Indus valley civilization mind map for upsc

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Indus Valley Civilization
Major Cities
  • Harappa
  • Mohenjo-daro
  • Lothal
  • Kalibangan
Features
  • Urban Planning
  • Drainage System
  • Granaries
  • Citadel and Lower Town
Art & Culture
  • Terracotta Figurines
  • Seals
  • Dancing Girl Statue
  • Bead Making
Economy
  • Agriculture
  • Trade (Internal & External)
  • Cotton Cultivation
  • Dockyard at Lothal
Decline
  • Climate Change
  • Floods
  • Decline in Trade
  • Possible Aryan Invasion
Indus Valley Civilization: Major Cities & Significance

Harappa

  • First discovered site (1921).
  • Granaries and fortifications found.
  • Evidence of cemeteries (burial practices).

Mohenjo-daro

  • Great Bath (ritual bathing).
  • Advanced drainage system.
  • Granaries and Assembly Halls.

Lothal

  • Famous Dockyard.
  • Trade center (beads, gems, ornaments).
  • Evidence of rice cultivation.

Kalibangan

  • Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases.
  • Evidence of ploughed agricultural field.
  • Fire altars (suggest ritualistic practices).

Dholavira

  • Unique water conservation system.
  • Divided into Citadel, Middle Town, Lower Town.
  • Large inscriptions in Harappan script found.
Indus Valley Civilization: Features & Significance

Urban Planning

  • Grid pattern layout of cities.
  • Wide roads, right-angle intersections.
  • Division into Citadel (administrative) & Lower Town (residential).

Architecture

  • Use of burnt bricks extensively.
  • Public buildings: Granaries, Great Bath.
  • Standardized residential houses with courtyards.

Drainage System

  • Covered drains running along streets.
  • Manholes at regular intervals.
  • Highly advanced sanitation system.

Art & Craft

  • Terracotta figurines (animals, humans).
  • Bead-making, pottery, metallurgy (copper, bronze).
  • Seals with intricate animal motifs.

Economy

  • Agriculture (wheat, barley, cotton).
  • Trade with Mesopotamia (Meluhha).
  • Standardized weights and measures.

Script

  • Undeciphered pictographic script.
  • Short inscriptions on seals and pottery.
  • Possible administrative or ritual use.

Religion

  • Worship of Mother Goddess.
  • Proto-Shiva (Pashupati Seal).
  • Tree (Peepal) and animal worship.
Indus Valley Civilization: Art & Culture

Seals

  • Steatite seals with animal motifs.
  • Unicorn, humped bull common figures.
  • Used for trade, identity, or religious purposes.

Terracotta Art

  • Clay figurines of animals, humans.
  • Mother Goddess figurines symbolizing fertility.
  • Toys with movable limbs, carts.

Sculptures

  • Bronze “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-Daro.
  • Bearded Priest statue (Steatite).
  • Evidence of advanced metallurgy and craftsmanship.

Pottery

  • Red and black painted pottery.
  • Geometric and animal motifs.
  • Used both for daily and ceremonial purposes.

Bead Making & Ornaments

  • Beads made of semi-precious stones (carnelian, lapis lazuli).
  • Gold and silver ornaments.
  • Advanced techniques of drilling and polishing.

Script & Inscriptions

  • Pictographic script on seals, tablets.
  • Yet to be deciphered.
  • Indicates administrative sophistication.

Music & Instruments

  • Evidence of string instruments (based on terracotta models).
  • Dance depiction in Dancing Girl statue.
  • Possible use of drums and other musical elements in rituals.
Indus Valley Civilization: Economy

Agriculture

  • Main occupation: Wheat, barley, cotton cultivation.
  • Use of plough, irrigation through wells and canals.
  • Surplus production supporting urban life.

Animal Domestication

  • Domesticated cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat.
  • Limited evidence of horse domestication.
  • Animals used for food, agriculture, trade.

Internal & External Trade

  • Trade in cotton, beads, pottery, metals.
  • Dockyard at Lothal for overseas trade.
  • Evidence of trade with Mesopotamia (Sumerian texts mention Meluha).

Craft Production

  • Skilled craftsmanship: pottery, bead-making, metallurgy.
  • Specialized centers like Chanhudaro.
  • Artisan class contributed to economy.

