I'm really interested in learning about ancient ancient India. Based on historical sources, these two were the first two civilizations to appear in India am I correct? I know there's not a whole lot of information about them but can anyone elaborate more on these two cultures?

those cities are a part of Indus Valley Civilization

[quote name='GuanYu' date='Mar 25 2004, 07:29 AM' post='113141']
I'm really interested in learning about ancient ancient India. Based on historical sources, these two were the first two civilizations to appear in India am I correct? I know there's not a whole lot of information about them but can anyone elaborate more on these two cultures?
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The Indus Valley civilization encompasses the two named, which really are two of the four cities that were one of the first unban centres that the world has known and these along with at least two others form a part of the Indus Valley civilization.The civilization was located in where modern Pakistan exists, the remarkable thing about this society was that it lasted for a long time and during this period all cities which formed the civilization were in many ways ideantical.there is no evidence of local dieties and also there is no evidence of inter city warfare. the social structure, economic structure, relegion, building styles and methods, weights seals and perhaps language were the same over this large area and this similiarlty continued for a long period.

These two cities are in Pakistan...Harrapa a city in Pakistani-Punjab and Mohenjo-daro in Sindh(province in Pakistan).

There are also places in India...the cities of Lothal, Dholavira in Gujarat in India...Also Rakhi-Garhi recently found in Haryana.

In Punjab/India...cities such as Ropar(where the Harrapans settled, often called Harrapa-Ropar) are also areas where the Harrapans settled.

Below is a picture of Sanghol, a place in Indo-Panjab, in the Fatehgarh Sahib/Ludhiana area near Chandigarh...




One of the significant monuments is Sanghol Stupa with Buddhist Monastery. It dates back to 1st and 2nd century. It reveals the significant presence of Buddhists in this region of Punjab.

Read Up on Vedic Civilization.....

There were dozens upon dozens of cities, not just a few.

Also see:

The ancient maritime routes of India

True but there were four main cities.Out of these four Harappa and Mohenjodaro are the largest and the most important cities. In the dried Hakra (sarasvati) river belt there are in fact large number of settlements.Harappa perhaps was the more important city in the first half of the civilizaytion's life and Mohenjodaro became more important in the second half as sea trade with Sumar and others gained importance.

Rakhi-Garhi (in the state of Haryana) is the second most largest site after Mohenjodaro...the site was evacuated recently in 1997.

The findings at Rakhi Garhi, the largest Indus Valley site after Mohenjodaro has lead to a lot of excitement among archaeologists and historians.

Three layers of early, mature and late phases of Indus Valley civilization have been found at Rakhi Garhi. What has so far been found uncannily indicates that Rakhi Garhi settlement witnessed all the three phases. The site has deposits of 'Hakra Ware' (typical of settlements dating back before the early phases of Indus Valley).

Archaeologists say that excavations at Rakhi Garhi started only in 1997. Had they been unearthed 70 years earlier, when Harappa and Mohenjodaro were uncovered, the story would have been different. The findings are startling. Copper fishing hooks and woven found at the site affirms the river's existence nearby. Fossils indicate that the Harappan man reared cattle.

Indeed there were many towns/cities but the main ones are...Among the settlements were the major urban centers of Harappa, Ganeriwala and Mohenjo-daro(all in Pakistan), as well as Lothal, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi(all in India)