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The Indus Valley Civilization declined around 1800 BCE, as climate change forced the residents eastward into smaller communities. LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ] Discuss the causes for the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization KEY POINTS [ edit ] One theory suggests that a nomadic, IndoEuropean tribe called the Aryans suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization. However, many scholars now believe that the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization was caused by climate change as the monsoons migrated eastward. As the eastward shift of the monsoons reduce the water supply, the Indus Valley Civilization residents may have migrated east to establish smaller villages and isolated farms. These small communities could not produce the largescale agricultural surpluses needed to support cities, and the cities were abandoned. TERMS [ edit ] Aryans a nomadic, IndoEuropean tribe called the Aryans suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization monsoon seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitationÍž usually winds that bring heavy rain once a year. Give us feedback on this content: FULL TEXT [ edit ] The Indus Valley Civilization began to decline around 1800 BCE. There are several theories to explain the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization, including the Aryan Invasion and climate change. The ruins of ancient houses in the city of Lothal Archaeological evidence shows that the site, which had been a major city before the downfall of the Indus Valley Civilizations, continued to be inhabited by a much smaller population after the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization from 18001500 BCE. The few people who remained in Lothal did not reconstruct and repair their city, but lived in poorly built houses and reed huts instead. The Aryan Invasion Theory (ca. 1800 1500 BC) One theory suggests that a nomadic, IndoEuropean tribe called the Aryans suddenly overwhelmed and conquered the Indus Valley Civilization. Using horses and more advanced weapons against the peaceful Indus Valley people, the Aryans may have easily defeated the native peoples of northern India. However, many elements of the Indus Civilization are found in later cultures, suggesting the civilization did not disappear suddenly. The Climate Change Theory (ca. 1800 1500 BC) Today, many scholars now believe that the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization was caused by climate change as the monsoons migrated eastward. The monsoons supported agricultural surpluses, which in turn supported the development of cities in the Indus River Valley. Because the residents relied on seasonal monsoons rather than irrigation, the water supply dried up as the monsoons shifted eastward. The Indus Valley Civilization residents may have migrated towards the Ganges basin in the east, where they established smaller villages and isolated farms. These communities could not produce the same agricultural surpluses to support large cities. With the reduced production of goods, there was a decline in trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia. Natural disasters, such as droughts, deforestation, floods, and changes in the course of the Indus River may have also contributed to the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization. Around 1800 BCE, the Indus valley climate grew cooler and drier and a tectonic event may have diverted the Ghaggar Hakra river system toward the Ganges Plain. Excavations in the Ganges Plain show that settlement began around 1200 BCE. By around 1700 BCE, most of the Indus Valley Civilization cities had been abandoned.