HarappanCivilization

(alsoknownasIndusCivilization)
23001750BCE(or26001900BCE)
Chapter3,pp.6364

TheGreatBath

Harappa
Namederivedfromoneofitsmajorcity;MohenjoDaro
cityofthedead,wasanotherlargecity.Thesizeofthe
areaisaroundthesizeofEngland,FranceandSpain
combined.
Economybasedonthecultivationofwheat,barleyand
peas,andontradingwiththeMesopotamiansandothers
tothewest.
ContemporarywiththeMidandOldKingdomofEgypt,
theSumarian,Akkadian,andOldBabylonianperiods
Noremainsofroyaltombs,palace,orlargepublicart
work.

PlanofHarappa

ArchitecturalRemains
Thecitywasbuiltonagridpatterninrectangularblock;
buildingsweremadeofstandardsizemudorbakedbricks;
hadsewageanddrainagesystems
largestreets
Residencehouseconstructedaroundthecourtyard;upto
threestories(estimateshadc.35,000inhabitants;located
ontheEastsideofthecity
GranariesandcitadelontheWestside
Baths:providedwaterforresidencesormayhavebeen
usedforgeneralbathingandritualceremonies(madeof
brickandsealedwithbitumen)

GreatBath

Sculptures
Madeofclay(terracotta,stone,andbronze)
MaleandFemalefiguresmayrepresentreligious
figureswhichassociatedwithfertility.

Bustofthepriestking

NudeMaleFigure

DancingGirl,limestone

FigurineofDancingGirl,bronze

Terracottafigurine

Toyanimalsmadeofterracotta

Seals
Sealscarvedwithacopperburin,coatedwithalkali,and
bakedtoglazethesurface;depictedanimals(e.g,humped
backbull,bull,goat,elephant,crocodile)mythicalanimals
(e.g.,unicorn)standinginfrontofanincenseburnerora
trough,humanfigures;morethan4000havebeen
recovered.
Note:inscriptionofseals(with310characters)whichare
notdecipherable;maybeusedforbusinessasthesealsto
signifytheownershipoftradedmerchandise;writing
disappearedfor1500years

Seals

Humpedbull

Yogiseal

Pottery
Handthrownvesselsdecoratedwithredslip
andblackpainteddecoration(animals,
geometric,floralandvegetationmotifs)
Pipal(Figusreligiosa)orBodhileave

 Craftedgoodsandpaintedpottery

Summary
Harappawashighlystructured,organized
urbanculturewithanagriculturaleconomy
Theyprobablyworshippedgodsand
goddessesoffertilityandhavepracticed
yogicmeditationandasceticism.
Thedestructionofthecivilization:flooding
andwaterresources(theshiftingofwater
system)