What were the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?

The major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. These two cities were the most prominent and well-planned urban centers of the civilization. Harappa was located in present-day Pakistan, near the Ravi River, while Mohenjo-daro was situated in present-day Pakistan, near the Indus River.

Harappa was discovered in the 1920s by archaeologists and is believed to have been inhabited between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. The city covered an area of around 150 hectares and had a well-organized layout with streets and buildings made of baked bricks. The city had a sophisticated drainage system, indicating a high level of urban planning and engineering skills.

Mohenjo-daro, on the other hand, was discovered in the 1920s and is estimated to have been inhabited between 2500 BCE and 1900 BCE. It covered an area of approximately 250 hectares and had a similar layout to Harappa, with well-constructed buildings and an advanced drainage system. The Great Bath, a large public bathing area, is one of the notable features of Mohenjo-daro.

Apart from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, there were several other smaller cities and towns that were part of the Indus Valley Civilization. These include Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan, and Rakhigarhi, among others. These cities were also well-planned and had similar characteristics to Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, such as advanced urban planning, standardized brick sizes, and sophisticated drainage systems.

The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were centers of trade, commerce, and culture. They had a well-developed economy based on agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship. The presence of granaries, marketplaces, and craft workshops in these cities suggests a complex social and economic system.

The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is still a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. However, factors such as environmental changes, including the drying up of rivers, and the influx of new populations are believed to have contributed to its decline. Despite its eventual decline, the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization left a lasting impact on the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent.