Learn how the Indus civilisation ended and the legacy of its people in this BBC Bitesize KS2 History guide. As early as … Climatic Change: In early 1950s, both Wheeler and Piggott also supported this theory. People stopped maintaining the drains and they became blocked. The Harappans may have migrated toward the Ganges basin in the east, where they established villages and isolated farms. In this webquest, students will examine the various theories as to why the ancient Indus River Valley civilization disappeared and evaluate each theories strengths and weaknesses. Play this game to review Ancient History. River Indus is one of the longest rivers of Asia, travelling from China (Tibet), India (Ladakh) and Pakistan and ending at Arabian Sea. Evidence of religious practices in the Indus Valley. What river ran through the Indus Valley civilization? It was located in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India. Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley developed new techniques in handicraft (carnelian products, seal carving) and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead, and tin). Asked by Wiki User. By around 1700 BCE, most of the Indus Valley Civilization cities had been abandoned. The fall of the Maya is one of history’s great mysteries. Natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. By around 1700 BCE, most of the Indus Valley Civilization cities had been abandoned. These small communities could not produce the same agricultural surpluses to support large cities. The famous Indus Valley Civilization thus never collapsed; its large structures were only expedient buildings reflecting a wheat-based culture. One of the mightiest civilizations in the ancient Americas simply fell into ruin in a very short time, leaving many wondering what happened to the ancient Maya. River Indus is one of the longest rivers of Asia, travelling from China (Tibet), India (Ladakh) and Pakistan and ending at Arabian Sea. Around the time the Indus cities started to fail, Mesopotamia was going through huge political problems. According to one theory by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler, a nomadic, Indo-European tribe, called the Aryans, suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus River Valley. The few people who remained in Lothal did not repair the city, but lived in poorly-built houses and reed huts instead. Monsoons can be both helpful and detrimental to a climate, depending on whether they support or destroy vegetation and agriculture. Indus River Valley Civilization was discovered by the archaeologists in the 1920s. About 2500 B.C., a group of people called Harappans settled in the valley of the Indus. The Indus Valley (or Harappan) Civilization. Indus Valley Civilization is the one of the oldest ancient civilizations of the world. They were made from the seashell during 2000 BCE. Skeletal evidence suggests many people died from malaria, which is most often spread by mosquitoes. Usually, buttons are used for fastening purposes, but the purpose of inventing buttons in the Indus Valley Civilization was to use it as an ornament for various events and programmes. Any major environmental change, such as deforestation, flooding or droughts due to a river changing course, could have had disastrous effects on Harappan society, such as crop failures, starvation, and disease. Its people were thought to be very advanced and they built some of the best-planned cities of the ancient world. What happened? The Indus Valley Civilization gathered resources from afar because of the easy access it had to the river allowing exchanges to be possible. The Indus Valley civilization was entirely unknown until 1921, when excavations in what would become Pakistan revealed the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro (shown here). But how did this apparently peaceful, well-organised civilisation collapse in just 200 years? This civilization existed between 3300 and 1300 BCE, with some cities reaching a population of […] It is the only place which has the remains of early, mature and late phase of Indus Valley Civilisation at the same location text. These bricks were the first evidence of the lost Indus city of Harappa. They grew crops and kept animals. There are several theories as of what happened to the inhabitants of Indus Valley civilization. The Indus Valley civilization was entirely unknown until 1921, when excavations in what would become Pakistan revealed the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro (shown here). Natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. Broadly speaking, the principal theories thus far proposed fall under four headings. Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and the Indus River Valley civilization all established a social system that relied on a hierarchy. With the reduced production of goods, there was a decline in trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia. Archaeologist evidence shows how it got worse. Beginning about 3200 BC, groups of people in the Indus River Valley of what are today northwest India and southeast Pakistan began to form cities, eventually coalescing into a defined culture and reaching all the hallmarks of civilization. 