A Beautiful Indus Valley Civilisation Map [2023]

The Indus Valley Civilisation was an ancient civilization that existed around 2500 BCE in what is now northwest India and Pakistan. It was one of the earliest civilizations in the world and was known for its advanced city planning, impressive architecture, and sophisticated engineering. The Indus Valley people developed a system of writing, but it has not yet been deciphered. The civilization declined around 1800 BCE and the cause of its collapse is still a matter of debate among historians and archaeologists.

Indus valley civilisation (IVC) Sites are a favourite topic of the UPSC Examination. In This article, we will see the important IVC sites with a map, a brief about these important IVC Sites. Then we will look into various features of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) such as their Craft, Agriculture, Town Planning, Economy, religion. And finally, we will look at the most contested causes of IVC decline. You can also download the indus valley civilisation IVC sites map at the end of the article.

Why IVC was a Marvel of its Time

Some of the most astonishing features of the IVC include:

1. Advanced city planning: The IVC is known for its impressive urban planning, with well-laid out streets, buildings, and public spaces. Many of the cities had a grid-like pattern and were surrounded by fortification walls.
2. Sophisticated engineering: The IVC people had a high level of engineering skills and built an extensive system of underground drainage, which is still in use today. They also constructed public wells and baths, which were used for both religious and practical purposes.
3. Use of standardized weights and measures: The IVC people used a standardized system of weights and measures, which suggests a high level of social organization and economic complexity.
4. Seals and seals Script: IVC people used seals with intricate designs and inscriptions, this seals were mostly made of steatite and were used for various purposes like trade, religious and administrative.
5. Metalworking: The IVC people had advanced knowledge of metalworking and were skilled in the production of copper, bronze, and silver objects.
6. Complex society: The IVC was a complex society with a diverse population, which suggests a high level of social organization and cultural sophistication.

These are just a few examples of the many impressive features of the IVC. The civilization was one of the most advanced of its time and continues to fascinate scholars and researchers today.

Indus valley civilisation

• The history of India is believed to have begun with the start of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), often known as Harappan Civilization.
• It flourished in and around 2,500 BC, within the western areas of South Asia, in modern-day Pakistan and Western India.
• IVC was the biggest among the 4 historical civilizations of that time which were Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
• During the 1920s, the Archaeological Survey of India ASI carried out excavations within the Indus valley and the ruins of the 2 old cities, Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.
• In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, introduced the discovery of a brand new civilisation called Indus valley civilisation IVC to the world.

Why is it called Harappan Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilisation is also known as the Harappan Civilization, named after the city of Harappa, one of the major cities of the civilization that was first excavated in the 1920s. The term “Harappan” is used to describe the culture and civilization that developed in the Indus Valley region during the Bronze Age. The civilization is also referred to as Harappan because Harappa was one of the most extensively excavated sites of the civilization and has provided a wealth of information about the culture, society, and technology of the Indus Valley people.

Phases of IVC

The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) is generally divided into three phases:

1. Early Harappan Phase (3300-2600 BCE): The earliest phase of the IVC, characterized by small settlements and simple mud brick architecture.
2. Mature Harappan Phase (2600-1900 BCE): The civilization reached its peak during this phase, with the development of large cities, advanced urban planning, and sophisticated engineering, such as the construction of an extensive system of underground drainage.
3. Late Harappan Phase (1900-1300 BCE): This phase marks the decline of the IVC, characterized by the abandonment of the major cities and a decrease in population. The cause of the collapse of the civilization is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be a combination of factors such as environmental changes, invasion, and internal conflicts.

Three phases of IVC, indus valley civilisation are:

• the Early Harappan Phase from 3300 to 2600 BCE,
• the Mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE, and
• the Late Harappan Phase from 1900 to 1300 BCE.

