Harappan Civilisation Revision Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on the Harappan civilization.

Mature Harappa culture

2600 BCE to 1900 BCE, a key period of the Harappan civilization.

Harappan civilization boundaries

Northern boundary - Manda, Southern boundary - Daimabad, Eastern boundary - Alamgirpur, Western boundary - Sutkagendor.

Subsistence strategies of Harappans

Involved a wide range of plants and animal products, including hunting and agriculture.

Mohenjodaro

A planned urban city featuring a citadel and lower town with advanced drainage systems.

Craft production in Chanhudaro

A settlement devoted to bead-making, shell-cutting, and metal-working.

Harappan seals

Used for long distance communication and conveyed the identity of the sender; featured undeciphered script.

Burial practices in Harappan culture

Dead were generally laid in pits, sometimes with pottery and ornaments suggesting beliefs in an afterlife.

Decline of Harappan civilization

Decline was evidenced by the abandonment of sites, disappearance of seals, and changes in trade patterns.

Ancient Authority in Harappan society

Indications of complex decision-making; debate exists regarding the presence or absence of rulers.

Discovery of Harappan civilization

Officially announced in 1924 by John Marshall, revealing its contemporaneity with Mesopotamia.

Indications of social differences in Harappan burials

Some graves contained luxuries or ornaments, indicating social stratification or differentiation.

Transportation means in Harappan society

Utilized terracotta toy models of bullock carts for transporting goods across land routes.

Archaeological challenges

The understanding of Harappan life relies more on material evidence than the undeciphered script.