The people of Harappan civilisation had their trade relations with West Asia. Discuss.

Explanation

Harappan people were prosperous. There were extensive trade relations with foreign countries. A well organised commerce made these things possible. Trade was carried both by land and sea.
(i) Mohenjodaro was a great trading centre internal as well as external. Trade extented upto Afghanistan, Iran and Sumer: Seals, beads of monkey on a pin and other objects made by the people of the Harappan culture have been found in foreign countries.
(ii) Sumerian things (goods) like model vam, small pottery rings have been found in India. Mesopotamian texts mention two trading centres.
(iii) Dilmum, Meluhha and Magan goods were exchanged there, Meluhha and Magan are identified with Harappan region, previous one was referred to as land of seafarers.
(iv) Silver, turquoise and lapis lazuli were imported from Persia, Afghanistan and Oman, Chemical analysis show Omani Copper and Harappan artefacts have traces of nickel. A large Harappan jar has been found at Omani sites, contents of which were exchanged for its copper.
(v) The findings of Indus seals suggests that merchant from this (India) actually resided in Mesopotamia. Their chief merchandise was probably cotton, which has always been one of India.s staple exports.
(vi) Metals and semi-precious stones came from much longer distances. From Kathiwar and the Deccan they obtained Conch shell, which they used for decoration.
(vii) At Lothal, large docks and shipbuilding yards have been discovered. Seagoing crafts of making voyages upto the Persian Gulf were made.
(viii) Sumerian woman adopted the Harappan fashion of hair dressing. The Babylonians called cotton by name of .Sindham a Sindhu., associated with the Sindhu or Indus valley.