Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization,

flourished around 3300–1300 BCE in modern-day Pakistan and northwest India.
It was one of the three early civilizations of the ancient world, alongside Egypt
and Mesopotamia.
Geographic location and environment

Location Environment

The civilization was situated around the fertile The diverse landscape of the region allowed
plains of the Indus River, providing the for a variety of agricultural practices and
inhabitants with rich agricultural land. facilitated trade with neighboring regions.
Urban planning and architecture
1 Cities
The Harappan civilization is known for
its well-planned cities, with
sophisticated sewage and drainage
systems, and multi-story houses made of
fire cooked bricks.
2 Architecture
The architecture displayed a high level
of craftsmanship and design, as seen in
the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro and the
impressive citadels.
Trade and economy

40K+ Economic Prosperity

Trade Network
Over 40,000 artifacts found at Harappan sites
indicate a vast and thriving trade network that
extended to Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and
beyond.
Urban Economy
Economic prosperity was evidenced by the
uniform weights and measures, indicating a
standardized system of trade and commerce.
Social structure and daily life
1 Social Hierarchies
Evidence suggests a well-structured society, with possible distinctions in occupation
and social status.

2 Daily Life
The civilization had a rich cultural life, as evidenced by the elaborate pottery,
jewelry, and figurines discovered in excavations.

3 Harappan Script
The unique script of the civilization remains undeciphered, providing a glimpse into
their intellectual and literary pursuits.
Art and culture
Seals and Script Cultural Practices Proto-Urban
Culture
The distinctive seals Ritualistic practices,
depicting animals and evidenced by the The civilization's art and
symbols played a discovery of fire altars, culture laid the
significant role in their suggest a religious and foundation for the
religious and trade ceremonial aspect to their development of later
practices. culture. cultures in the Indian
subcontinent.
Decline and legacy
Environmental
Factors
Some hypotheses suggest
that changes in the
environment, such as
climate shifts and tectonic
activity, might have
contributed to the decline.
Legacy
The legacy of the
civilization is reflected in
the continuity of certain
cultural practices that have
persisted into modern
times.
Integration into
Indian History
The impact of the
civilization on the
subsequent history and
culture of the Indian
subcontinent is a topic of
ongoing study and
exploration.
Conclusion and key takeaways
The Indus Valley Civilization was an Its contributions to urban planning, trade,
advanced and sophisticated ancient culture and culture have left a lasting legacy that
that thrived in the Indian subcontinent. still informs modern society.