How did they live? Info Pack - Indus Valley - Year 4

The daily life of those residing in the Indus Valley was shaped significantly by the region's sweltering climate, prompting inhabitants to prefer the outdoors. Due to the compact nature of their homes, which also served as their workshops, the majority of the population had limited space for leisure. However, affluent families enjoyed the luxury of courtyards, which were expansive, breezy spaces ideal for children to engage with toys or pets such as monkeys and birds. For those without courtyards, the flat rooftops of their homes provided a viable alternative. These rooftops were strong enough to bear the weight of people and acted as additional living areas, offering a serene environment to sleep on cooler nights or to socialise with friends.

Hygiene was of importance in the Indus Valley, with most cities featuring a central well for the procurement of clean water. In terms of personal cleanliness, residents would stand on a brick platform in their bathrooms and pour water from a jar over themselves, with the wastewater then exiting the house through pipes into street drains. Dietary habits of the Indus Valley people have been deduced by archaeologists examining skeletons, teeth, and bones. Remnants of animal bones, seafood shells, and fruit seeds indicate a varied diet, with men generally consuming more food than women. The agricultural practices of the time involved using oxen to pull wooden ploughs, facilitating the cultivation of essential crops such as wheat, barley, and lentils to sustain the urban populace.