Indus Valley Civilization
Between approximately 7000 and approximately 600 BCE, a cultural and political entity known as the Indus Valley Civilization flourished in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as the Harrapan Civilization and the Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, both of which derive from its location in the Indus River valley. The Sarasvati River, which was mentioned in the Vedas and ran next to the Indus River, and the ancient city of Harappa in the area—the first one found in the modern era—give rise to these latter designations. Even though scholars generally believe that the people of this civilization developed a writing system (known as Indus Script or Harappan Script), it has not yet been deciphered, so none of these names are derived from any ancient texts. The origin, growth, decline, and demise of the civilization are all modern constructs, and nothing definitively known. However, a probable chronology and periodization have been established by m...