. Create a colorful, informative
brochure to entice your customers to travel back in time and visit the Indus Valley.
Include the following information:
a. Location: An explanation of the location of the Indus Valley. How would a
traveler get to this place? What is the climate like?
b. Religion: An overview of the religion and the religious practices of the area.
What would a visitor need to know about religious customs?
c. Agriculture: What crops and livestock were raised in this area? Were these items used solely
for survival or were they traded for other goods?
d. Culture: Describe cultural contributions that came from the Indus Valley.
What are the legacies they have passed down through history?
e. Science: Describe scientific contributions that developed in the Indus Valley.
How have these gifts aided future civilizations?
Requirements:
Create a trifold brochure by folding a piece of white 8 1/2 x 11 paper into thirds.
On each of the six sides, present information on a different aspect of the Indus Valley
civilization.
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On the front, include a title and description of the location.
Title the remaining five sections as: Government, Religion, Agriculture,
Cultural Contributions and Scientific Contributions.
Include colorful illustrations in each section.
Use your own words. Be clear, and edit your work for proper spelling and grammar.
A CASE STUDY: THE HUMPED BULL
The majestic zebu bull is perhaps the most impressive motif found on the Indus seals. Generally
carved on large seals with relatively short inscriptions, the zebu motif is found almost
exclusively at the largest cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
The zebu bull may symbolize the leader of the herd, or it stands for a sacrificial animal. When
carved in stone, the zebu bull probably represents the most powerful clan or top officials of
Mohenjo-Daro.
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CASE STUDY OF A SEALARTEFACTS
SEALS
The most exquisite artefact unearthed to date is the small, square steatite (soapstone) seals
engraved with human or animal motifs.
A large number of seals have been found at such sites as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.
Many bear pictographic inscriptions generally thought to be a form of writing or script.
Various cone shaped objects have been found made of lapis lazuli and jasper. According to
some historians they may be the Linga or may be simply pieces used in a board game.
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The Proto Shiva seals have also been discovered where lord Shiva has been depicted as the
lord of animals.
In 1950, Sir Mortimer Wheeler discovered the so called "Great Granary" which had grain
storage-bays, complete with air-ducts to dry the grain. According to Wheeler, carts would
have brought grain from the countryside and unloaded them directly into the bays.
Close to the "Great Granary" is a large and elaborate public bath, sometimes called the Great
Bath. The pool is large 12m long, 7m wide and 2.4m deep. It may have been used for
religious purification. Other large buildings include a "Pillared Hall", thought to be an
assembly hall of some kind. Near the Great Bath is the so-called "College Hall", a complex of
buildings comprising 78 rooms and thought to have been a priestly residence.
PICTORIAL SEALS
A CASE STUDY
1. Nandani and Rohini went for a trip to explore the magnificent ruins of the ancient city of
Mohenjodaro. Mesmerized by what they saw they decided to write an article for their school
magazine.
The citadel was the center of religion and government for Mohenjo-Daros 35,000 people. In
the middle of the citadel was the Great Bath. It was a huge, deep bath with steps leading into
it. The people used it for religious purposes because they believed water to be a great
USE: WORKSHEET NO.4
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purifier.
The grain was stored in the great granary in Mohenjodaro. It was a huge building made of
thousands of fired bricks and could hold enough food to feed the entire city for a long time.
Closing my eyes, I could see myself running through the wide main streets of Mohenjo-Daro.
The main streets ran from north to south. There were smaller streets that ran from east to west
and even narrower lanes that divided the houses.
I passed the many craft workshops not yet open for business and soon reached the waterfront
and saw beautiful pottery. Arranged on a colorful cotton cloth was kept the seal of a horned
bull.
CITIES OF THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS
A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture is evident in the Indus Valley
Civilization making them the first urban centers in the region. The quality of municipal town
planning suggests the knowledge of urban planning and efficient municipal governments which
placed a high priority on hygiene, or, alternately, accessibility to the means of religious ritual.
Source: Google Image
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The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were well-organized and solidly built out of
brick and stone.
Their drainage systems, wells and water storage systems were the most sophisticated in
the ancient world.
The city was divided into two sections.
The Citadel - was the smaller and higher section.
The Lower Town was the larger and lower section.
The two were physically separated but both were walled cities.
Sundried bricks were used to build houses.
Roads and streets were carefully laid out intersecting at right angles.
Each city boosted of a planned drainage system.
The massive walls of Indus cities most likely protected the Harappans from floods and
may have dissuaded military conflicts.
The Citadel: The Buildings were constructed on mud brick platforms and was separated
from the lower town. The Structures built were for Public use.
