top of page
Search
disrebuzbuck1984

Ancient Cities Of The Indus Valley Civilization: Art, Architecture, and Urban Planning



The cities of the ancient Indus were noted for their urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems, clusters of large non-residential buildings, and techniques of handicraft and metallurgy.[d] Mohenjo-daro and Harappa very likely grew to contain between 30,000 and 60,000 individuals,[10] and the civilisation may have contained between one and five million individuals during its florescence.[11] A gradual drying of the region during the 3rd millennium BCE may have been the initial stimulus for its urbanisation. Eventually it also reduced the water supply enough to cause the civilisation's demise and to disperse its population to the east.[e]


The civilisation extended from Pakistan's Balochistan in the west to India's western Uttar Pradesh in the east, from northeastern Afghanistan in the north to India's Gujarat state in the south.[24] The largest number of sites are in Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir states in India,[24] and Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan provinces in Pakistan.[24] Coastal settlements extended from Sutkagan Dor[31] in Western Baluchistan to Lothal[32] in Gujarat. An Indus Valley site has been found on the Oxus River at Shortugai in northern Afghanistan,[33] in the Gomal River valley in northwestern Pakistan,[34] at Manda, Jammu on the Beas River near Jammu,[35] India, and at Alamgirpur on the Hindon River, only 28 km (17 mi) from Delhi.[36] The southernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilisation is Daimabad in Maharashtra. Indus Valley sites have been found most often on rivers, but also on the ancient seacoast,[37] for example, Balakot (Kot Bala),[38] and on islands, for example, Dholavira.[39]




Ancient Cities Of The Indus Valley Civilization Pdf




The ancient Indus systems of sewerage and drainage that were developed and used in cities throughout the Indus region were far more advanced than any found in contemporary urban sites in the Middle East and even more efficient than those in many areas of Pakistan and India today. The advanced architecture of the Harappans is shown by their impressive dockyards, granaries, warehouses, brick platforms, and protective walls. The massive walls of Indus cities most likely protected the Harappans from floods and may have dissuaded military conflicts.[115]


According to archeological finds, Indus valley civilization had dominance of meat diet of animals such as cattle, buffalo, goat, pig and chicken.[161][162] Remnants of dairy products were also discovered. According to Akshyeta Suryanarayan et al.,[af] available evidence indicates culinary practices to be common over the region; food-constituents were dairy products (in low proportion), ruminant carcass meat, and either non-ruminant adipose fats, plants, or mixtures of these products.[163] The dietary pattern remained same throughout the decline.[163]


These latter designations come from the Sarasvati River mentioned in Vedic sources, which flowed adjacent to the Indus River, and the ancient city of Harappa in the region, the first one found in the modern era. None of these names derive from any ancient texts because, although scholars generally believe the people of this civilization developed a writing system (known as Indus Script or Harappan Script) it has not yet been deciphered.


The two best-known excavated cities of this culture are Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (located in modern-day Pakistan), both of which are thought to have once had populations of between 40,000-50,000 people, which is stunning when one realizes that most ancient cities had on average 10,000 people living in them. The total population of the civilization is thought to have been upward of 5 million, and its territory stretched over 900 miles (1,500 km) along the banks of the Indus River and then in all directions outward. Indus Valley Civilization sites have been found near the border of Nepal, in Afghanistan, on the coasts of India, and around Delhi, to name only a few locations.


When Masson returned to Britain after his adventures (and having been somehow forgiven his desertion), he published his book Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan and the Punjab in 1842 CE which attracted the attention of the British authorities in India and, especially, Alexander Cunningham. Sir Alexander Cunningham (l. 1814-1893 CE), a British engineer in the country with a passion for ancient history, founded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1861 CE, an organization dedicated to maintaining a professional standard of excavation and preservation of historic sites. Cunningham began excavations of the site and published his interpretation in 1875 CE (in which he identified and named the Indus Script) but this was incomplete and lacked definition because Harappa remained isolated with no connection to any known past civilization which could have built it.