Important IVC Sites

There are several famous Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) sites, some of the most notable ones include:

1. Harappa: Located in present-day Pakistan, Harappa is one of the most extensively excavated sites of the IVC and has provided a wealth of information about the culture, society, and technology of the Indus Valley people.
2. Mohenjo-Daro: Also located in present-day Pakistan, Mohenjo-Daro is another major city of the IVC and is known for its impressive urban planning, sophisticated engineering, and well-preserved buildings.
3. Dholavira: located in the Khadir island of Gujarat, India, Dholavira is another major city of IVC and is known for its impressive water management system, architectural planning and it’s one of the most well-preserved IVC site.
4. Lothal: located in Gujarat, India, Lothal was a major port and trading center during the IVC and is known for its well-preserved dock and a unique drainage system.
5. Rakhigarhi: located in Haryana, India, Rakhigarhi is one of the largest IVC site, it was a major city and it’s known for the large scale of urban planning and architectural planning.
6. Kalibangan: Located in Rajasthan, India, Kalibangan is known for having the earliest ploughed field in the world, it’s also known for the unique fire altars and the earliest evidence of flood protection system.
7. Banawali: located in Haryana, India, Banawali is a lesser known IVC site, but it is known for the unique fire altars and the use of baked bricks in construction.

These are just a few examples of the most famous IVC sites, there are many other IVC sites that have been discovered and excavated in present-day Pakistan, India, and other parts of South Asia, each of these sites provides an important insight into the culture, society, and technology of the Indus Valley people.

City Planning and Constructions in IVC Sites

The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) is known for its advanced city planning and construction. Some of the key features of the city planning and constructions in IVC sites include:

1. Grid-like pattern: Many of the cities in the IVC had a grid-like pattern, with streets and buildings laid out in a precise and orderly fashion.
2. Fortification walls: Many of the cities were surrounded by fortification walls, which served as a protection against invasions and floods.
3. Public wells and baths: The IVC people built public wells and baths, which were used for both religious and practical purposes. These facilities were often located in the central area of the cities, indicating their importance to the community.
4. Drainage systems: The IVC people built an extensive system of underground drainage, which is still in use today. This system was used to remove waste and stormwater from the cities and was an important factor in maintaining public health and sanitation.
5. Houses: Most houses in the IVC were made of mud brick and had a central courtyard. They were usually two or three stories high and had a flat roof. Many houses had a system of internal drainage and some had bathrooms.
6. Great Bath: One of the most famous structures from the IVC is the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro, which is believed to have been used for religious rituals and was possibly also used for public bathing.
7. Granaries: Many of the IVC sites had large granaries, suggesting that the civilization had a well-developed agricultural system and was able to store surplus food.

• The Harappan tradition was distinguished by its system of city planning.
• Harappa and Mohenjodaro had their citadel, located at the elevated region of the city and it was probably occupied by members of the ruling class.
• Under the citadel in every city lay a lower city containing brick homes, which have been inhabited by the common folks.
• The remarkable thing in regards to the arrangement of the homes within the cities is that they adopted the grid system.
• Granaries constituted an essential part of the Harappan cities.
• Using burnt bricks within the Harappan cities is outstanding, because within the contemporary buildings of Egypt primarily dried bricks have been used.
• The drainage system of Mohenjodaro was very spectacular.
• In nearly all cities each big or small home had its courtyard and bathroom.
• In Kalibangan many homes had their wells.
• Some indus valley civilisation (IVC) sites like Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), had their whole settlement fortified, and sections inside the city were also separated by partitions walls.

These are just a few examples of the advanced city planning and constructions that can be found in IVC sites. The civilization’s impressive architecture and engineering continue to fascinate scholars and researchers today.

Agriculture in IVC Sites

Agriculture was an important aspect of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) and evidence suggests that the IVC people had a well-developed agricultural system. Some of the key features of agriculture in IVC sites include:

1. Irrigation: The IVC people had a sophisticated system of irrigation that allowed them to cultivate crops in a region that had limited rainfall. They used a combination of wells, canals, and dams to irrigate their crops.
2. Crop variety: The IVC people grew a wide variety of crops, including wheat, barley, peas, sesame, and cotton. They also grew a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as melons, dates, and cucumbers.
3. Evidence of ploughing: There is evidence of ploughing at the IVC site of Kalibangan, which suggests that the IVC people used an early form of the plough to cultivate their crops.
4. Animal husbandry: The IVC people also raised a variety of animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and water buffalo, which were used for transportation, plowing and as a source of food.
5. Granaries: Many IVC sites had large granaries, which suggest that the civilization had a well-developed agricultural system and was able to store surplus food.

