Urban Societies & Early Civilizations: Writing & Trade

Writing, Trade, and Religion There was a significant amount of trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus valley, according to archaeological research. Mesopotamian cuneiform inscriptions name the Indus valley Meluhha and record the importation of marine shells from the Indian Ocean and valuable stones like carnelian and lapis lazuli. Merchants traversed the Iranian plateau by land and the Indian Ocean by boat. The usage of seals in Indus Valley civilization is a clear indication of Mesopotamian Influence. The seals from the Indus valley had short inscriptions that most likely represented names, titles, or vocations, as well as images of humans and animals, including goats and bulls, which are thought to be totems representing families or lineages. Tradesmen verified the ownership of items by imprinting the seal on the pliable clay covering the opening of the jar or other container containing the items, or on clay labels fastened to grain sacks. In modern Mesopotamia, a similar custom was followed, in which the seal was fashioned like a cylinder that could be rolled to produce an impression. Seals from the Indus valley have been discovered by archaeologists at ancient Sumerian towns like Ur. Scholars have not yet deciphered the script that appears on many of the seals, which is exclusive to the inhabitants of the Indus valley civilization. It appears to be composed of phonograms, or signals for syllable sounds, there are around four hundred of these signs. Numerous conjectures suggest that the language encoded in this script might be connected to the Dravidian languages that are currently spoken in southern India. It could possibly resemble the writing created by the southwest Iranian Elamites. In contrast to Mesopotamia and Egypt, the valley has not produced any clay lablels or papyrus rolls that have been discovered by archaeologists. It is likely that commerce with Mesopotamia brought bronze technology to the Indus River region by the third millennium BCE. Since tin was needed to make bronze, traders from the Indus Valley may have even shipped the metal from Afghanistan to Mesopotamia. The inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization established their own distinct culture despite the very evident Mesopotamian influences and trade links. It's possible that their unique religion influenced India's subsequent cultures. For instance, clay figures said to represent deities from the Indus valley are frequently understood to represent a goddess with feminine qualities like to those of the Hindu goddess Durga, spouse of the deity Shiva. Some seals show a three-faced, horned figure surrounded by animals, this figure, when shown as the Lord of the Animals, strongly resembles the Hindu god Shiva Additionally, stones shaped like lingams and yonis-representations of the male and female genital organs connected to Shiva worship-have been discovered by archaeologists. The fact that the inhabitants of the Indus Valley interred their deceased with simple grave goods like clay pots shows that they believed in a hereafter. Nevertheless, there is no proof of temples or colossal tombs like the royal tombs of Ur in Mesopotamia or the Egyptian pyramids The Indus Valley's craftsmen produced one-of-a-kind sculptures made of stone, metal, and clay. One of Mohenjo-Daro's more remarkable stone sculptures is a calm, bearded guy who appears to be a community. leader or priest. It seems like a young woman dancing is represented by a little bronze figurine. Her necklaces and bracelets show that the inhabitants in this civilization engaged skilled craftspeople to create such jewellery, which valley has not produced any clay lablels or papyrus rolls that have been discovered by archaeologists. It is likely that commerce with Mesopotamia brought bronze technology to the Indus River region by the third millennium BCE. Since tin was needed to make bronze, traders from the Indus Valley may have even shipped the metal from Afghanistan to Mesopotamia. The inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization established their own distinct culture despite the very evident Mesopotamian influences and trade links. It's possible that their unique religion influenced India's subsequent cultures. For instance, clay figures said to represent deities from the Indus valley are frequently understood to represent a goddess with feminine qualities like to those of the Hindu goddess Durga, spouse of the deity Shiva. Some seals show a three-faced, horned figure surrounded by animals, this figure, when shown as the Lord of the Animals, strongly resembles the Hindu god Shiva Additionally, stones shaped like lingams and yonis-representations of the male and female genital organs connected to Shiva worship-have been discovered by archaeologists. The fact that the inhabitants of the Indus Valley interred their deceased with simple grave goods like clay pots shows that they believed in a hereafter. Nevertheless, there is no proof of temples or colossal tombs like the royal tombs of Ur in Mesopotamia or the Egyptian pyramids The Indus Valley's craftsmen produced one-of-a-kind sculptures made of stone, metal, and clay. One of Mohenjo-Daro's more remarkable stone sculptures is a calm, bearded guy who appears to be a community. leader or priest. It seems like a young woman dancing is represented by a little bronze figurine. Her necklaces and bracelets show that the inhabitants in this civilization engaged skilled craftspeople to create such jewellery, which