Chapter - 03 IN THE EARLIEST CITIES

 

Chapter - 03 IN THE EARLIEST CITIES

 

IN THE EARLIEST CITIES VIDEO LINK

NOTES

Man’s lifestyle changed significantly after he learnt the art of using metals.

Copper was the first metal to be used by man. It was followed by bronze which was made by mixing tin and copper.

The earliest cities in the Indian subcontinent emerged around 4,700 years in the region drained by Indus and its tributaries in the North-West.

The Story of Harappa:

(i) British discovered a mound while building Railways.

(ii) Archaeologists were informed.

(iii) Harappa was the first city to be discovered, it came to be known as Harappan Civilisation.

Architectural Features:

(i) Harappan cities were well-planned.

(ii) All houses were build of burnt bricks and were of good quality.These good quality bricks were used by the Britishers to build railway lines.

(iii) The most impressing construction of Indus valley was the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro. It was lined with bricks,coated with plaster and made water tight with a layer of natural tar.

(iv) The Harappan settlements had citadels.The part to the west was smaller ,but higher,and the other one was the part to the east that was larger but lower called the lower town. It was in citadels that structures were built for special public purposes.

(v) The largest building excavated at Harappa was the Great Granary.

(vi) One or two storey high houses with rooms were built around a courtyard.Most houses had a separate bathing area,and some had wells to supply water.

(vii) The most striking feature of Harappa was the well-planned drainage system.The drains were covered and the inspection holes were provided at intervals to clean them.The drains were laid out in straight lines,and also each drain had a gentle slope so that water could flow through it.

Life of the Harappa People:

(i) A Harappan city was a very busy place.There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city.These were probably rulers.

(i) The Harappan people used common food items like wheat and barley. Animal bones found at Harappa include sheep, goat, pig, etc.

(ii) Pots of fine clay were made.

(iii) Many kilns for baking bricks have been discovered.

(iv) There were scribes,people who knew how to write,who helped prepare the seals,however seals were the most puzzling.