THE BEGINNING AND THE MYSTERIOUS END
A country is defined by its people; their history, culture and knowledge. The people are nurtured by 'Civilization' and vice-versa. I will talk about one of the oldest civilizations (probably the oldest) of the world that was present in the Indian sub-continent- Indus Valley Civilization. How a complex society like this vanished off the map?
The Indus Valley Civilization was not limited to the Indus, although the name stuck ever since the townships of Harappa and Mohenjodaro on the Indus basin were discovered. There are other sites around north-west India & Pakistan where ruins and artefacts from that period have been found. The cities which have been excavated show a complex urban culture. The systems of public baths and an unbelievably modern drainage system (which is a serious problem in many developing countries today) have been well documented. This civilization even had long standing trade relations with Egypt and Sumer. At the site of Sumerian civilization, cuneiform tablets that mention 'Magan', 'Melukhkha' and 'Dilmun' have been excavated. Archaeologists believe that 'Melukhkha' is what the Indus Valley cities were called.
Their economy was based on produce brought into the city from outlying farms. A currency in the form of coins was used, irrigation channels with fascinating architecture were dug and products were imported or exported on ships. In short, they were practically a modern society. Excavated statues, some say, indicate that the people who lived in these cities had somewhat Negroid features.
And then suddenly the civilization ended around 1500 BC. Some say it was because of the arrival of nomadic barbarians from central Asia (better known as the Aryan migration theory) with weapons made of iron, the wonder-metal of that age. The Indus Valley people of the bronze age did not stand a chance. Other archaeologists, pointing at the layers of soil one on top of the other in these cities, say that the civilization ended because of a series of devastating floods and droughts. But no conclusion has been reached yet on how the Indian Valley Civilization ended, or what happened to the people.
There is another interesting theory. Some in India say that the Indus Valley people were the ancestors of the Dravidians who live in South India today, who were gradually pushed south by Aryan invaders. Those in the north who do not want it implied that their ancestors were invaders claim otherwise.
History and archaeology can be so confusing sometimes. But eventually, we hope that the answers will be found.
The Indus Valley Civilization was not limited to the Indus, although the name stuck ever since the townships of Harappa and Mohenjodaro on the Indus basin were discovered. There are other sites around north-west India & Pakistan where ruins and artefacts from that period have been found. The cities which have been excavated show a complex urban culture. The systems of public baths and an unbelievably modern drainage system (which is a serious problem in many developing countries today) have been well documented. This civilization even had long standing trade relations with Egypt and Sumer. At the site of Sumerian civilization, cuneiform tablets that mention 'Magan', 'Melukhkha' and 'Dilmun' have been excavated. Archaeologists believe that 'Melukhkha' is what the Indus Valley cities were called.
Their economy was based on produce brought into the city from outlying farms. A currency in the form of coins was used, irrigation channels with fascinating architecture were dug and products were imported or exported on ships. In short, they were practically a modern society. Excavated statues, some say, indicate that the people who lived in these cities had somewhat Negroid features.
And then suddenly the civilization ended around 1500 BC. Some say it was because of the arrival of nomadic barbarians from central Asia (better known as the Aryan migration theory) with weapons made of iron, the wonder-metal of that age. The Indus Valley people of the bronze age did not stand a chance. Other archaeologists, pointing at the layers of soil one on top of the other in these cities, say that the civilization ended because of a series of devastating floods and droughts. But no conclusion has been reached yet on how the Indian Valley Civilization ended, or what happened to the people.
There is another interesting theory. Some in India say that the Indus Valley people were the ancestors of the Dravidians who live in South India today, who were gradually pushed south by Aryan invaders. Those in the north who do not want it implied that their ancestors were invaders claim otherwise.
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| Typical Dravidian people |
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