🏛️ Chapter 6 – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

(The Harappan / Indus / Indus–Sarasvatī Civilisation)

🌏 What is a Civilisation?

A civilisation means an advanced stage of human society.
When people started living in organized cities, developing governments, crafts, trade, writing, and art, they entered the stage of civilisation.

Main features of a civilisation:

  1. Government & administration – to manage people and activities.

  2. Urban planning – building towns, roads, drainage, and water systems.

  3. Different crafts – making goods using metals, stones, and clay.

  4. Trade – exchanging goods within and outside the region.

  5. Writing system – for record-keeping and communication.

  6. Culture & art – showing beliefs through buildings, literature, and customs.

  7. Agriculture – producing enough food for both villages and cities.

The earliest civilisations appeared in:

  • Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) – around 6000 years ago.

  • Egypt – a few centuries later.

  • India (Indus-Sarasvatī region) – around 2600 BCE.

🏙️ From Village to City – Birth of the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation

  • The plains of Punjab and Sindh, nourished by the Indus River and its tributaries, became ideal for farming.

  • Another river, Sarasvatī, once flowed through parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

  • From 3500 BCE, villages grew into towns, and by 2600 BCE, towns turned into large cities.

  • Archaeologists call this civilisation the Indus, Harappan, or Indus–Sarasvatī Civilisation.

  • The name Harappan comes from the first discovered site – Harappa (now in Pakistan).

  • This period is also known as the First Urbanisation of India.

🏗️ Town Planning and Architecture

  • Major cities: Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Lothal, Ganweriwala, and more.

  • Cities were well-planned:

    • Straight, wide streets crossing at right angles.

    • Houses made of baked bricks – similar in size and quality.

    • Two parts:

      • Upper town (citadel) – where officials or rich people lived.

      • Lower town – where common people lived.

    • Fortified walls protected cities.

    • Public buildings like warehouses stored goods.

  • The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro:

    • A huge tank (12 × 7 m) lined with waterproof bricks.

    • Used for religious rituals or ceremonies (not for public bathing).

    • Shows Harappans cared for cleanliness and water management.

🚿 Water Supply and Drainage System

  • Harappans built an advanced drainage and water system:

    • Each house had a bathroom connected to covered underground drains.

    • Wells provided fresh water in Mohenjo-daro (about 700 wells found!).

    • Dholavira had a network of stone reservoirs, some as long as 73 metres, for storing and reusing rainwater.

  • These systems prove that they had a strong civic sense and city administration.

🌾 Food and Farming

  • Most settlements were near rivers, which made soil fertile.

  • Main crops: wheat, barley, millets, rice, pulses, and vegetables.

  • Cotton was first grown by Harappans – used for making clothes.

  • Tools like ploughs were made for farming.

  • They domesticated animals (cattle, goats, sheep) and caught fish for food.

  • Scientists found traces of turmeric, ginger, and bananas in their pots – showing a rich and varied diet.

💎 Trade and Crafts

  • The Harappans traded within India and with distant regions like Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and Oman.

  • Exports: beads, ornaments, pottery, timber, cotton cloth, food items.

  • Imports: mainly copper and tin (for making bronze).

  • Lothal (in Gujarat) had a dockyard – one of the earliest in the world.

  • Seals made of stone were used to mark goods; they had pictures of animals and symbols – showing a writing system (still undeciphered).

  • Skilled artisans made beads, combs, bangles, mirrors, and tools.

🎭 Art and Culture

Harappans loved art and decoration:

  • Statues and figurines – “Dancing Girl” (bronze), “Priest King” (stone).

  • Terracotta toys, whistles, and games show their playful life.

  • Pottery often had painted designs and even stories, like the tale of the thirsty crow.

  • Seals show animals like bulls, unicorns, tigers – possibly with religious or symbolic meaning.

  • Women wore bangles, necklaces, and ornaments – some styles are still seen in India today!

🌦️ Decline of the Civilisation

Around 1900 BCE, the civilisation began to decline:

  • Cities were abandoned, and people moved back to villages.

  • No sign of war or invasion was found — they were peaceful people.

  • Likely reasons for decline:

    1. Climate change – less rainfall caused droughts and reduced crops.

    2. Drying of the Sarasvatī River – cities lost their water source.

  • Despite the fall of cities, Harappan culture and knowledge continued to influence later Indian society.

