The Indus River Valley civilization arose in 2600 B.C, around the same time as Egypt. Their economy was based on trade and farming. Because of trade, they traveled as far as Sumer. Scholars believe that contact with the Sumerians prompted them to create their own writing system, but cuneiform is not similar to their writing.

Indus River Valley Civilization

Religion:
The Indus people are believed to have been polytheistic. They viewed certain animals as sacred, including the buffalo and the bull, which scholars think later influenced Indian beliefs, including the veneration for cattle.

The civilization declined around 1900 B.C. The reason for the decline is unknown, but is believed to have possibly been because of Aryan tribes who traveled through the Khyber Pass.