Topic

Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE) is one of the oldest civilizations. Harappa, Mohenjo-daro are major cities. Detailed explanation of urban planning, drainage system, script, and trade.

Learning Content

🏛️ Indus Valley Civilization - Introduction!

Duration:BC 3300 - 1300 |Discovery:1921 (Thayaram Sawhney)

🗺️ Indus Valley Cities - SVG Map
🏛️ Indus Valley Civilized Cities 🏛️ River Indus Kakar river Harappa 🏺 Harappa (Punjab) • Granary • R-37 Cemetery Mohanja Daro Mohanjataro (Indus) • Large swimming pool • Dancing statue • Bearded man statue Lothal Lothal (Gujarat) • Shipyard • Port empty Pangan Kalibangan (Rajasthan) • Evidence of plowed field • Fire worship pit Tola Hero Tolaveera (Gujarat) • Notice board • 3 zone city Sanhu Daro Sanjudaro • Bell factory • No castle Robber Rober (Punjab) • Dog burial • Independent India Pana Wally Panawali (Haryana) • Plow model • Oval City 📍 Important notes 🔴 Principal cities 🟢 Port city 🟣 UNESCO Site (Tolaweera) 💧 Rivers
⏰ Timeline - Timeline
Period condition Detail
BC 3300-2600 Early period Beginning of village settlements, agriculture
BC 2600-1900 Maturity period City growth, business boom
BC 1900-1300 Fall season Cities were abandoned

📊 Cities Comparison Table - Compare Table!

🏛️ Major Cities - Comparison
city Place Inventor year Special Inventions
🔴 Harappa Punjab (Pakistan) Dayaram Sawhney 1921 Granary, R-37 Cemetery, Seals
🔴 Mohanjataro Sindh (Pakistan) Raghaldas Banerjee 1922 Big bathtub, no dancing, bearded man
🟢 Lothal Gujarat (India) S.R. Rao 1954 Shipyard, port, pearl factory
🟠 Kalibangan Rajasthan (India) Amalananda Ghosh 1953 A plowed field, a fire pit, a fort
🟣 Tolaveera Gujarat (India) JP Joshi 1967 Notice board, 3 part city, water collection
🔵 Sanjudaro Sindh (Pakistan) NG Majumdar 1931 The bell factory, no castle, lipstick
🟤 Robert Punjab (India) YT Sharma 1953 Dog burial ground, first site in independent India
⚫ Panawali Haryana (India) RS Bisht 1974 Clay plough, oval shaped city, barley
🟡 Surkotada Gujarat (India) JP Joshi 1964 Horse bone (first evidence)
🇮🇳 Sites in India vs 🇵🇰 Sites in Pakistan
🇮🇳 India
  • Gujarat:Lothal, Tolaweera, Surkotada
  • Rajasthan:Kalibangan
  • Haryana:Banawali, Rakhigarhi
  • Punjab:Robber
🇵🇰 Pakistan
  • Punjab:Harappa
  • Indus:Mohanjataro and Sanhudaro
  • Balochistan:Sudkagan-Tor

🏆 Highlights of Indus Civilization!

🏗️ City Planning - SVG
🏗️ Indus City Planning 🏗️ Grid pattern city home Drainage system Closed drainage - the first in the world! 🌟 Special Features 🌟 🧱 Use of burnt brick (4:2:1 ratio) 🚰 Well & bathroom in every house 🏛️ Two part city – Fort (West) + Lower City (East) 📐 Streets are North-South & East-West 🗑️ Garbage bins on the streets
🎭 Key Findings
discovery Place Importance
💃 Dance idol Mohanjataro Bronze statue, 11 cm high
🧔 Bearded man Mohanjataro Statue of priest or king
🛁 Large swimming pool Mohanjataro 12m x 7m x 2.4m - Religious bath
🐂 Pashupati seal Mohanjataro 3-faced man in yogic state
⚓ Shipyard Lothal Oldest port in the world
🐴 Horse bone Surkotada Horse Evidence in the Indus Civilization
⚖️ Measurements & Weights
  • Weight:16 times (16, 64, 160, 320...)
  • Length:Inch is the base unit
  • Brick:4:2:1 ratio (Length:Width:Height)
  • Criterion:Got scaled in Lothal

🚀 TNPSC Shortcuts & Memory Tricks!

🧠 Memory Tricks - Memory Tricks
Trick Explanation
H-M-L-K-D HArappa,Mohenjo-daro,Lothal,KAlibangan,DHolavira - 5 major cities
1921-22 = H-M 1921 - Harappa (Thayaram Sahni), 1922 - Mohenjo-daro (Ragaldas)
"Lothal = Lot of Ships" Lothal = port, shipyard
"Empty = Fire" Kalibangan = Fire Altar
"Sanhu = No Fort" Sanjudaro = the only city without a fort
"Rover = Rover (Dog)" Rober = dog burial discovery
4:2:1 Brick Ratio – Length:Width:Height
16 = Magic Number Weight measurement - 16 times the method
Important Firsts - Important Firsts
First What Where
🥇 First invention Indus Civilization Site Harappa (1921)
🥇 First in independent India Excavated site Robert (1953)
🥇 First Port World's oldest Lothal
🥇 First drain Closed drainage system Mohanjataro
🥇 First tillage proof plowed field Kalibangan
📝 One-Liner Facts
  • Capital:Harappa & Mohanjdaro (Twin Capitals)
  • Mohanjadaro Meaning:"Mound of the Dead" (Sindhi)
  • Stamps:2000+ stamps discovery
  • Writing:Pictographic - Not read yet
  • Metals:Copper, bronze (not iron!)
  • Animals:Ox, Elephant, Rhinoceros (Lion, No Horse - Controversy)
  • Crops:Wheat, barley, cotton (rice - later)
  • Cause of fall:Floods, Climate Change, Aryan Invasion (Comments)
  • UNESCO:Tolaweera - 2021 World Heritage Site
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Father of Indus Civilization? Sir John Marshall
Q: Biggest site? Rakhigarhi (Haryana)
Q: Smallest site? Aldeeno (Pakistan)
Q: First cotton production? Indus Civilization (World's First)
Q: Regime? Merchant Class (Merchant Class) - No King!
DISCLAIMER

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