Trade-+The+Indus+River+Valley

The Indus people used the plentiful rivers surrounding them much to their advantage. The people of Indus prospered mainly on the foundations of agriculture based on irrigation and maintained by floods by the Indus river that enriched the area with silt. Wheat and barley were both grown, melon seeds, sesame and mustard crops, and dates, some of which have been found petrified in the valley. The only visible source of a vegetable was the field pea. There were some traces of cotton found during the excavation of the valley. They domesticated a number of animals, including dogs, cats, zebu, cattle, buffalo, and possibly pigs. Camel, horses, and donkeys may have been a form of transporting goods. Besides through the use of agriculture, the Indus people also supported themselves through the use of trade, both domestic and foreign. It is apparent that Harappan’s relied heavily upon imported goods. Some goods produced in Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro were found in all areas of the Indus Valley. In addition, the Indus Valley came in contact with areas that were extremely far away through the use of trade, expanding their culture. The long coastline and many rivers gave the people of the Indus valley constant movement by water. From Persia and Hindu Kush, the Harappans received gold, silver, copper, lead, gems, and semiprecious stones. They also trade with Mesopotamia, exporting Indian copper, ivory, pearls, and semiprecious stones for Sumerian wool, leather, and olive oil. Some Indus pottery has been found in an ancient city in Mesopotamia. Some imports of gold from southern India, copper from Afghanistan, jade probably from southern India, and turquoise from Iran have been found. Most trading was most likely by boats along the coast of the Arabian Sea between the Indus River and Persian Gulf, rather than over land, however, some were made of land over the Iranian plateau on a caravan. It is believed that the Indus people used something known as a “bullock cart” to transport goods over land. This cart or wagon was pulled by animals, such as an ox. The boats used were sent from the Indus and Ganges Rivers. The specifics about the types of boats used were not well known, but it is believed to have been quite basic. They were most likely small, and flat bottomed, perhaps driven by a sail similar to those in the Indus valley today. It is known that boats were used for trading because a huge canal was discovered in the coastal city of Lothal in western India.