Evolution

Questions about the adaptation and gradual progression over time or evolution of culture in the ancient Indus Valley civilization.

15. How peaceful was Harappan Civilization?

Iravatham Mahadevan
Jane McIntosh
Richard H. Meadow
Shereen Ratnagar

Harappan Civilisation is often characterised (for example by the Director of the British Museum on a Radio 4 series) or even idealised as peaceful and without warfare or conquest, (in comparison with all other First Civilisations) with its cities linked across vast regions and unified (variously) by trade and/or religion. Rulers have even been said to be priests or a theocracy. These interpretations are often presented as facts in books or articles for general consumption.

50. Was there peace and egalitarianism in the ancient Indus?

Jane McIntosh

Having toured the ruins of the Egyptian civilization in Cairo, Mayan in Guatemala/Mexico, Inca in Peru, what intrigues me about the Indus Valley civilization is that it was prosperous, peace loving AND egalitarian. I don't believe there is other precidence of these elements in unison being maintained over millenia. Clearly this is something worth researching to find clues of how to create sustainability in today's world.

35. Being the largest bronze age civilization, in what extent did the IVC impose their customs and culture on neighbouring cultures such as the ancient Middle East?

Rita P. Wright

Or is there any indication of war between these populations?

Rita Wright

There are Mesopotamian texts from the Akkadian period (2350 – 2200 BC) that speak about battles in which the people of Meluhha were involved. This seems kind of far fetched since the battles took place in what today is eastern Iran. There is very little evidence for warfare in the Indus, as you probably know, but still they appear to have thought they were engaged in battles with the Indus or for political reasons they found it useful to say so.