Indian History
Ancient India
1. Harappan/Indus Civilization (2500 BC-1750 BC)
- The oldest name—Indus Civilization.
- According to archaeological tradition, the most appropriate name—Harappan Civilization
(Harappa—the first discovered site).
- According to geographical point of view, the most suitable name—Indus-Saraswati
Civilization (the largest concentration of settlement along the Indus-Saraswati river valley;
80% settlement along the Saraswati).
- The most accepted period—2500 BC–1750 BC (by Carbon-14 dating).
- John Marshall was the first scholar to use the term 'Indus Civilization'.
- The Indus Civilization belongs to Proto-Historic Period (Chalcolithic Age/ Bronze Age).
- The Indus Civilization was spread over Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Western U.P., and Northern Maharashtra.
- Scholars generally believe that Harappa-Ghaggar-Mohenjodaro axis represents the
heartland of the Indus Civilization.
- The Northern-most site of Indus Civilization—Ropar (Sutlej)/Punjab (Earlier); Manda
(Chenab)/Jammu-Kashmir (Now).
- The Southern-most site of Indus Civilization—Bhagatrav (Kim)/Gujarat (Earlier);
Daimabad (Pravara)/Maharashtra (Now).
- The Eastern-most site of Indus Civilization—Alamgirpur (Hindon)/Uttar Pradesh.
- The Western-most site of Indus Civilization—Sutkagendor (Dashk)/Makran Coast
(Pakistan-Iran Border).
- Capital Cities—Harappa, Mohenjodaro
- Port Cities—Lothal, Sutkagendor, Allahdino, Balakot, Kuntasi
Site River District State / Province Country /
Excavators
Harappa Ravi Sahiwal Punjab Pakistan / Daya
Ram Sahni
(1921), Madho
Swaroop Vatsa
(1926),
Wheeler (1946)
Mohenjodaro Indus Larkana Sindh Pakistan /
(Nakhlistan i.e. Rakhal Das
Oasis of Sindh) Bannerji
(1922), Mackay
(1927),
Wheeler (1930)
Chanhudaro Indus Nawabshah Sindh Pakistan /
Mackay (1925),
N.G. Mazumdar
(1931)
Lothal Bhogava Ahmedabad Gujarat India / S.R. Rao
(1954)
Kalibanga (i.e. Ghaggar Hanumangarh Rajasthan India /
the bangles of Amaland Ghosh
black colour) (1951), B.V. Lal
and B.K. Thapar
(1961)
Banawali Ghaggar Fatehabad Haryana India / R.S.
Bisht (1973)
Dholavira Luni Kutch Gujarat India / J.P. Joshi
(1967-68)