Foreign Relations

  • Trade links with Persia, Afghanistan, Central Asia.
  • Imported raw materials like lapis lazuli, copper.
  • Exported beads, textiles, pottery.

Currency & Exchange

  • No coinage system.
  • Barter system mainly used.
  • Seals possibly served as proof of ownership or trade authentication.
Indus Valley Civilization: Metallurgy

Copper

  • Extensively used for tools, vessels, ornaments.
  • Sources: Khetri mines (Rajasthan), Baluchistan.

Bronze

  • Alloy of copper + tin.
  • Used for statues (e.g., Dancing Girl), tools.
  • Indicates advanced knowledge of alloy making.

Gold

  • Found in jewelry: necklaces, bangles, earrings.
  • Source likely Karnataka region (gold fields).

Silver

  • Used for ornaments, vessels.
  • More abundant than gold.
  • Source: Afghanistan and western India.

Stone Tools

  • Continuity of stone tools like microliths.
  • Use of semi-precious stones for beads: Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Jasper.

Metal Tools

  • Axes, chisels, fish-hooks, knives made of copper/bronze.
  • Weapons were rare — suggests a peaceful society.

Significance

  • Advanced metallurgy = Technological sophistication.
  • Boosted trade (exports of crafted goods).
  • Helped in urbanization and cultural prosperity.
Indus Valley Civilization: External Trade

Trade with Mesopotamia

  • Known as “Meluha” in Sumerian records.
  • Exported: Cotton textiles, beads, ivory, pottery.
  • Imported: Silver, lapis lazuli, wool.

Trade with Persia (Iran)

  • Overland routes via Baluchistan.
  • Exchange of precious stones, metals.
  • Influence seen in some art motifs.

Trade with Afghanistan

  • Import of Lapis Lazuli (blue stone).
  • Gold from Badakhshan region.
  • Key mineral supplier to IVC craftsmen.

Trade with Oman Peninsula

  • Marine trade through Lothal port.
  • Exported goods: Beads, pottery.
  • Imported copper ingots (Magan).

Major Exports

  • Beads, ivory, pottery, cotton fabrics.
  • Gold and silver ornaments.
  • Shell and semi-precious stone products.

Major Imports

  • Raw materials: Tin, copper, silver, lapis lazuli.
  • Luxury goods: Woolen textiles, silver items.

Significance

  • IVC was globally connected — early globalization!
  • Boosted craft industries and urban economy.
  • Enhanced cultural exchanges and prosperity.
Decline of Indus Valley Civilization

Timeline

  • c. 1900 BCE – Start of decline.
  • c. 1800 BCE – Urban centers begin to collapse.
  • c. 1700 BCE – Regional cultures replace urbanism.
  • c. 1500 BCE – Complete end of urban civilization.

Climate Change

  • Weakening monsoon patterns.
  • Increased aridity (desertification).
  • River Saraswati (Ghaggar-Hakra) dried up.
  • Agricultural collapse, famine-like situation.

Frequent Floods

  • Layers of silt found in Mohenjodaro excavations.
  • Destruction of housing and city planning.
  • Forced mass migrations from cities.

Tectonic Activity

  • Earthquakes altered river courses (Indus, Saraswati).
  • Disrupted irrigation and agriculture.
  • Isolated urban centers from trade routes.

Aryan Invasion Theory

  • Proposed by early historians (e.g., Mortimer Wheeler).
  • Suggested violent destruction by invading Aryans.
  • Now largely dismissed – lack of strong archaeological proof.
  • Gradual internal decline more accepted today.

Economic Decline

  • Collapse of long-distance trade (Mesopotamia, Oman).
  • Disruption in craft production and specialization.
  • Urban economies could not sustain themselves.

Political Instability

  • No evidence of strong centralized rulers.
  • Possible local rebellions or power struggles.
  • Fragmentation into smaller, rural communities.

Cultural Decline

  • Decline of uniformity in weights, seals, script.
  • Loss of sophisticated town planning traditions.
  • No continuity of writing system after decline.

Overall Significance

  • Multifactorial decline – not a single cause.
  • Environmental factors primary contributors.
  • Urban collapse important lesson for civilization studies.
  • Contributed to early Vedic culture development later.