The Indus River Valley and Other Bronze Age Cultures

The Bronze Age Indus River Valley Culture is among the earliest in Afro-Eurasia, together with Mesopotamia and Egypt. This chapter is dedicated not only to providing a general understanding of the Bronze Age and the cultural foundations from which later periods grow but also to highlighting the distinctly unique elements of this period in the Indus River Valley. After an introduction to this region, each area’s geographic boundaries, brief history, religion, and culture (including select architecture, art, and artifacts) are reviewed. These various peoples are included in this discussion to foster a deeper understanding of both individual groups and neighboring regions by facilitating comparative methodologies and discussions. This knowledge then serves as a foundation for a more nuanced understanding of interconnectivity: the different peoples and cultures of Bronze Age Afro-Eurasia are much more communicative and integrated with one another, whether directly or via down-the-line trade, than most people anticipate.