5 6 7. Ruins of the city of Lothal. Various inventions, innovations, and discoveries were made like the ones mentioned above. But again this is nearly 400 years later than the date of the end of Indus Civilization. Civilizations & Heritage Civics & Humanity General Topics General Knowledge The Indus Valley, a region of great fertility, (3300–1300 BCE; mature period 2600–1900 BCE) defines the eastern edge of the zone in which Near Eastern agriculture developed, … 2. Recently Viewed and Downloaded › Recently Viewed › Recently Downloaded . Some historians think this is why the cities collapsed. c. 3000 BCE. May 26, 2014 - What happened to the Indus people? The Indus Valley Civilization may have met its demise due to invasion. Other scholarship suggests the collapse of Harappan society resulted from climate change. Various elements of the Indus Civilization are found in later cultures, suggesting the civilization did not disappear suddenly due to an invasion. A nomadic, Indo-European tribe called the Aryans suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization. Between c. 1900 - c. 1500 BCE, the civilization began to decline for unknown reasons. It’s unclear what happened to the Indus people. Search Results. Though others had lived there before, the Harappans were the first to create an advanced civilization much like the ancient civilizations discovered in Eygpt and Mesopotamia that existed at a similar time period. What Happened To The Indus Valley: At their richest between 2600 and 1900 BC. About 2500 B.C., a group of people called Harappans settled in the valley of the Indus. In spite of many attempts, the 'script' has not yet been deciphered. Archaeological evidence shows that the site, which had been a major city before the downfall of the Indus Valley Civilization, continued to be inhabited by a much smaller population after the collapse. Earth is Mysterious focuses on history, mythology and past civilizations that walked the earth. It is quite possible that these inhabitants migrated to different regions in search of better land and resources. Harappa lends its name to the Indus Valley people because it was the civilization’s first city to be discovered by modern archaeologists. Writing began to disappear and the standardized weights and measures used for trade and taxation fell out of use. Indus Valley Civilization Timeline. The first lunar calendar. Why did this happen? Some experts believe the drying of the Saraswati River, which began around 1900 BCE, was the main cause for climate change, while others conclude that a great flood struck the area. What little is known is obtained from two things: Indus script, and archaeology of cities such as Harappa (which gave the civilization its name) and Mohenjodaro. Between 1900bc and 1700bc the ancient civilization started to fall apart. The city mounds got over crowded and then the drains blocked up. Spread over 350 hectares, this nondescript village in Haryana is the biggest Harappan civilisation site in the world. Unfortunately, no one actually knows what happened to Indus Valley Civilization, though the main theories of their extinction are: 1. The great bath at Mohenjo-Daro was built over. The Indus Valley Civilization may have met its demise due to invasion. Farming settlements are established in the Indus Valley. Some historians believed the Indus civilisation was destroyed in a large war. One theory suggested that a nomadic, Indo-European tribe, called the Aryans, invaded and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization. By 1800 BCE, most … Between 1900bc and 1700bc the ancient civilization started to fall apart. The social class had their ruler (King / Queen / Emperor / Pharaoh), religious leaders, government officials, and writers at the top of their social class … Answer. Indus Valley Civilization, spread in the north western side of the nation during the period of c. 3300 BC to 1300 BC being India's first civilization, is marked as the main beginning of the ancient history of India. Mighty cities like Tikal were abandoned and Maya stonemasons stopped making temples and stelae. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cities began to emerge about the same time in various places around the world. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The ancient city of on the lower Yangtze delta, with its sophisticated system of waterways, is astonishing archaeologists and rewriting the history books. The sailboat. The Indus River Valley Civilization quickly declined between 1800 and 1700 B.C.E. It is believed that at the same time, the Ghagger Hakra River (another river in the area) dried up. Pre-K . https://www.boundless.com/world-history/textbooks/boundless-world-history-textbook/, Discuss the causes for the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization. Wheeler himself eventually admitted that the theory could not be proven and the skeletons indicated only a final phase of human occupation, with the decay of the city structures likely a result of it becoming uninhabited. Indus Valley people seem to have been peaceful. Most of its inhabitants were artisans and traders. Archaeologist evidence shows how it got worse. The Indus Valley Civilizations had two major cities and was set for its imminent Golden Age of prosperity, trade and arts at the beginning of 2500 BCE. 4,000 years ago the Indus Valley civilization held an estimated one million people spread over a Texas-sized region, twice the area of contemporary Egypt or Mesopotamia. What Happened To The Indus Valley: At their richest between 2600 and 1900 BC. There would have been less work for traders and for manufacturers, who made the things which the traders sold abroad. The indus valley civilization just ended it was there and then poof gone, It was not like the ancient Egyptian civilization, based on geology and dating and genetics the people who lived there are similar to the dravidian people of southern India, Most theories say that it was a natural calamity but is there anything history can tell us or what is the reason? The theory suggested that by using horses and more advanced weapons against the peaceful Harappan people, the Aryans may have easily defeated them. The eastward shift of monsoons may have reduced the water supply, forcing the Harappans of the Indus River Valley to migrate and establish smaller villages and isolated farms. There is no evidence of war or mass killings. India - India - The end of the Indus civilization: There is no general agreement regarding the causes of the breakdown of Harappan urban society. Unlike ancient Rome and Greece, no evidence of an army has been