Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa History | DAILY BELLRINGER
Exploring the Indus Valley Civilization: Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
Introduction to the Indus Valley Civilization
- The video introduces the ancient cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, part of the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished around 2500 B.C. for nearly a thousand years.
- These cities were located along the banks of the Indus River in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, making them one of the earliest civilizations alongside Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China.
Discovery and Significance
- Much of what is known about this civilization comes from artifacts studied by historians and archaeologists after their discovery in the 1920s.
- The ruins were hidden under layers of soil for thousands of years until excavations revealed streets, buildings, tools, and artifacts showcasing advanced urban planning.
Urban Planning and Architecture
- Unlike many ancient settlements with chaotic layouts, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa featured well-planned grid patterns for streets.
- The cities had two main areas: a citadel for important structures like temples and granaries, and a lower city where most residents lived in houses made from baked bricks.
Engineering Marvels
- Notable engineering achievements included an advanced drainage system where each house had its own bathroom connected to covered drains along streets.
- The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro exemplifies their engineering prowess; it was likely used for religious rituals or public bathing.
Economy and Trade
- The inhabitants were skilled craftsmen who cultivated crops such as wheat and barley while also engaging in trade with distant regions like Mesopotamia.
- Evidence suggests they had a well-organized government supported by a uniform system of weights and measures used by merchants.
Artifacts and Writing System
- Artifacts include small stone seals engraved with animals that may have been used for trade or personal identification; these are among the most famous remnants from this civilization.
- A significant mystery remains regarding their writing system (Indus script), which has not yet been fully decoded, leaving many aspects of their culture unknown.
Religious Beliefs
- Evidence indicates that people practiced polytheism with worship centered on various gods; notably, there was reverence for a mother goddess believed to be a creator figure.
Decline of Civilization
- Around 1900 BC, factors such as climate change or invasions contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization leading to abandoned cities.