The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was a Bronze Age civilization that existed from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE in what is now modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. The name "Harappan" comes from the site of Harappa, one of the major cities of this ancient civilization. The civilization was discovered in the 1920s and 1930s when archaeologists began excavating the ruins of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

Reasons for being called Harappan Civilization:

1. Discovery at Harappa:
The name "Harappan Civilization" is derived from the site of Harappa, where extensive remains of the ancient city were found. The excavations at Harappa provided significant insights into the culture, lifestyle, and urban planning of this ancient civilization. As a result, the civilization came to be known as the Harappan Civilization.

2. Extensive ruins at Mohenjo-daro:
In addition to Harappa, another major city of the Indus Valley Civilization was Mohenjo-daro. The excavations at Mohenjo-daro also revealed extensive ruins and well-preserved structures, which provided further evidence of the advanced urban civilization that existed during that time. The discoveries at Mohenjo-daro contributed to the association of the civilization with the name "Harappan."

3. Common characteristics of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro:
The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro shared many similarities in terms of their urban planning, architecture, and material culture. Both cities had well-planned layouts with grid-like streets, sophisticated drainage systems, and multi-story buildings. The presence of similar features in both cities reinforced the notion that they belonged to the same ancient civilization and led to the adoption of the name "Harappan Civilization."

4. Widespread presence of Harappan sites:
The Harappan Civilization was not limited to just the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Excavations have revealed numerous other sites across the Indus Valley region that exhibit similar characteristics and cultural traits. The widespread presence of these sites, all belonging to the same civilization, further solidified the use of the term "Harappan Civilization" to describe this ancient civilization.

In conclusion, the Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization because of the significant discoveries and excavations made at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. The extensive ruins, common characteristics, and widespread presence of Harappan sites have contributed to the association of this ancient civilization with the name "Harappan."

Harappan civilisation is also known as indus valley civilisation lasted to 2500 bc to 1500 bc it destroyed due to earthquake floods etc