In the Earliest Cities

Early cities emerged in a number of areas, from Mesopotamia to Asia to the Americas. The earliest settlements developed in Mesopotamia after the Neolithic Period, about 7500 BCE. Early cities may be found in both the Indus Valley and Ancient China. Mohenjo-Daro, in the Indus Valley, was one of the largest early Old World towns, with a population of 50,000 or more. It grew to a population of 50,000 or more people circa 2600 BCE. The earliest settlements in the ancient Americas were built between the 30th and 18th century BCE in the Andes and Mesoamerica. 

Ancient cities were recognised for their shape and function diversity, as well as their geographical diversity. Theories that try to explain early urbanization by a single reason, such as economic gain, fall short of understanding the wide range of variance seen by archaeologists. Early urban excavations reveal that some towns were sparsely inhabited political capitals, others were commerce centres, and yet others had a predominantly religious orientation. 

Some cities had dense populations, while others had smaller populations yet engaged in urban activities connected to politics or religion. Some ancient towns grew into powerful capital cities, commercial and industrial centers, and were strategically positioned in the core of expanding ancient empires. 

The Formation of Cities

Although there is little evidence to say what conditions led to the formation of the earliest cities, several theorists have hypothesised on what they believe to be pre-conditions and basic mechanisms that might explain the emergence of cities. Agriculture is seen to be a prerequisite for cities since it aids in the preservation of surplus output and the development of economies of scale. According to popular belief, cities arose as a result of the Neolithic Revolution and the expansion of agriculture. 

With the introduction of farming, hunter-gatherers were encouraged to forsake their nomadic lives and dwell near those who relied on agricultural production. More food was generated through agriculture, allowing for denser human populations and, as a result, city expansion. Farming produced densely populated areas as well as food surpluses that had to be stored and exchanged. These appear to be key preconditions for city living. Many scholars believe that agriculture paved the way for the creation of cities and fueled their expansion.

A healthy environment and a well-organized social structure are two prerequisites for the development of a successful city. A good environment contains clean water and a climate that is conducive to crop and agricultural production. A strong sense of social organization allows individuals to establish diverse functions to aid in the city's future growth and helps a newly formed community work together in times of need (for example, farmer or merchant). 

A freshly established city is unlikely to flourish without these two common characteristics, as well as modern agricultural technology. Cities may have offered additional benefits as well. Cities, for example, decreased transportation expenses by putting products, people, and ideas together in one location. Cities helped worker productivity by lowering transaction costs.

The Story of Harappa

The story of the Harappa culture and Harappan cities is told in The Earliest Cities. Harappa was one of the subcontinent's oldest cities, discovered by archaeologists 100 years ago. The first city to be found was this one. Harappan was the name given to all those cities that had structures similar to Harappa's. This article discusses the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisations, including their geography, population, and achievements. The majority of homes featured a separate bathing area, and some had wells for water supply. Many cities had drains that were covered.

The Harappans were able to employ locally accessible raw materials. Many commodities, such as copper, tin, gold, silver, and valuable stones, were brought in from far away at the same time. People who lived in the country cultivated crops and raised livestock.

Wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard were all grown by the Harappans. The plough was used to transform the soil and plant seeds by digging the ground. Cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo were all raised by the Harappans. Large herds of animals were likely driven further distances in search of pasture and water during the dry summer months. There was a beginning of a substantial shift around 3900 years ago, and it concludes with the mystery of how the Harappa civilisation was destroyed.

Special Features of the Earliest Cities

Town Planning:

These cities have excellent city planning. Harappa was split into two halves, the western and eastern portions.The city's western section was smaller but taller. The citadel was the name given to the upper portion. There were various unique buildings in the fortress. The city's eastern section was larger, but it was also lower. The lower city was the name given to the lowest section of the city. Within the fortress, a massive tank was discovered. 

Archaeologists have given it the moniker "Great Bath." Baked bricks were used to construct this. Naturally occurring tar was used to coat the walls and flooring. People could easily descend the tank since there were steps on both sides. It was surrounded by rooms. Historians believe it was used for ritual bathing by the ruling elites. The wealthy dwelt in the city's higher reaches. Workers resided in the city's lowest reaches.

Use of Baked Bricks:

Baked bricks were used to construct houses and other constructions. The bricks were all the same size. This indicates that the Harappans had mastered the art of craftsmanship. Interlocking bricks were used to construct the structure. The structure gained additional strength as a result of this.

Roads and Drainage:

Bricks were used to pave the roads. The road came together at a right angle. The drainage system was well-thought-out. The drains from each home were linked to the street drains. Stone slabs were used to conceal drains. On the drain, inspection holes were drilled at regular intervals.

Planned Houses:

The homes' walls were thick and strong. The homes ranged in height from one to two stories. This demonstrates how advanced architecture was at the time. A kitchen, a bathroom, and a wide patio were typical features of a home. In addition, most of the residences had wells to provide a constant supply of water.

Granaries:

A huge granary has been discovered among the towns of the Indus Valley Civilization. In these granaries, charred grains have been discovered. This indicates that throughout this time period, food grain production was in abundance. Taxes may have also been collected in the form of grains, according to historians. Large granaries were used to store grain collected as a levy.

Life in the Earliest City

• The city of Harappa was said to be a busy and crowded city.

• The people of the city led to the planned construction of the city and its special buildings.

• It is said that those people were known as the rulers who also used to send people to bring precious metals etc from distant lands.

• People had a great sense of fashion and were fond of ornaments.

• People used to travel as well.

• People used to work, both men as well as women, in their homes or workshops.

• Women were respected in society.

Conclusion

A healthy environment and a well-organized social structure are two prerequisites for the development of a successful city. Harappa was one of the subcontinent's oldest cities. Harappan was the name given to all those cities that had structures similar to Harappa's. This article discusses the story of the Harappa which is well known for being one of the earliest known cities in the world. There are many theories related to the end of the earliest cities. Some of the reasons that scholars used to put forward were drying up of the rivers, deforestation, migration, floods, etc.