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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
STD VI- HISTORY
CH- The Beginning of Indian Civilisation
NOTES
Sub topic 5 -The End or a New Beginning?
Around 1900 BCE, this Sindhu-Sarasvatī civilisation, despite all its
achievements, began to fall apart.
Causes of Decline of the Sindhu-Sarasvatī Civilisation:
1. Climatic Change:
o From around 2200 BCE, there was a global climatic shift leading
to reduced rainfall.
o Made agriculture difficult and reduced food supply to cities.
2. Drying up of the Sarasvatī River:
o The Sarasvatī river dried in its central basin.
o Major cities like Kalibangan and Banawali were abandoned.
3. No Evidence of Warfare or Invasion:
o Earlier, it was thought that warfare or invasions caused the
collapse.
o Archaeological evidence shows no signs of war, indicating a
peaceful decline.
4. Breakdown of Urban Administration:
o The organized government and city administration disappeared.
o People shifted to rural lifestyles in small settlements.
5. Environmental Dependence:
o The civilisation’s heavy dependence on climate and environment
made it vulnerable to changes.
Despite city decline, Harappan culture and technology survived and
influenced later Indian civilisation.