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Economic condition in Harappan period

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The area was fertile due to the annual inundation in the Indus valley . Agriculture flourished in the civilization. Walls made of burnt bricks for protection show that floods took place annually .

The Harappan culture zone fell in the low rainfall area and it is likely that irrigation was necessary for cultivation. Thus, the Harappan people would have stored water and used it when the plants were growing . Gabarbands or nalas have been found in Baluchistsan area .

The people of Harappan produce several crops. Wheat and barley was there main food.

The people of Harappan civilization pratised animal husbandry. They domesticated oxen, goat, etc. Cats and dog were regard as pet. Asses and camel were possibly used as beast of burden.

We find that the Harappan Civilization saw the growth new art and craft. These indicated the emergence of specialist or people who are trained to do one kind of work. For e.g.- sculpting, polishing beads, etc. Historian have been found many artefacts belonging to this periods.

Copper and bronze were used for making vessels, ornaments, weapons, etc. Great skills was employed, particular in making the bronze figurines of human being, animals, etc.

Harappan used ornaments too. They possessed the knowledge of gold. Beads, pendants, armlets, etc. And other personal ornaments of gold seem to have been quite common. Silver seems to have been first used by the Harappan people. It was relatively more common than gold. Shell was also extensively used for making ornaments.

Bead-making was another important craft and besides precious metals, stones like carnelian, steatite, agate, chalcedony, jasper, etc. , were used for making.

Besides metal- working, the Harappans practiced numerous other arts and crafts. Cloth-weaving industry and pottery seem to be significant.

The most notable artistic achievement of the people of Indus Valley Civilization was perhaps in their seal engraving, especially those of animals which looked very realistic. The best engraving are of bull, rhinoceros, tiger, etc. Specimens of this art are to be seen also in amulets, seals and other small objects.

The Harappan people made clay models called terracotta. These were made of fire-baked earthen clay and were used either as toys or objects of worshiped.

The raw material for various crafts and art was either locally available or imported or from other areas. Bronze was made by mixing tin with copper. Copper came from Khetri copper mines of Rajasthan and tin came from Afghanistan. Similar, gold may have been important from south India, especially Mysore and probably also from Afghanistan and Persia. Silver came from Afghanistan and Iran, while Lapis lazuli, a blue gem, came from Badakhshan (Afghanistan).

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