Bronze Age (3300 – 1800 BCE)
Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, was a Bronze Age civilization that originated around 2600 BCE in the Indus River Valley in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. It was one of the ancient world's earliest and most advanced civilizations, famed for its well-planned cities, superior sanitary systems, and complex culture.
It is thought that the civilization was highly centralized, with a complex social and economic framework. Its cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were grid-planned, with complex drainage systems, public baths, and sewage systems. The Indus were excellent craftsmen and traders who made pottery, jewelry, and textiles that were distributed throughout the region.
Despite its accomplishments, the Indus Valley Civilization declined and eventually vanished around 1800 BCE for reasons that are still unknown. The civilization left behind a rich legacy of art, architecture, and cultural practices that captivate both scholars and the public.
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture
The Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) civilization arose circa 2000 BCE in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is named after the distinctive ochre-colored pottery connected with the civilization.
The OCP civilization is thought to have been a pastoral and agricultural community focused on cow rearing and crop production like wheat, barley, and pulses. It is also linked to the start of the iron era in India.
The OCP culture's people were talented in metallurgy, pottery manufacturing, and other crafts. They lived in small villages and followed a religion that was most likely based on nature worship.
The OCP culture is thought to be a descendant of the earlier Indus Valley Civilization and was contemporaneous with other cultures such as the Cemetery H and Gandhara Grave cultures. It is thought to have influenced later Vedic civilization, which flourished approximately 1500 BCE in the same region. Around 1500 BCE, the OCP culture began to decline, giving way to the early Vedic period.