Interesting Facts

• The Harappan (IVC) villages, were principally located close to the flood plains and produced adequate foodgrains.
• Wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesame, lentil, chickpea and mustard had been produced. Millets are additionally discovered at sites in Gujarat. Whereas rice uses have been relatively uncommon.
• The Indus folks have been the earliest people to produce cotton.
• The prevalence of agriculture is attributed to the finds of grain, it’s harder to reconstruct precise agricultural practices.
• Representations of Bull on seals and terracotta sculpture shows the bull was known, and archaeologists extrapolate it and claim oxen have been also used for ploughing.
• Most Harappan sites are positioned in semi-arid lands, where irrigation was most likely required for agriculture.
• Traces of canals have been discovered on the Harappan site of Shortughai in Afghanistan, however not in Punjab or Sindh.
• Though the Harappans practised agriculture, animals had been also reared on a big scale.
• Proof of the horse comes from Mohenjodaro and an uncertain terracotta figurine from Lothal. In any case, the Harappan tradition was not horse centred.

Financial system

The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) had a complex and advanced financial system. Some of the key features of the financial system of the IVC include:

1. Use of standardized weights and measures: The IVC people used a standardized system of weights and measures, which suggests a high level of social organization and economic complexity. This system allowed for fair and accurate trade and commerce.
2. Evidence of trade: There is evidence of trade and commerce in the IVC, with artifacts and seals found at IVC sites indicating the exchange of goods and materials with other civilizations, such as Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.
3. Use of seals: The IVC people used seals with intricate designs and inscriptions, which were used for trade, religious, and administrative purposes. These seals have been found at IVC sites and other civilizations, indicating a far-reaching trade network.
4. Evidence of specialization: There is evidence of specialization in the IVC, with different cities and regions specializing in different crafts and industries, such as metalworking, pottery, and textile production.

• The significance of commerce in indus valley civilisation (IVC) people is witnessed by the presence of quite a few seals, uniform script and controlled weights and measures in a large area.
• The Harappans carried on substantial trade in stone, metal, shell, and so forth.
• Metal money was not used and commerce was carried by barter system.
• They practised navigation on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
• IVC civilisation had set up a trading colony in northern Afghanistan which facilitated commerce with Central Asia.
• Additionally, they carried commerce with those in the land of the Tigris and the Euphrates river (Iraq).
• The Harappans carried on long-distance commerce in lapis lazuli; which may have contributed to the social status of the ruling class.

Crafts in Indus Valley Civilisation

The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) was known for its diverse and advanced crafts. Some of the key crafts of the IVC include:

1. Pottery: The IVC people produced a wide variety of pottery, including redware, blackware, and greyware pottery. The pottery was often decorated with geometric patterns and was used for a variety of purposes, such as storage and cooking.
2. Metalworking: The IVC people had advanced knowledge of metalworking and were skilled in the production of copper, bronze, and silver objects. These metal objects were used for a variety of purposes, such as tools, weapons, and jewelry.
3. Textile production: The IVC people were skilled in textile production and produced a variety of fabrics, including cotton and wool. They used a variety of techniques, such as spinning, weaving, and dyeing, to produce fabrics.
4. Jewelry making: The IVC people were skilled in jewelry making and produced a variety of items, including beads, pendants, and bangles made of precious and semi-precious materials.
5. Seals and seals Script: IVC people used seals with intricate designs and inscriptions, which were used for trade, religious, and administrative purposes.
6. Stone and ivory carving: The IVC people were skilled in stone and ivory carving, and made a variety of objects, such as amulets, seals and figurines.
7. Terracotta figurines : The IVC people made terracotta figurines of animals and human figures, which were probably used for religious rituals.

• The Harappans (IVC) had been very effectively acquainted with the manufacturing and use of Bronze.
• Copper was obtained from the Khetri copper mines of Rajasthan and Tin was probably introduced from Afghanistan.
• Large brick structures suggest that brick-laying was an essential craft. This additionally attests to the existence of a category of masons.
• The Harappans practised boat-making, bead making and seal-making. Terracotta manufacture was also an essential craft.
• The goldsmiths made jewellery of silver, gold and valuable stones.
• The potter’s wheel was in full use, and the Harappans produced their characteristic pottery, which was shiny or Glossy.

These are just a few examples of the many crafts that were developed by the IVC people. The civilization was known for its diverse and advanced crafts, which suggests a high level of skill and artistic sophistication.

