Harappan Civilization - Ancient History

 

A sketch about Harappan Civilization: 

It is about the first urban civilization of South Asia ; that is Indus Valley Civilization.

* Harappan Civilization  is known as Indus valley civilization.

* It was the first civilization of South Asia.

* The Harappan Civilization was contemporary with Mesopotamia civilization and Egyptian civilization.

* The Harappan Civilization occupied the territory of about 8,00,000 sq km.

* Harappa was the first archaeological site to be discovered. 

* It belongs to the Bronze age.

* Harappan Civilization can be divided into three phases: 

a) The early Harappan phase ( from C. 3200 - 2600 BCE)

b) Mature Harappan phase ( C.2600 - 1900 BCE)

c) Late Harappan phase ( C. 1900 to 1300 BCE)

a)Early Harappan phase is also known as Regionalisation Era:

It was formative ,proto urban phase of Harappan Civilization. People were expert in specialised crafts like - stone working, bead - making, metal crafting etc. They used wheeled transport and exercised trade networks. In Early Harappan Civilization, no large cities had found.

Some sites of Early Harappan Civilization: 

- Padri in Gujarat,

- Kalibangan in Rajasthan,

- Dholavira in Kutch,

- Harappa in West Punjab 

- Balakot, Amri and Bhirrana in Haryana

- Kot Diji , Gumla etc.

b) The Mature Harappan Civilization: 

The Mature Harappan phase is also known as the Integration era. If characterised as a full - fledged civilization. The mature Harappan phase emerged from pre - Harappan phase. It was the largest among the three ancient civilizations. It was triangular in its shape. It includes the area of modern day Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Pakistan.

c) The late Harappan era: 

The late Harappan era is also known as localisation era. It was post - urban phase. It marked the decline in the cities. 

The late Harappan era comprises five geographical zones. They are - 

a) The West Punjab phase

b) The East Punjab phase

c) The Jhukar phase

d) The Rangpur phase

e) The Ganga - Yamuna Doab phase.

In comparison with the mature Harappan Civilization, the late Harappan settlements were small, more rural in nature.