For simplicity and brevity, this discussion will label the Indus Valley Civilization as the Harappan Civilization though other naming systems are available because it was a civilization in northwest South Asia between 3300 – 1300 BCE. It was among the first large-scale civilizations, and there are good reasons to consider Egypt and Mesopotamia to be part of the same category.

Characteristic features of the Harappan Civilization:

-Urban Planning: The Harappans laid the foundations, for being the first urban civilization to have well planned cities. The Mohenjo-daro and Harappa cities displayed street plans that were as grids; these city had also well developed drainage systems, bigger structures that were public.
Image of Mohenjo-daro ruins

Trade and Commerce: The Harappans were good traders and artisans They knew the art of bartering and reciprocal trading. Earlier they had extensive trading relations with Mesopotamia and with other regions. Organization Their weights and measures had been put into some order in order to do the trade conveniently.

Advanced Technologies: The Harappans were skilled civilisers and possessed good technology according to the standards of early civilisation. They erected more developed ways of irrigation, construction through preparation of bricks and metal working.

Art and Culture: Their delightful pottery, jewelry, and seals are characteristic of the Harappan civilization. Both were characterized by geometrical patterns, and stylized motifs of some animals were typical for them.

Mysterious Script: The Harappans had a script, which was, however, yet to be deciphered, which makes it even more challenging to understand the culture of the people who lived here.

It is thought that the Harappan Civilization suffered decline sometime around 1900 BC. Maybe it was as a result of climatic changes, or other environmental related factors and other such like factors. This influence remains unyielding to this date and remains an area of interest to other archaeologists and historians.