The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, is the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent. It was a Bronze Age civilization that flourished primarily from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE (Mature Phase).
For your UPSC preparation, this topic is vital for understanding early urbanism, trade, and social stratification.
The IVC covered an area of approximately 1.3 million sq. km, stretching across parts of modern-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Northernmost point: Manda (Jammu & Kashmir)
Southernmost point: Daimabad (Maharashtra)
Westernmost point: Sutkagen-dor (Pakistan-Iran border)
Easternmost point: Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh)
| Site | Location | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Harappa | Punjab (Pakistan) | Row of 6 granaries, Mother Goddess figurines, Die-cast bronze tools |
| Mohenjo-Daro | Sindh (Pakistan) | Great Bath, Granary, Bronze Dancing Girl, Seal of Pashupati |
| Lothal | Gujarat | Artificial Dockyard, Rice husk, Double burial, Chess-like game |
| Dholavira | Gujarat | Three-part city layout, Giant water reservoir, Signboard |
| Kalibangan | Rajasthan | Ploughed field surface, Fire altars, Camel bones |
| Rakhigarhi | Haryana | Largest IVC site discovered |
| Chanhudaro | Sindh | Bead-making factory; only city without a citadel |
Town Planning: Grid system where streets intersect at right angles dividing city into blocks.
Citadel vs Lower Town: Raised citadel for elite, lower town for common people.
Drainage System: Highly advanced covered drainage with manholes for cleaning.
Building Materials: Standardized burnt bricks (1:2:4 ratio).
Crops: Wheat, barley, peas, sesame, mustard and first cotton production.
Trade: Extensive trade with Mesopotamia (Meluha), Persia and Afghanistan.
Weights: Standardized cubical weights in multiples of 16.
Pashupati Seal: Proto-Shiva figure surrounded by animals.
Mother Goddess: Fertility worship.
Nature Worship: Peepal tree, animals like unicorn and bull.
Social Structure: Evidence of hierarchy but no rigid caste system.
Script: Boustrophedon, undeciphered.
Seals: Made of steatite, used for trade.
Pottery: Red slip pottery with black designs.
Sculpture: Bronze Dancing Girl (lost wax technique) and Priest King statue.
Terracotta: Toys and figurines.
Environmental Changes: River shifts and drying of Saraswati.
Climate Change: Reduced rainfall.
Floods: Evidence at Mohenjo-Daro.
Aryan Theory: Largely rejected.
Urban Sustainability: Water management relevant to modern cities.
Secularism: Absence of temples or palaces.
Standardization: Uniform bricks and weights indicate strong governance.