- About 2600 BC the earliest civilization in India arose. This was about the same time the Egyptian civilizations was starting. It prospered for about 700 years.

- polytheistic: the goddess of creation was believed to play the role as the leading male god and some animals were viewed as sacred
- by 1900 BC the quality of life declined. The use of writing stopped and cities were abandoned. The reason is not 100%known but it was believed that they were attacked by the white Huns (came through Kyber Pass)

- The two cities:
* built roads in a grid pattern
* built houses made of bricks
* houses had plumbing
* cities had a sewage system
* grew cotton and weaved it into cloth
* developed a form of writing
* grew a variety of crops
* traded cloth, grain, copper, etc.

The Indus River Valley Civilization

- the twin capitals of the civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Trade was prosperous and merchants would traveled to Sumer. Each capital was dominated by a huge hilltop structure.