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1: Indus Valley Civilisation download (1) - Coggle Diagram
1: Indus Valley Civilisation 
Development
Prehistory
200,000 ya: anatomically modern humans
100,000 - 50,000 ya: behaviourally modern humans
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Urban phase
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Larger centres begin to develop. Around 400 settlements excavated in total, mainly confined to the river valley and the coast
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were the most important, with up to 40,000 people
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Decline and fall
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First explanation that the Aryans destroyed the Indus valley cities, but there is little evidence for this
More likely due to ecological factors: deforestation, salinisation from intensive agriculture, earthquakes disrupting river courses
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Research
During the early 19th century, it was known that there were ruined cities in the Indus Valley. Locals believed them to be around 1,200 years old as cities existing until the Muslim Invasions of 800s
British archaeologists visited the site and dated the cities to between 1500 and 2500 years old to either the travels of Xuanzong or the conquests of Alexander the Great
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Serious excavations of the ruins began in 1904 that the sites may be over 5,000 years old, the oldest cities in the world outside Egypt and Mesopotamia
Prior to this, it had been assumed that Indian history began with the Vedas
Characteristics
More like independent city-states with a hegemonical structure and shared culture than an organised state.
Cities were very well organised, with grid plans in cardinal directions. Drainage systems connected houses
Some cities had walls but were not defensive in nature, probably to regulate traders
Tended to have a walled citadel in the centre, perhaps for rituals. Public bathing areas
Unified system of weights. Traded with Mesopotamia for copper; exported gold, ivory, carnelian, wood
Regularity of cities suggests a strong central authority. However few structures that could be palaces, few opulent burial mounds
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Cities had a citadel, and a lower town with a granary
Houses had bare outside walls but courtyards on the inside to bring in fresh air and light. Still popular in region today
No large palaces, but different sized houses suggests some stratification
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Figurines of a mother goddess have been found, suggesting Parvati or Uma
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