🪔 Summary

  • The Indus / Harappan / Sindhu–Sarasvatī Civilisation was one of the world’s oldest.

  • People lived in well-planned cities with advanced drainage, crafts, and trade.

  • They practised agriculture, made beautiful artefacts, and followed peaceful lives.

  • The civilisation ended due to environmental changes, but its achievements left a lasting mark on Indian history.


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EXERCISE 
PAGE 104

1. Why does the civilisation studied in this chapter have several names? Discuss their significance.

The civilisation has several names such as Harappan, Indus, and Indus–Sarasvatī (or Sindhu–Sarasvatī) Civilisation.

  • It is called Harappan because Harappa was the first site discovered in 1920–21.

  • It is called Indus Civilisation because many cities developed along the Indus River and its tributaries.

  • It is also called Indus–Sarasvatī Civilisation because many sites were found along the now-dry Sarasvatī River too.
    All the names are used to show the wide area where this civilisation flourished.

2. Write a brief report (150–200 words) summing up some of the achievements of the Indus–Sarasvatī Civilisation.

The Indus–Sarasvatī Civilisation, also known as the Harappan Civilisation, was one of the world’s earliest and most advanced cultures. It developed around 2600 BCE and lasted for about 700 years.
The people built well-planned cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, and Lothal with straight roads, brick houses, and excellent drainage systems. They were experts in water management, constructing wells, reservoirs, and baths.
Harappans were skilled craftsmen who made ornaments, beads, pottery, and bronze tools. They traded both within India and with foreign regions like Mesopotamia, using seals to mark goods.
Agriculture was the main occupation — they grew wheat, barley, rice, and cotton and domesticated animals. Their art included beautiful figurines, toys, and the famous “Dancing Girl” statue.
Even though their cities later declined, their knowledge of building, cleanliness, and organisation influenced later Indian cultures.

3. Imagine you have to travel from the city of Harappa to Kalibangan. What are your different options? Can you make a rough estimation of the amount of time each option might take?

Travel options in ancient times:

  • By river (boat): using the Indus River and its branches — would be the easiest and might take a few weeks.

  • By land (bullock cart or on foot): following trade routes through Punjab and Haryana — might take one to two months.
    There were no modern vehicles, so journeys were long and depended on weather and distance.

4. Let us imagine a Harappan man or woman being transported to an average kitchen in today’s India. What are the four or five biggest surprises awaiting them?

They would be amazed to see:

  1. Gas stoves and electric appliances instead of clay ovens.

  2. Running water and taps instead of drawing water from wells.

  3. Steel utensils and refrigerators to store food.

  4. Packaged spices and ready-made foods.

  5. Lights and fans that work on electricity.

5. Looking at all the pictures in this chapter, make a list of the ornaments / gestures / objects that still feel familiar in our 21st century.

  • Bangles worn on both arms (like the Dancing Girl).

  • Necklaces and earrings.

  • Combs and mirrors.

  • Games and toys (similar to board games or whistles).

  • The namaste gesture used in greetings.

6. What mindset does the system of reservoirs at Dholavira reflect?

It shows that the Harappans were intelligent planners and environmentally aware.
They valued water conservation, teamwork, and civic responsibility.
Their system reflects a scientific and organised mindset, focused on sustainability and community welfare.

7. In Mohenjo-daro, about 700 wells built with bricks have been counted. They seem to have been regularly maintained and used for several centuries. Discuss the implications.

This shows that:

  • The people had a steady water supply.

  • They cared about cleanliness and hygiene.

  • There must have been local authorities or administrators to maintain the wells.

  • It also indicates strong civic organisation and long-term urban planning.

8. It is often said that the Harappans had a high civic sense. Discuss the significance of this statement. Do you agree with it? Compare with citizens in a large city of India today.

Yes, the Harappans had a high civic sense because they built clean cities, underground drains, public baths, and reservoirs. Their planning shows discipline, cooperation, and respect for community life.
In contrast, many modern cities in India still struggle with cleanliness, drainage, and waste management. So, even thousands of years ago, the Harappans set an example of how organised and responsible citizens should live.

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