The Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan civilization, was a Bronze Age society in the valley of the Indus River and its tributaries, in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India. Its mature phase lasted roughly from 2600 to 1900 BCE, and its cities, such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro and Dholavira, were laid out on grid plans with brick houses and advanced drainage systems. Its people used standardised weights, made seals engraved with a script that has not been deciphered, and traded with Mesopotamia. There is no evidence of palaces or kings that scholars can agree on. From around 1900 BCE the cities declined, probably because of shifting rivers and climate change. The civilization was rediscovered in the 1920s.
Before and after
- from 31st century BCE to 20th century BCECorded Ware culture
- c. 3,000s BCEThe Austronesian expansion begins from Taiwan
- c. 3,000s BCEYamnaya herders spread across Europe and Asia
- c. 3,000 BCECuneiform
- from c. 3,000 BCE to 1,800 BCEIndus Valley Civilization
- from c. 3,000 BCE to 2,240 BCEEbla
- from 30th century BCE to 18th century BCEMari
- from c. 2,890 BCE to 2,686 BCESecond Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,707 BCE to 2,216 BCEOld Kingdom of Egypt
More in Evolution & life
- from c. 3,200 BCE to 1,050 BCECycladic civilization
- from c. 2,300 BCE to 1,000 BCEAndronovo culture
- from c. 1,300s BCE to 500s BCEChavín culture
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 800 BCEUrnfield culture
- 11th century BCEThe Bantu expansion begins
- from 1st century to 7th centuryNazca culture
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 30th century BCE.