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Home > Geography > What is the Difference Between Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?

Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?

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Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were two significant cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed around 2600 BCE. They shared several similarities, but there were also differences between the two cities.

Similarities:

  1. Both cities were part of the Indus Valley Civilization.
  2. They had planned structures and urban layouts.
  3. Trade activities with other civilizations were evident in both cities.
  4. Both cities used copper, bronze, and other materials for tools and weapons.
  5. They had their own form of written language, weights, and measures.

Differences:

  1. Location: Harappa was located in the Punjab region (modern-day eastern Pakistan), while Mohenjo-daro was situated in the Sindh region (modern-day Larkana District of Pakistan).
  2. Name: The name Harappa is derived from a nearby village, while Mohenjo-daro denotes 'Mound of the Dead' in Sindhi.
  3. Rediscovery: Harappa was first discovered by Charles Mason in 1826, while Mohenjo-daro was first discovered by D.R. Bhandarkar in 1911-12 and later excavated by R.D Banerjee in 1921-22.

Despite their differences, both cities were crucial to the Indus Valley Civilization and shared many cultural and economic similarities.

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  • What is the Difference Between Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?
  • Comparative Table: Harappa vs Mohenjo-daro

    • Comparative Table: Harappa vs Mohenjo-daro

    Here is a table comparing the differences between Harappa and Mohenjo-daro:

    Feature Harappa Mohenjo-daro
    Location In the Punjab region, modern-day eastern Pakistan, on the left bank of the Ravi river, about 100 miles southwest of Lahore In the Sindh region, modern-day southern Pakistan, west of the Indus River in the Larkana District
    Geographical Feature The city is located on the left bank of the Ravi river The city lies on a flat alluvial plain, surrounded by ocean, desert, and mountains, and was covered with swamps and dense forests during its time
    Age Both cities belonged to the Bronze Age Both cities belonged to the Bronze Age
    Rediscovery Harappa was discovered by Charles Mason in 1826 Mohenjo-daro was rediscovered by R. D Banerji in 1922
    Size The city spread over 150 hectares (370 acres) and featured fortified administrative and religious centers Mohenjo-daro was the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization and one of the world's earliest urban centers
    Citadels Harappa had citadels, and it is believed to have been home to as many as 52,000 people Mohenjo-daro also had citadels and was one of the most sophisticated cities of the period, with advanced engineering and urban planning

    Despite the differences in location, both cities shared some similarities, such as being part of the Bronze Age and having citadels with advanced engineering and urban planning.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.