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Located in what is now Pakistan, Mohenjo-Daro is considered one of the most remarkable cities of the Bronze Age.
Discovery & Size
In 1922, archaeologists exploring the Indus valley found the remains of a long-lost civilisation in Pakistan. At its height (around 2500 BCE), Mohenjo-Daro covered a zone of about 60 hectares and it is estimated that roughly 40,000 people lived there. Because of its extensive grid-like layout and scale, archaeologists sometimes refer to it as the “Manhattan of the Bronze Age”.
Urban Planning & Infrastructure
Mohenjo-Daro stands out for its highly developed urban planning. It is divided into distinct zones (often “citadel” vs “lower city”), with organised street-grids, drainage systems, and individual household water access. Its buildings used fired bricks and standardised construction techniques, pointing to a degree of social coordination and technical advancement.
Society & Craft
The city’s inhabitants engaged in agriculture, craft production (pottery, metallurgy), and long-distance trade. The standardised weights, measures and building modules suggest an organised economy. Interestingly, unlike many contemporary civilizations, Mohenjo-Daro does not show strong signs of dominating palaces or monumental elite tombs, suggesting a society with less extreme visible social stratification.
Decline & Legacy
By around 1900–1700 BCE the city went into decline and was eventually abandoned. The reasons likely include environmental changes, river-course shifts, and perhaps socio-economic transformations rather than a single catastrophic event. Today the site is recognised as part of the broader Indus Valley Civilization (or Harappan culture) and remains a key source of information about early urban life.