A Summary of the Rise and Fall of the Indus Valley Civilization
Ancient seals found in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
In 3300 BC a civilization which was known as the Indus Valley Civilization arose. The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age Civilization meaning it is a period characterized by the use of copper and bronze. The Indus Valley Civilization is located in the North-Western region of India which is now modern day northwest India and Pakistan. Some significance of this civilization was that they were the first to build their houses and buildings out of bricks or fired mud from the kiln, they were the first to have road side drainage systems, in addition to that they were also the first people to build two or more story buildings. This civilization was spread over an area of some 1,260,000 square kilometers which makes it the largest ancient civilization in the world. Like the intellectual rise of this civilization, the people too who are named the Harappans, are a group of individuals who are highly skilled and have advanced in technology way before other civilizations. At one point their population was well over 5 million people; citizens of the civilization developed new techniques in metallurgy, and production in copper, bronze, lead and tin. Sadly this magnificent civilization died out as fast as it rose; due to the abrupt cease there were little to be excavated about their religious views and beliefs, the only thing architects know were that they honored and worship more than one god, therefore they were a polytheistic population. To this day it is not sure what type of government system the Harappans had, but one thing for sure is that their government was very organized and intelligent. Near 1700 BCE the Indus Valley Civilization fell; historians do not know for sure why this happened but their suggestions are because of the unpredictable floods which wiped out homes, war with other civilizations which caused invasions, rapid increase in population which enforced deforestation and ecological changes which caused the climate to change. For a brief timeline of the Indus Civilization you can visit this website: timeline of Indus Valley Civilization
Contributions/Uniqueness/Famous For
The Indus are famous for a lot of things, first and foremost they are famous for their road side drainage system. The cities were laid out very well and uniquely. They had their own water system for their personal use inside of their two story houses. They had their own toilet and bath tub but of course it doesn`t look the same like modern ones today. Another thing they`re known for is their multi-story houses or buildings. They were the first civilization to have such buildings. The drainage system today are similar to the ones used back then in the Indus Civilization era; they too had under round sewage just like today. Of course every civilization has to be famous for their art work, one of the most famous or popular artwork of the Indus would be the "Priest-God" and the "Dancing Woman".
Compare and Contrast
The Indus Civilization is very similar to the modern society today. Some things they have in common are the social class ratings. They both categorize the wealthy and the poor. Another thing they have in common today are the drainage systems; both societies have road side drainage systems, underground sewage and indoor plumbing systems. They are different because the technology is different, it is more advanced. Today you can sharpen a knife with a machine rather than use a stone; you can take a plane or a car to go anywhere. Another thing that make these two society similar are the facts that they do the same things to have fun. People today still paint, carve monuments, make pots, sculpt sculptures and figurines, go swimming at the public swimming pool and make music.
Me and My Civilization
Overall I think that the Indus Civilization is a very beautiful and rich place and time period however I would not like to live during that time. Being a child would've been hard; especially being a girl. They had to do all the chores around the house with the mother, while the boys play around. They could not talk back or refuse to do what their father say. Like modern society today woman are still treated inferior to men; they still have no say in anything they do. They are behind their husbands on everything and must do whatever their husband say or they have the right to commit any punishment to her. Although females didn't obtain any power back then modern society gives their females some power today. It would've been a very good thing to grow up and later be found as the population who discovered drainage systems and two story buildings. Being known as the people who discovered some of the greatest things in history would be a dream come true but I would rather grow up and live like how I do now.