The ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest urban societies, thrived in what is now Pakistan and western India around 2600-1900 BCE or earlier. The Indian subcontinent historically included today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Various ancient texts, inscriptions, and travelers’ accounts document its extent and cultural influence. The term “India” originates from “Indos,” a Greek name for the Indus region’s inhabitants.
