The Harappan Civilization
Denay Taylor, Melissa Mukuna, and Emily Sedgwick
Where Did the Harappan People Live?
Geography:
Located the most in modern Pakistan and northwestern India, but artifacts of these people were also found in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Iran
Were in rich lands surrounded by highlands, oceans, and desert
Small colonies have been found in Turkmenistan and Gujarat
At one time, could have population of 5 million (gives an idea of the size)
Could have 1,056 cities and settlements or more
What Was the Culture of The Harappans?
Not much is known of the religious Harappan culture being that much of their ancient literature is still untranslated. It is believed that their religion and culture largely incorporated cows because they were used as a staple food (along with wheat). For example, the amount of cows along with land that a person had might of contributed to wealth and status held within the community.
It has been observed that the gods of this culture (portrayed on pottery and sculptors) share many similarities with the gods of other cultures. For example, there was a mother goddess, and a three faced male god with horns like the Hindu god Shiva. The dead were buried with items, such as food, model people, and homes, which is similar to the ancient Egyptian culture.
Seals were a big part of this culture. Being so, fig trees may have been sacred to them, because they show up in many seals. (Seals also happen to be important to Hindu culture.)
These ancient peolple liked to play, and made toys from baked clay. Most children worked around the house, although some may have went to school, seeing as there were scribes. However, it isn’t known whether or not everyone went to school. Lastly, there have been preserved paw prints found in homes, so people could have owned pets, from monkeys, birds, and goats to lizards and snakes.
How Did They Run Their Society?
The theories include:
1)There was one ruler, being that there is a very common consistency of the style of structures built; brick size, settlements
2)There were several rulers, meaning that the civilization was split up into different parts, and each part was ruled over by a different person
3)There were no rulers. Much wasn't said on whether or not there was some type of democracy, but being that there was harmony among the people, for the most part, and that they styles of the communities are consistent, it is possible.
Was There Such a Thing As a Social Class or Status?
1)Elite class
2)Middle class
3)Relatively weaker class (lived in towns that were generally fortified)
Major Contribution or Inventions
Occupations of the Harapen People
What Was Eaten?
Dates
Mutton
Did They Interact With Other Civilizations?
Economy
References
Specialization of Labor and Major Contributions or Inventions
http://timerime.com/en/event/132288/Map+showing+borders/
http://archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/harappa-mohenjodaro
http://indusrivervalley-civilization.weebly.com/job-specialization.html
Pictures
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Origins/Beginnings
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/science-collapse-harappan-civilization-01705.html
http://www.humanjourney.us/preAxialHarappa3.htmlhttps://vamadevananda.wordpress.com/2013/03/
Other
http://www.dsource.in/resource/toys-kondapalli/products/products.html http://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/28-2/Cattle.pdf http://www.harappa.com/har/indus-saraswati-geography.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/indus_valley/way_of_life/ http://www.crystalinks.com/induscivilization.htm