Introduction:

Did you know people built amazing cities long ago in India and Pakistan? These cities are called the Harappan cities. They are full of cool discoveries! They had big brick walls and mysterious objects. There was even a giant water tank called the Great Bath. They made all this without modern machines! Want to know how they lived? Let’s explore these ancient cities and find their secrets!

Discovery of Harappa:

• Around 150 years ago, railway lines were being laid in Punjab (now in Pakistan).
• Engineers found an ancient city while digging, which they called Harappa.
  • They used many bricks from the site for building railways, destroying old buildings.
  • 80 years later, archaeologists discovered that Harappa was one of the oldest cities of the subcontinent, about 4700 years old.
• As Harappa was the first city discovered, other similar ancient cities were also called Harappan cities.

What was special about these cities?

1. Divided Layout:

• Cities were divided into two parts:
  • Citadel: Smaller and higher, usually in the west.
  • Lower Town: Larger and lower, mostly in the east.
• Both parts were surrounded by strong baked brick walls in an interlocking pattern, which lasted thousands of years.

2. Locations:

• Harappan cities were located in present-day Pakistan (Punjab, Sind) and India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab).

3. Common Objects Found:

• Red pottery with black designs.
• Stone weights and seals.
• Special beads, copper tools, and long stone blades.

Special Buildings in Harappan Cities:

• The Great Bath (Mohenjodaro):
  • A large water tank made with bricks, plaster, and waterproof tar.
  • Steps led into the tank from both sides, with rooms surrounding it.
  • It was likely used for important people on special occasions.
• Fire Altars (Kalibangan, Lothal):
  • These cities had fire altars, where sacrifices might have been performed.
• Storehouses:
  • Cities like Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Lothal had large storehouses to store grains and other goods.

Houses, Drains, and Streets in Harappan Cities

1. House Features:

• People built houses that were one or two stories high.
• They arranged rooms around a central courtyard.
• Most houses included a separate bathing area.
• Some houses had wells to supply water.

2. Drainage System:

• Many cities featured covered drains.
• Workers laid drains in straight lines.
• Each drain had a gentle slope to help water flow.
• Smaller drains connected to bigger drains.
• Builders placed inspection holes for easy cleaning.

3. Planning and Construction:

• Workers likely planned and built houses, drains, and streets together.

Life in City:

Rulers:

• Planned and oversaw the construction of special buildings.
• Sent people to distant lands to gather metal, precious stones, and other goods.
• Kept valuable items, like gold and silver ornaments, for themselves.

Scribes:

• Knew how to write and kept records.
• Helped prepare seals for trade and possibly wrote on other materials that have not survived.

Craftspersons:

• Men and women created various items, such as pottery, tools, and jewelry.
• Worked in their homes or in special workshops to make these products.

Traders:

• Traveled to distant lands for trade.
• Brought back raw materials and interesting stories from their journeys.

Children:

• Played with terracotta toys that archaeologists have found.
• Enjoyed games and stories, adding joy to city life.

New Craft in the City:

Materials Used:

• People made objects from stone, shell, and metal (copper, bronze, gold, and silver).
• Craftspeople used copper and bronze for tools, weapons, ornaments, and vessels.
• Gold and silver created ornaments and vessels.

Unique Finds:

• Archaeologists discovered beads, weights, and blades.
• Harappans crafted seals from stone, often rectangular with animal carvings.
• They decorated pots with beautiful black designs.

Cotton Production:

• People likely grew cotton at Mehrgarh around 7000 years ago.
• Archaeologists found cloth pieces with a silver vase and copper objects at Mohenjodaro.
• They uncovered spindle whorls made of terracotta and faience, used for spinning thread.

Specialists in Crafting:

• Many objects came from specialists—people trained to perform specific tasks
  • For Example: cutting stone, polishing beads, carving seals.
• A well-carved face and detailed beard displayed expert craftsmanship.
• It remains unclear if only men or women became specialists, but both likely participated.

In Search of Raw Materials

• What Are Raw Materials?
  • Raw materials are natural items found in nature or produced by farmers and herders.
  • For example, cotton comes from farmers and can be made into cloth.
• Where Did the Harappans Get Their Materials?
  • The Harappans sourced some raw materials locally.
  • They imported others, such as copper, tin, gold, silver, and precious stones.
• Sources of Specific Materials:
  • Copper likely came from areas in Rajasthan and possibly from Oman in West Asia.
  • Tin, used with copper to create bronze, might have been sourced from Afghanistan and Iran.
  • They probably obtained gold from Karnataka.
  • Precious stones likely came from regions in Gujarat, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Food for People in the Cities

• Food Supply:
  • Many city dwellers depended on farmers and herders from the countryside for food.
  • Farmers grew various crops to supply city residents.
• Crops Grown:
  • The Harappans cultivated:
    • Wheat, Barley, Pulses, Peas, Rice, Sesame, Linseed, Mustard
• Farming Tools:
  • They used a plough to dig and plant seeds.
  • While real wooden ploughs have not survived, toy models have been discovered.
• Irrigation:
  • Due to low rainfall, the Harappans likely used some irrigation methods.
  • This involved storing water for crops during growth.
• Animal Rearing:
  • Harappans kept cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo.
  • They found water and pastures near their settlements.
  • During dry summers, they moved large herds to find grass and water.
• Other Food Sources:
  • They gathered fruits like ber, caught fish, and hunted animals like antelope.

A Closer Look — Harappan Towns in Gujarat

• Dholavira:
  • Found on Khadir Beyt in the Rann of Kutch.
  • Enjoyed access to fresh water and fertile soil.
  • Divided into three distinct sections, all protected by strong stone walls.
  • Featured gateways for entry.
  • Had a large open space for public gatherings.
  • Archaeologists uncovered large letters of Harappan script carved from white stone, possibly meant for wood inlay.
  • This is notable as most Harappan writing appears on smaller items like seals.
• Lothal:
  • Located near a tributary of the Sabarmati River, close to the Gulf of Khambat.
  • Positioned near deposits of semi-precious stones.
  • Served as a significant hub for crafting items from stone, shell, and metal.
  • Contained a storehouse where numerous seals and impressions were discovered.
  • Included a workshop for bead production, which contained:
    • Raw pieces of stone
    • Partially finished beads
    • Tools for bead crafting
    • Completed beads

The Mystery of the End

• 3900 years ago: Many people began leaving cities.
• Changes observed:
  • They stopped using writing, seals, and weights.
  • Raw materials from distant places became hard to find.
  • In Mohenjodaro:
    • Garbage piled up in streets.
    • The drainage system broke down.
    • People built simpler houses over the streets.
• Possible reasons for the changes:
  • Rivers dried up.
  • Deforestation occurred (trees cut down).
    • This might have happened due to fuel needs for making bricks and smelting copper.
  • Large herds of cattle, sheep, and goats damaged green areas.
  • Some areas experienced floods.
• Uncertainty: No single reason explains the end of all cities. Floods or drying rivers would only affect certain areas.