Question

Mention the main evidence to suggest that the Indus valley people paid great importance to sanitation and health

Answer 1

Indus Valley was very advanced in their water/ irrigation systems. The Indus Valley had one of the world’s first water irrigation systems. Wells were open to all households had access to water facilities and wells were always close by.  Some of the households of the Indus valley had water and waste systems and most homes had access to a bathroom and toilet that was connected to the drainage systems. Water waste was directed to covered drains that outlined main streets which were seen as unique and sophisticated for the time. If houses had bathroom’s or drainage systems upstairs terracotta pipes were used to bring waste down on to the streets. As bathing was also common and sanitation was valued, people would often bathe standing up by pouring pitches of water on top of themselves like a shower and allowing water to drain into  hole onto the floor that   Limestone was used to make sure that pipes would not leak and to insure stability.  It also offered a new level of health and sanitation to the people.  Waste cleaners cleaned the street drains/pipes and emptied the pits/ areas were sewerage waste water from toilets was held. 

Irrigation was also used for river systems. Water was irrigated from the huge spring floods that ran from the yellow river, irrigation systems would clean and lessen the impact of flood damage. The flood water could also be directed to irrigate fields. This flood system may have been the Indus Valleys greatest triumph as they had harnessed the power to control the annual floods to their advantage, without the devastating impact that came with the flourishing of crops. Due to the success of their water systems and overall sanitation, the population of the Indus valley grew. Small dams and Inundation Canals were built to sustain water in a stable and controllable way so that it could be controlled ad easily transported/ distributed.
The Indus people were fully aware of the principles of health and sanitation. Towns people bathed in a bath located in the centre of the quadrangle in the middle of the valley. The Baths were around 49 feet long, 28 feet wide and 8 feet deep. Walls of the pool were made up of burnt brick to prevent the leaking of water. The pool was regularly drained to ensure cleanliness, this was done by draining off used water into a large pipe that led to the outside of the valley. The bath had 6 entrances and all contained stairs that led into the water. This building reflects the engineering genius of those in ancient days. 

Answer 2

Answer:

The elaborate drainage system was there in the city. A brick lined drainage channel flowed alongside every street. The house drains were connected to underground main drains, which opened into large brick culverts on the outskirts of the city. The drains were provided with manholes. This provision of such a systematic drainage system in every city shows that the people paid great attention to sanitation and health.

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