Connor Sullivan
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Connor Sullivan
Indus Valley during the Harappans
The Indus Valley Civilization was in existence from 2500-1900 BC and is also
known as the Harappan Civilization (Possehl, 1997). The Indus Valley Civilization
extended from West Pakistan to the parts of Rajasthan India (Muhammad, 1970).
Two well-known cities of the Indus Valley Civilization are Mohenjo-Daro and
Harappa, the city in which the Indus Valley Civilization is also called the Harappan
Civilization. This region existed at the same time that Egypt and Mesopotamia but
was vastly larger than either (Early Civilization in the Indus Valley). This area
contained the earliest known civilization on the Indian subcontinent and followed
along the Indus River (Indus River Valley Civilization). The Indus Valley was
culturally significant during the Harappan period.
The Indus Valley was located along the Indus River and went from basically
the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. The mountains protected the Indus River Valley
from being invaded by outsiders and the river and sea provided the ability for trade.
The Indus River also kept the lands fertile and was a main source of irrigation for
crops (Indus River Valley Civilization). Annually the Indus River experienced
flooding that the Harappans were able to control with the irrigation system that was
modeled after the Mesopotamians (Indus Civilization). The summers were hot and
dry while the winters were mild and wet. The Harappans were also able to tap into
underground wells that were in the Indus Valley. There were a few indigenous and
dangerous creatures that threatened the lives of the Harappans, crocodiles, tigers,
and snakes ran about the region (Indus Valley: Food and Farming).
The irrigation from the Indus River allowed for the Harappans to sustain
themselves and grow wheat, barley, rye, peas, cotton, and rice (Indus River Valley
Civilization). The Harappans grew crops all year round; in the hot and dry summers
millet, sesame, and cotton grew. While in the mild, wet summers wheat, barley, peas,
lentils, and mustard were grown. Many different types of animals lived in the Indus
Valley, such as rhinoceroses and elephants along with deer and many other animals.
The Arabian Sea and the Indus River offered another array of animals; ducks, carp,
and molluscs were just a few of the animals the water had to offer (Indus Valley:
Food and Farming).
The cities of the Indus River Valley were centers for trade (Guisepi). The
Harappans were not able to get minerals, gold, silver, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and jade
from the lands so they had to import from outside of the Indus Valley (Indus
Civilization). While the Harappans traded with outsiders they continued to use
bronze for their tools and weapons (Guisepi).
The land now is not what it used to be during the Harappan times. The land is
now arid and dry but back when the Harappans were around the land was fertile
and lush. This is significant because this allowed the civilization to thrive. Now it is
hard for people to survive in that region. While the Indus River allowed people to
survive and thrive it was also a destructive force. Melting snow from the Himalayas
and summer monsoon rains that empties out into the Arabian Sea formed the Indus
River. Every year the Indus River would flood cities like Mohenjo-daro helping the
Harappan civilization to disintegrate (Guisepi).
Outsiders sought after the rich and fertile land of the Indus Valley. Typically
the invaders were nomadic people who wanted the land for their livestock. Due to
the flooding and climate change that was occurring during the time the invaders had
a leg up on taking the land. The Harappans in the Indus River Valley succumbed to
attack by invaders (Guisepi).
The reason that this region is culturally significant to Indians is because this
is one of the earliest settlements in the Indian subcontinent. The people at the time,
the Harappans, were nourished by the Indus River Valley and were conservative in
their way of life. They interacted with the outside world but the people did not
change themselves to match the advancements of outsiders. The people were prided
themselves on letting the land provide for them and only brought in what was
necessary. An example of this is that the Harappans continued to use bronze to forge
their tools and weapons even though the outsiders that they were trading with used
a more advanced metal to make tools and weapons (Guisepi).
The Indus River Valley during the Harappan time period would not be
recognizable today. There were seven rivers flowing from the Himalayas into the
Indus River and out to the Arabian Sea. The lands were lush and green, with many
animals teeming about. The Indus River Valley was a self-sustaining in that the river
allowed the soil of the region to be rich and perfect for crops, there were a lot of
wild live to breed and put to work. The river and sea provided fish for the people to
consume. The region was a great location for trade because of the proximity to the
Indus River and the Arabian Sea. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were main trading
centers for the valley and even though they imported and exported goods, the
Harappans maintained their own way of life and not conforming to the progression
of the outside world. This amazing region was great for more than a thousand years,
but the river itself betrayed those that lived in the Indus River Valley and the annual
flooding destroyed lands. Nomadic invaders as well as the river led to the eventual
downfall of the people living in the valley during the Harappan age.
Bibliography
Early Civilization in the Indus Valley. 2014. Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook.
Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://www.ushistory.org/civ/8a.asp
Guisepi, R. (n.d.). The Indus Valley And The Genesis Of South Asian Civilization. A
history of the Ancient Indus River Valley Civilizations. Retrieved October 13,
2014, from http://history-world.org/indus_valley.htm
Indus civilization. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved October 10,
2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/286837/Induscivilization
Indus River Valley Civilization. (n.d.). Indus River Valley Civilization. Retrieved
October 11, 2014, from http://rivervalleycivilizations.com/indus.php
Indus Valley: Food and Farming. (n.d.). BBC News. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/indus_valley/food_and_farm
ing/
Mughal, M. (1970). The Early Harappan Period in the Greater Indus Valley and
Northern Baluchistan (c. 3000-2400 B.C.). University of Pennsylvania.
Retreived October 12, 2014, from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/302553001#
Possehl, G. (1997). The Transformation of the Indus Civilization. Journal of World
Prehistory. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25801118