Decline of harappan civilization

Understanding the causes behind the decline of the Harappan Civilization through crisp and simple points.

1. Decline of The Harappan Civilization Debajit Ghosh 25.10.2017

2. Introduction: Different names such as Harappan Civilization, Indus- Sarasvati Civilization. First urban culture in South Asia. Came to light by excavations at Harappa & Mohenjodaro in 1920-21 by Daya Ram Sahani & R.D.Banerjee respectively. Formal announcement in 1924 by Sir John Marshall. Can be defined as a long & complex cultural process consisting of three sub-phases such as Early Harappan , Mature Harappan and Late Harappan .

3. Geographical extension: East: Hulas, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. West: Makran coast, Balochistan Provience , Pakistan. North: Manda , Southern Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India and Rehman Dheri , Pakistan. South: Daimabad , Maharashtra. Till now, more than 1000 sites in India & Pakistan

4. The phase of Decline The phenomenon of Societal collapse. Deterioration phase of a civilization when it reaches its peak point. Urban decay. Decline of civic standards in its many settlements. The abandonment of settlements.

5. Finding The Reasons Behind The Decline Causes of decline were different in different regions. Several theories of different types of perspective. Contribution of scientific examinations in the post-independence period.

6. Aryan invasion theory Excessive flood activity Climatic changes (Onset of aridity) Decline of trade Health issues of residents Changes in Sarasvati valley Changing agricultural regimes Exploitation of natural resources. Changes in coastline Contribution of outsiders

7. Aryan Invasion Theory First put forward by Ramaprasad Chandra 1926. Elaborated by Mortimer Wheeler in 1947. References in the Rig Veda. Mohenjo-Daro massacre. This hypothesis later proved to be mythical. No reason was found which could support this.

8. Excessive Flood Activity Recurrent floods of Indus, proposed by Sir John Marshall in 1931. Increasing of rainfall in some areas due to environmental changes. Eruptive mud from tectonic activity occasionally dammed the Indus: Short-lived but massive flooding. Indus changed its channels many times and changed its course sometimes. Regular hazard of life.

9. Climatic changes (Onset of aridity) Drastic climatic change. Late third millennium B.C.E witnessed a global increase in aridity. Decreasing the reliability of monsoon in Indus region. Gurdip Singh’s pioneering work on pollen analysis from Rajasthan lakes in 1971. Indicates a wet phase in the third millennium B.C.E.

10. Decline of Trade Importance of overseas trade. The disruption of direct trade with Sumerian Civilization around 2000 BCE. Great impact on Harappan Civilization. Economic collapse in Sumer by the mid eighteenth century BCE.

11. Health Issues of Residents Urban decay at Mohenjo-Daro. Poor health was one of the reasons. Many of the ‘Mohenjo-Daro massacre’ victims had suffered from Malaria. Mohenjo-Daro’s residents may also have suffered from Cholera.

12. The Sarasvati Valley Contribution of changes in ancient Sarasvati Valley in early second millennium BCE. Sarasvati : A major river system. Changing course of Yamuna left serous impact on Drishadvati , a major tributary of Saravati in early second millennium BCE. Changing course of Sutlej also left serious impact. Massive depopulation in the Sarasvati valley.

13. Changing Agricultural Regimes Mature Harappan period witnessed the cultivation of staple crops such as barley, wheat, many pulses etc. Saurashtra was a low yielding area where native millets were main crops. Early second millennium BCE: Impact of the Introduction of African millets such as pearl millets, finger millets etc. Agricultural revolution in Saurashtra . Impact on Harappan internal distribution system.

14. Exploitation of Natural Resources Huge number of baked bricks were used in Harappan settlements. The source of fuel would have came from massive deforestation. Although recent investigations have shown different picture. Scrubby vegetation of the Indus valley as source of fuel. Huge quantity of fuel used in metal working, pottery making & faience industry. Limited evidence of environmental degradation in Gujarat area.

15. Changes in Coastline Late third millennium BCE: sea level began falling in Makran coast. Saurashtra : Lothal & Kuntasi . Changes in the Gujarat coastline : Affected by deposition of enormous volumes of silt by the Indus & other rivers. Affected many activities such as shipping. Forces closure of some established sea lanes.

16. Contribution of Outsiders Possibility of the contribution of overland raiders from BMAC (Bactria- Margiana Archaeological Complex) in early second millennium BCE. Occurrence of BMAC cultural materials in different Harappan sites. Other evidences from Mohenjo-Daro & Balochistan area.

17. Decline at A Glimpse Not a result of one reason. Result of multiple reasons which varies from region to region. ‘Dark Age’ of ancient history in the second millenium BCE. A long process. Timing is around 1900 BCE when Harappan Civilization almost was reduced to a poor rural status.

18. Impact of Decline of The Harappan Civilization Many contributing factors: Shift to a concentration on Kharif cultivation. Serious impact on internal distribution network, particularly along the Indus region. The infrastructures of urban life had undermined. Diversification of agriculture. Emergence of Late Harappan Cultures ( with more local characteristics). Expansion of rural cultures.

19. Bibliography Dhavalikar , M.K., Indian Protohistory . Singh Upindar , A History of Ancient and Early Medival India. Mckintosh Jane, The Ancient Indus Valley

20. Thank You Any Questions?