• Harappan Civilisation: First urban civilisation in South Asia, contemporary with Mesopotamia and Egypt. It covered the largest area (~800,000 sq km).
• Initially called Indus Valley Civilisation, later renamed as Harappan Civilisation after the first discovered site, and due to discoveries in the Ghaggar-Hakra belt beyond the Indus.
• Part of India’s Bronze Age and older than Chalcolithic civilisations, though more advanced.

Phases of Harappan Civilisation:

1. Early/Pre-Harappan Phase (3200–2600 BCE):

• Known as the Regionalisation Era (proto-urban phase).
• Fortified settlements, use of wheeled transport, trade networks, and craft specialisation (stone-working, bead-making, metal-crafting).
• Early sites include Padri (Gujarat), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Dholavira (Kutch), Harappa (West Punjab), Bhirrana (Haryana).
• No large cities or advanced craft expertise seen in this phase; no sites in active Indus plains.

2. Mature Harappan Phase (2600–1900 BCE):

• Known as the Integration Era, the urban phase of full-fledged civilisation.
• Standard material traits: Red and black pottery, terracotta figurines, standardised bricks (1:2:4 ratio).
• The term Harappan Culture primarily refers to this phase, but sites differ in specifics from Harappa itself.

3. Late Harappan Phase (1900–1300 BCE):

• Known as the Localisation Era, marked by a decline in cities and cultural fragmentation.
• Five distinct zones: West Punjab (Cemetery-H Culture), East Punjab, Jhukar, Rangpur, Ganga Yamuna Doab.
• Smaller, more rural settlements with a diverse agricultural base.
• Important sites: Jhukar, Chanhudaro, Amri (Jhukar), and Kutch, Saurashtra, Gujarat (Rangpur Phase).

• Cultural Continuity across phases, but gradual changes in seals, pottery, writing, and weights during the Late Harappan phase.