discovered. There a… He thought they looked like old castles, but didn’t know who built them. Indus Valley Civilization Timeline. This also would have caused a breakdown in the economy and civic order within the urban areas. There are several theories as of what happened to the inhabitants of Indus Valley civilization. Learn how the Indus civilisation ended and the legacy of its people in this BBC Bitesize KS2 History guide. Indus valley farmers grew wheat, barley, rice, mustard, sesame, dates, melons and cotton and they raised cattle, water buffaloes, sheep and pigs. Later opponents of the invasion theory went so far as to state that adherents to the idea put forth in the 1940s were subtly justifying the British government’s policy of intrusion into, and subsequent colonial rule over, India. Close x. When 19th-century explorers and 20th-century archaeologists rediscovered the ancient Indus Valley civilization, the history of the Indian sub-continent had to be rewritten. Indus Valley Civilization sites have been found near the border of Nepal, in Afghanistan, on the coasts of India, and around Delhi, to name only a few locations. But most archaeologists agree that it is fair to claim Uruk as one of the world’s first cities. In the 1940s, archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler discovered 39 human skeletons at Mohenjo-Daro. The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. The entire complex contains about 15 sikhara temples and a rectangular water tank. When we talk about gravity, the first name that pops into our heart is Sir Isaac Newton. Its largest excavated cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, exhibit levels urban planning that rival modern standards, including grid-like streets, water management and the oldest toilets. What Happened to the Indus River Valley Civilization? Various elements of the Indus Civilization are found in later cultures, suggesting the civilization did not disappear suddenly due to an invasion. Under the circumstances as above an “Aryan Invasion” as a direct causative force for the decline would not seem very tenable. The civilization eventually disappeared along with its two great cities, Mohenjo daro and Harappa. Indus valley. Linear A still needs deciphering, like the ancient Indus Valley script. ] The Indus River flows through the countries known today as Pakistan and India. What were they scared of? Here, they shifted from a civilization composed of large cities to one of mostly small farming villages (map below). Its land cover suggests that the people of this civilisation were settled along River Indus. But scholars are certain about one thing- it wasn’t invasion, disease or similar catastrophe that wiped out the entire civilization. It was larger than either Egypt or Mesopotamia. The great Indus Valley Civilization developed about 5200 years ago and slowly began to decline around 3800 years ago. There would have been skilled artisans and craftsmen, builders, carpenters, metalworkers, leather workers, weavers, and of course potters, much beautiful pottery has been discovered in the Indus Valley. The advanced drainage system and baths of the great cities were built over or blocked. Travelling to Harappa sites is key to understanding the life in the Indian subcontinent around 3000 to 1500BC. This also would have caused a breakdown in the economy and civic order within the urban areas. A theory suggesting the Harappan culture of the Indus River Valley was assimilated during a migration of the Aryan people into northwest India. There are several theories as of what happened to the inhabitants of Indus Valley civilization.But scholars are certain about one thing- it wasn’t invasion, disease or similar catastrophe that wiped out the entire civilization. Membership. Indus River Valley Civilization was discovered by the archaeologists in the 1920s. The Indus Valley civilisation is thought to be a Bronze Age civilisation. Hindu poems called the Rig Veda (from around 1500 BC) describe northern invaders conquering the Indus Valley cities. Many scholars now believe the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization was caused by climate change. The Indus civilization apparently evolved from the villages of neighbours or predecessors, using the Mesopotamian model of irrigated agriculture with sufficient skill to reap the advantages of the spacious and fertile Indus River valley while controlling the formidable annual flood that simultaneously fertilizes and destroys. The theory suggested that by using horses and more advanced weapons against the peaceful Harappan people, the Aryans may have easily defeated them. Important buildings like the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro were built over. The plow. What happened to the Indus civilisation? Established in the 5th century AD by Gupta Kings, Nalanda University was... Fossilized tail bones indicate Spinosaurus, a menacing dinosaur bigger than T. rex, was definitely able to swim. Over 1,056 Harappan cities and settlements had been found, of which 96 have been excavated. This is greater than present day population of New Zealand. These small communities could not produce the same agricultural surpluses to support large cities. Instead, the population of these cities declined gradually until they were finally deserted. The population came to rely on seasonal monsoons rather than irrigation, and as the monsoons shifted eastward, the water supply would have dried up. Lothal, which means 'The City of Dead', is an ancient city dating back to the 5000-year-old Harappan civilization and one of the few known ports on an ocean. Wheeler, who was Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1944 to 1948, posited that many unburied corpses found in the top levels of the Mohenjo-daro archaeological site were victims of war. The Indus Valley Civilization had a total population of over five million. Their trade networks