Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization| Class 12 History

Subsistence Strategies of the Harappan Civilization is a subpart of the Class 12 history. The subpart is described under the chapter “Bricks, Beads, and Bones”. It gives us an idea of the ancient Harappan Civilization and its people and how they gather foods and fulfill their basic needs for their survival.

But the cultivation was the foremost Subsistence Strategy that they followed. Archeologists and historians found so much evidence of the bones of the different animals and it proved that they also consumed meat as their food.

In this article, we will discuss the Class 12 History: Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization subpart in detail.

Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization

The Harappan Civilization was the most well-known civilization in the world. The Subsistence Strategies of the Harappan Civilization were complex but were essential for survival. Here are the Subsistence Strategies of the Harappan Civilization as mentioned below.

Agricultural Technologies

• Agriculture was the main subsistence of the Harappan Civilization and people highly relied on it.
• Harappan people were really capable in the field of agriculture.
• The people of Harappa lived in the fertile valley of the Indus river which helped them in the process of irrigation also.
• Harappan people cultivated so many crops like wheat, barley, different types of lentils, and peas.
• Cotton was the major commercial crop of the Indus Valley Civilization and Wheat was their major food crop.
• Harappan people are majorly known for their advanced process and system of irrigation.
• The advanced irrigation system allowed them to cultivate new crops in the time of low rainfall.

Commerce And Trade In the Harappan Civilization

• Commerce And Trade were another subsistence strategy of the Harappan Civilization.
• The civilization was involved in long-distance trade and commerce with different regions of the world like Central Asia, Persian Gulf, and Mesopotamia.
• They exported so many goods like cotton, different textile products, high class pottery, and valuable stones.
• Trade and commerce were really essential for their economy.

Fishing And Hunting In the Harappan Civilization

• The Harappan people really relied on fishing and hunting.
• They started fishing in the Indus River and nearby seas.
• Harappan people hunted different wild animals for meat as they were the consumers of meat.
• Sometimes hunting was essential as the wild animals destroyed their agricultural products.
• For hunting, Harappan people traveled to the mountain areas as these places were not ideal for farming.

Pastoralism Or Domestication Of The Animals

• Domestication was another form of the Subsistence Strategies of the Harappan Civilization.
• They domesticated different types of cattle including sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens.
• These animals were their basic supply of milk, eggs, and meat.

Major Points To Remember – Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization

Here are some major points you should remember about the Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization as mentioned below.

• Harappan Civilization was majorly dependent on different plants and animals for their food.
• There was so much evidence found in the form of bones that says that these people consume meat as their food.
• The terracotta model found that these people used ox and plow to cultivate the food.
• So many different grain traces have been found in the time of excavation like wheat, barley, lentils, chickpea, sesame, etc.
• Some traces of the Millet and Rice were found in the IVC site of Gujarat.

FAQs – Class 12 History Subsistence Strategies of Harappan Civilization

What are the subsistence strategies of Harappan civilization Class 12?

The Harappans also relied on fishing and hunting for subsistence. They fished in the rivers and oceans, and hunted wild animals for meat. These activities were particularly important in areas where agriculture was not possible, such as in the mountains.

What was the economic strategy of Harappan civilization?

Harrapan people were mostly peasants and thus the Harappan civilization was an agricultural commercial civilization. Evidences of hoe and plough have been found in Kalibangan and Banawali. Harrapans domesticated sheep, goat, buffalo and pig. They also knew about tiger, camel, elephant, tortoise, deer, various birds, etc.

What were the two important sources of Harappan economy?

The Indus Valley’s economy was largely based on agriculture and animal husbandry. They grew a variety of crops, including wheat, barley, cotton, cereals, dates, etc. They were the first to cultivate cotton. They also domesticated animals like cows, buffalo, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, etc.

What are the agricultural techniques of Harappan civilization?

Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard. They also developed some new tools known as plough and was used to dig earth for planting the seeds and turning the soil. A method of irrigation was used due to less rainfall. The Harappan reared cattle sheep, goat, and buffalo.

What kind of subsistence pattern prevailed in Harappan culture?

The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including fish and meat, wheat, maize, millets, pulses, rice and another eatables. Cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig were domesticated by the Harappans for their sustenance.

What is the settlement pattern of Harappa culture?

During the town planning of the Harappan civilization, settlements were divided into a citadel and a lower town. People from the Indus constructed roadways, homes, structures, and buildings. The buildings were constructed with bricks in the ratio 1:2:4 whether they were in Rajasthan, Punjab, or Sindh.