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### The Harappan Valley Civilization - The Harappan Valley Civilization flourished near the Indus River in ancient India. - It stretched from the northwest of the Indian subcontinent to the west of Pakistan. - Harappa is a site in the Punjab region of Pakistan which is located 240 miles from the I...

### The Harappan Valley Civilization - The Harappan Valley Civilization flourished near the Indus River in ancient India. - It stretched from the northwest of the Indian subcontinent to the west of Pakistan. - Harappa is a site in the Punjab region of Pakistan which is located 240 miles from the Indus River. - Mohenjo-daro in Sindh is located on the right bank of the Indus River. - These sites were discovered by archaeologists in the 1920s. - These sites were considered to be some of the earliest urban settlements and were centers for trade and craft production. - They were also the center of the Vedic period, which was a time of significant cultural and religious growth in India. ### Some features and architecture of the Harappans - The Harappans had excellent city planning and had developed an impressive infrastructure. - Streets were wide and ran on a grid with a series of interconnected buildings and dwellings. - Drainage systems were created to prevent flooding. - The most significant feature of the Harappans was the development of writing in the form of symbols. - They were skilled in pottery, metalwork, and jewelry-making. ### Drainage system - The cities of the Harappan Valley had well planned grids of streets. - Some of the roads were about 10 ft wide and others were narrow and street corners had been rounded to create a smooth transition. - The drainage system was excellent, with its narrow, clay-lined channels connecting to larger drains which led to a sewer. - Well-built houses, rectangular in shape, with imposing rad and massive gates, are another interesting feature. - The Harappans had something similar to toilets. - Their toilets which drained into underground pipes indicate that they had an understanding of public health. - Some houses were built in brick.