British Council Project on Indus valley civilization made by the student of Birla Balika Vidypeeth,Pilani

2. Content:
• Time period
• Location
• Religion and Beliefs
• Society
• Art
• Economy
• Architecture
• Reason of flourishment

3. • The Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan
Civilization was a ‘bronze’ age
civilization.
• It lasted from 3300 – 1700 BCE.

4. • This
civilization is
mainly
located in
the (from
today)
northeast
Afghanistan
to Pakistan
and the
northwest
part of India.

5. Religion and Beliefs
• They made clay figures of animals and women that
probably were used in special rituals.
• Small limestone was used to carve sculptures of
deities.
• They buried their dead in wooden coffins along
with pottery vessels with food, ornaments made of
gold, silver and precious stones.

6. Society
• Mostly peaceful
farmers.
• Built large cities with
ordered streets and
bricks made all the
same size.
• Strong central
government.
• Statues of priests and
kings.
• Advanced civilization
with large cities,
running water and
sewage system.

7. • Writing developed from earlier trading seals,
which let the merchants name and symbols of
trade items.
• The main society was classified into four
categories – i) Brahmana
ii) Kshatriya
iii) Vaishya
iv) Shudra

8. Art
• The artisans painted
various designs on
pottery, different type
of clay figurines, toys
seals and ornaments.
• They were usually
made of clay, bronze
and silver.
• They started using
wheels from 2300-
2200 BCE.

9. Economy
• Indus valley farmers
planted winter crops
like wheat, barley,
peas, lentils, linseed
and mustard.
• In summer they grew
millet, sesame and
cotton.
• Evidence shows that
about half the animal
bones came from
cattle.

10. • The Indus cities were connected with rural
agriculture communities and distant resources
and mining areas through strong trading
system.
• The outsiders were attracted to India for its
ornaments, metal tools and pottery.
• Cotton, lumber, grain and other food stuffs
were the major commodities of this internal
trade.
• They traded with Iran and Persian gulf.

11. Architecture
• There were well planned cities and towns
built on massive mud brick platforms.
• In larger cities the houses were made of
backed bricks.
• The houses were multi – storied.
• The houses were connected to an elaborate
drainage system.
• They constructed wells, bathing areas and a
place for proper sanitation.

16. Reason for collapes
• Archeologists have offered four explanation
for the collapse of Harappan civilization.
• Three are based on ecological factors: intense
flooding, increase in population and the
desiccation of the Indus river.
• The fourth reason is that of the Aryan
invasion.