A very significant place, from 2100 - 1750 BC the largest city in the world's largest ancient civilization (the Harrappan/Indus), and the world's largest city yet, with town planning, an advanced sewage system, free-standing 2-story wells, huge granaries, and no evidence of warfare found, no moats or fortifications. The Harrappans had hieroglyphic writing (still undeciphered), grew and raised a great variety of grains and livestock (the chicken is their gift to the world), traded extensively with Mesopotamia, and had it going on until invasion by a horde of inbred Aryans on horseback from that instrument of history the Central Asian steppe (the Harappans didn't have the horse), who destroyed Harappan cities, irrigation systems, etc., imposed the caste system, and pushed ancient India into the longest dark age in world history. For 800-900 years the locals lost their literacy, and writing wouldn't be in use there again until the mid-1st millenium BC when it reemerged in Gandhara under the Persians.
- I like this shot because it looks like the stairs are melting. It was taken in brain-addling heat, I had to wear a sopping wet towel on my head as I toured the ruins. The next day I went on a tour from Karachi to Chaukundi tombs, Makli Hills, Thatta, etc. and it was a great day for photography. I knew it would be because my camera broke here the day before soon after I took this photo, some circuitry must have melted (then I had to buy a 2nd-hand Minolta, the same make, in Lahore). According to legend there's a wind in Sindh called Lu that's so hot it can rip your skin off. (I think there was some Lu in my hotel room in Karachi).
Posted by Best of Rob on 2006-09-11 20:38:53
Tagged: , Mohenjodaro , Mohenjo , Indus , Harappan , Sindh , Pakistan
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