Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization:

Culture of Striking Characteristics and Cultural Importance

When confronted with the news that an ancient civilization has accomplished feats similar to their greatest industrial achievements, the architects of modern civilizations may balk, stand in awe of the human race, or ponder how they may be seen through the eyes of history. It is likely that one of these sentiments characterized the British people's reactions when they found signs of an ancient civilization a then-Indian desert (G. And Smiley, 2005: 2). Excavated by the British and then the Indians, the Indus Valley Civilization, or the Harappan Culture, can be identified by a variety of striking characteristics. Not last among them was the Indus Valley Civilization's technological advancement. For example, the ancient civilization displayed their advancement in the area of emergency management and flood control with their irrigation system crafted out of clay (G. And Smiley, 2005: 2). This irrigation system also catered to the population's indoor plumbing and sewer facilities. Other than simply practicing emergency management and making toilets possible, planning was evident in nearly every aspect of Indus Valley Civilization society. For instance, the layout of the city seemed to follow extensive planning, as did the layout of the homes (G. And Smiley, 2005:2).

While these characteristics are certainly striking, in that the Indus Valley Civilization was able to accomplish such a high degree of socio-political achievements, they pale in comparison to the Indus Valley Civilization's ability to conduct foreign policy. In fact, G. And Smiley (2005) suggest that the Harappan Culture never or seldom went to war (3). Thus, the culture was not only benefiting from excellent city planning and technological developments, but they also embodied a peace of which many modern nations would be proud. Furthermore, Lawler (2008) writes that some information gathered about the Indus Valley Civilization, particularly hieroglyphics or symbols, suggests that the society was multilingual, and the lack of sculpture and other finery argue for the absence of a dominant class (2026). Furthermore, Lawler (2008) argues that some see these symbols as writing, which would suggest an even more impressive characteristic of the society -- written language, while others call them purely religious symbols. Thus, the most striking characteristics of the Indus Valley Civilization seem to be their high degree of functioning technologically and socially, in addition to their peaceful nature.

These characteristics not only set the Indus Valley Civilization apart as a striking ancient community, but they also suggest that the Harappan Culture is just as important as the other culture of Mesopotamia, those that have traditionally dominated the history books. For instance, he Indus Valley Civilization is just as significant as these other cultures because of its important implications for today's modern civilizations. As already discussed, the Indus Valley Civilization managed to live peacefully while the other Mesopotamian cultures were entrenched in war, although Cork (2005) questions this based on the presence of weapons in the excavation. Even with the presence of weapons, however, the culture is generally thought to be more peaceful than that of its counterparts. Additionally, that the culture exhibited a cosmopolitan multiculturalism (Cork, 2005: 411) makes it comparable to the ideal model of today's world. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization managed to survive, for a time, a climate change similar to that which is currently affecting the modern world (Lawler, 2007: 979). In addition to facing problems similar to those faced in today's modern civilizations, the Harappan Culture virtually mimicked the modern culture of the geographic area. This suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization was just as advanced as the other Mesopotamian cultures, not just in terms of technology, government, and social institutions, but also in terms of social development. Kenoyer (2003: 68) writes that the modern day festivals he observed while digging in the Indus Valley seemed very similar to the evidence he was uncovering, suggesting similarities between the two cultures. While the people of the Indus Valley Civilization did not create massive ziggurats or pyramids filled with treasures or litter their communities with impressive sculptures like the Egyptians and the Sumerians did, their contributions to history are just as significant, if different. The evidence of social, economic, and political stability in the Indus Valley Civilization, in addition to the quality of items crafted for export (Keynoyer, 2003: 69), may suggest that the civilization was not have been as concerned with finery or burial rituals. Instead, their principal concern of social, political, and economic structure may suggest they were even more advanced than their contemporaries. Evidence from Harappa, the largest city Indus Valley Civilization city, can support this theory. At one point, the city was one of the most wealthy political, cultural, and economic centers in the entire Indus Valley, consisting of traders from both the surrounding nations and far away lands (Keynoyer, 2003: 69). Both because the city was important to the other nations of the Indus Valley, and because its characteristics suggest that it was one of the more advanced, scholars can contend that the civilization is just as important as the ancient Sumerian and Egyptian cultures. Furthermore, scholars have suggested that the Indus Valley Civilization shares many similarities with today's modern civilization. Thus, the Harappan culture is just as significant as its Mesopotamian neighbors, consisting of striking characteristics that speak to its sophistication and advancement.