Prehistoric and Indus Valley notes

 Prehistoric and Indus Valley


1.       Indus Valley civilization is the earliest known urban culture of the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent.

2.       It is one of the world’s three earliest civilizations along with Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt.

3.       This civilization flourished (grew) from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.

4.       Harappa the earliest civilization discovered in India by - Daya Ram Sahni in 1921. In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilization in the Indus Valley to the world. (ASI full form Archaeological Survey of India.)

5.       Ernest J.H. Mackay, a British archaeologist, described the Indus Valley Civilization’s drainage system as remarkably advanced, with covered, systematically organized drains for effective waste management.

6.       Grid system - Harappan cities were known for their systematic planning based on a grid system, with streets intersecting at right angles.

7.       The Indus script, used by the Indus Valley Civilization, remains undeciphered to this day, hindering a complete understanding of their language and administrative systems.

8.       No temples have been found at any Harappan sites, suggesting that the possibility of priests ruling Harappa can be eliminated.

9.       Burnt bricks were predominantly (mostly) used in the construction of Harappan houses and streets.

10.    Covered drains made of bricks or stone slabs were a significant feature of the Harappan drainage system.

11.    In the Harappan civilization, water and garbage used to drain out from the drains located outside the houses and go into the main underground drain.

12.    Steatite material was predominantly used by the Indus Valley people to make seals.

13.    Religious rituals were the primary purpose of the Great Bath found at Mohenjo-Daro.

14.    Pataliputra was an ancient city in India but not associated with the Indus Valley Civilization. The major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization include Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Kalibangan.

15.    Most of the Harappan cities were divided into two parts: Higher Towns and Lower Towns.

16.    The Higher Town (Citadel) was fortified and consisted of important structures like the Great Bath and warehouses.

17.    The citadel in Harappan cities referred to a higher, fortified area built on a raised platform. It housed important structures like the Great Bath, warehouses, and administrative or religious buildings. And primarily occupied by priests or the upper class.

18.    The Lower Town was larger and consisted of houses and workshops for common people.

19.    Harappa is situated on the bank of the river Ravi.

20.    The Harappan site Roper was situated on the banks of the river Sutlej.

21.    The material mainly used in the manufacture of Harappan seals was terracotta.

22.    Both steatite and terracotta were used by the Indus Valley people, but steatite, a soft stone, was the primary material for making seals, which were often engraved with animals and symbols, while terracotta was used for making figurines, pottery, and other small items.

23.    Kalibangan, situated in Rajasthan, is famous for its pottery.

24.    The Harappan site Amri is located in Sindh, Pakistan.

25.    Rakhigarhi, located in Haryana, is the largest Harappan site.

26.    Dholavira, famous for water conservation, is located in Gujarat (Rann of Kutch).

27.    The people of the Indus Valley Civilization worshipped Pashupati.

28.    The Shortughai site is located in Afghanistan.

29.    The city of Lothal stood beside a tributary of the Sabarmati River.

30.    An example of a Harappan city that is not focused on citadels is Lothal. While Lothal does have a dockyard and is famous for its bead-making industry, it is not primarily divided into a citadel and lower towns like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

31.    The first metal used by man was copper.

32.    Agricultural Practices in the Indus Valley: The Indus Valley Civilization was an advanced agricultural society. The people practiced irrigation-based farming, utilizing river systems like the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra for water supply.

33.    Role of Agriculture in the Economy: Agriculture played a central role in the economy of the Harappan civilization. The surplus production of crops enabled the growth of cities and trade with other regions.

34.    Iron metal was not found in the Harappan civilization.

35.    The Harappans had commercial relations with Mesopotamia.

36.    The most common animal figure found at all the Harappan sites is the unicorn bull.

37.    The granary was the largest building in Mohenjo-Daro.

38.    The utensils of the Indus Valley people were mainly made of clay.

39.    The horse was notably absent in the Harappan sites.

40.    Bhimbetka, a noted site of the Prehistoric period, is located in the Vindhya mountain range and is part of the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh.

41.    The primary crops grown by the Indus Valley people included wheat, barley, and cotton.

42.    The decline of the Harappan civilization is believed to have been caused by a combination of environmental changes, such as climate shifts and the drying up of rivers.

43.    Early Human Evolution and Phases: The different stages of human evolution, including Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Homo sapiens, and their significance in India.

44.    Stone Age Periods: The Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic Ages in India, and the key sites and tools associated with each period (e.g., Bhimbetka caves, Mehrgarh).

45.    Paleolithic Culture: The tools and weapons used by Paleolithic man, with major sites like the Bhimbetka Caves and the significance of cave art.

46.    Mesolithic Culture and Transition: Characteristics of the Mesolithic Age, the shift from hunting and gathering to a more settled lifestyle, with sites like Bagor and Johangirpur.

47.    Neolithic Revolution in India: The shift from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle, early agriculture, domestication of animals, and pottery (e.g., Mehrgarh, Neolithic settlements in Kashmir).

48.    Chalcolithic Age and Copper Tools: The introduction of copper tools and their impact on early civilizations, with key sites like Ahar and Malwa.

49.    Cotton in the Indus Valley Civilization: The Harappans were among the first to cultivate cotton. Evidence suggests that cotton was grown in the Indus Valley as early as 2500 BCE.

50.    The oldest known agricultural settlement in the Indian subcontinent is Mehrgarh, located in present-day Pakistan, near the Bolan Pass. It dates back to around 7000 BCE and is considered one of the earliest sites where agriculture and domestication of animals were practiced.

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