The trading relations of Harappa with other countries
Harappa had good relations with other countries especially
Iran and Iraq in terms of trading. The discovery of the Harappan stamps from
the places of Iraq (UR) and (Kish) are open evidences. Because Balochistan was
located between these civilizations, so that it has a big role in
making the trading connections. The trading roads from Harappa were connected
to Northern Iran by land and by sea they were connected to Mohenjo-Daro and
Trading Ships full of wealth, crossed Arabian Sea and then reached to Southern
Iran and Iraq and then stayed on the ports of Dajla (River) and Euphrates and
then returned.
.jpg)
These people were peaceful. We don’t find any evidences of
wars, murders from the stamps, statues and pots. They didn’t even have any
army, weapons etc. not even swords and shield were found from here.
The Population was dependent on three
groups
First Class:
Religious leaders and traders were involved in politics and
were elite class people. They were given special protocols according to which
the historians say that these both groups were those who were in power. American
archeologist Dr. Mark Canoir declared Harappa Civilization a “State Level
Society”.
Second Class:
Industrial people and people involved in agriculture like
farmers.
Third Class:
Slaves, poor people, servants and laborers were people of
this class.
Method of Burial
They used to bury people in three ways.
1.
Complete burial: A person was buried in a normal grave.
2.
Part of burial: One was left in a forest in open-air and when the animals
ate them and their bones were left their bones were packed and buried in mud
pots usually the full bodies of children were buried in pots. With the bodies
they put pots or utensils and jewelries.
B Burying ashes: Some people burned the bodies on the corners of rivers and then flow them into the river. This is the reason that there is no grave yard found in Mohenjo-Daro, but the people of Harappa usually put the ashes into any pot and then buried it.
Religious Point of Views
Those people had different point of views and beliefs. From there the “Mother Goddess Figurines” statues were found a lot. According to experts, they were Statue worshippers and that the statuses of women was higher as compared to men.
This is the reason that their traditions when a kid was born, the grains were taken home all these beliefs revolved around Mother Goddess statues but with this Tree worshipping, Soul Worshipping, Water Worshipping were famous. They used to believe and do black magic.
“So-called” Religious leaders who knew how to magic were cons as the most dominant and power people of Harappa. Some people became the believers of God after the preaching’s of Prophets. Who believed in God and became like a brightness in the darkness of disbelieving but gradually they forgot the teachings. Disbelieving and torturing increased too much that God became angry with them and in conclusion God set down the punishment on them and destruction and Harappa began to fall and at last they were ended.
The reasons of fall
Experts think that there are many reasons of the fall of Harappa.
1. Rains and food, the deforestation of forests and increasing population.
2. The change of the paths of rivers.
3. Diseases and seasonal impacts.
4. The attacks of Aryans.
Some researchers think that the people of Harappa were living on the corners of the river and the dependency of the important life things was also on those rivers those days so that when the rivers changed their paths, their grains dried and those people were forced to migrate. Like this the Harappa was distributed, in 1750 BCE or around that.
Harappa
Why is it called Harappa?
Harappa is included in those ancient cities which have 5000 years old civilizations in their chests. The name of Harappa in the holy book “Rig Veda” of Aryans is “Hari Yupia”. The word to word meaning of Hari Yupia is “Golden sacrificed place”. In Rig Veda there are also other names of different cities which were attacked by Aryans and for the destruction of which they prayed to their warrior god “Indra”. One of the cities was Hari Yupia which was once located at the corners of River Ravi around 5000 years before. This name gradually turned into Harappa. And till now this name is used. in the Punjabi language flood is known as “Had”, so like this one meaning of Harappa is flooded area or destructed area. River Ravi in ancient times used to flow near the present caves but now it has changed its way and is now flowing around 12 kilometers far.
It’s possible that the change of its path made Harappa vanish. Maybe the destruction caused by harr (flood in Punjabi) is the reason for the name “Harappa” being famous and common today. Signs of floods are found here but it’s also possible that the happy living civilization was destroyed and ended by a disease, earthquake or anything from the sky. It is an old tradition that the name of the Harappan king was “King Harpal”. It is possible that his ruined face of harpal was Harappa and this name gradually became common. Well summarized, it is very difficult to find out the reason of this name.
Location
The ruins of Harappa are present at the south-west direction from Sahiwal around 27 kilometers far and at the direction of north from Harappa railway station around 6 kilometers far at a road Sher Shah Suri. The distance of Harappa from Lahore is around 185 kilometers. The total area of the ruins present in west city is around 125 acres. In which around the population of people is around above 200,000. According to some experts the population of Harappa is around 40 to 50,000 people. The area of the ruins of Harappa is around 76 acres whereas the area of the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro is around 83 kilometers. These size of the mounds are around 40 to 50 feet high. The biggest mound is present 1450 foot north-south and is around 60 foot high from the land. Stormy rains, with the passage of time, the sand thieves, and the signs of Harappa are pretty much vanished. Now houses, streets, roads, and the way of water distribution are just left as signs therefore estimates are made by looking to those signs that the city was divided into two parts.
1. Upper part (mound AB):
It was a city whose’ walls were very tall and had a main city gate which was in the direction of west. Here almost people of elite class and the traders used to live.
2. Lower part of city:
Lower part of city police station is based on mound and mound (E) and is directed to east. In its south-east a door of city is discovered recently. In the direction of this mound AB, a graveyard (R-37) and graveyard (H), (G) and in north is mound (F). The platforms of laborers, their residence and go downs are in north-west direction.
Trade with Mesopotamia
The Harappan civilization maintained
significant trade relations with Mesopotamia, particularly during the Akkadian
and Ur III periods. Mesopotamian records refer to a land called
"Meluhha," widely believed to denote the Indus Valley region. Archaeological findings in Mesopotamia, such as etched carnelian
beads, indicate the presence of Indus goods. These
beads, discovered in the Royal Cemetery of Ur, date back to 2600–2450 BCE and
showcase the Harappans' advanced craftsmanship. Additionally,
Indus seals bearing Harappan script have been unearthed in Mesopotamian cities
like Ur, Babylon, and Kish, suggesting direct or intermediary trade
connections. Goods exchanged included timber,
carnelian, ivory, and possibly cotton textiles. The
presence of Meluhhan interpreters and traders in Mesopotamia further
underscores the depth of these commercial ties.
Maritime
Trade with the Oman Peninsula
Beyond overland routes, the Harappans
engaged in maritime trade, notably with the Oman Peninsula, referred to as
"Magan" in ancient texts. Archaeological evidence from coastal
settlements in Oman reveals Indus-origin artifacts, including carnelian beads,
ivory objects, and metal tools. Large storage jars
and painted vessels imported from the Indus Valley have been found, indicating
the transportation of foodstuffs or liquids. Moreover,
trade tools such as Indus-type stamp seals and cubical weights have been
discovered, suggesting standardized trade practices. In return, Oman supplied copper ingots, seashells, and possibly
frankincense to the Indus Valley.
Trade
with Central Asia and Iran
The Harappan civilization also
established trade links with regions in Central Asia and Iran. Artifacts such
as lapis lazuli, sourced from Badakhshan in northeastern Afghanistan, have been
found in Indus sites, indicating long-distance trade. These exchanges facilitated the procurement of precious stones
and metals, enriching the material culture of the Indus Valley. Additionally, the movement of goods through these regions likely
contributed to cultural interactions and the dissemination of technological
innovations.