Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Ancient Indian Civilizations: Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization and Vedic Civilization from Class 8 Social_Science. After studying this chapter, you will learn about the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization, including its town planning, lifestyle, and the decline of its towns. You will also learn about the Vedic Civilization and its lifestyle.
Let us begin with the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization. India was the birthplace of a great civilization during the ancient period. This flourishing civilization is called the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization, Harappan Civilization, Indus Valley Civilization, and Mohenjodaro Civilization. It is known as Harappan Civilization because the signs of this civilization were discovered at Harappa for the first time. In the year 1924, John Marshal announced it as Harappan Civilization for the first time. The history of its birth and evolution is very curious. Communities that once led a nomadic life gradually started living a stable life. They learned to build houses, produce food grains, and practice cattle rearing. This type of civilization existed in India about 5000 years ago. The majority of sites were found in Sindh and Punjab. Later, many more sites were discovered in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The period of this civilization is also called the Bronze Age. Before the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, scholars believed Indian history began from the Vedic period. This belief changed completely. It was proved that Indian civilization is contemporary to world civilizations. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us explore the fascinating discovery of this civilization. It is recognized as the oldest civilization in the world. Dayaram Sahani carried out archaeological excavations at Harappa in the year 1920. R D Banerjee conducted excavations at Mohenjodaro in the year 1921. Based on these findings, Sir John Marshal, who was the head of the Indian Archaeology department, published the discovery in the English newspaper, the Illustrated London News, in September 1924. Through this, the world learned about the 5000 year old culture of India. Earlier explorations had also taken place in the Indus River region on India's northwestern border. In 1826, Charles Masson visited the Harappa site and identified the ancient ruins as the location where Alexander defeated Porus in the 4th century BCE. Another traveler, Alexander Burns, also visited the Harappan site. Alexander Cunningham, the first Director General of the Department of Archaeology, conducted small scale excavations. In 1924, under the leadership of John Marshall, the discovery was published to the world for the first time. The extent of this civilization was so vast that it included the valleys of the Indus River and the Saraswati River, which is known as the Guptagamini. Hence, it is known as the Civilization of Indus Saraswati Rivers. [CHECKPOINT]
Next, we will study the remarkable town planning of this era. Two or more divisions can be seen in Harappan towns. The western parts are smaller but elevated. Archaeologists call this area the fort. The eastern parts are generally wide and low lying. They are called villages. Every division had a wall constructed around it using burnt clay bricks. The bricks were laid in an interlocking fashion, which ensured the walls were stronger. The usage of burnt clay bricks clearly indicates the advancement of the civilization. A ground level tank can be seen constructed in the town of Mohenjodaro. Experts have identified it as an open bath built with bricks, and precautions were taken to ensure the structure was leak proof. Stairs are located at two sides of the tank, and rooms are built all around it. It is presumed that water to this tank was supplied from a nearby well, and the water was drained out after usage. Prominent people of the town would likely be bathing in this public bath. Fireplaces are found in the towns of Kalibangan and Lothal. Well arranged granaries can be seen in Harappa, Mohenjodaro, and Lothal. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us look at the residential areas and infrastructure. The low lying space, known as the village, was the habitat part of the town. These areas were planned and built quite systematically. You can see well planned houses, roads, and drains. The houses were built with strong brick walls and were generally one or two storeys high. The inner core space had rooms surrounding it. The doors faced the street, but none of the windows faced the street. The houses had baths, and some even had wells for water supply. Water availability was abundant. Every household having its own bath was a significant achievement back then. This information shows that the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization population led a prosperous life. Towns had an internal drainage system. The drains were built with bricks and covered with stone slabs. The drains of houses were connected to external drains. Domestic grey and black waters flowed into the external drains through these connecting drains. Cover slabs had holes to enable regular maintenance. It is understood that separate officers were appointed for maintenance. The drainage system alone demonstrates the superior systematic thought process of the town planners, grievance free execution, maintenance, and their interest in civil responsibilities. Such well equipped town construction is not seen in Egypt, Mesopotamia, or other contemporary civilizations. Even in terms of physical expanse, the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization was more advanced and bigger than the others. