History & Civics
Answer
The location of the Indus Valley played a crucial role in facilitating its trade, both overland and via the sea.
- Proximity to Key Rivers: The Indus River and its tributaries, such as the Sarasvati, provided an ideal transportation route for moving goods inland.
- Access to the Arabian Sea: The coastal locations, particularly at sites like Lothal, gave the Harappans access to the Arabian Sea, allowing for maritime trade. The river systems connected directly to ports, facilitating sea trade with regions like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia.
- Strategic Land Routes: The valley's position in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent made it an ideal crossroads for trade between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, as well as West Asia.
Related Questions
The Harappan Civilisation contributed greatly to art and craft. Discuss examples like the "Dancing Girl" statue and the painted pot from Lothal. How do these show their artistic skills and craftsmanship?
Our knowledge of the Harappan Civilisation is based on excavations carried out in North-Western India. Explain the evidence discovered with regard to the following points:
(a) The extent of this civilisation
(b) Commercial relations
(c) Buildings
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
"Among the painted designs, conventionalised vegetable patterns are common, and the elaborate geometric designs of the painted pottery of Baluchistan give way to simpler motifs, such as intersecting circles or a scale pattern. Birds, animals, fish, and more interesting scenes are comparatively rare."
(Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/lndus-civi/ization/Craft-technology-and-artifacts)
(a) Describe the significance of pottery in Harappan culture.
(b) How do the designs on Harappan pottery provide insights into their aesthetic sense and daily life?
Evaluate the significance of the Great Bath in Mohenjodaro as a reflection of Harappan engineering skills and its possible religious or social implications.