The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the earliest great civilizations in the world. It thrived along the Indus River in modern-day Pakistan and India about 4,500 years ago. The people built well-planned cities with running water and sewers. It was as advanced as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Amazing Cities

The two largest cities were Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Streets were laid out in a neat grid pattern. Almost every house had a bathroom with water drainage. The cities had large public baths and grain storage buildings. This level of planning was very rare in the ancient world.

A Mysterious End

The Indus Valley people traded with Mesopotamia and other distant lands. They used a writing system that has never been decoded. Around 1900 BCE, the civilization began to decline. Scientists think climate change and shifts in the river may have caused people to leave their cities.

Fun Facts

• Mohenjo-daro had a public bath that may have been used for religious ceremonies.
• The Indus Valley Civilization had about 5 million people at its peak.
• Scientists still cannot read the Indus Valley writing system after over 100 years of trying.

Did You Know?

The Indus Valley people may have invented buttons, which they used as decorations on their clothing.