The Great Bath and the Granary.
The Great Bath
The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a corridor on all four
sides.
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DO YOU KNOW?
Most scholars agree that this tank would have been used for special religious functions where
water was used to purify and renew the well-being of the bathers
There were two flights of steps on the North and South leading into the tank which was made
water tight by using mortar made of gypsum. There were rooms on three sides in one of which
was a large well. Water from the tank flowed in to a huge drain. There were bathrooms
connected to drains that ran along the corridor.
The Great Granary
The Granary a massive building with solid brick foundations with sockets for a wooden super
structure and doorways. It was probably used to store grain.
The Lower Town
The lower town had residential buildings. Most houses were built with a courtyard in the centre
and rooms on all sides. These houses had no windows. Each house had a well.
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Source: Google Image
Dress and Ornaments
We are not sure about the style of dress of the Harappan people, no fiber has survived and our
information is mainly based on two types of materials found there. Firstly, a large number of
spindles used to spin both cotton and woolen threads have been found. Secondly, the dress seen
on the seals found there indicates the same.
Leisure Activities
The most obvious indicator of a civilization that is mature & developed is that inhabitants have
time for leisure activities.
The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were peace loving and
indulged in a number of recreational activities.
The famous figurine of the dancing girl of Mohenjo-Daro shows
that the people were fond of Dancing.
A harp-like instrument depicted on an Indus seal indicates the use
of stringed musical instruments. People enjoyed singing.
The Harappa ns also made various toys and games. They enjoyed
playing Dice.
They were marvelous craftsmen, skilled in pottery weaving and
metal work.
The Great Bath and smaller private pools showed that they enjoyed swimming.
DANCING GIRL
Source: Google Image
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ACTIVITY- 4
LETS MOLD AND DRAW
The students will draw The Great Bath, pictures of toys used by the Harappan
children and the jewellery worn by the women. Students can use clay as well to make
jewellery.
Teacher can elaborate on the various aspects of making toys, jewellery and
architectural abilities of the inhabitants of Indus Valley civilization.
Architectural Layout
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro share relatively the same architectural layout, and were generally
not heavily fortified like other Indus Valley sites. It is obvious from the identical city layouts
of all Indus sites, that there was some kind of political or administrative centrality, however
the extent and functioning of an administrative center remains unclear.
Mohenjo-Daro was successively destroyed and rebuilt at least seven times. Each time, the new
cities were built directly on top of the old ones. Flooding by the Indus is thought to have been
the cause of destruction.
The city is divided into two parts, the so-called Citadel and the Lower City. Most of the
Lower City is yet to be uncovered, but the Citadel is known to have the public bath, a large
residential structure designed to house 5,000 citizens and two large assembly halls.
ACTIVITY- 5
Indus Valley
Answer these questions as pairs
1. What are artifacts?
USE: WORKSHEET NO.5
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2. What are the eight artifacts buried in the sand?
3. What is terracotta?
4. What were the smallest weights used for?
5. What were the largest weights used for?
6. What were seals used for?
7. What animals were carved into seals?
8. What is the terracotta woman wearing on her head?
9. Why are there no wooden artifacts in the soil in Mohenjo-Daro?
10. Why were there so many bullock figurines?
Now use all the information that you have gathered over the past few weeks to produce a poster
inviting people to visit Mohenjo-Daro.
Think
Of a name for your travel company;
Why do you want people to visit the area;
What is there to see and do there?
Why would people want to go there?
A CASE STUDY
1. Nandani and Rohini went for a trip to explore the magnificent ruins of the ancient city of
Mohenjodaro. Mesmerized by what they saw they decided to write an article for their school
magazine.
The citadel was the center of religion and government for Mohenjo-Daros 35,000 people. In the
middle of the citadel was the Great Bath. It was a huge, deep bath with steps leading into it. The
people used it for religious purposes because they believed water to be a great purifier.
The great granary in Mohenjodaro where the grain was stored. It was a huge building made of
thousands of fired bricks and could hold enough food to feed the entire city for a long time.
Closing my eyes, I could see myself running through the wide main streets of Mohenjo-Daro.
The main streets ran from north to south. There were smaller streets that ran from east to west
and even narrower lanes that divided the houses.
I passed the many craft workshops not yet open for business and soon reached the waterfront
and saw beautiful pottery. Arranged on a colorful cotton cloth was kept the seal of a horned bull.
Read the above case study carefully and answer the following questions
1. Where did Nandini and Rohini go for the trip?
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2. Name the important structures they found in Mohenjodaro.
3. Why water was considered sacred by the Harappans?
4. What did the young explorers find in the craft workshop?
Many clues tell us that the Indus Valley civilization had some relations with other countries.
