The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, flourished around 2500-1900 BCE in what is now Pakistan and northwest India.

It was one of the three earliest civilizations of the Old World, along with Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt.

Its major cities, such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, were remarkable for their sophisticated urban planning, featuring grid-like street layouts.

The cities had advanced sanitation systems, including covered drains and private bathrooms in many houses.

The civilization had a standardized system of weights and measures and produced distinctive pottery and seals.

The Indus script, a system of symbols found on seals and pottery, remains undeciphered to this day.

Their economy was based on agriculture, and they engaged in long-distance trade with Mesopotamia.

Artifacts suggest religious beliefs that may have included the worship of a mother goddess and a proto-Shiva figure.

There is little evidence of large-scale warfare or a powerful ruling class of kings and warriors.

The civilization declined around 1900 BCE, with possible causes including climate change, shifting rivers, and invasion.