Theme B — Tapestry of the Past

Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Origins of Indian Civilization: The Indus Valley Civilization

(For NCERT & CBSE Class 6 Social Science Exam Preparation)

Introduction

India is one of the world’s oldest cradles of human civilization. The history of India does not begin with kings and battles, but with early human settlements and the gradual growth of society, culture, and economy. One of the most fascinating chapters of this past is the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, which flourished over 4,000 years ago.

This chapter, “Beginnings of Indian Civilization,” introduces students to:

• How humans settled down from being hunters and gatherers.
• The origins and features of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The culture, economy, and achievements of the early inhabitants.
• Why the Indus Valley Civilization is considered the foundation of Indian civilization.

Early Human Settlements: From Nomads to Settlers

Before the rise of cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, humans lived simple lives.

1. Life of Early Humans

• Early humans were hunter-gatherers.
• They lived in caves, forests, and near rivers.
• Tools made of stone, bone, and wood helped them in hunting and gathering.
• Fire was discovered, which gave warmth, safety, and a way to cook food.

2. Beginning of Farming

• Humans noticed that seeds grew into plants.
• Gradually, they started farming and domesticating animals.
• Crops such as wheat and barley were among the first to be grown.
• Cows, goats, and sheep were domesticated.

3. Permanent Settlements

• With farming, people began to stay in one place.
• Mud houses, storage pits, and small communities appeared.
• Trade of surplus food began.

This process of settling down eventually led to the birth of the first cities of India.

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

1. Timeline and Discovery

• Flourished: 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE
• Discovery: 1920s by archaeologists R.D. Banerjee and Sir John Marshall.
• First sites: Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan) and Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan).

2. Geographical Spread

The civilization covered a vast area:

• North: Jammu and Kashmir
• South: Gujarat (Lothal, Dholavira)
• East: Uttar Pradesh (Alamgirpur)
• West: Baluchistan and parts of Afghanistan

📌 Fact Box: It stretched over 1,500,000 sq. km—larger than contemporary civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Features of the Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization is often called an urban civilization because of its advanced city planning and organization.

1. Town Planning

• Cities were laid out in a grid system.
• Streets cut at right angles, dividing the city into rectangular blocks.
• The city was divided into:
  • Citadel (fortified area) – housed rulers and public buildings.
  • Lower Town – where common people lived.

2. Buildings and Architecture

• Houses made of baked bricks.
• Multi-storeyed houses with courtyards, wells, and bathrooms.
• Each house had a drain connected to the city’s drainage system.

3. Drainage System

• Covered drains ran along the streets.
• Inspection holes for cleaning were built.
• This shows excellent sanitation and civic planning.

4. Public Buildings

• Great Bath (Mohenjo-daro): Used for ceremonial bathing.
• Granaries (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal): Stored surplus grain.
• Assembly halls and workshops for craft activities.

📊 Table: Key Sites and Discoveries

Culture of the Indus Valley People

The Harappans had a rich and developed culture that reflected their skills, beliefs, and way of life.

1. Clothing and Ornaments

• Cotton and wool were used.
• Men wore a dhoti-like garment; women wore long skirts.
• Ornaments made of gold, silver, copper, beads, shells.

2. Art and Craft

• Skilled in pottery, bead-making, and metal work.
• Terracotta toys and figurines found.
• Bronze sculptures like the famous “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-daro.

3. Script and Writing

• Over 400 symbols discovered on seals.
• Script remains undeciphered.
• Likely used for trade, ownership, or religious purposes.

4. Religion and Beliefs

• Worshipped Mother Goddess and Pashupati (Proto-Shiva).
• Sacred animals: bull, unicorn, and peepal tree.
• No temples found, but fire altars exist.

5. Food Habits

• Agricultural produce: wheat, barley, peas, sesame, and rice (in Lothal).
• Domesticated animals: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat.
• Fish and meat were also consumed.

Economic Life of the Indus Valley Civilization

The Harappan economy was diverse and advanced.

1. Agriculture

• Main occupation of the people.
• Use of irrigation and ploughs.
• Crops: wheat, barley, cotton, sesame, mustard, and rice (later phase).

2. Animal Husbandry

• Domesticated cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels.
• Elephants and horses (later) were known.

3. Trade and Commerce

• Internal trade: Surplus grain, cotton, beads.
• External trade: With Mesopotamia, Oman, Bahrain.
• Exports: beads, cotton textiles, ivory, shells.
• Imports: tin, copper, gold, precious stones.

📌 Important Evidence:

• Seals with Mesopotamian inscriptions.
• Dockyard at Lothal showing maritime trade.

4. Crafts and Occupations

• Metal workers, potters, jewelers, weavers.
• Use of copper, bronze, gold, silver.
• Distinctive red pottery with black designs.

Political Life

• No evidence of kings or palaces.
• Cities were probably ruled by merchants and administrators.
• Uniformity in weights and measures shows centralized control.

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization

The decline of the Harappan Civilization remains a mystery, but historians suggest multiple reasons:

• Natural causes: Floods, droughts, earthquakes.
• Decline in trade: With Mesopotamia collapsing, external trade reduced.
• Invasions: Aryans might have attacked.
• River changes: Drying of Saraswati River, shifting of Indus River.

By 1500 BCE, most cities were abandoned, but Harappan traditions influenced later Indian cultures.

Legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization laid the foundation for Indian society and culture:

• Town planning and sanitation systems.
• Agricultural practices.
• Cotton cultivation (India was the first to grow cotton).
• Artistic traditions in pottery and sculpture.
• Religious practices that evolved into later Hindu traditions.

Quick Revision for Exams (CBSE Class 6)

Key Points to Remember

• The Indus Valley Civilization flourished between 2500 BCE–1500 BCE.
• First discovered site: Harappa.
• Important sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan.
• Unique features: town planning, drainage system, Great Bath.
• Main occupations: farming, trade, crafts.
• Decline due to natural and human causes.

Sample Exam Questions

Q1. Name two important cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

Q2. What was the Great Bath used for?
Ans: Ceremonial bathing and religious purposes.

Q3. Which crop was first cultivated in the Indus Valley?
Ans: Wheat and barley; cotton was also an important crop.

Q4. Name two animals worshipped by the Harappans.
Ans: Bull and unicorn.

Q5. Mention two reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ans: Floods and invasions (Aryans).

Conclusion

The Indus Valley Civilization was not just an ancient settlement, but the first chapter of India’s cultural and historical journey. It showed how humans moved from simple farming communities to advanced urban centers. Its achievements in architecture, trade, art, and social organization make it one of the most remarkable civilizations of the ancient world.

For CBSE Class 6 students, learning about the Indus Valley Civilization helps to understand the roots of Indian history and appreciate how India’s “Tapestry of the Past” is woven with threads of tradition, innovation, and resilience.

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