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us trace the transition from nomadic life to village settlement. After nomadic life stabilized, hutments and houses were built, and traces of these can still be seen. Pit houses are found in Burzahom, Kashmir. Those people used to build bore holes in the ground and live underground to save themselves from harsh cold and wild animals. The underground bunkers had steps for access. Clay pots are found both inside and outside such bunkers. These were used for cooking either inside or outside the bunker based on the weather. Mehrgarh is situated on the way to Iran, near the fertile plains of the Bolan pass. People here cultivated barley and wheat and raised sheep and goats. Mehrgarh is the first village found from this era. The people lived in well built houses, some having four or more rooms. Apart from animal fossils, many graves are also found. It appears that animals were buried along with humans. [CHECKPOINT]
Moving on to cultural details, apart from buildings, the artefacts found are mostly made of metal and precious stones. Beads and seals are found in large quantities. Harappan beads had demand even in distant Mesopotamia. The technique of drilling a diametrical hole through a bead was well practiced by the Harappans. Pots with various designs are also found. Bangles made of metals and shell material are found in abundance, along with female figurines adorning them in different patterns. The seals of this civilization show a still undeciphered script. Scholars called this script Picture Script. The Vrushabha, or bull, is one of the most important figures found on the seals. The leaf of the sacred fig, or peepal or ashvattha tree, is another prominent figure on the seals. Several idols with different yoga and namaskara postures are also seen. Weavers worked with cotton and sometimes silk. Artists worked on stones, ivory, and similar materials. Woollen blankets, wooden furniture, and articles that enhanced building beauty were in vogue. Bronze was one of the important alloys found in ancient civilizations. The copper needed to create the alloy was available in Baluchistan, Rajasthan, and other regions. From this, they created several items ranging from hard tools to mirrors. Literature, music, dance, painting, sculpture, and other art forms were well established. Female figurines in dancing posture, drum and string instrument sculptures, and several varieties of masks obtained during excavations confirm their deep interest in art. The famous dancing female figurine was obtained in Mohenjodaro. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us examine farming and trading during this period. The Sindhu-Saraswati population depended on farming and trading. Wheat, barley, and pulses were their primary crops. Hunting and fishing were also vastly practiced. Cotton farming was done to manufacture textiles. They reared cattle including bulls, cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and poultry. Oxen were used to plough the fields. Commerce and trading were equally important. Urban centers traded with the countryside and foreign nations. Baluchistan, Sourashtra, and Deccan regions were prominent trading partners. Several seals found in Mesopotamia indicate the close ties between the Sindhu-Saraswati and Mesopotamian civilizations. A huge construction is found in Lothal, Gujarat, which is most probably a ship dockyard. Lothal was their important center of sea trade. Dholavira had the best practices of rainwater management. This shows how advanced the Harappan or Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization truly was. [CHECKPOINT]
Now we will study the decline of this great civilization. About 4000 years ago, this civilization started to decline. Historians have ascribed several reasons for the decline of urban centers. Some claim the drying up of rivers and drastic changes in their course could be the reason. Others feel loss of forests could be a reason. Long term flooding of the region could also have forced the population from sites along the Sindhu and in Western Punjab to migrate eastwards and towards the south. However, the civilization continued until much later in Lothal, Gujarat. Thus, the Harappan or Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization was an important part of early Indian history. [CHECKPOINT]
Next, let us move to the Vedic Civilization. The historic period of India starts from the Vedic civilization. This period is identified as the time between 1500 BCE and 700 BCE. It is classified into the Early Vedic or Rigvedic period and the Later Vedic period, which includes the Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. The word Veda is derived from the word Vid which means knowledge. RigVeda is the first among all the Vedas. It has 1028 Sukthas and 10 Mandalas. It contains Nature, God and Goddess, and Sukthas. The persons who recite the hymns are known as Hothris. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us understand the social, religious, political, and economic systems during the Vedic Period. During the Pre Vedic Period, the Purushasukta that appears in the 10th Mandala of RigVeda refers to the varna system in society. There were four varnas that existed in the society. They were Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vyshyas, and Shudras. The varnas were decided on the basis of profession, not by birth. Women had equal status in society. The king was termed as Rajan. The king was assisted by Sabha, Samiti, and Vidata. Widow marriage was in practice. The main occupation was animal husbandry and farming. During the Post Vedic Period, a person's caste was determined by birth. The caste system became more complex. Women did not have equal status in society. During this period, they used to perform Yajnas and Yagas. Vidat disappeared. The widow marriage system was banned. The dowry system, Parda system, and child marriage came into existence. Agriculture became the main occupation rather than hunting and animal husbandry. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us work through the exercises to reinforce your learning. For the first fill in the blank question: The scholars called the script on the seals of Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization as Picture Script. For the second blank: The important center of sea trade during Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization was Lothal. For the third blank: The place which had the best practice of rain water management during this civilization was Dholavira. [CHECKPOINT]
Moving to the brief answer questions. Question four asks how the baths were constructed during the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization. The baths were constructed as ground level open tanks built with burnt clay bricks. Precautions were taken to ensure the structure was leak proof. Stairs were located at two sides of the tank, and rooms were built all around it. Water was supplied from a nearby well and drained out after usage. Question five asks how township construction was done. Towns were divided into two parts: a smaller elevated western part called the fort, and a wider low lying eastern part called the village. Each division was surrounded by walls of interlocking burnt clay bricks. Houses were built with strong brick walls, generally one or two storeys high, with doors facing the street and no street facing windows. They featured an advanced internal drainage system with brick drains covered by stone slabs, connecting house drains to external drains, and cover slabs with holes for maintenance. Question six asks to list the traces found to know about the cultural details. The traces include metal and precious stone beads, seals with undeciphered Picture Script, figures of Vrushabha or bull and peepal leaves, idols in yoga and namaskara postures, cotton and silk weaving evidence, bronze tools and mirrors, female figurines in dancing postures, drum and string instrument sculptures, masks, and woollen blankets. [CHECKPOINT]
Question seven asks to explain the economic condition. The economy was based on farming, animal husbandry, and trade. Primary crops were wheat, barley, pulses, and cotton. They hunted, fished, and reared bulls, cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and poultry. Oxen ploughed fields. Urban centers traded with the countryside and foreign regions like Baluchistan, Sourashtra, and Deccan. Close trade ties existed with Mesopotamia, evidenced by seals found there. Lothal served as a major sea trade center with a ship dockyard, and Dholavira featured advanced rainwater management. Question eight asks to analyze the social, political, religious, and economic systems of the Pre Vedic and Post Vedic periods. In the Pre Vedic period, society had four varnas based on profession: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vyshyas, and Shudras. Women had equal status. The king was called Rajan and was assisted by Sabha, Samiti, and Vidata. Widow marriage was practiced. The economy relied on animal husbandry and farming. In the Post Vedic period, caste was determined by birth, making the system more complex. Women lost equal status. Yajnas and Yagas were performed. Vidat disappeared. Widow marriage was banned, and dowry, Parda, and child marriage systems emerged. Agriculture replaced hunting and animal husbandry as the main occupation. [CHECKPOINT]
Finally, let us discuss the activities. For the first activity, you should locate the important sites of the Sindhu-Saraswati Civilization on a world map. These sites include Harappa and Mohenjodaro in Pakistan, Kalibangan and Lothal in Rajasthan and Gujarat respectively, Dholavira in Gujarat, Burzahom in Kashmir, and Mehrgarh near the Bolan pass. For the second activity, you should collect more information about Vedic Culture. You can research the composition of the four Vedas, the role of Hothris in reciting hymns, the evolution of the varna system, and the transition from pastoral to agricultural life during the Later Vedic period. [CHECKPOINT]
Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]