An early culture of highly skilled craftsmen.
Who were the Indus people?
The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in the region of modern-day Pakistan and northwest India from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. It is renowned for its sophisticated urban planning, with sewers and drains that rival the ones in modern cities today.
The Indus Valley people were also skilled metalworkers who produced tools such as axes, chisels, and knives. They also engaged in extensive trade with other ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, allowing for the spread of ideas and goods between different cultures.
Uniquely among ancient civilizations, the Indus Valley people did not build any central palaces or temples. Some historians believe that their society was egalitarian, with no centralized ruling class.
Modern studies
In 1829, the first ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization were discovered by British explorer Charles Masson. He uncovered a large number of ancient monuments and artifacts in what is now modern-day Pakistan.
Unfortunately, before they could be properly studied, many of these ruins were taken apart by local people, who used the bricks as building materials. The entire upper layer of the archaeological site was fully stripped away.
In 1904, the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was pushed through to protect these archaeological sites from further destruction and looting. Since then, a number of excavations have revealed more about this civilization’s culture and technology. More recently, satellite imagery has helped researchers to map out the shape of these ancient cities.
The origins of the Indus people
The Indus Valley Civilization originated on the floodplain of the Indus River, which provided an ideal environment for early settlements. The cities were built on raised mounds and surrounded by walls made from bricks to provide protection against floods.
The city of Mohenjo-daro became one of the largest urban centers of its time, with a population of at least 40,000 people. As well as imposing walls, up to 12 meters in height, the city featured a complex drainage system, as well as large granaries for storing grain.
The city of Harappa was another example, with similar walls and drains. This sophisticated architecture enabled these cities to survive and thrive despite their location in a region prone to flooding.
Did the Indus have kings?
The Indus Valley Civilization is unique in that there is no evidence of kings or a ruling class. Most ancient civilizations feature palaces and temples, but there is nothing of the kind in the cities of the Indus Valley.
Some historians believe that this society was egalitarian, with power and wealth shared equally among the people. Most of the houses had similar facilities, including access to drinking water and public baths.
There must have been some system of governance. The cities are well organized, which would have demanded centralized planning and resource allocation. Some historians believe that the Indus were governed by priests, who made important decisions for the good of society without trying to gather wealth and power at the expense of others.
City sewers
The Indus Valley Civilization was ahead of its time when it came to plumbing and sewage. Their cities featured extensive drainage systems, with drains running from each house into larger channels that emptied into the river or sea. These channels were lined with bricks and covered over to prevent odors from escaping.
Many houses also included bathrooms that connected to these city sewers. This allowed waste to be disposed of quickly and efficiently – something which is still not seen in some modern cities today. Many Indus buildings also had access to drinking water, provided by a network of wells and channels.
This society probably valued hygiene, which led to these revolutionary advances. Alternatively, water may have been used for religious purposes, which made it important for every household to have access.
Indus script
One of the most mysterious aspects of the Indus culture is their writing system, known as Indus script. The script has been found on thousands of objects, including seals and pottery, but it has never been deciphered.
This is a recurring theme with the writings of ancient civilizations – Minoan writing has never been deciphered either. This would change with the discovery of a bilingual text, like the Rosetta Stone which finally made Egyptian hieroglyphs make sense to modern scholars.
In the meantime, it remains unclear what kind of information was recorded in Indus script. These texts may have been used for religious purposes, or simply everyday communication between citizens. The only thing that scholars agree on is the fact that this script was read from right to left.
International trade
The Indus Valley Civilization engaged in international trade. Evidence suggests that they sent sailboats to Mesopotamia in order to trade with the Sumerians and other Middle Eastern cultures. For example, archaeologists have found lapis lazuli beads which originally came from Afghanistan.
Cultural exchange took place as well. One seal discovered at Mohenjo-daro features a half-human half-buffalo monster, which might have been inspired by a similar creature in the Sumerian *Epic of Gilgamesh*.
The Indus people probably had contact with other civilizations too, including Ancient Egypt. Interaction between these early cultures grew more and more common as time went on, and each civilization entered periods of prosperity.
Mysterious beliefs
The religion of the Indus Valley Civilization is not widely understood, mainly because the written records are yet to be deciphered. Historians must rely on archaeological evidence such as the Pashupati Seal and the Great Bath House.
The Pashupati Seal is one of the most iconic Indus artifacts: a terracotta seal depicting a figure seated in a yoga-like posture surrounded by animals. This figure has been interpreted as an Indus god, and the seal itself may have been used to invoke divine protection. Meanwhile, some historians believe that the Great Bath House at Mohenjo-daro, which featured intricate plumbing and steps leading down into a large pool, was a place for ritual bathing or purification ceremonies.
These examples offer valuable glimpses into Indus religion, but modern historians remain divided. Some believe that the Indus people were polytheists, while others think they were monotheists. Some suggest they worshiped animals, while others think they sacrificed animals. Unless Indus writing is deciphered, a consensus is unlikely to be found.
The decline of the Indus people
Archaeological evidence suggests that the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization was caused by a combination of factors, including disease, interpersonal violence and climate change.
Analysis of skeletal remains from Harappa have revealed an increase in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy during the late period of the civilization. There is also evidence of increased interpersonal violence in this period, which could indicate a breakdown in social order.
The collapse of the Indus has also been linked to climate change, specifically drought conditions due to shifts in monsoon patterns. These droughts were also believed to have affected Ancient Egypt, whose culture declined in parallel to the Indus Valley.
The legacy of the Indus people
The Indus Valley Civilization is remembered as a place of revolutionary hygiene, thriving trade, and a fair society without a wealthy, ruling class. Many people in the modern age have strived to build a similar society of their own.
The religious beliefs of the Indus Valley may also have inspired later religions, with Hindu gods such as Shiva resembling the figure on the Pashupati Seal. This theory is unconfirmed, but it is popular among historians.
The Indus Valley Civilization could also be used as a warning about the threat of climate change. Significant shifts in weather patterns can disrupt even the most well-organized societies, leading to societal breakdown, interpersonal violence, and the collapse of entire cultures.