It is conspicuous that the sites commonly identified as Indus cities are roughly equidistant from one another. This settlement pattern has been argued to reflect a civilization of discrete city-states that may have maintained control over their surrounding hinterlands, but not over one another (Chakrabarti 2000; 2009; Kenoyer 1997a; Possehl 2002; Shinde 2016; Sinopoli 2015; Wright 2010). However, evidence of coercive urban-rural dynamics has not been identified. Rural settlements instead appear to have benefited from their contact with the cities (Parikh and Petrie 2019; Wright et al. 2003, 2005), without incurring the vulnerabilities associated with living in a populous settlement (Petrie 2019). Moreover, the Indus civilization does not appear to have dominated its neighboring societies, such as the Ahar-Banas settlements on the west side of the Thar Desert (Raczek 2016), the Jodhpura cultural complex (Rizvi 2007, 2018), or the Kulli in Baluchistan (Possehl 1986; Wright 2016). The site of Gilund is particularly interesting; though it was not part of the Indus civilization, its occupants made prodigious use of seals and sealings (Ameri 2014).


A well-planned street grid and an elaborate drainage system hint that the occupants of the ancient Indus civilization city of Mohenjo Daro were skilled urban planners with a reverence for the control of water. But just who occupied the ancient city in modern-day Pakistan during the third millennium B.C. remains a puzzle.


The Indus Valley civilization was entirely unknown until 1921, when excavations in what would become Pakistan revealed the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. This mysterious culture emerged nearly 4,500 years ago and thrived for a thousand years, profiting from the fertile lands of the Indus River floodplain and trade with nearby Mesopotamia.


Kenoyer suggests that the Indus River changed course, which would have hampered the local agricultural economy and the city's importance as a center of trade. (These four lost cities were jewels of ancient Africa. What happened to them?)


But no evidence exists that flooding destroyed the city, and the city wasn't totally abandoned, Kenoyer says. And, Possehl says, a changing river course doesn't explain the collapse of the entire Indus civilization. Throughout the valley, the culture changed, he says.


