Climate Change: The Hidden Culprit Behind the Demise of the Indus Valley Civilization
A Mystery Unraveled: The Fall of a Great Ancient Culture
For centuries, experts have been trying to understand the cause behind the demise of one of the greatest ancient civilizations on Earth: the Indus Valley Civilization. Now, new clues have been uncovered that may finally solve this enduring mystery. According to a recent study, climate change may have been the catalyst for the deterioration and eventual fall of this ancient culture, forcing people out of their cities more than 4,000 years ago.
Climate Change: A Harsh Reality for the Ancient World
As seasonal rainfall dried up due to global warming, inhabitants of prosperous cities were forced to migrate to villages located in the Himalayan foothills. Eventually, as water levels dwindled, these isolated villages disappeared. Interestingly, experts believe that ancient climate change could teach us valuable lessons about modern times, particularly regarding the potential effects of climate change on the Middle East and Africa.
A Lesson from the Past: Climate Change and Migration
Dr. Liviu Giosan, a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and co-author of the study, emphasizes the significance of the discovery and its implications for the future of our planet. Giosan notes that climate change-induced migration, such as that observed in Syria and Africa, is only the beginning. Sea level rise due to climate change could lead to massive migrations from low-lying regions like Bangladesh or hurricane-prone regions in the southern US.
The Indus Valley Civilization’s Struggle for Survival
Dr. Giosan explains that while the fickle summer monsoons made agriculture difficult along the Indus, the foothills provided a more reliable source of moisture and rain. As winter storms from the Mediterranean hit the Himalayas, they created rain on the Pakistan side, feeding small streams. Compared to the monsoon floods the Harappans were accustomed to, this would have been a relatively small amount of water, but it was more reliable.
The Legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age culture that developed from around 3300 B.C. to 1300 B.C. along the Indus River valley, encompassing parts of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India. It included about a hundred settlements and two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, and covered the most extensive area of all the ancient civilizations, more than a million square kilometers.
Along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley Civilization was one of the three early cradles of civilization in the Old World. The challenges faced by this ancient society serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of climate change, both for the environment and for human populations. As Dr. Giosan warns, political and social convulsions could follow the migrations prompted by climate change, highlighting the need for increased awareness and action to address this global issue.
PLEASE READ: Have something to add? Visit Curiosmos on Facebook. Join the discussion in our mobile Telegram group. Also, follow us on Google News. Interesting in history, mysteries, and more? Visit Ancient Library’s Telegram group and become part of an exclusive group.
