Sindhu - this is how the inhabitants of the country that stretched along its banks called their river; it was known to the Greeks as Indos, and to the natives themselves as the Indus. Easily and naturally, while retaining a recognizable originality, it was transferred from Asia to Europe and the enchanting word India sounded in many languages.
On the territory that in ancient times bore this general name and spread out in a vast triangle between the Arabian Sea, the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, at the end of the 20th century. There are three independent states: India itself, Bangladesh and Pakistan, through whose lands the legendary Indus flows.
In ancient times, the expanses of Ancient India (namely, it will be discussed) were inhabited by Dravidians - short, dark-skinned, black-haired people with wide noses. Among the inhabitants of South India there are many of their descendants, surprisingly reminiscent of their distant ancestors.
Civil strife, natural disasters, epidemics, invasions were a thing of the past, becoming milestones of a leisurely time. Over the centuries, the Dravidians were replaced by numerous tribes that differed from one another in their way of life, language, beliefs, culture, degree of development, and even the appearance of their representatives.
The inhabitants of the foothills, who did not know the northern winds under the protection of the Himalayas, looked with reverent awe at the highest mountains in the world, sincerely considering the dazzling peaks as the abode of the most revered gods.
Dependent on wildlife, the ancient Indians had a deep respect for the water element: after all, water is the key to a rich harvest, and harvest is life. The worship of water, dating back thousands of years, continues in modern times: until now, the Indians consider their most full-flowing river, the Ganges, to be sacred...
If even today the flora of India is striking in its diversity and tropical splendor, then many, many centuries ago, forests covered almost all of its territory. They not only gave the ancient inhabitants of the fairyland wood for handicrafts, weapons, buildings and heating of dwellings, but also fed them with nuts, berries, bananas, mangoes, citrus fruits and other trees. The forests were also supplied with medicinal plants and spices, without which even then Indian cuisine was unthinkable. By the way, later it was spices and incense, which were valued more than gold in Europe, that aroused such interest in India and, to a certain extent, "pushed" Christopher Columbus to the discovery of America... The ancient Indians hunted forest animals and domesticated some of them. We owe much to them that humanity has many varieties of domestic animals, from chicken to elephant.
However, the inhabitants of India had to wage a constant struggle with the forests, not only clearing land for fields and gardens, but also fighting the advancing jungle from day to day, risking a poisonous snake or becoming a victim of a predator.
The rural population was very numerous. The peasants grew several varieties of wheat, barley, sesame, beans, rice, planted gardens. In dry times, they resorted to artificial irrigation. Archaeological excavations made it possible to establish that almost every peasant household had cows, goats, sheep and poultry. Many Indians kept dogs and cats. Of all domestic animals, cows were the most valued, considered the main wealth of the family. Often because of them there were even armed clashes.
Craftsmen settled in cities, and representatives of each profession lived on the same street. There were, for example, streets of weavers, potters, and jewelers. Household and temple utensils, weapons, production tools were made of bronze and copper. Gold and silver were used for jewelry. Trade flourished. Trade relations with Sumer were especially developed.
History is reluctant to reveal its secrets. But sometimes they become known almost by accident. Once an Indian archaeologist R.D. Banerjee led the excavations. Finding a wonderful monument of the II century. BC, he was very happy and tried to finish the work as soon as possible, when he suddenly discovered the remains of a more ancient culture a little deeper. Thus, the famous Mohenjo-Daro (Hill of the Dead), a whole city that existed more than 4 thousand years ago, arose from oblivion. An even more ancient city of Harappa was also found. By his name, everything created in that era is called the monuments of the Harappan culture.
Scientists have established that Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa are the two largest cities of the ancient civilization, possibly the capitals of large political associations. At the highest point in the city stood a citadel, fortified with powerful walls, where people usually escaped from floods. Inside the citadel was a huge pool for ritual ablutions. With the help of a special device, fresh water was supplied here.
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