History Chapter 03: In the Earliest Cities

About eighty years ago, archaeologists found the site, and realised that this was one of the oldest cities in the subcontinent. As this was the first city to be discovered, all other sites from where similar buildings (and other things) were found were described as Harappan. These cities developed about 4700 years ago.

Many of these cities were divided into two or more parts. Usually, the part to the west was smaller but higher. Archaeologists describe this as the citadel. Generally, the part to the east was larger but lower. This is called the lower town.

Generally, houses were either one or two storeys high, with rooms built around a courtyard. Most houses had a separate bathing area, and some had wells to supply water.

Most of the things that have been found by archaeologists are made of stone, shell and metal, including copper, bronze, gold and silver. The Harappans also made seals out of stone.

While many people lived in the cities, others living in the countryside grew crops and reared animals. A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.

Around 3900 years ago we find the beginning of a major change. People stopped living in many of the cities. Writing, seals and weights were no longer used. New cities emerged about 1400 years later.