Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Possible causes of the Decline of Harappan Civilisation.

  1. #1

    Possible causes of the Decline of Harappan Civilisation.

    One of the oldest flourishing civilisations of the world known as Indus Valley Civilisation/ Harappan Civilisation of Ancient India which was unearthed in 1921, has opened the interest of researchers as how did it decline but no unanimity has so far been arrived at between the scholars. The purpose of the thread is to seek views of the scholars, who have knowledge about the decline/ collapse/ disappearance/ destruction or as some say continuity of it so as to understand the phenomenon in better way.

    Welcome your views.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  2. #2
    Decline of Harappan Culture
    The decline of Harappan culture is difficult to explain. During its late phase between 2000 and 1700 BC 'The Indus Valley Civilization as a distinct entity gradually ceased to exist'. Historians have different opinions regarding the causes of the decay and disappearance of the Harappan culture. Various causes have been ascribed for its weakening and then decay: Increase in rainfall, earthquake, decrease in fertility of soil, floods, Aryan invasion, disease etc.

    Mortimer Wheeler pointed out that the Harappan culture was destroyed by the Aryans. The Aryans were more skilled at warfare and were powerful than the Harappans. In the last phase of Mohenjodaro, men and women and children were massacred in the streets and houses. But there is very little evidence on this opinion.
    Sir John Marshal, Lambrick and E.J.H Mackay suggest that the decline of the Harappan civilization was mainly due to the vagaries of the Indus River. But this theory is partly true. Some of the evidence of the devastation by floods has been found at Mohenjodaro and Lothal but there is no such evidence in respect of other sites like Kalibangan.

    Some historians suggest that the first urban civilization came to an end around 1700 BC because its numerous small settlements grew beyond their natural limits leading to the mismanagement of natural resources. Although the theory of ecological factors for the decline of the Harappan civilization is latest yet it does not give us complete answer. Historians are of the view that the decline of the Indus Civilization was not the result of a single event; it was a slow decline and a result of combination of factors.
    [Source: http://www.historytuition.com/indus_...n_culture.html ]

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to DrRajpalSingh For This Useful Post:

    ranvirsingh4 (August 27th, 2013), ravinderjeet (August 26th, 2013)

  4. #3
    The 'decline' of Harappan civilisation [earlier called IVC] encomapasses in it, the decline of flourishing urban civilisation with its attendant features like well laid out towns, their business and trade both internal and external and also their way of life.

    However this does not mean that entire culture and the people vanished on the stroke of a specific hour. Rather the process was gradual phenomenon and it took centuries of years. Some traits of the life and manners even continued after the decline of major urban centres representing this culture and civilisation and even today some of the features of Harappan civilisation could be identified in Indian culture.

    Of course, the Aryan, if you agree that they indeed came from outside, had their pastoral, agricultural traits of cultural life when the 'decline' of Harappan civilisation set in.


    The reasons of this decline were varied and have/had been debated for long.

    The discussion on the earlier thread, link:

    http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?36296-Possible-causes-of-the-Decline-of-Harappan-Civilisation&p=345274#post345274


    may be read before going into finer aspects of the issue raised under this thread.

    Thanking you.
    Last edited by DrRajpalSingh; August 26th, 2013 at 03:54 PM.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to DrRajpalSingh For This Useful Post:

    ranvirsingh4 (August 27th, 2013)

  6. #4
    There are several well researched articles and views on the issue of the decline of the Harappan Civilisation. To read some of them, kindly link :

    http://www.mohenjodaro.net/indusdecline.html

    http://www.mohenjodaro.net/indusdecline.html

    Thanks and regards
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  7. #5
    Regarding climatic changes and their impact and role in the decline of old civilisations like Harappan Civilisation kindly use link to study :

    http://news.discovery.com/history/an...nge-120529.htm

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  8. #6
    The following link further tells us something interesting on the issue. Link, read and draw your own conclusions:

    http://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/history/possible-reasons-for-the-decline-of-the-harappan-civilization


    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  9. #7
    To understand the decline of ancient Mohenjodaro in Modern Pakistan, the first site in the series of townships in the Harappan civilisation, sighted in 1921, kindly link:

    http://www.mohenjodaro.net/indusdecline.html

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  10. #8
    राजपाल जी आपके दिए लिंक तो मेने अब पढ़े नहीं ,पर फुर्सत के समय जरूर पढूंगा । मेरा मानना ये हे की जो ,भवन निर्माण कला , बावली (जोहड़ या पानी के श्रोत ),नगर विन्यास , खेती करने के तरीके ,सब के सब आज भी जट्टों के गाँव में पाए जाते हैं । इसीलिए सिन्धु घाटी के लोग नष्ट नहीं हुए ,वे या तो आर्यों की ही एक शाखा थे ,जो कालान्तर में उनके साथ मिश्रित ,और स्थ्नान्त्रित हो गए । सिन्धु घटी की सभ्यता आज भी हमारे गाँव में जीवित हे ।
    :rockwhen you found a key to success,some ideot change the lock,*******BREAK THE DOOR.
    हक़ मांगने से नहीं मिलता , छिना जाता हे |
    अहिंसा कमजोरों का हथियार हे |
    पगड़ी संभाल जट्टा |
    मौत नु आंगालियाँ पे नचांदे , ते आपां जाट कुहांदे |

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ravinderjeet For This Useful Post:

    DrRajpalSingh (August 26th, 2013), ranvirsingh4 (August 27th, 2013)

  12. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by ravinderjeet View Post
    राजपाल जी आपके दिए लिंक तो मेने अब पढ़े नहीं ,पर फुर्सत के समय जरूर पढूंगा । मेरा मानना ये हे की जो ,भवन निर्माण कला , बावली (जोहड़ या पानी के श्रोत ),नगर विन्यास , खेती करने के तरीके ,सब के सब आज भी जट्टों के गाँव में पाए जाते हैं । इसीलिए सिन्धु घाटी के लोग नष्ट नहीं हुए ,वे या तो आर्यों की ही एक शाखा थे ,जो कालान्तर में उनके साथ मिश्रित ,और स्थ्नान्त्रित हो गए । सिन्धु घटी की सभ्यता आज भी हमारे गाँव में जीवित हे ।
    Good !

    I have never said that they were wiped out or vanished altogether!

    Rather, I subscribe to the view that around 1900 BCE the well flourishing urban civilisation started to fade due to a number of causes and rural habitations came into existence which later on developed into cities during the course of Second Urbanisation in the 1st millenium BCE in India.

    However, the traces of the impact of the Indus civilisation are discernible on the present culture and civilisation of India of even today.

    Who these people were who gave birth to such splendid urban commercial civilisation in those days is another important aspect which may be dealt with in the already existing thread in the sub forum Jat History:

    http://www.jatland.com/forums/showth...aracter-or-not

    Thanks.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to DrRajpalSingh For This Useful Post:

    ranvirsingh4 (August 27th, 2013)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •