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IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Nature of Contacts

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Nature of Contacts

Structure

7.0 Object

7.1Introduction
7.2 Establishment of Tradine Network

7.3 Intra Regional Contacts

7.3.1 Cities
7.3.2 Villages
7.4 Source of Raw Materials
7.5 Exchange System
7.6 Trade with the Persian Gulf and Mesnnntamia

7.6.1 Archaeological Evidence

7.6.2 Literary Evidence
7.7 Mode of Transport
7.8 Let Us Sum Up
7.9 Key Words
7.10 Answers to Check Your Promess Exercises

7.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this.Unit, you should be able to:

explain why the Harrapans tried to establish to links with the faraway lands,
know about the nature of contact among the Harrapans towns and the surrounding areas,
learn about the trade and exchange activities of the Harappans with the contemporary West Asian Civilizations,and
know about our sources of imformation on this nature of contact and exchange network.

7.1 INTRODUCTION

The Harrapans Civilization was characterized by the presence of a large number of

small and large towns. Apart from Cities like Harrapa and Mohanjodaro,even very

small settlement like Allhadino (near Karachi) have yeilded material characteristics
of an urban economy. An urban economy is charactdrised by a vast network of
relationships which transcend its physical space. You will see in this unit how the

people of Harrapa were in active interaction with other cities and towns which were

located at the distance of hundred of miles from Harrapa.

This Unit goes on to explain the reasons why did the cities establish tranding network

and also the form of the inter-regional trade.It also take into account the sources
I of the raw materials and the- extent of contact with the contemporary West Asian
Civilization. Of course all this knowledge about the Harappan civilization is gained
through various historical sources and they have been mentioned in the Unit.

7.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF TRADING NETWORKS

It is believed that active interaction among far flung areas did not exist in the
pre-urban society. Onemight ask why did townsmen establish contacts with faraway
lands and how do we know that they had contacts? In urban centres an important

part of the population is engaged in non-food producing activities. These people

perfom the administrative,religious,tramdomg and manufacturing functions.