Describe the civilization that thrived within Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Did they have a written language? Were they successful agriculturalist? Did the produce art?

The people of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa mass-produced pottery with fine geometric designs as decoration, and they made figurines depicting their attitudes. They grew wheat, rice, mustard and sesame seeds, dates and cotton.And they had dogs, cats, camels, sheep, pigs, goats, water buffaloes, elephants and chickens.

Then, between 1800 and 1700 BCE, civilization on the Indus Plain all but vanished. What befell these people is unknown. One suspected cause is a shift in the Indus River. Another is that people dammed the water along the lower portion of the Indus River without realizing the consequences: temporary but ruinous flooding up river, flooding that would explain the thick layers of silt thirty feet above the level of the river at the site of Mohenjo-daro. Another suspected cause is a decline in rainfall.

Agriculture declined and people abandoned their cities in search of food. Later, a few people of a different culture settled in some of the abandoned cities, in what archaeologists call a "squatter period." Then the squatters disappeared. Knowledge of the Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization died – until archaeologists discovered the civilization in the mid-19th century..

abolish

do away with

unanimous

in complete agreement

secede

separate; break free

inauguration

starting a new position with a formal ceremony.

cooperationist

people who wanted the north to cooperate with the south

surrender

to give up

volunteer

perform a service for free

draft

involuntary service in military

retreat

withdraw; move away from enemy

advisor

expert who gives advice

explanation: