Indus Valley Civilisation

When we think of the great ancient cities we usually conjure up images of Mesopotamia or Egypt. Until recently I had not come across the Indus Valley civilisation . This was a society that created cities to rival the other great civilisations. The civilisation goes back to around 3,300 BC, with its height between 2,600 – 1,900 BC. It spread along the Indus river in Pakistan and along the, monsoon fed, Ghaggar-Hakra river that once coursed through northwest India and eastern Pakistan.
The civilisation has been noted for its great feats of engineering relating to its water systems. It’s drainage system had not been rivalled untill the Romans. They were also advanced town planners and were accurate in their mud brick building. They build large cities such as Mohengo-daro and Harappa. It is believed that they contained between 30,000 to 60,000 individuals.

Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro, Sindh province, Pakistan, showing the Great Bath in the foreground. Mohenjo-daro, on the right bank of the Indus River, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first site in South Asia to be so declared.

Thier artisans created new techniques in carnelian products, seal carving and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead, and tin).
Intriguingly, no war implements have been found. The only weapons found were ones thought to be used in hunting. John Marshal, excavating in the 1920s concluded that this was a peaceful society. Perhaps this is the reason why this civilisation is not so well-known as its more war mongering neighbours? War and great civilisations are supposed to go together.
The economy was significantly dependant on trade. It is thought that they may have been the first to use wheeled transportation. There was an extensive trade with Mesopotamia. Much of this was done with middle-men in the Persian Gulf.
Work on the religious practices is still speculative due in part to the fact that the Indus script remains undeciphered. There is an intriguing seal of a figure in the yogic position with a horned headdress, surrounded by animals. Marshall identified the figure as an early form of the Hindu god Shiva, associated with asceticism, yoga, and linga; regarded as a lord of animals; and often depicted as having three eyes. It has come to be known as the Pashupati Seal, after Pashupati (lord of all animals), an epithet of Shiva.

The Pashupati seal, showing a seated figure, surrounded by animals

This can all be better explained by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer who is an expert in this area. Below is one of his lectures titled “the Indus Civilization and Its Contacts with Mesopotamia”