Indus Valley Civilization - 1 | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

 Page 1


INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Chalcolithic Age
The Chalcolithic Age was a transition period from the Stone Age to the Metal Age. In addition to 
the stone tools, the people of this period made Copper tools as well. The features of Chalcolithic 
age are listed below.
? During Chalcolithic period man used Stone Tools and Copper tools. They developed
technology to extract copper from its ore and shape it.
? Ancient form of urban Settlement started during this period
? Huts were build using mud bricks
? Clay pots were build using potter’s wheel
? They cultivated Wheat and Barley
The two important Chalcolithic age sites are Mehragrah (Baluchistan), Catalhoyuk (Turkey).
Bronze Age - Indus Valley Civilization
Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan Civilization was
discovered when lying railway lines between Karachi and 
Lahore in 1857 by the British engineers. Major 
excavations were undertaken by Sir John Hubert Marshal 
in 1921-22. 
Harappan civilization emerged during second half of the 
third millennium BCE and was a Bronze Age Civilization. 
The period is considered to be ranging from 3300BC to 
1300BC. But the most flourished period of the civilization 
was in between 2500BC to 1800BC. It flourished in the 
basins of the Indus River, one of the major rivers of Asia, 
       
Page 2


INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Chalcolithic Age
The Chalcolithic Age was a transition period from the Stone Age to the Metal Age. In addition to 
the stone tools, the people of this period made Copper tools as well. The features of Chalcolithic 
age are listed below.
? During Chalcolithic period man used Stone Tools and Copper tools. They developed
technology to extract copper from its ore and shape it.
? Ancient form of urban Settlement started during this period
? Huts were build using mud bricks
? Clay pots were build using potter’s wheel
? They cultivated Wheat and Barley
The two important Chalcolithic age sites are Mehragrah (Baluchistan), Catalhoyuk (Turkey).
Bronze Age - Indus Valley Civilization
Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan Civilization was
discovered when lying railway lines between Karachi and 
Lahore in 1857 by the British engineers. Major 
excavations were undertaken by Sir John Hubert Marshal 
in 1921-22. 
Harappan civilization emerged during second half of the 
third millennium BCE and was a Bronze Age Civilization. 
The period is considered to be ranging from 3300BC to 
1300BC. But the most flourished period of the civilization 
was in between 2500BC to 1800BC. It flourished in the 
basins of the Indus River, one of the major rivers of Asia, 
       
and the Ghaggar - Hakra River (River Saraswathi), which once coursed through northwest India 
and eastern Pakistan.
The important sites of Indus Valley civilization are listed below.
I nd u s 	 V a l l e y	 C i vi l i z a t i o n
T wo 	 m a j o r 	 si t e s 	 - 	 L o c a t e d 	 i n 	 P a ki s t a n
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Har a p p a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Mo h e n j o d a r o 	 ( M o u n t 	 o f 	 d e a d )
? 	 O t h e r 	 s i t e s 	 i n 	 I n d i a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Lot h a l , 	 G u j a r a t
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Dhol a v i r a , 	 G u j a r a t
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Rakh i g a r h i , 	 H a r ya n a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Ropa r , 	 P u n j a b
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 K alib a n g a n , 	 R a j a st h a n
? 	
A r t 	 a n d 	 C u l t u r e 	 o f 	 I n d u s	 V a l l e y	 C i vi l i za t i o n
Indus Valley civilization was a very well developed Bronze Age civilization and the Arts and Culture 
and features are detailed below.
Urban Planning: A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture is evident in the 
Indus Valley Civilization making them the first urban centers in the region. The various features of 
urban planning in Indus Valley civilization are
? City was divided into two – Citadel (For elite class) and Non Citadel (for common 
people).They are well protected with walls and may be used for defensive purpose also.
       
Page 3


INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
Chalcolithic Age
The Chalcolithic Age was a transition period from the Stone Age to the Metal Age. In addition to 
the stone tools, the people of this period made Copper tools as well. The features of Chalcolithic 
age are listed below.
? During Chalcolithic period man used Stone Tools and Copper tools. They developed
technology to extract copper from its ore and shape it.
? Ancient form of urban Settlement started during this period
? Huts were build using mud bricks
? Clay pots were build using potter’s wheel
? They cultivated Wheat and Barley
The two important Chalcolithic age sites are Mehragrah (Baluchistan), Catalhoyuk (Turkey).
Bronze Age - Indus Valley Civilization
Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan Civilization was
discovered when lying railway lines between Karachi and 
Lahore in 1857 by the British engineers. Major 
excavations were undertaken by Sir John Hubert Marshal 
in 1921-22. 
Harappan civilization emerged during second half of the 
third millennium BCE and was a Bronze Age Civilization. 
The period is considered to be ranging from 3300BC to 
1300BC. But the most flourished period of the civilization 
was in between 2500BC to 1800BC. It flourished in the 
basins of the Indus River, one of the major rivers of Asia, 
       
and the Ghaggar - Hakra River (River Saraswathi), which once coursed through northwest India 
and eastern Pakistan.
The important sites of Indus Valley civilization are listed below.
I nd u s 	 V a l l e y	 C i vi l i z a t i o n
T wo 	 m a j o r 	 si t e s 	 - 	 L o c a t e d 	 i n 	 P a ki s t a n
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Har a p p a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Mo h e n j o d a r o 	 ( M o u n t 	 o f 	 d e a d )
? 	 O t h e r 	 s i t e s 	 i n 	 I n d i a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Lot h a l , 	 G u j a r a t
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Dhol a v i r a , 	 G u j a r a t
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Rakh i g a r h i , 	 H a r ya n a
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 Ropa r , 	 P u n j a b
	 	 	 	 ¦ 	 K alib a n g a n , 	 R a j a st h a n
? 	
A r t 	 a n d 	 C u l t u r e 	 o f 	 I n d u s	 V a l l e y	 C i vi l i za t i o n
Indus Valley civilization was a very well developed Bronze Age civilization and the Arts and Culture 
and features are detailed below.
Urban Planning: A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture is evident in the 
Indus Valley Civilization making them the first urban centers in the region. The various features of 
urban planning in Indus Valley civilization are
? City was divided into two – Citadel (For elite class) and Non Citadel (for common 
people).They are well protected with walls and may be used for defensive purpose also.
       
 
   
 
 
? Within the city, individual homes or groups of 
homes obtained the water from wells. 
?  The ancient Indus systems of sewerage and 
drainage were far more advanced than any found in 
contemporary urban sites.  
? Roads used to cut at right angles.  
? Houses were built of baked bricks of fixed sizes.  
? Use of stone and wood in buildings has also been 
found.  
? The concept of two-storied houses was also 
present.  
? Granaries were another important creation which used store grains. Their construction 
was intelligent and it has strategic air-ducts and platforms.  
? Public bath was a common feature e.g. 
Great bath at Mohenjo-Daro (It has 
galleries and rooms on all sides).