Harrapan+Civilization

The Harapan civilization survived from 2600 to 1900 BC in the Indus River valley. Located near the Punjab Mountains, near the southwest of Himalayas, and by a major river, the Harapans became an agricultural based economy. The production of grains such as wheat and barley, as well as domesticated animals such as camels, cats, dogs, goats, and sheep, led to extensive trading. In addition to trading and farming, Harapans also created crafts, hunted, and produced the first textile industry. They began to develop elaborate bureaucracies, public latrines, and a sewage system. The Harapans had a form of tax using grain. Bronze and copper to make weapons as well as the commodities of ivory, wood, and precious stone, were other examples of the resources available to the Indus River Civilization. While priest kings were rulers, the Harapans did not have social classes and women held greater prominence in culture and religion; religious figures were even of mother goddesses. Religion was based on animistic worship, and the Harapans believed that natural disasters were punishment from the gods. The beginnings of Hinduism were found in the Harapan beliefs. Valuing organization, order, and cleanliness, the Harapans created their own written language and ruled over their cities (almost five million people), such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa the capitals, with peace and dominance. The Harapan civilization illustrates the origins of cultures, technologies, and domesticated animals along the Indus River.

http://www.crystalinks.com/induscivilization.html http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/Harappa.html

Created by Christina Oelsner on Sept. 3, 2008 