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What was the Indus civilization and when did it flourish?

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Flag of India — India The Indian flag is also called the tricolor. The top band is saffron in color (signifying courage), the middle band is white (signifying peace and truth), and the bottom band is green (signifying fertility and growth). The wheel in the middle depicts the wheel of the law in the lion capital in Sarnath that Mauryan emperor Ashoka created.

The Indus civilization was the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent and one of the world’s three earliest civilizations, alongside Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. It emerged in the Indus River valley, evolving from agricultural villages that utilized irrigation techniques.12

The civilization flourished during the 3rd millennium BCE and persisted into the 2nd millennium BCE. It was characterized by a sophisticated urban system, including major cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, which featured specialized crafts, writing, and seals.132

The decline of this urban system occurred in stages, with estimates suggesting a period between approximately 2000 and 1750 BCE. While the central urban structure eventually collapsed, archaeological evidence indicates cultural continuity in southern regions, such as the Kathiawar Peninsula, which bridged the gap to later Copper Age cultures.3