Question

Analyse various theories regarding the origin and decline of harappan civilisation

Answer 1

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Causes of Decline of Harappan Civilization

The Harappa civilization was not built in a day and it was not destroyed in one day or for one reason. Scholars have come forth with several conjectures to explain the decline of Harappan Civilization.

Due to change in the climatic condition, the area lost fertil­ity and people were compelled to move else where.
Constant use of firewood for brick manufacture caused deforestation and minimized the rainfall.
The change of course of the river Indus transformed it into a tract of sand and affected the fertility.
Natural calamities like earthquake and cyclones adversely affected the normal life.
Some scholars are of opinion that the Harappan civilization suffered a decline due to attacks by the hostile tribes and the Aryans. M. Wheeler asserts that the invading Aryans destroyed the Indus settlement. This view has also been corroborated by the Rig-Veda.