1) Why the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) is central
The Indus Valley Civilization (also called Harappan Civilization) is South Asia’s earliest known urban civilization, notable for:
- large planned cities
- craft specialization and standardized production
- extensive internal and external trade
- distinctive seals and iconography
- an undeciphered script
- sophisticated water and sanitation systems
For CUET PG History, the IVC is a high-frequency area. Questions often focus on:
- chronology and phases (Early/ Mature/ Late Harappan)
- major sites and unique features
- urban planning, drainage, architecture
- economy: agriculture + crafts + trade
- political organization debates (state vs heterarchy; nature of authority)
- religion/ideology debates (evidence-based)
- decline theories and regional transformations
2) Terminology and geographical spread
“Harappan” vs “Indus”
- “Harappan” is used because Harappa was among the first major sites excavated/identified.
- The civilization extends beyond the Indus basin into:
- Punjab and Sindh core areas
- Gujarat (e.g., coastal and inland settlements)
- parts of Rajasthan and Haryana
- western Uttar Pradesh fringes in some classifications
Settlement hierarchy
IVC shows a hierarchy:
- major urban centers (e.g., Mohenjo-daro, Harappa)
- secondary towns
- villages and specialized production sites This hierarchy suggests complex coordination of production, storage, and distribution.
3) Chronology and phases (conceptual)
A common framework:
- Early Harappan: growth of regional cultures, increasing complexity
- Mature Harappan: urban peak—standardization, city planning, extensive trade
- Late Harappan: deurbanization, regionalization, transformations
Exam note: Focus on what changes across phases:
- Early → Mature: standardization and urban forms expand
- Mature → Late: urban features weaken, regional pottery styles increase, long-distance trade declines
4) Urban planning and architecture
The city layout
Many major sites show:
- a Citadel (elevated area, often interpreted as administrative/ritual zone)
- a Lower Town (residential and craft areas)
Key planning features:
- grid-pattern streets in several cities
- standardized baked brick ratios (in many contexts)
- organized drainage: covered drains, soak pits, inspection holes
- wells and bathing facilities (especially at Mohenjo-daro)
Public structures (high-yield)
- Great Bath (Mohenjo-daro): often linked to ritual bathing; interpretation cautious but central in textbooks.
- Granaries/warehouse-like structures: debated; evidence of storage and redistribution is strong but exact function sometimes contested.
- Assembly/large halls: interpreted as public/community spaces.