Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus civilization was at its glory from about

2800 to 1750 BC.
 Origin And Evolution
• Agriculture started at around 7000 BC at
Mehergarh which is located west of Indus Valley.
• Possibly these people shifted and settled down in
the Indus valley for it was a better & suitable
location
• At around 3200 BC the First Urban Settlement
appeared in Harappa
• Mohenjo daro came up as most sophisticated city
in the valley at around 2600 BC
 Advantages in the valley

• Dependable supply of water

• Ideal land for cultivation- with rich fertile
alluvial soil.
• Dense Forests around-
– Source of timber
– Source of fuel for cooking
– Source of food
 Development of Urban Culture

• Abundant resources -Surplus

production of food - Self-
sufficiency in basic necessities-
growth of industries like pottery,
Carpentry, Brick making,
Weaving, etc.
Indus Valley Civilization was one of the first
group of urban settlements .
 Basic Characteristics
• Earliest attempts of organizing urban
environment
• Large well-planned cities
• Standardized weights and measurement
systems
• Standardized brick sizes in 1:2:4 ratio
• Sophisticated Water management system
 Basic Characteristics
• Standardized pottery
• Terracotta toys
• Copper and bronze articles
• Writing on well designed and carefully made
seals with animal motifs
• Built around 2600 BC, it is the largest city
under Indus Valley Civilization
• The name ‘Mohenjo Daro’ means ‘Mound of
the dead’ in Sindhi.
• Mohenjo daro has a
planned layout based on
street grids which are at
right angles to each
other.- Grid Iron Pattern
• The streets are aligned in
the cardinal directions
• The city was divided into
two parts-
• The Upper city or the
Citadel
• The Lower city
• The upper city was at an
elevation of 15m higher
than the Lower city
• Mohenjodaro was rebuilt
again and again over its
ruins forming mounds
just like the tells
• The city had defensive
fortification walls around
the city
• The city had well planned
drainage and water supply
system based on gravity.
• The drainage lines ran along the
streets
 Residential units
• Mohenjodaro had well planned residential
quarters
• The houses had well defined spaces for each
activities-kitchen, bathroom, bedroom etc.
• All houses had similar
plans with entrance
opening to a central
courtyard.
• Entry to all other
rooms were through
this courtyard only
• The houses had internal drainage systems
there were then connected to the sewer line
running along the streets outside
• The houses were constructed out of burnt
bricks.
• Brick tiles were laid over timber rafters to
create flat roofs
• The central courtyard
could ventilate and
light all the rooms
surrounding it.
• So, no openings to the
streets were necessary;
there by providing the
requisite privacy.
 The Citadel- Upper town
• The upper town was located on the western
side on high mound
• It consisted of important public buildings like-
– The great bath
– The Granary
– The Great Hall
The Great Bath
• It was a public bathing pool possibly used
during rituals
• Dimensions- 7m X 12 m X 2.4 m
• The pool was water proofed using a layer of
Bitumen
• The pool was open to sky. Surrounded by
shaded corridor and then changing rooms and
bath rooms.
• Water was supplied by large well in an adjacent
room
• There was drain outlet for carrying out water