Economic Life of Indus Valley Civilization
The economy of Indus Valley Civilization was based upon agriculture and trade. The nature of the Indus civilization’s agricultural system is still largely a matter of conjecture due to the paucity of information surviving through the ages. The Indus civilization agriculture must have been highly productive; after all, it was capable of generating surpluses sufficient to support tens of thousands of urban residents who were not primarily engaged in agriculture. There is no evidence of irrigation, any such evidence could have been obliterated by repeated, catastrophic floods.
Cotton was the most important item of export. Lapis lazuli was imported from Central Asia, gold from Karnataka and copper and possibly, also tin, from Mesopotamian.
The peoples of Indus Valley Civilization also made Pottery, Weaving. The people were also aware of Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze They used to trade some of those economies for dealings or for cloths and for particular objects. The Harappan cities were bustling centers of industry, trade and commerce. Carpenters, metal-smiths, weavers, gold-smiths and jewellers produced goods of high quality which were in demand within as well as outside the Harappan territory.
Government and municipal servants regulated and maintained municipal services, weight and measures and trade routes. Merchants carried on trade in cotton as well as finished goods within and outside the country. Bullock carts, pack animals, boats and sea – going ships were used to transport goods. Objects like pottery, stone beads and metal – ware originating in one region but found in other cities are evidence of extensive trade. Harappan type seals found at Bahrain and in Mesopotamian cities provide evidence of extensive overseas trade.