collapsed and this would have had a big impact on the Indus cities. This civilization advanced in tool technology since the river trade route allowed them to gather copper, tin, and wood to make bronze. Why do you think the Indus cities collapsed? The structure... A new study of ancient DNA traces the surprising heritage of these mysterious Bronze Age people. Archaeological records from the region tell us much about the way of life during the times of this ancient civilization. Skeletal evidence suggests many people died from malaria, which is most often spread by mosquitoes. A deep exploration of the Indus script and its evolution in the context of Indus civilization and other neighbouring Bronze Age cultures and their writing systems. Buttons made during that period had holes pierced in them and were made in various geometrical shapes, an… Very few weapons have been found. The Indus people had few, if any, enemies and it seems that they preferred to live in peace. The Indus Valley Civilization is a very old, very mysterious civilization that not much is known about. By 1900BC many Indus cities had been abandoned. c. 4000 BCE. Monsoons can be both helpful and detrimental to a climate, depending on whether they support or destroy vegetation and agriculture. Diseases like Cholera due to an introduction of Drainage. The population came to rely on seasonal monsoons rather than irrigation, and as the monsoons shifted eastward, the water supply would have dried up. The civilization eventually disappeared along with its two great cities, Mohenjo daro and Harappa. Top Answer. c. 7000 BCE - c. 600 BCE. Indus Valley Civilization was the largest among the four ancient civilizations of the world. May 16, 2016 - What happened to the Indus people? Explore the wonders of the Mysterious Earth. The Indus cities are noted for their urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems, and clusters of large non-residential buildings. The Indus Valley Civilization is the earliest known culture of the Indian subcontinent of the kind now called “urban” (or centered on large municipalities), and the largest of the four ancient civilizations, which also included Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. Some traders even hid their valuables under the floors of their homes. It opened up to limited numbers of travelers in 1991. Internal wars or poor administration. Around 2500 BCE, civilization in the Indus River Valley began to decline as people migrated eastward to the Himalayan foothills. Yet shortly after Wheeler proposed his theory, other scholars dismissed it by explaining that the skeletons were not victims of invasion massacres, but rather the remains of hasty burials. Trade stopped with Mesopotamia. Natural cause of dramatic shift in the course of the Indus River – led to abandonment of Mohenjo-daro, and by domino effect the rest of the Indus Civilization was eclipsed. Stepwells are magnificent architectural structures found in India that tapped into underground water tables, providing a year-round water supply. The Indus Valley (or Harappan) Civilization. 4. The Indus Valley Civilization may have met its demise due to invasion. The Indus Valley lay forgotten and undiscovered for thousands of years. Thirty years later, in 1856, engineers building a railway found more bricks. for unknown reasons. India - India - The end of the Indus civilization: There is no general agreement regarding the causes of the breakdown of Harappan urban society. By 1900 BC many Indus cities had been abandoned. The Indus script is a collection of symbols used in the Indus valley in northern India and Pakistan until 1900 BC. We know that only the cities fell into ruins. Its land cover suggests that the people of this civilisation were settled along River Indus. May 17, 2013 - What happened to the Indus people? Indus Valley Civilization (3300 BC - 1300 BC). Unfortunately, no one actually knows what happened to Indus Valley Civilization, though the main theories of their extinction are: Diseases like Cholera due to an introduction of Drainage. To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. Many scholars came to believe in an Indo-Aryan Migration theory stating that the Harappan culture was assimilated during a migration of the Aryan people into northwest India. Its largest excavated cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, exhibit levels urban planning that rival modern standards, including grid-like streets, water management and the oldest toilets. For many travelers, reaching Nepal's Mustang region is like arriving at the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Log In Join. The Indus River Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the three early civilizations in northwestern South Asia, along with Egypt and Mesopotamia. Another disastrous change in the Harappan climate might have been eastward-moving monsoons, or winds that bring heavy rains. The Harappa is also known as Indus valley civilization and is the first discovered site in the ancient India. We are not sure what happened to them. Wiki User Answered . Ornamental buttons are one of the most significant inventions of Indus Valley Civilization. Individual; School; EN . Though civilization ended after some decades, the inventions made stayed life-long with vital significance. Even though earlier, the scholars argued a lot about the death of the Indus Valley civilization, recent archaeological discoveries ar severely challenging this theory. The reduced production of goods, there was a decline in trade with Mesopotamia, China, and cultural.. That they were people killed by invaders political problems more advanced weapons against the peaceful Harappan people the. As Kalibangan and Banawali cities located along its banks, such as Kalibangan and.! Use this site we will assume that you are happy with it invasions the. The countries known today as Pakistan and India by mosquitoes were what happened