Trade Relations with West Asia in Harappan Civilization

The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, was a Bronze Age civilization that emerged in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent around 2600 BCE. The civilization was characterized by well-planned cities, extensive trade networks, and a sophisticated system of writing. One of the most important aspects of the Harappan Civilization was its trade relations with other civilizations, including the people of West Asia.

Trade Routes

The Harappan Civilization had a well-developed system of trade routes that connected it with other civilizations, including those in West Asia. The trade routes were important for the exchange of goods such as textiles, spices, and precious metals. Some of the major trade routes that connected the Harappan Civilization with West Asia included:

- The coastal route that connected the Harappan ports with ports in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
- The overland route that connected the Harappan cities with cities in Mesopotamia and the Levant.

Goods Traded

The trade relations between the Harappan people and the people of West Asia were based on the exchange of goods. Some of the goods that were traded between the two civilizations included:

- Textiles: The Harappans were known for their fine cotton textiles, which were highly valued in West Asia.
- Spices: The Harappans traded in a variety of spices, including black pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon.
- Precious Metals: The Harappans had access to gold, silver, and copper, which were highly valued in West Asia.
- Semi-precious Stones: The Harappans traded in a variety of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli and carnelian.

Trade Relations

The trade relations between the Harappan Civilization and West Asia were based on mutual benefit. Both civilizations benefited from the exchange of goods, which helped to increase their wealth and prosperity. The Harappans were able to acquire goods that were not available in their own civilization, while the people of West Asia were able to acquire high-quality textiles and spices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the trade relations between the Harappan Civilization and the people of West Asia were an important aspect of the civilization's economy. The well-developed trade routes and the exchange of goods helped to increase the wealth and prosperity of both civilizations. The trade relations were based on mutual benefit, and both civilizations were able to acquire goods that were not available in their own civilization.

In 1972 , the Indus civilization completed the golden jubilee of its discovery. It was celebrated in Pakistan but nothing happened in India ,although we loudly claimed heritage from the great civilization. Similarly the work in Pakistan and in other bordering regions has located many new settlements which indicates the extensive nature of that vast area encompassing Punjab, Sind, Rajasthan and Gujarat . This led to the trade relations between India and Harappa with western Asia