. The Indus Civilisation The Indus Civilisation represents the first phase of urbanisation in India. While the civilisation was in its peak, several cultures, namely, Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures that we discussed earlier in the chapter, prevailed in other parts of India. Nomenclature, Phases and Chronology The civilisation that appeared in the north- western part of India and Pakistan in third millennium BCE is collectively called the Indus Civilisation.
Since Harappa was the first site to be identified in this civilisation, it is also known as Harappan Civilisation. This civilisation did not appear all of a sudden. The beginnings of the Neolithic villages in this region go back to about BCE at the Neolithic site of Mehrgarh. Harappan culture is divided into various phases: XI History - Lesson - - Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation are identified as granary.
The bricks were laid watertight with gypsum mortar. It had drainage. It is associated with ritual bathing. The Great Bath Subsistence and Economic Production Agriculture was an important source of subsistence for the Harappans.
The Harappans cultivated diverse crops such as wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sesame and various millets. Agricultural surplus was an important stimulus for a number of developments. They adopted a double cropping system. The Harappans used ploughs.
They perhaps ploughed the land and then sowed the seeds. Ploughed fields have been found at Kalibangan. They used both canal and well irrigation. Archaeobotanists study ancient agriculture, and human and environmental relationships.
Animal Domestication Pastoralism was also practised by the Harappans. They domesticated sheep, goat and fowl. They had knowledge of various other animals including buffalo, pig and elephant. But horse was not known to them.
The Harappan cattle are called Zebu. It is a large breed, often represented in their seals. They also ate fish and birds. Evidence of boar, deer and gharial has been found at the Harappan sites.
The Early Beginnings The Indus region (Mehrgarh) is one of the areas of the world where agriculture and animal domestication began very early. We do not know if there is any