Introduction
The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the largest ancient civilizations. The civilization’s population was about five million people. The cities of the Indus are famous for their urban development. Also, the Indus Valley Civilization is known for its political processes, infrastructure, architecture, urban buildings, and drainage systems. The Indus society had about 1,052 cities with about five million people (Bhat, 106). The government operations of the civilization cannot be understood since the writing of the time has not been deciphered. The Indus Valley Civilization practised trade and had its own culture, language, and religion. Therefore, this paper discusses the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient India, which is an ancient-history topic.
Overview
The Indus Valley Civilization in ancient India is regarded as one of the earliest civilizations in the world. The civilization took place in the north-western region of India. The Indus Valley Civilization is similar to the Mesopotamian and Ancient Egyptian civilizations. The civilization is known for its well-planned cities and was made up of 1,052 cities and settlements. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were the largest cities in the civilization.
Geography
The geographical location of the Indus Valley Civilization is what is today known as Pakistan and parts of India, which include the following states: Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The huge Indus River system enabled the settlers to cultivate and farm. The environs of the Indus Plain were surrounded by mountains and deserts.
Well-Planned Cities
The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were well-planned, and the cities had efficient governments in place. The existence of the government can be attributed to the availability of a water system. Hygiene was a priority for the communities that lived in the cities of the Indus Valley; thus, the world’s earliest sanitation systems can be traced back to this civilization. Wells were the source of water for the towns’ inhabitants. In the city rooms, waste was directed to covered drains, which lined the major streets. Thus, the cities had advanced drainage and sewerage systems.
The granaries, warehouses, and massive protective walls help historians understand the architecture, construction, and techniques of the civilization.
Most city dwellers specialized in trading. Thus, trading and craftsmanship were the main occupations of the city dwellers. The city houses had access to water and drainage systems, showing that the standard of living was average for everyone in the cities.
Although there were large houses in the cities of the Indus, palaces and government mansions did not exist. However, key cities were identified by the large walled citadel.
Writing
Historians have not managed to decipher the writing of the Indus civilization. Over 400 different symbols have been recovered from the cities of the Indus Valley. The writing during the civilization can be compared to the writing of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The typical inscriptions contain four to five characters, and they are very tiny. Thus, most of the writing of the Indus civilization was written on perishable materials that didn’t survive. Therefore, the inability to decipher texts of the civilization has made it impossible to understand the government and politics of the time (Keth).
Agriculture, Trade And Transportation
Agriculture was one main source of income and occupation during the Indus Valley Civilization. The people produced different types of staple foods and kept different animals for meat. They grew wheat, millets, melons, and rice, and they also kept cows, goats and sheep. The people practised irrigation since the valley civilization had a source of water, the River Indus. The city had water-control systems that prevented floods and wells that helped preserve the water.
Also, the civilization valued trade. Specialization during the civilization led to trading. Thus, the people exchanged and traded with one another, like in any modern city. Since the civilization was urban in nature, most of the people in cities were businesspeople (Bhat, 109). Manufactured materials were present in the cities, such as copper and gold, which were traded for animals and food products. Also, the people of the cities traded within and outside the cities, which made it possible for the people to manufacture beads and other objects. The civilization’s traders reached far and wide areas, including Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and many other places. The writings of the Indus Valley are on clay seals, which are seen as traded goods. Trade was possible due to the development of means of transport.
The Indus Valley Civilization is regarded as the first civilization to use wheeled transport in world history. The wheeled transport consisted of bullock carts. Also, the boats used at the time were small. Thus, society had craftsmen. Trade between the Indus Valley people and Mesopotamia was conducted through maritime trade.
Religion
The people of the Indus civilization didn’t have an organized religion. Historians have not been able to identify the religion that the Indus civilization society practised. However, there are indications that there was a relationship between the civilization’s religion and ancient Indian religion (Bhat, 107). This is indicated by the seals used during the time, such as swastikas, which can be traced to Hinduism as well as Buddhism. Also, the Indus Valley seals showed animals in a format that is seen in Hindu gods such as Shiva. Therefore, the religion of the Indus Valley community is related to most Asian religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. Their beliefs influenced the Aryan people who came after the civilization collapsed. Also, the people within the city believed in ghosts and evil forces.
Language
The Indus writing materials have not been deciphered since there are no comparable symbols. Therefore, it is not known whether the language was South Indian or Indo-European.
Conclusion
The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the largest ancient civilizations. The civilization took place in the north-western region of India. The geographical location of the Indus Valley Civilization is what is today known as Pakistan and parts of India, which include the following states: Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The huge Indus River system enabled the settlers to cultivate and farm. The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were well-planned, and the cities had efficient governments in place. The existence of the government can be attributed to the availability of a water system. Hygiene was a priority for the communities that lived in the cities of the Indus Valley; thus, the world’s earliest sanitation systems can be traced back to this civilization. Wells were the source of water for the towns’ inhabitants. The availability of water led to irrigation and agricultural practices. Also, the people of the cities traded within and outside the cities, which made it possible for the people to manufacture beads and other objects.
Works Cited
Bhat, Aashaq Hussain. “The Indus Valley civilization.” International journal of research and review 4.7 (2017): 106-109.
Keth. (2018). “Archaeology of ancient civilizations” Retrieved from https://libguides.pierce.ctc.edu/c.php?g=705796&p=5012690
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