Watch your inbox over the next few days for photos, stories, and special offers from us.","header":"Thanks for signing up!"},"submitButton":"Sign Up","closeableGeos":}]}],"placement":"footer","chldOptns":"bannerPlacement":"footer"},"placement":"footer","logoObj":"key":"logoObj","alt":"National Geographic Logo - Home","href":"/","title":null,"logo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":3.4364261168384878,"url":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png"],"rt":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white","src":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png","ext":"png","mobileLogo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":3.4364261168384878,"url":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png"],"rt":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white","src":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png","ext":"png","id":"natgeo-footer","cmsType":"FooterFrame","mods":["mnu":["title":"Legal","links":["url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Terms of Use","url":" -privacy-policy/","isExternal":null,"title":"Privacy Policy","url":" -to-california-residents/","isExternal":null,"title":"Your California Privacy Rights","url":" -privacy-policy/english/","isExternal":null,"title":"Children's Online Privacy Policy","url":" -mgr.trustarc.com/?pid=disney01&aid=natgeo01&type=natgeo","isExternal":null,"title":"Interest-Based Ads","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"About Nielsen Measurement","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Do Not Sell My Info","style":"ot-sdk-show-settings"],"title":"Our Sites","links":["url":"/","isExternal":null,"title":"Nat Geo Home","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Attend a Live Event","url":" =int_org=ngp::int_mc=website::int_src=ngp::int_cmp=exp_hp::int_add=ngpexp201904-book-footer","isExternal":null,"title":"Book a Trip","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Buy Maps","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Inspire Your Kids","url":" -geographic/","isExternal":null,"title":"Shop Nat Geo","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Visit the D.C. Museum","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Watch TV","url":"/impact","isExternal":null,"title":"Learn About Our Impact","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Support our Mission","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Nat Geo Partners","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Masthead","url":" ","isExternal":null,"title":"Press Room","url":" -brands/national-geographic/","isExternal":null,"title":"Advertise With Us"],"title":"Join Us","links":["url":"/subscribe","isExternal":false,"title":"Subscribe","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Customer Service","url":"/renew","isExternal":false,"title":"Renew Subscription","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Manage Your Subscription","url":" -jobs/national%20geographic/","isExternal":false,"title":"Work at NatGeo","url":"/newsletters/signup?gblftr","isExternal":true,"title":"Signup for Our Newsletters","target":"_blank","url":" _id=wb8em7wclp2gec8f8rj9f6lp88q9dftd","isExternal":true,"title":"Contribute to Protect the Planet","target":"_blank","url":"/pages/article/how-to-write-for-nat-geo","isExternal":true,"title":"Pitch a Story","target":"_blank"]],"edtnSltr":"rgns":["title":"Europe","countries":["title":"Bulgaria","flag":"icon":"flag__bulgaria","alt":"bu","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Croatia","flag":"icon":"flag__croatia","alt":"cr","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" -geographic-hrvatska","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Czech Republic","flag":"icon":"flag__czech-republic","alt":"cz","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" -geographic.cz","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Denmark","flag":"icon":"flag__denmark","alt":"de","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Estonia","flag":"icon":"flag__estonia","alt":"es","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Finland","flag":"icon":"flag__finland","alt":"fi","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"France","flag":"icon":"flag__france","alt":"fr","links":" ","title":"Georgia","flag":"icon":"flag__georgia","alt":"ge","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Germany","flag":"icon":"flag__germany","alt":"ge","links":" ","title":"Greece","flag":"icon":"flag__greece","alt":"gr","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Hungary","flag":"icon":"flag__hungary","alt":"hu","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Israel","flag":"icon":"flag__israel","alt":"is","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Italy","flag":"icon":"flag__italy","alt":"it","links":" ","title":"Kazakhstan","flag":"icon":"flag__kazakhstan","alt":"ka","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Lithuania","flag":"icon":"flag__lithuania","alt":"li","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Netherlands","flag":"icon":"flag__netherlands","alt":"ne","links":" ","title":"Norway","flag":"icon":"flag__norway","alt":"no","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Poland","flag":"icon":"flag__poland","alt":"po","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" -geographic.pl","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Portugal","flag":"icon":"flag__portugal","alt":"po","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Romania","flag":"icon":"flag__romania","alt":"ro","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Russia","flag":"icon":"flag__russia","alt":"ru","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" -geo.ru/","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Serbia","flag":"icon":"flag__serbia","alt":"se","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Slovenia","flag":"icon":"flag__slovenia","alt":"sl","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Spain","flag":"icon":"flag__spain","alt":"sp","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Sweden","flag":"icon":"flag__sweden","alt":"sw","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Turkey","flag":"icon":"flag__turkey","alt":"tu","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"United Kingdom","flag":"icon":"flag__united-kingdom","alt":"uk","links":" "],"title":"The Americas","countries":["title":"Brazil","flag":"icon":"flag__brazil","alt":"br","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Canada","flag":"icon":"flag__canada","alt":"ca","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Mexico","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"mx","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Pan-Regional Latin America (Spanish)","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"pa","links":" ","title":"United States","flag":"icon":"flag__united-states","alt":"us","links":"/"],"title":"Asia, Australia & Oceania","countries":["title":"Australia","flag":"icon":"flag__australia","alt":"au","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Mainland China","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"ch","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Hong