The Harappan Economy has been primarily understood through its extensive trade relations with contemporary civilizations, especially Mesopotamian and Persian cultures. The Mesopotamians referred to the Indus region as ‘Meluhha‘. Mesopotamian records mention three key trading stations: Dilmun (possibly Bahrain in the Persian Gulf), Makan (likely the Makran coast in Oman), and Meluhha (the Indus region).
Importance of Seals in Harappan Economy
Seals played a vital role in Harappan trade and society. Each merchant likely had a seal that displayed a religious emblem or brief description. These seals, made from steatite stone, were square or oblong in shape. They served multiple purposes, including marking ownership of property and possibly acting as amulets.
Trade and Commerce
The Harappan civilization engaged in both internal and external trade. The barter system was used, as there was no currency in circulation. Bullock carts were primarily used for inland transport. Evidence of Harappan trade can be seen in the following:
- Harappan seals have been found in Mesopotamian cities like “Susa” and “Ur”. A seal with Harappan script and a unicorn was discovered in “Nippur“.
- Sites in the Persian Gulf, such as “Failaka” and “Bahrain“, have also yielded Harappan seals.
- Mohenjo-Daro has yielded three cylinder seals of Mesopotamian origin, emphasizing the trading links between these civilizations.
- Lothal has revealed a button seal, and bead-making factories have been found in Chanhudaro and Lothal. These factories produced goods for export.
- A ‘dockyard‘ was excavated in Lothal, and sea ports were identified at Rangpur, Somnath, and Balakot.
Standardization in Weights and Measures
One remarkable aspect of the Harappan civilization was its accuracy and standardization in weights and measures:
- The weight system followed a binary pattern in smaller units (1, 2, 8, 16, 32, 64) and decimal multiples of 160 in larger denominations (160, 320, 640, 1600, 3200, etc.).
- Weights were made from materials like chert, limestone, and steatite and were generally cubical in shape.
- Measures of length were based on the foot (37.6 cm) and the cubit (ranging from 51.8 cm to 53.3 cm). Various tools have been discovered to measure lengths and angles, including:
- A shell scale found at Mohenjo-Daro.
- A shell object used for measuring angles found in Saurashtra.
- An ivory scale discovered at Lothal.
These findings reflect the advanced nature of the Harappan civilization’s economy, with its well-established trade networks and precise standards in weights and measures.
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