ParaPhrasing

Ch4

Harappan is a society named after Harappa, which is a one of two main cities located in the valley of a river. The Indus civilization peaked around 2500 B.C.E. in the western part of South Asia. It is among the world's earliest civilizations, contemporary to the great Bronze Age empires of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. It declined during the mid-second millennium B.C.E. To date, over 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Indus River in Pakistan.

Additionally, there is some disputed evidence indicative of another large river, now long dried up, running parallel and to the east of the Indus. The dried-up river beds overlap with the Hakra channel in Pakistan, and the seasonal Ghaggar River in India. Over 140 ancient towns and cities belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization have been discovered along its course. A section of scholars claim that this was a major river during the third millennium B.C.E. and fourth millennium B.C.E., and propose that it may have been the Vedic Sarasvati River of the Rig Veda. Some of those who accept this hypothesis advocate designating the Indus Valley culture the "Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization," Sindhu being the ancient name of the Indus River. Many reputed archaeologists dispute this view, arguing that the old and dry river died out during the Mesolithic Age at the latest, and was reduced to a seasonal stream thousands of years before the Vedic period.

The early Harappan cities appear to have emerged several centuries after the development of Sumerian culture in Mesopotamia. They are roughly contemporary with the founding of the first Egyptian dynasty in around 3000 B.C. The area affected by Harappan culture was larger than either Egypt or Mesopotamia. Several large cities in Gujarat continued the early urban material culture and possibly other features for another 500 years. There were also important Harappan culture settlements in the Punjab and in the eastern Gangetic Plain.

In the second millennium B.C.E., Harappan society declined as one reason was ecological degradation. In addition, natural catastrophes and periodic flooding of the Indus river and the earthquake in the area made Harappan society more weaker. However, the decline of the cities did not make the city totally disappear from the existence. Harappan society have survived because they sticked to their traditions.

About the Vedic age, it was one of major periods in the history of India. It is roughly calculated that the Vedic Period in India lasted from 1500 - 600 B.C. This period brought about a multitude of changes in the lifestyle of people. The Vedic age is broadly classified into two categories: Early Vedic Age and Later Vedic age. The Vedic period religions laid the foundation of the religious practices that are continued till date in modern India. These religions arose from the sacred scriptures that were composed during the Vedic period. These scriptures founded the very base of Hinduism in India.