From about 2600 BC the Indus or Harappan civilisation built large planned cities such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa in what is now Pakistan, with grid-pattern streets, standardised fired bricks, covered drains, bathrooms in houses and a Great Bath. Its people traded with Mesopotamia and used a script that has never been deciphered, found on stamp seals showing unicorn-like animals. The civilisation covered over a million square kilometres, one of the largest of the ancient world. Without evident palaces, kings or large armies, its political system is a mystery. It declined after 1900 BC, probably due to changes in climate and rivers.
Before and after
- c. 2,640 BCEConstruction of Pyramid of Djoser
- from c. 2,613 BCE to 2,498 BCEFourth Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,600s BCE to 2,200s BCEBell beaker culture
- c. 2,601 BCECaral flourishes in the Norte Chico
- from c. 2,601 BCE to 1,901 BCEThe Indus Valley cities reach maturity
- c. 2,590 BCEConstruction of Red Pyramid
- c. 2,589 BCEConstruction of Dahshur
- 26th century BCEThe Great Sphinx
- c. 2,560 BCEConstruction of Great Pyramid of Giza
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
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 27th century BCE.