Farming
Like the civilizations before the Harappans, these ancient people farmed. Harappan people built an agricultural irrigation and fertility system based on the silt-bearing floods.A variety of crops were grown in this area. Indus Valley people grew wheat, barley, melons, oils, dates, field peas, cotton, and possibly rice. A large portion of every crop that farmers grew had to be paid into public grainaries.
Animals
Harappans also domesticated many different animals. These animals included dogs, cats, humped cattle, short-horns, buffalo, pigs, camels, horses, and possibly elephants.
Trade
Through trade, the civilization expanded its culture by coming into contact with far away lands.The long coastline and rivers provided consistent traffic by water.Archaeologists have found Harappan seals all over the continent! The photo below shows the Harappan seals/currency.The Indus people used copper and tin. Indus people had a trade link with Western Asia. It is evident from the discovery of the Indus seals in these areas. The Indus cities also traded with Sumeria. This is also proved by the discovery of numerous Indus seals in Sumeria. Besides ivory works, combs and pearls were exported to West Asia from the Indus cities. It is presumed that large number of merchants from the Indus cities lived in Sumeria.
Art and Decoration
The domestic articles used by the Indus people and the comfortable houses in which they lived show prosperity of the Indus people. It was a rich civilization. Rich people used gold instruments studded with jewels. The excellence in art and craft is proved by fine ornaments, stone and copper implements and the potters. Weaving was a principal occupation of the people. Apart from trade and industry, agriculture was the chief occupation of the Indus people. The Indus people used various types of weights and measures. A strict control was exercised to maintain proper standard of weight. The decimal system was also known to them.
Like the civilizations before the Harappans, these ancient people farmed. Harappan people built an agricultural irrigation and fertility system based on the silt-bearing floods.A variety of crops were grown in this area. Indus Valley people grew wheat, barley, melons, oils, dates, field peas, cotton, and possibly rice. A large portion of every crop that farmers grew had to be paid into public grainaries.
Animals
Harappans also domesticated many different animals. These animals included dogs, cats, humped cattle, short-horns, buffalo, pigs, camels, horses, and possibly elephants.
Trade
Through trade, the civilization expanded its culture by coming into contact with far away lands.The long coastline and rivers provided consistent traffic by water.Archaeologists have found Harappan seals all over the continent! The photo below shows the Harappan seals/currency.The Indus people used copper and tin. Indus people had a trade link with Western Asia. It is evident from the discovery of the Indus seals in these areas. The Indus cities also traded with Sumeria. This is also proved by the discovery of numerous Indus seals in Sumeria. Besides ivory works, combs and pearls were exported to West Asia from the Indus cities. It is presumed that large number of merchants from the Indus cities lived in Sumeria.
Art and Decoration
The domestic articles used by the Indus people and the comfortable houses in which they lived show prosperity of the Indus people. It was a rich civilization. Rich people used gold instruments studded with jewels. The excellence in art and craft is proved by fine ornaments, stone and copper implements and the potters. Weaving was a principal occupation of the people. Apart from trade and industry, agriculture was the chief occupation of the Indus people. The Indus people used various types of weights and measures. A strict control was exercised to maintain proper standard of weight. The decimal system was also known to them.