Extent of the Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was not confined to these two sites in the north-western area of the subcontinent. The influence of this culture extended to the Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan), Baluchistan, Rajasthan, U.P., Gujarat and even some parts of south India.
This civilization was spread over an area of about 1600 kilometers from West to East and 1100 kilometers from North to South. However, recent excavations in Gujarat have shown that the extent of the civilization is much more than what people had thought it to be earlier. Research scholars are of the opinion that this civilization has spread over an area of 1,300,000 square kilometers, which is more than that of any ancient civilization known so far.
This civilization was spread over an area of about 1600 kilometers from West to East and 1100 kilometers from North to South. However, recent excavations in Gujarat have shown that the extent of the civilization is much more than what people had thought it to be earlier. Research scholars are of the opinion that this civilization has spread over an area of 1,300,000 square kilometers, which is more than that of any ancient civilization known so far.
Indus people and Indus River
Stone Age people hunted animals and gathered wild plants to eat. Rivers were good places to look for food. The first farmers also liked to live near rivers. A river keeps the land green and fertile for growing crops. Farmers lived together in villages. Indus Valley cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro began as riverside farming villages about 5,000 years ago.
The Indus people needed river water to drink, wash and to irrigate their fields. They used water in religious ceremonies. They made boats to travel up and down the rivers. To the Indus people, their river was The King River.
The Indus people needed river water to drink, wash and to irrigate their fields. They used water in religious ceremonies. They made boats to travel up and down the rivers. To the Indus people, their river was The King River.
Issues that the Indus people faced
Nearing the end of the Indus Valley Civilization, the cities began to wither and the strong economy slowly deteriorated. It was most likely the intermittent floods that tore apart and put and end to this civilization. Floods wiped out the irrigation system that supplied water to the crops, and many of the buildings were smothered. The people lost their drive to keep the cities orderly and prosperous. The constant flooding simply broke them of their morale as a proud people of such an advanced civilization. If it is true that the Aryans invaded the Indus Valley at the time when the civilization was withering, it was no wonder that they had no trouble forcing the people of Indus out of the area. But, it is certain that these people were powerful, determined, and advanced; easily seen through their strong willed and successful economy