Seals which have been used for trade purposes have been found as far as Mesopotamia.
Greek artistry could possibly have been copied by the sculptors of the Indus valley
civilizations.
Materials from distant regions were used in the cities for constructing beads, seals and
other artifacts.
The massive dockyards tell us that a flourishing trade relation existed between the people
of the Indus valley civilization and other countries like southern Turkmenistan and
northern Iran.
There was an extensive maritime trade network operating between the Harappan and
Mesopotamian civilizations.
Weights and measure and coins used by traders have been found in Egypt and
Mesopotamia,
Harappans used Omani copper.
Decline of the civilization
By about 1800 BCE the Harappan culture was on the decline,
Several explanations have been formulated like-- repeated flooding of towns located on
the river banks and due to ecological changes.
Some historians do not rule out invasions by barbarian tribes and massacre in the
northwest as the cause of the decline of the Harappan civilization.
When the initial migrations of the Aryan people into India began about 1500 BC, the
developed Harappan culture had already been practically wiped out.
Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and their civilization vanished from history until rediscovered in
the 1920s.
USE: WORKSHEET NO.6
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Our debt to the Harappan culture
The Harappan culture has given us its superior town planning, sanitary and drainage
arrangements, architecture and the development of arts and craft.
The use of baked bricks by the Harappan people is the greatest contribution to the world.
Modern Hinduism owes much to the religion of the Harappan people. Many forms of worship
among the Hindus such as tree worship, animal worship and idol worship existed during those
days.
Decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation
A definite reason for the sudden decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is still elusive, since
there are no reliable records for the period, historians can only speculate. All excavations
however do prove that the decline occurred suddenly between 1800 BC and 1700 BC. It has been
suggested that perhaps the people of the Indus Valley Civilization were destroyed by invading
barbaric tribes. It has also been suggested that the Aryans who were the next settlers, may have
attacked and destroyed the Indus Valley Civilization, since their epics talk about their conquest
of great cities. Such theories of a violent end have been partly proved by the discovery in
Mohenjo-Daro of human remains that indicated a violent cause of death. However such evidence
was not consistent as most other cities showed an absence of a massacre. The possibility of the
Aryans being involved in such a conflict seems unlikely, especially since recent excavations
have shown that the Aryans arrived almost 500 years after the decline of the major Indus Valley
Civilizations cities. The theory of climatic factors causing the decline has been gaining
credibility, in the light of the recent research. Around 2000 BC major ecological changes began
taking place in the Indus Valley, tectonic changes caused the creation of a dam in the lower
Indus, thus flooding the plains and cities. Evidence to prove this hypothesis has been found.
Many Indus Valley Civilization cities show signs of having been abandoned and then rebuilt,
indicating they were continuously flooded. Eventually this began to take its toll, and what
archaeologists call the squatters period set in. Cities were no longer built with the care they were
earlier, broken bricks were used for construction and no attention was paid to a proper sewage
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system. Also the average rainfall in the area began decreasing as the area slowly began turning
into the desert it is today. For a civilization that was highly dependent on agriculture, such major
climatic changes had a devastating effect. The influence the big cities had on the rest of the
region was based largely on the amount of grain they stocked in their granaries. Once
agricultural production declined the influence of the cities declined and eventually the region
went into a state of anarchy.
A CASE STUDY ON BALAKOT
Today The Indus Valley is a barren desert, broken only by the River Indus. A long time ago,
when the land was first settled, the Indus Valley was a lush and fertile jungle. It was the home of
all kind of wild beasts.
This story tells of that time, many years ago, when the Indus Valley was fertile and prosperous.
Meeru had been born and raised in the town of Mohenjodaro. When she was 12 her father, who
was a trader, moved his family to the coastal city of Balakot.
Balakot was a port on the main trade route. Boats arrived there daily bringing goods to the city
from far off lands. Once unloaded the boats would be quickly filled with cargo and ready to
continue their journey.
Source: Google Image
Q 1. Identify the activities in the picture.
Q 2. What does the activity indicate?
Q3. What could be the possible reason of its decline?
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RUINS OF BALAKOT WHICH WAS A THRIVING PORT ONCE UPON A TIME
Source: Google Image
Children can be asked to compare and interpret the above picture and the picture given in
Students Manual.
USE: WORKSHEET NO.7
Show PPT. (Harappa Mohenjo-Daro) for recapitulation
USE: WORKSHEET NO.8
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GLOSSARY
Seal: An embossed emblem, figure, symbol.
Artefact: An object produced or shaped by human craft especially a tool, weapon, or
ornament of archeological or historical interest.
