← All documentaries

Crafts and Makers: Ancient India

A ten‑minute journey through the artisans of ancient India, revealing how metalworkers, potters, weavers and scribes shaped society.

Chapters

• 0:07 Metalworking in the Early Cities
• 1:52 Pottery and the Harappan Tradition
• 2:52 Textiles and Weaving
• 3:28 Scribes, Scripts and the Record of Craft

On-screen text

• 0:07 Metalworking in the Early Cities
• 0:14 Metalworking in the Early Cities
• 0:31 Harappan seals depict metal tools Historical record · Indus Valley seals (Harappa, 2600–1900 BCE)
• 0:49 Ashoka praises tool‑makers Historical record · Ashokan Major Rock Edict 13 (3rd century BCE, Dhauli)
• 1:07 Grant to iron‑workers on Delhi pillar Historical record · Iron Pillar of Delhi inscription (4th century CE, Gupta period)
• 1:25 Gold‑smiths named in Menander’s inscription Historical record · Kharosthi inscription of King Menander I (2nd century BCE, Taxila)
• 1:43 Gupta bronze smith statue Historical record · Bronze statue of a smith, Gupta period, British Museum
• 1:52 Pottery and the Harappan Tradition
• 1:59 Pottery and the Harappan Tradition
• 2:16 Painted pottery from Mohenjo‑daro Historical record · Mohenjo‑daro painted pottery, National Museum, Karachi
• 2:34 Marshall on Mohenjo‑daro workshops The Institute's interpretation · John Marshall, ‘Excavations at Mohenjo‑daro’, 1931
• 3:01 Ajanta fresco shows loom weaving Historical record · Ajanta Cave fresco (2nd century CE, Cave 1)
• 3:19 Vishvakarma teaches metal casting Tradition / scripture · Matsya Purana (c. 5th century CE)
• 3:28 3rd century BCE, Arthashastra guild list Historical record · Kautilya’s Arthashastra (c. 3rd century BCE)
• 4:00 Ashoka’s edict praises tool makers Historical record · Ashokan Major Rock Edict 13 (3rd century BCE, Dhauli)
• 4:15 Kharosthi stone mentions gold‑smith donors Historical record · Kharosthi inscription of King Menander I (2nd century BCE, Taxila)
• 4:38 Brahmi inscription records potter’s guild donation Historical record · Brahmi inscription at Sanchi Stupa (2nd century BCE)
• 4:53 John Marshall: uniform pots = workshops The Institute's interpretation · John Marshall, ‘Excavations at Mohenjo‑daro’, 1931

Sources

Historical record: Indus Valley seals (Harappa, 2600–1900 BCE) · Ashokan Major Rock Edict 13 (3rd century BCE, Dhauli) · Iron Pillar of Delhi inscription (4th century CE, Gupta period) · Kharosthi inscription of King Menander I (2nd century BCE, Taxila) · Bronze statue of a smith, Gupta period, British Museum · Mohenjo‑daro painted pottery, National Museum, Karachi · Brahmi inscription at Sanchi Stupa (2nd century BCE) · Ajanta Cave fresco (2nd century CE, Cave 1) · Kautilya’s Arthashastra (c. 3rd century BCE)

Tradition / scripture: Buddhist Jataka tales (tradition) · Silpa Shastra (c. 5th century CE) · Matsya Purana (c. 5th century CE)

The Institute's interpretation: John Marshall, ‘Excavations at Mohenjo‑daro’, 1931

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 159 s of CPU.