Why the Indus Valley Civilization Fell: Climate Clues Behind an Ancient Mystery
New research reveals that the Indus Valley Civilization’s decline was driven by centuries-long drought cycles, reshaping settlement patterns and ultimately leading to its collapse. Why the Indus Valley Civilization Fell: Climate Clues Behind an Ancient Mystery The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s earliest urban societies. Flourishing between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago along the Indus River system in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, it rivaled the grandeur of ancient Egypt in scale and sophistication. Yet, unlike Egypt, the Indus Valley mysteriously faded away — leaving scholars puzzled for centuries. A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment and reported by SciTechDaily sheds light on this enduring mystery. Using advanced climate simulations, researchers discovered that a series of severe droughts, each lasting more than 85 years , played a decisive role in the civilization’s gradual de...