Civilization: Advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture,
science, industry, and government has been reached.
Faience: glazed earthenware or pottery, especially a fine variety with highly coloured
designs.
Chronology:
The science of arranging time in periods and ascertaining thedates and historical order of past
events.
Excavation: The scientific study of historic or prehistoric people and their cultures by
analysis of their artefacts, inscriptions, monuments and other such remains, especially those
that have been excavated.
Drainage: The system of drains and their operation, by which superfluous water is removed.
Fortification: A defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold
to strengthen it.
Pictograph: A record consisting of pictorial symbols, as a prehistoric cave
drawing or a graph or chart with symbolic figures
Dockyard: a waterside area containing docks used for trade.
Kiln: furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying something,
especially one for firing pottery, calcining limestone, or baking bricks.
Massacre: mass killings.
Aryans: members of the peoples speaking Indo-European languages.
Granary: a place to store grain.
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Name of the School
Assessment Sheet
Class VI
Time: 45 mins. MM-20
Q1. Choose the correct answers: (7)
i. Fossils are studied with the assistance of
a. Doctors b. geologists
c. Anthropologists d. architects
ii. The most distinctive artefacts of the Indus valley civilization is the
a. Beads b. Seals
c. Terracotta Bull d. All the above
iii. Saddle querns were used for
a. Grinding cereals b. making curries
c. making pottery d. making jewellery
iv. The most striking feature of the Harappan cities was
a. The storage b. The baths
c. Drains c. All the above
v. The Great Bath was a structure that was built on the
a. Lower city b. The Citadel
c. Streets c. River bank
vi. The objects on which writing has been found during the harappan civilization
a. Terracotta tablets b. Seals
c. Jewellery d. Figurine
vii. The first site to be discovered in the Indus valley civilization was
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a. Mohenjodaro b. Harappa
c. Lothal d. Chanhudaro
Q2. Describe any two striking features of this civilization. (4)
______________________________________________________________________
Q3. Give examples of Utilitarian and Luxury items. (3)
______________________________________________________________________
Q4. Write a short note on the Seals. (3)
______________________________________________________________________
Q5. On the political map of India mark the following (3)
a. Lothal
b. Harrapa
c. Dholavira
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ASSESSMENT RUBRICS
Criteria Excellent(A+,A) Satisfactory(B+,B) Needs Improvement
(C,D)
Knowledge
and
understanding
of the content
Demonstrates detail & depth
in discussion of a chosen
topic at a level of relative
complexity. Content is
relevant to the chosen topic
and displays relevant
research
Content is relevant to the
chosen topic. Reflects
some research work done.
Content is sometimes
relevant to the chosen topic.
Mostly copied from outside
source.
Language Employs complex structure
& speech. Conveys thoughts
meaningfully and
systematically.
Conveys thoughts
meaningfully and
systematically. Sometimes
uses complex structure and
speech.
Is ambiguous and vague.
Analytical
skill
Interprets accurately &
appropriately in new
contexts. Draw well
supported conclusion,
integrates ideas or develop
solutions that are clear &
coherent.
Interprets accurately and
in new contexts
sometimes.
Does not interpret, simply
explains.
Participation
in Group
Discussion
Participates fully; fully gives
relevant facts; Courteous and
listens to others; Attempts to
get others to participate;
Does not monopolize the
proceedings.
Participates fully. Listens
to others; Gives relevant
facts; Gets disturbed
/withdraws when criticized
Needs much persuasion
from teachers to participate;
Gets agitated when stopped
in between.
Logical
reasoning
Has strong reasoning ability:
is capable of solving
complex or abstract problems
has ability to make
Reasons out his arguments
well can make inferences
needs clues to apply
knowledge to new
Finds it difficult to reason
out. Needs strong teacher
support to apply knowledge
to a new concept?
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RESOURCES
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/harappa.html
http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artefact/harappa-mohenjodaro.html
www.harappa.com/har/har0.html
www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/harappa.html
inferences integrates
knowledge and applies to
new situations.
situations.
Team work Is sociable team oriented
collaborative, enjoys
working towards a shared
goal.
Is sociable sometimes
prefers to work
independently
Collaborates occasionally
prefers to work
independently
Creative
expression
Demonstrates a wide range
of creativity, versatility and
imagination, highlights the
essence, puts ideas in proper
context.
Some hesitation in
expression meaning is
clear always.
Some hesitation Meaning
not always clear.
Originality Uses his own ideas, gives
his own view points and
relates it to contemporary
times depth in thinking.
With support of teachers
uses his view points and
relates it to new situation.
Cannot relate to new
situation without support
from teachers.