Indus River Valley (Harapan or Indus Valley)
Radiocarbon dating indicates that it arose about 2500 BCE in the greater Indus River valley of Pakistan
and northwest India. The two major cities of the culture were Harappa and Mohenjo-dara.
1. Large Rivers and Irrigation Techniques
From glaciers to arid plains for 1,800 miles, the great trans-Himalayan river is one of the world's longest,
and the Indus's annual flow of 272 billion cubic yards is twice that of the Nile River and three times that
of the Tigris River and Euphrates River combined. The Indus River's name comes from the Sanskrit
word sindhu (river) and was the basis for the words India and Hindu. The Indus River has proved crucial
not only to human history, but also to present-day life on the subcontinent. Today, the Indus is
considered Pakistan's most important river, as it runs almost the entire length of the country and flows
through all of its provinces except for the southwestern region. Like Egypt and Mesopotamia, these
ancient people farmed with irrigation systems, maintained by silt-bearing floods.
2. Agriculture and Population
The Indus civilization spread over a large part of modern Pakistan and
northwest India. Settlements were found that dated back to 2800 BCE;
between 2600 and 2500 BCE, a great social change occurred. Urban
centers that had not existed before came into being. The people
survived on a mixed agricultural economy. They grew barley and wheat,
with possible evidence of rice cultivation as well. They also cultivated
chickpeas and field peas. The fruits and seeds of various wild plants
were also gathered, including grapes and jujube. Some of the earliest
known use of cotton dates to the Indus River valley. In addition, the
people of the Indus valley raised a species of humpbacked cattle. They
also domesticated sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs, and chickens. Fish were
an important part of their diet, and evidence indicates that urban
centers near the sea traded fish to inland centers.
3. Greater political, social, and economical organization and complexity
Trade played an important role among the Harappan people and they had trading relations with the
people of Central Asia. Raw products, like gold, silver, and copper, and various minerals and precious
stones were obtained. They produced metal products, such as copper goods, and ceramics and pottery.
Information about trade with the people of the Persian plateau is uncertain, but a thriving trade was
carried on with the cities of Mesopotamia. Products sent to Mesopotamia included agricultural goods
and carved stones and different artistic items, including statues.
4. Discoveries and writing
The hieroglyphic writing of the Indus valley people remains undeciphered (unknown). Archaeologists
have studied the drawings that have been recovered, however, and have developed theories about the
religious life of the people.
Tim Watts
Watts, Tim. "Indus valley civilization." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World.ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Web. 23 Mar. 2011.