Job Specialization in Indus Valley Civilization

By Pulakesh Nath on May 23, 2020

General Knowledge on Indus Valley Civilization | indus-valley-civilization

Job Specialization in Indus Valley Civilization

There were multiple job opportunities to the society of Indus Valley Civilisation. Their jobs consisted of:

Farming

Farming and agriculture was an important part of their society. The Indus River was able to provide the people with water and fertile land, making farming the obvious choice. They grew wheat and barley as their primary crops, but in addition to those few, rye, peas, cotton, and rice were also grown. On top of all that, they domesticated a number of wild animals, such as dogs, cats, zebu or the humped cattle, short-horns, buffaloes, and possibly pigs which was an important tool for cultivation and also another food source.

Trading

The Indus people were greatly reliant on trade. They traded with many different civilizations like Persia, Mesopotamia and China. They were also known to trade in the Arabian Gulf region, central parts of Asia, portions of Afghanistan and northern and western India. Some goods that were traded were terracotta pots, beads, gold, silver, colored gems like turquoise and lapis lazuli, metals, flints, seashells and pearls.

Making Jewellery

Jewellery in Indus Valley Civilization is amongst the most commonly found relics and artefacts of the Harappan society. The traditional art of India recommends a richness and profusion in the Jewellery adorned by both men and women during that period. Ornaments made of gold, silver, copper, ivory, pottery and beads have been discovered in this civilization as they were the most commonly used materials to make Jewelleries.

Spinning and weaving cotton into clothes

Some of the total population of this civil society engaged in Spinning and weaving cotton into clothes. The fabric usually used in the clothes we wear is produced through two processes: the “spinning process,” where raw cotton is turned into thread, and the “weaving process,” where the thread is woven into fabric.

Making pottery

In Indus Valley Civilization, pottery was an important industry and the significance of the pottery can be noted from the fact that Harappan pictographical scripts were mainly found on potteries. Indus Valley Civilization Pottery, remained plain most of the times and it further enabled us to understand the gradual evolution of various design motifs as employed in different shapes, and styles.

Making tools and weapons

Harappan Society is engaged with tools and weapons. The main weapon of war and hunting were axe, spear, dagger, bow and arrow, mace, sling, sword, shield and armour. Most of them are of copper and Bronze. However mace was always made of stone.