Kong","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"ho","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"India","flag":"icon":"flag__india","alt":"in","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" -geographic/","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Indonesia","flag":"icon":"flag__indonesia","alt":"in","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Japan","flag":"icon":"flag__japan","alt":"ja","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Korea","flag":"icon":"flag__south-korea","alt":"ko","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Pan-Regional Asia (English)","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"pa","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Taiwan","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"ta","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"],"title":"Thailand","flag":"icon":"flag__thailand","alt":"th","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"]],"title":"Middle East & Africa","countries":["title":"Farsi","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"fa","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Persian","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"pe","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"South Africa","flag":"icon":"flag__south-africa","alt":"so","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Middle East (English)","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"mi","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self"],"title":"Middle East (Arabic)","flag":"icon":null,"alt":"mi","links":["url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Channel","target":"_self","url":" ","isExternal":false,"title":"Magazine","target":"_self"]]],"crnt":"title":"United States","flag":"icon":"flag__united-states","alt":"us","links":"/","key":"edtnSltr","shrURLs":"key":"shrURLs","fb":" ","fbLabel":"natgeo.facebookShare.ariaLabel","fbButtonTracking":"event_name":"share","share_method":"facebook","content_title":"","twitter":" ","twitterLabel":"natgeo.twitterShare.ariaLabel","twitterButtonTracking":"event_name":"share","share_method":"twitter","content_title":"","instagram":" ","instagramLabel":"natgeo.instagramShare.ariaLabel","instagramButtonTracking":"event_name":"share","share_method":"instagram","content_title":""],"placement":"footer","id":"frame10","mods":["logoObj":"key":"logoObj","alt":"National Geographic Logo - Home","href":"/","title":null,"logo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":3.4364261168384878,"url":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png"],"rt":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white","src":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png","ext":"png","mobileLogo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":3.4364261168384878,"url":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png"],"rt":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white","src":" -18ee-413f-96dd-4cf3fb4a68a0/2fl-white.png","ext":"png","cprt":"key":"cprt","txt":["Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society","Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved"]],"cmsType":"CopyrightFrame"]},"header":"frms":["id":"natgeo-global-header-frame1","placement":"header","chldOptns":"bannerPlacement":"header","placement":"header","id":"natgeo-nav","mods":["logoObj":"key":"logoObj","alt":"National Geographic Logo - Home","href":"/","title":"National Geographic","logo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":3.404255319148936,"url":" -6797-4794-b7f6-8d757c79ea5c/ng-logo-2fl.png"],"rt":" -6797-4794-b7f6-8d757c79ea5c/ng-logo-2fl","src":" -6797-4794-b7f6-8d757c79ea5c/ng-logo-2fl.png","ext":"png","mobileLogo":"image":"crps":["nm":"raw","aspRto":0.7,"url":" -1c8d-4428-8ee2-d9a82bd0401c/ng-border.png"],"rt":" -1c8d-4428-8ee2-d9a82bd0401c/ng-border","src":" -1c8d-4428-8ee2-d9a82bd0401c/ng-border.png","ext":"png","usr":"key":"usr","links":["url":"#oneid-profile","title":"Account Settings","url":" _mag_code=NGM&cds_page_id=226717&cds_misc_1=NGM","title":"Manage Your Subscription","url":"/subscribe/link-subscription","title":"Link Your Subscription","url":" ","title":"Help","target":"_blank","url":"#oneid-logout","title":"Sign Out"],"lnk":"url":"#oneid-login","srch":"title":null,"icon":null,"href":"/search","key":"srch","shw":true,"rnw":"key":"rnw","shw":true,"title":"Newsletters","url":" ","sbcrb":"key":"sbcrb","shw":true,"title":"Subscribe","url":"/subscribe","mnu":"undefined":"title":"","links":["url":"/subscribe","title":"Subscribe","url":"/renew","title":"Renew"],"prmMnu":"key":"prmMnu","title":"Topics","links":["url":"/animals","title":"Animals","url":"/environment","title":"Environment","url":"/history","title":"History & Culture","url":"/science","title":"Science","url":"/travel","title":"Travel"],"secMnu":"key":"secMnu","title":"Sites","links":["url":" ","title":"Watch TV!","url":"/magazine","title":"Read The Magazine","url":"/family","title":"Visit Nat Geo Family","url":" ","title":"Book A Trip","url":" ","title":"Inspire your Kids","url":"/podcasts/overheard","title":"Listen to Podcasts","url":" -geographic/","title":"Shop Nat Geo","url":" ","title":"Attend a Live Event","url":"/impact/","title":"Learn About Our Impact","url":" ","title":"Support Our Mission"],"key":"mnu","cmsType":"NavModule"],"cmsType":"NavFrame","id":"e17aa8d2-d11b-4156-88f1-93b2a532cac9","className":"stickyFrame stickyFrame--bottom","placement":"header","chldOptns":"bannerPlacement":"footer"],"article":{"frms":[{"id":"natgeo-template1-frame-1","mods":[{"id":"natgeo-template1-frame-1-module-1","cmsType":"StackModule","align":"left","edgs":[{"dvdr":"hideLogo":true,"cmsType":"ArticleBodyTile","id":"natgeo-template1-frame-1-module-1","bdy":["id":"html0","cntnt":"mrkup":"A well-planned street grid and an elaborate drainage system hint that the occupants of the ancient Indus civilization city of Mohenjo Daro were skilled urban planners with a reverence for the control of water. But just who occupied the ancient city in modern-day Pakistan during the third millennium B.C. remains a puzzle.","type":"p","id":"html1","cntnt":"mrkup":"\"It's pretty faceless,\" says Indus expert Gregory Possehl of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.","type":"p","id":"html2","cntnt":"mrkup":"The city lacks ostentatious palaces, temples, or monuments. There's no obvious central seat of government or evidence of a king or queen. Modesty, order, and cleanliness were apparently preferred. Pottery and tools of copper and stone were standardized. Seals and weights suggest a system of tightly controlled trade. (These archaeological findings unlocked the stories of our ancestors.)","type":"p",{"id":"inline-1","cntnt":{"cmsType":"image","hasCopyright":true,"id":"inline-1","lines":3,"positionMetaBottom":true,"showMore":true,"caption":"The Indus Valley civilization was entirely unknown until 1921, when excavations in what would become Pakistan revealed the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. This mysterious culture emerged nearly 4,500 years ago and thrived for a thousand years, profiting from the fertile lands of the Indus River floodplain and trade with nearby Mesopotamia. 2ff7e9595c


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page