Indus Valley Civilization was the first major civilization in South Asia,  which spread across a vast area of land in present-day India and Pakistan (around 12 lakh sq.km)


FEATURES OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
BC. 2700- BC.1900 ie for 800 years.

On the valleys of river Indus.

Also known as Harappan Civilization.

Beginning of city life.

Harappan Sites discovered by – Dayaram Sahni (1921) – Montgomery district, Punjab, Pakistan.

Mohanjodaro discovered by – R. D. Banerji – Larkana district, Sind, Pakistan.

The city was divided into Citadel(west) and Lower Town(east).

Red pottery painted with designs in black.

Stone weights, seals, special beads, copper tools, long stone blades etc.

Copper, bronze, silver, gold present.

Artificially produced – Faience.

Specialists for handicrafts.

Import of raw materials.

Plough was used.

Bodies were buried in wooden coffins, but during the later stages ‘H symmetry culture’ evolved where bodies were buried in painted burial urns.

Sugar cane not cultivated, horse, iron not used.

Significant Features of Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), flourishing around 2500 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, showcases remarkable achievements in urban planning, architecture, and social organization.
Urban Planning
- Advanced city layouts with grid patterns
- Well-planned drainage systems
- Use of standardized baked bricks for construction

Architecture
- Multi-story houses with flat roofs
- Public baths, notably the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro
- Granaries indicating surplus agricultural production

Trade and Economy
- Extensive trade networks with Mesopotamia and Persia
- Use of weights and measures for commerce
- Craft specialization, including bead-making and metallurgy

Social Structure
- Evidence of a centralized authority, possibly a theocratic governance
- Absence of large palaces or monumental structures suggests a different power dynamic
- Artifacts hint at a literate society with a yet undeciphered script

Religion and Culture
- Figurines and seals depict deities and possible religious practices
- Evidence of mother goddess worship and fertility symbols
- Artistic expressions in pottery, jewelry, and sculpture highlight cultural sophistication

Decline
- Theories include climate change, river shifts, and invasions
- Gradual decline rather than abrupt collapse
Origin and Authors of Indus Valley Civilization
The origins of the Indus Valley Civilization remain a subject of research. It arose from the Neolithic culture around 7000 BCE, evolving into a sophisticated urban society by 2500 BCE. Authors and scholars like Sir John Marshall and Mortimer Wheeler have significantly contributed to its study, uncovering major sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, which remain key to understanding this ancient civilization's complexities.