Mohenjo Daro 101 | National Geographic

Introduction to Mohenjo-Daro00:00:00

Mohenjo-daro, an ancient city in southern Pakistan's Indus River Valley, is one of the first urban centers in human history. Built around 2500 BC, concurrent with the construction of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, it was an impressive city spanning nearly 500 acres, suggesting it may have been a center of power for the Indus civilization.

City Structure and Infrastructure00:00:47

The city was divided into two main districts: the Citadel and the Lower Town. The Citadel housed exceptional monuments like the 'Great Baths', a 900-square-foot tank fed by the Indus River. Mohenjo-daro also boasted a sophisticated water system, with houses having baths and toilets, an elaborate sewage system, and 700 wells throughout the city, predating the famous Roman waterway systems.

Social Structure and Egalitarianism00:01:28

Notably, Mohenjo-daro lacks evidence of places of worship or governance like palaces, royal tombs, or temples. This suggests a potentially more egalitarian society compared to contemporary Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. The Lower Town, home to 20,000 to 40,000 people, also featured an intricate water system and was laid out in a grid system, similar to modern city planning.

Decline and Rediscovery of Mohenjo-Daro00:02:14

After approximately 600 years, the city collapsed for unknown reasons. Possible causes include cultural shifts or changes in the river's path, leading residents to abandon the city due to lack of water. It was rediscovered in 1911 by archaeologists, and decades of excavations have since revealed numerous clues about Mohenjo-daro, though many secrets still remain.