Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the earliest known urban civilizations. It developed between the 4th and 2nd millennia BCE in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, primarily along the Indus River and its tributaries.

The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, emerged around 2600 BCE and flourished during the Bronze Age. It covered a vast area across present-day Pakistan and northwestern India, making it one of the largest ancient civilizations in terms of geographic extent.

This civilization is notable for its advanced urban planning. Major cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro display grid-based layouts, well-organized streets, sophisticated drainage systems, and standardized construction materials, particularly baked bricks. Residential buildings often included private wells and sanitation facilities, reflecting a high level of civic organization.

Its economy was based on irrigated agriculture, specialized crafts (including pottery, metallurgy, stone carving, and shell work), and long-distance trade networks, evidenced by contacts with Mesopotamia. The Indus script, found mainly on seals, remains undeciphered, which limits direct understanding of political structures and religious practices.

The gradual decline of the civilization after about 1900 BCE is generally attributed to environmental and climatic changes, including shifts in river courses, rather than to sudden collapse. Its legacy influenced later cultural and technological developments in South Asia.

India • |-3300/-1300| • Indus Valley Civilization

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