IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Material Characteristics

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Material Characteristics

Structure

6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 From Villages to Towns.and Cities
6.3 Harappan Civilization : Sources
6.4 Geographical Spread
6.5 Important Centres
6.5.1 Harappa
6.5.2 Mohenjodaro
6.5.3 Kalibangan
6.5.4 Lothal
6.5.5 Sutkagen-Dor
6.6 Material Characteristics
6.6.1 Town-Planning
6.6.2 Pottery
6.6.3 Tools and Implements6.6.4 Arts and Crafts
6.6.5 The Indus Script
6.6.6 Subsistence Pattern
6.7 Let Us Sum Up
6.8 Key Words
6.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

6.0 OBJECTIVES

This Unit deals with the geographical extent and the material features of the
Harappan Civilization. It describes the main sites of Harappan Civilization as well as
the material remains which characterised these sites. After reading this Unit you
should be able to :
understand that there was continuity of population and material traditions between
the Early Harappan and Harappan Civilization.
know about the geographical and climatic aspects of the settlement pattern of
Harappan Civilization,
describe the specific geographical, climatic and subsistence related characteristics
of the important centres of Harappan Civilization.
learn about the material features of the impoitant Harappan sites and specially the
uniformities in the material features of these sites.

6.1 INTRODUCTION

In this Unit we discuss the geographical spread and material characteristics of the
Harappan Civilization which aroge on the foundation of pastoral and agricultuial
communities and small townships. It refers to the continuity of the population and
material traditions between Early Harappan and Harappan Civilization. The
geographical spread of Harappan Civilization with special reference to some
important centres has been highlighted. It attempts to familiarise you with the town
planning, important structures, arts and crafts, housing patterns, pottery, tools and
implements subsistence patterns and script of Harappan Civilization. Finally this unit
also brings out the uniformities in the material characteristics of the Harappan sites.