Monday 6 February 2012

Social classes of the Indus River Valley Civilization



The Indus River Valley Civilization existed from ca. 3300 to 1300 BC in modern day Pakistan and North West India south of the Himalayan Mountains, east of the Pakistan Highlands, west of the Thar Desert and, somewhat predictably, around the Indus River. The Indus River Valley Civilization is also known as Harappan civilization and one of its most significant elements concerning social classes is that there were little if none at all. For this reason among many, including a lack of complex religion, some historians do not refer to Harappan society as a civilization.

Because of this lack of social classes the City-States or country of the Indus River Valley Civilization (it is unknown whether it was unified or separate) is referred to as a Chiefdom as opposed to a kingdom or an empire.

Furthermore the egalitarian nature of the Indus River Valley Civilization is additional evidence to the absence of social classes; some historians even suggest that it is possible that all the grain was divided up equally to all citizens however this theory cannot be called a fact because the granaries that the grain was supposedly stored in might not have been granaries despite no other idea for their possible usage.

Additionally the houses of the Indus River Valley Civilization were approximately equal in size hinting that the occupants were equal in wealth as no one could afford larger houses or not be able to afford the average house.

Despite these almost facts the Indus River Valley Civilization did have a difference in social status when it came to gender and age; women had practically no rights and were not legalised to do anything without the direct permission of their husband, moreover males could do as they pleased with their wife and children without having to answer to any laws.

Although it is widely accepted that, when it came to social classes, there were none but there is a small amount of evidence to suggest that there may have been three main social groups albeit without a vast difference in wealth or prestige between them. The first group or the ruling class lived in the city centre and was made up of wealthy merchants and the high priests. They second group consisted of small time merchants, artisans and craftsmen. The labourers belonged to the third group, were quite poor and lived in small huts.

"Indus Civilization Introduction." The Ancient Indus Valley and the British Raj in India and Pakistan. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://www.harappa.com/har/indus-saraswati.html>

5 comments:

  1. Hi I was a little confused by some of your comments and hope you don't mind me seeking clarification.Why does the supposed lack of classes discount the Harappan society from being a civilization? surely civilization basically means living in cities? Likewise the lack of existence of a complex religion. What are the sources for the status of women?though there seems no evidence of classes how do you come to the possibility of three classes? and what makes you define them in a way which appears to mimic the class systems we are familiar with. Thank you for your help with this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can you describe the social classes and what they provide, a little more

      Delete
    2. Thank you this was very helpful for my homework and hopefully you can make more articles like this

      Delete
  2. thank you, this was also helpful with my homework.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Keep the digging to a minimum — one or two plants are plenty. Make a generous hole and have the kids fill it with outdoor potting soil, and put them in charge of watering as the plant roots in. Hold a contest to see who spots the first wildlife visitor. carmel valley homes for sale

    ReplyDelete