Origin of Indus valley civilization

Origin of Indus valley civilization

            The important views below regarding the origin of Indus Valley Civilization gives an idea how this great civilization was originated.

            The first view is that Indus Valley Civilization evolved under the influence of Sumerian Civilization. Prominent among those who hold this view is Mortimer Wheeler, the famous archaeologist who was the Director of Indian Archaeology after the second World War, Mr.Wheeler argued that urban element was common to both Sumerian Civilization and Indus Valley Civilization and Sumerian Civilization was older than Indus Valley Civilization and attained maturity earlier. Hence, Indus Valley Civilization might have evolved under the influence of the Sumerian Civilization. But, the similarity is limited to broad outline and in specific aspects like town planning, technology, religion, etc., we find no relationship between the two.

            The second view (held by Mohammad Rafiq) is that the Indus Valley Civilization directly evolved from the Baluchi cultures. Encompassing the Baluchi hills were four principal cultural groups, Zhob, Quetta, Nal and Kuli.

            The third view (held by A.K.Ghosh) is that the Indus Valley Civilization evolved from the cultures of Amri, Kot Diji and Kalibangan.

 Extent of Indus valley civilization

                        The continuous researches and excavations have revealed the ex tent of the Indus V alley Civilization. The term "Indus V alley Civilization" was used by John Marshall for the first time. But the later researches have shown that the ex tent was bigger than what was postulated by John Marshall. The centre of the civilization was in Sind and Punjab in undivided India, from this center the civilization spread towards all direction.

• In West the last ex tent is seaboard of South Baluchistan at the Suktagendor which can be called its western border.
• In east Alamagirpur in Uttar Pradesh (District Meerut) can be called its Eastern Border.
• In North it ex tended up to Manda in Jammu & Kashmir
• In south it ex tended up to Bhagv atrav in Narmada Estuary of Gujarat. Howev er, later at Diamabad (District Ahamed Nagar Maharashtra)
• The centre of the civilization was in Sind and Punjab in undivided India, from this center the civilization spread towards all direction.

                        Approximately 1400 settlements have been discovered so far. Most of these settlements are located on River banks. This civilization was largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, South Asia and China and covered an area of around 1 3 Lakh square kilometers. This area is triangular in shape and no other ancient civilization was extended to such a large area.

Various sites of Harappa culture

 Relation with other Civilizations

            The Indus valley civilization had a direct contact with many of the contemporary world civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Turkmenia, Oman and Bahrain. Harappan shells and carnelian beads have been found iin Mesopotamian royal burials; Mesopotamian clay tahlets refer to wood, gold and lapis lazuli coming from Meluha, the ancient Akkadian name for the Indus region. Harrapan Seals and other objects have been excavated in several Mesopotamian cities, such as Sura, Kish, Nippur and Ur. Evidence of a direct relationship between Harappan culture and Egypt in fragmentary and inconclusive. There are evidences of Harappan artfacts, such as etched carnelian beads and ivory, in Bahrain.