Culture in the Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was the first civilization to develop in South Asia. This civilization developed around 2500 BC, similar to when the civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China were first established. Unlike the other civilizations the Indus Valley Civilization declined and disappeared around 1500 BC. The Indus Valley was located on the subcontinent of Asia or modern day Pakistan, great territory of western India, southeastern Afghanistan, most of east Balochistan, and Iran. The geography of the Indus Valley had great effects on its people. Various mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, in the east and west benefited protection from foreign and nomadic invaders. The people were not isolated because they used water ways to trade and deal with other civilizations.
The Indus Valley Civilization developed into two large areas which were located along the Ravi and Sutlej rivers. These two areas grew into major cities known as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
Swastika Seals from the Indus Valley Civilization ...
Location of Harappa in the Indus Valley and extent...
Extent and major sites of the Indus Valley Civiliz...It was wise to create these two cities in similar form since they were the building blocks of the same civilization, but each city was ruled in different manners by its government. The Indus Valley Civilization is sometimes mentioned as the Harappan Civilization, because of a discovery made in the 1920's of the city Harappa. The two city states were advanced for their time period, compared to Egypt and Mesopotamia. The cities were divided into rectangular blocks, contained wide roads, and buildings were exactly one square mile. Public buildings and homes of upper class people were made of standard size bricks and windows were made from the mineral alabaster. At the edge of the each city, bricks were baked in large ovens from a mixture of stone and mud. The lower class people and slaves lived in huts made of mud and straw.