Religion of Indus Valley Civilisation

The religion of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) is not well understood, as the civilization’s writing has not yet been fully deciphered. However, based on the artifacts and structures found at IVC sites, scholars have been able to infer some information about the religion of the IVC people. Some of the key features of the religion of the IVC include:

1. Worship of gods and goddesses: The IVC people appear to have worshiped a variety of gods and goddesses, as represented by small statues and seals found at IVC sites. Some of the gods and goddesses depicted have been identified as a mother goddess, a horned deity, and a “priest-king” figure.
2. Use of symbols: The IVC people used a variety of symbols, such as the “Pashupati” seal, which is thought to depict a seated, horned figure surrounded by animals, which may have been a god or a symbol of a god.
3. Use of fire altars: Many IVC sites have evidence of fire altars, which suggests that the IVC people performed fire-based rituals.
4. Use of Great Bath: One of the most famous structures from the IVC is the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro, which is believed to have been used for religious rituals and possibly also used for public bathing.
5. Evidence of burials: Some IVC sites have evidence of burials, which suggests that the IVC people had beliefs about the afterlife.

• In Harappa, numerous terracotta figurines of women have been discovered. In one figurine a plant is shown growing out of the embryo of a lady.
• The Harappans looked upon the earth as a fertility goddess and worshipped her in the same method as the Egyptians worshipped the Nile goddess Isis.
• The male deity is represented on a seal with three-horned heads, represented in the sitting posture of a yogi.
• This deity is surrounded by an elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros, and has a buffalo beneath his throne. At his feet are two deer. The depicted god is recognized as Pashupati Mahadeva.
• Quite a few symbols of the phallus and feminine sex organs made from stone have been discovered.
• The people of the Indus area additionally worshipped trees and Animals.
• The most important of them was the one-horned unicorn which can be recognized with the rhinoceros and the next important was the humped bull.
• Amulets have also been present in massive numbers.

It is important to note that the religion of the IVC is still not well understood, and much of the information about it is based on inference and speculation. Additionally, it is possible that the IVC people had diverse religious practices and beliefs, and what has been found at some sites may not be representative of the entire civilization.

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) is a matter of debate among historians and archaeologists. Many theories have been proposed to explain the collapse of the IVC, but none have been proven conclusively. Some of the most commonly proposed theories include:

1. Environmental changes: Some scholars believe that the decline of the IVC was caused by changes in the environment, such as drought or flooding, which made it difficult to sustain agriculture and support a large population.
2. Invasion: Some scholars believe that the IVC was overrun by invaders from the northwest, who destroyed the cities and weakened the civilization. The IVC declined and vanished around 1800 BCE. The precise causes behind its demise are still debated. One concept claims that the Indo-European tribe i.e. Aryans invaded and conquered the IVC. In later cultures, varied elements of the indus valley civilisation (IVC) are discovered which suggest that civilization didn’t disappear all of the sudden as a result of an invasion.
3. Natural disaster : Some scholars propose that natural disaster such as earthquakes or floods could have played a role in the decline of the IVC.
4. Internal conflicts: Some scholars believe that the IVC was weakened by internal conflicts, such as social unrest or political instability.

It is likely that the decline of the IVC was caused by a combination of these factors, rather than just one. It is possible that environmental changes, invasion, internal conflicts and natural disaster weaken the IVC and made it vulnerable to collapse. Additionally, the decline may not have been sudden, but rather a gradual process that spanned several centuries.

Natural Factors

• However, many scholars consider natural factors are behind the decline of the IVC.
  • The natural factors like geological and climatic one.
  • It’s believed that the Indus Valley region experienced some tectonic disturbances which triggered earthquakes. Which also modified the courses of rivers or dried them up.
  • One other natural cause may be a change in patterns of rainfall.
• There could be also dramatic shifts within the river courses, which could have introduced floods to the food-producing areas.
• Because of a mix of these natural causes, there was a gradual collapse of indus valley civilisation (IVC).

It is important to note that the reasons for the decline of IVC are still not fully understood and there is ongoing research and new discoveries that may bring new insights.

Download IVC Sites Map

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) was an ancient civilization that existed around 2500 BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India. It was one of the earliest civilizations in the world and was known for its advanced city planning, impressive architecture, and sophisticated engineering. The IVC people developed a system of writing, but it has not yet been deciphered. The civilization declined around 1900 BCE and the cause of its collapse is still a matter of debate among historians and archaeologists.