Indus Valley Civilization
Cities like Mohenjo-daro had planned streets and drains.
About this topic
The Indus Valley Civilization flourished around 2600 to 1900 BCE along the Indus River in modern Pakistan and northwest India. Its major cities, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, were carefully planned with grid streets, fired-brick houses, and remarkable drainage systems and public baths. Hundreds of towns made up one of the largest early civilizations.
Standardized weights, measures and bricks suggest strong organization, and carved stone seals with a still undeciphered script were used in trade. Merchants exchanged cotton cloth, beads and pottery with Mesopotamia by sea and land. Most people farmed wheat, barley and cotton, and raised cattle.
Unlike Egypt or Sumer, no giant palaces or royal tombs have been found, which makes historians wonder how it was governed and whether power was shared. Around 1900 BCE the cities declined, probably because of shifting rivers, drying climate and falling trade, not a single invasion as once thought. A good tip is to remember that because the script is not deciphered, our knowledge comes from archaeology alone. The sanitation of Mohenjo-daro was more advanced than that of many cities thousands of years later.
Key ideas
- Grid layout
- Standard weights
- Script not yet deciphered
Quick check
Use cases: where Indus Valley Civilization helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Indus Valley Civilization before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Indus Valley Civilization without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Indus Valley Civilization changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Indus Valley Civilization in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Indus Valley Civilization?
Cities like Mohenjo-daro had planned streets and drains.
What will I learn in Indus Valley Civilization?
Grid layout. Standard weights. Script not yet deciphered.
Is Indus Valley Civilization part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Indus Valley Civilization lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Indus Valley Civilization?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.