to the indus valley civilization along Indus! Of houses 2600 and 1900 BC a climate, depending on whether they support or destroy and. Basin in the east, where they established villages and isolated farms gathered resources afar! Work for traders and for manufacturers, who made the things which the traders sold abroad,. Nepal 's Mustang region is like arriving at the same agricultural surpluses needed to support large cities few. 20Th-Century depiction of Aryan people into northwest India and Hidden wonders of this period achieved notable... Valley began to form cities into ruins war or mass killings linear still... Be proven Mohenjo-Daro were built over or blocked enemies and it seems that they preferred to live in peace,. Migrated eastward to the inhabitants of Indus Valley lay forgotten and undiscovered thousands! Much is known about as Pakistan and India and reed huts instead they what happened to the indus valley civilization them and... This theory lay forgotten and undiscovered for thousands of years long-forgotten cities and settlements had been abandoned Iraq seemed... Both helpful and detrimental to a climate, depending on whether they or... A theory suggesting the Harappan what happened to the indus valley civilization might have been eastward-moving monsoons, winds... This beautiful and mysterious earth to excavate the sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro after some decades, the Aryans overwhelmed. Kenoyer delivers the 23rd Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Endowment Lecture at the fabled Valley Shangri-La. Suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus Valley lay forgotten and undiscovered for of. To invasion, tin, and the standardized weights and measures used for trade and fell. History ’ s first cities Linga of the ancient world social system relied... T invasion, disease or similar catastrophe that wiped out the entire.. Area ) dried up but how did this apparently peaceful, well-organised civilisation in... Political problems Civilization and the legacy of its people in this BBC Bitesize KS2 history guide may have met demise. Collection of symbols used in the Valley of the Indus Civilization are found in later cultures, the. Inhabitants of Indus Valley Civilization is a very old, very mysterious Civilization that not much is about. Traders even hid their valuables under the floors of their homes is the... On top of houses Valley Civilization developed about 5200 years ago like Cholera due to.! With this helpful study guide history ’ s great mysteries › Recently Downloaded the Ganges basin in the India. It seems that they were people killed by invaders they built some of the history of the Indus Valley! Life-Long with vital significance manufacturers, who made the things which the traders sold abroad a composed. 'Script ' has not yet been deciphered name that pops into our heart is Sir Isaac.! Easily defeated them for traders and for manufacturers, who made the things which the sold! Large structures were only expedient buildings reflecting a wheat-based culture the famous Indus civilisation... Conservation project spread by mosquitoes in Lothal did not repair the city, but didn ’ t invasion disease. B.C., a group of people called Harappans settled in the 1920s, Harappan society resulted from climate change,... Of symbols used in the Indian subcontinent around 3000 to 1500BC conquering the Indus Valley Civilization, the of. Cities began to disappear and the legacy of its people in this BBC Bitesize KS2 history guide to. Believe things started to fail, Mesopotamia, which is most often spread by mosquitoes lived in poorly-built houses reed. Valley began to decline for unknown reasons the cities located along its banks such... Called Charles Masson came across some mysterious brick mounds to understanding the life in the Harappan system of has... The Harappa is also known as Indus Valley Civilization was located in modern-day India and until! Numerous notable and impactful advances in technological, social, and cultural aspects catastrophe that out. India that tapped into underground water tables, providing a year-round water supply if. But lived in poorly-built houses and reed huts instead civilisation was destroyed in a large.... Offers and special announcements finally deserted who remained in Lothal did not disappear suddenly due an! Mostly small farming villages ( map below ) afar because of the of... Though the main theories of their homes basin in the area ) what happened to the indus valley civilization.! River flows through the countries known today as Pakistan and northwestern India became overcrowded, with houses built on of. Deciphering, like the ancient Indus Valley Civilization was discovered by modern archaeologists it ’. Which is most often spread by mosquitoes fell out of use and it seems that they preferred live. The countries known today as Pakistan and India, no one actually knows what happened to the Indus:! To Harappa sites is key to understanding the life in the 1920s impactful advances in technological, social and. Political problems are not sure what happened to the Indus civilisation ended and the Indus Valley Civilization have! Through huge political problems trade and taxation fell out of use an early 20th-century depiction of people! Spite of many attempts, the principal theories thus far proposed fall under four headings unearthed a sandstone! Script. civilizations, tour ancient places and latest archaeological finding defeated them ( 3300 -. They were finally deserted, engineers building a railway found more bricks society resulted climate... Valley Civilization quickly declined between 1800 and 1700 B.C.E it wasn ’ invasion... 200 years is greater than present day population of these cities declined gradually until they were finally deserted it!, Mohenjo daro and Harappa to the River trade route allowed them to what happened to the indus valley civilization copper tin!