Harappa is an archaeological site in Pakistan's Punjab province. The place gets its name from a new town near the historic Ravi River route. Around 6000 BC, the Harappan Civilisation had its first roots in cultures such as Mehrgarh. Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, the two most important towns, arose around 2600 BC in the Indus River valley in Punjab and Sindh.This article will explain to you the Harappa which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Harappa

• Sir Alexander Cunningham explored the Harappa site for the first time in 1872-73, two decades after brickthieves took the visible ruins of the city. He discovered an undiscovered Indus seal.
• Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni began the first significant excavations at Harappa in 1920.
• The ancient city site features the remnants of a Bronze Age walled city that was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which was centred in Sindh and Punjab, and subsequently the Cemetery culture.
• At its maximum size during the Mature Harappan era (2600 BC – 1900 BC), the city is said to have had as many as 23,500 persons and was occupied with clay brick homes.
• The civilization may have a writing system, urban centers, drainage infrastructure, and a diverse social and economic system.
• The earliest identifiable Harappan sites date back to 3500 BC.
• This initial stage lasted until roughly 2600 BC.
• The Mature period lasted from 2600 BC to 2000 BC. This was the time when the great cities were at their peak.
• Then, beginning approximately 2000 BC, there was a continuous disintegration that lasted until 1400 BC - what is commonly referred to as Late Harappan.
• There is no evidence that the Harappan towns were destroyed by invaders.
• Among other places, the Harappans dealt with ancient Mesopotamia, particularly Elam.
• The principal commerce items were cotton textiles and agricultural goods. Harappan merchants also had procurement colonies in Mesopotamia that acted as commercial hubs.

Harappa - Features

• The Indus Valley civilization was primarily an urban society supported by excess agricultural output and commerce, which included trade with Elam and Sumer in southern Mesopotamia.
• Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa are both known for having "distinctive residential quarters, flat-roofed brick structures, and fortified administration or religious sites."
• The Indus Valley Civilisation's weights and measures, on the other hand, were highly standardised and adhered to a defined scale of gradations.
• The discovered cultural consistency has inferred a centralised government for each city, if not the entire civilisation; yet, it remains unclear if authority lay with a mercantile aristocracy.
• The Harappans had several trading routes along the Indus River that extended all the way to the Persian Gulf, Mesopotamia, and Egypt.
• Carnelian and lapis lazuli were among the most precious items exchanged.
• The human skeleton remains show some of the highest rates of damage recorded, indicating that Harappan life was not wholly tranquil.
• Examinations of Harappan bones have frequently shown scars that were most likely inflicted during fighting.
• The early writing is dated somewhat earlier than Sumerian primitive writings from Mesopotamia, which are dated 3100 BC.
• These patterns are related to what became known as Indus Script.
• Harappa also had granaries, bullock carts, and sandstone human anatomy sculptures.

Harappa - Artefacts

• Distinctive seals were employed for a variety of purposes, including property identification and transportation of commodities.
• Iron was not yet used, despite the fact that copper and bronze were.
• Cotton was woven and coloured for clothes; wheat, rice, and a variety of vegetables and fruits were grown; and a number of animals, including the humped bull, and "fighting birds" were tamed.
• Wheel-made pottery, some with animal and geometric themes, has been discovered in abundance at all of the main Indus sites.
• Trident-shaped and plant-like patterns were discovered on clay and stone tablets discovered at Harappa and carbon-dated 3300–3200 BC.
• The Harappans were skilled in the manufacture and application of bronze.
• The Harappans were well-known for their abilities in boat-building, bead-making, and seal-making. Terracotta manufacture was another important skill.
• Goldsmiths made jewellery out of silver, gold, and precious stones.

Conclusion

The Indus Valley civilization was predominantly an urban culture that was supported by excess agricultural output and commerce, including trade with Elam and Sumer in southern Mesopotamia. The discovery of Harappa and the Indus Valley Civilization has provided valuable insights into the ancient history of the Indian subcontinent. While much remains unknown due to the limitations of deciphering their script and the lack of comprehensive historical records, the archaeological findings from sites like Harappa continue to contribute to our understanding of the cultural, economic, and social aspects of this ancient civilization.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following was a key feature of the Harappan Civilization?

A) Use of iron tools
B) Well-planned cities
C) Use of paper for writing
D) Use of wheel-made pottery only for religious purposes

2. What caused the decline of the Harappan Civilization?

A) Invasion by the Aryans
B) Climate change and river shifts
C) Internal political strife
D) Lack of technological advancement

3. Which was a major trade item of the Harappan Civilization?

A) Spices
B) Gold
C) Cotton textiles
D) Silk

4. What was the purpose of the Harappan seals?

A) Decoration
B) Religious significance
C) Trade and commodity identification
D) Political propaganda

5. What is the significance of Mohenjo-Daro in the context of the Harappan Civilization?

A) It was a religious center
B) It was a key trading hub
C) It was a political capital
D) It had a complex drainage system and bathhouses

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the urban planning of the Harappan Civilization. How did it reflect the social and economic structures of the society?

Answer: The urban planning of the Harappan Civilization was highly advanced, with well-organized cities, grid-like street layouts, and impressive drainage systems. These features suggest that Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were planned with a high degree of foresight, indicating a centralized authority or collective governance. The use of standardized weights and measures, the presence of granaries, and public baths suggest a well-developed administrative and economic system that facilitated trade, agriculture, and resource management. These urban features reflect a highly structured society with a focus on public health, economic efficiency, and social order.

Q2: Discuss the trade relations of the Harappan Civilization with other ancient civilizations. What was their significance?

Answer: The Harappan Civilization had robust trade relations with neighboring civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Elam, and regions along the Persian Gulf. Trade items included cotton textiles, beads, carnelian, and agricultural products. These trade links were crucial for the economy, as they provided access to materials that were scarce in the Indus Valley, such as lapis lazuli and other precious stones. The trade also facilitated cultural exchange, as seen in the shared technological and artistic practices between the Harappans and their trading partners.

Q3: What are the major challenges in understanding the decline of the Harappan Civilization?

Answer: The decline of the Harappan Civilization remains largely speculative, with no definitive explanation available. Major challenges include the lack of written records, as the Indus script remains undeciphered, and the absence of clear evidence of invasions or violent destruction. Environmental factors, such as climate change and shifting river patterns, are plausible explanations, but these have yet to be conclusively proven. Additionally, the gradual nature of the decline makes it difficult to pinpoint specific causes. More research and discoveries are required to fully understand the reasons behind the collapse of one of the world's earliest urban civilizations.

Previous Year Questions on Harappan Civilization

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Which of the following was not a feature of the Harappan Civilization?

A) Use of iron tools
B) Advanced drainage system
C) Town planning
D) Writing system

Answer: (A)

Explanation: The Harappan Civilization used bronze and copper tools, but not iron. The civilization was known for its advanced drainage systems, town planning, and possibly had a writing system, though it remains undeciphered.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Examine the role of trade and commerce in the development of the Harappan Civilization." How did it contribute to their urban growth?

Answer: Trade and commerce played a pivotal role in the economic development of the Harappan Civilization. The civilization's strategic location along the Indus River facilitated internal and external trade. Goods such as cotton textiles, beads, and agricultural products were traded with regions like Mesopotamia. The surplus from trade enabled the growth of urban centers, supported urban planning, and created a prosperous society that engaged in large-scale agriculture and resource management. The economic growth driven by trade was crucial for the development of the Harappan cities and their advanced infrastructure.