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Archeologists began to unearth evidence of this great civilization during the 1920s. Digging began around two town sites—Mohen-jo-Daro on the Indus River and Harappa on a tributary of the same river—and what came to light revealed a culture that extended for some 1,000 miles, making it by far the largest of the world's first civilizations. It is sometimes referred to as the Harappan civilization.
The Indus Valley civilization flourished about 4,500 years ago, although its origins remain unclear. Historians speculate that nomadic tribes settled along the river plain, perhaps imitating the successful agriculture begun by earlier, more dispersed farming communities. Undoubtedly, the cycle of the Indus was crucial, for as the water receded each summer, the alluvial soil left behind provided a rich earth for agriculture without the need for plowing or manuring. How this farming lifestyle evolved into a mature and sophisticated culture remains a mystery. While there is some evidence suggesting force was employed, it is also likely that the period of development was a slow and mainly peaceful process.
Tangible evidence provides proof of an impressive society. Animals were domesticated, crops harvested and stored, copper mined, and streets laid out on a grid pattern resembling that of a modern city in the United States. Houses were constructed of red bricks, and unlike other early civilizations such as the Nile Valley civilization in Egypt the extent of urban planning suggests that houses were not just for the privileged few but were inhabited by the bulk of the population. An extensive drainage system and the use of a uniform system of weights and measures support the idea that a central authority planned and coordinated matters of public interest.
The communities of the Indus Valley did not live in splendid isolation. Trade was conducted with south India, Afghanistan, Arabia, and Central Asia, and there is evidence to suggest that sea trade facilitated the exchange of goods and raw materials with Mesopotamia, another great civilization then developing between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the Middle East.
This highly developed urban civilization came to an abrupt end around 1500 B.C., and scholars have speculated about the causes of its decline. Invasion, catastrophe, and overpopulation have all been advanced as possible factors, but conclusive proof continues to elude researchers. What is certain is that the end came suddenly. Towns were abandoned and the people probably returned to a nomadic form of life. An inspiring experiment in urban planning, a settled agriculture, and a peaceful existence came to an inexplicable end.