Pakistan-Oldest Civilization

One of history's most ancient civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, originated nine thousand years ago in the region that corresponds to modern-day Pakistan. The Indus people made astonishing advances, such as complex water supply systems and two-story mansions with pools, long before other nations could match them. Surprisingly, the Indus civilization thrived without engaging in battle for the entirety of its history.

However, in 1300 BC, the entire Indus civilization collapsed mysteriously and abruptly. The ruins of their towns bore indications of devastation, as if they had been hit by a massive explosion. Surprisingly, indications of radiation contamination were discovered spread throughout the streets. Some speculated that the civilization was destroyed in a nuclear war, maybe unleashed by a weapon with incredible destructive power—a flare as bright as a thousand suns.

If a nuclear catastrophe had occurred, humanity would have been forced to adapt and grow into fearsome fighters like the heroes in "Rage Shadow Legends." Different tribes, ranging from scary Undead to gorgeous Elves, would populate our globe in this fascinating realm. Everyone would have the opportunity to become a legendary hero, putting their skills to the test in diverse dungeons against unique enemies while pursuing great riches along the way.

But let's get back to reality and investigate what happened to the Harappan civilization. Around 200 years ago, explorer Charles Maison traveled to the modern-day Pakistani region of Punjab and discovered the ruins of the ancient city of Harappa. Archaeological discoveries indicated that Harappa, one of the Indus civilization's capital towns, dates back to the Bronze Age, with communities occurring as early as the seventh millennium BC.

At its peak, the Indus civilization covered an area roughly one million square kilometers in size, equal to modern-day Bolivia. Its population peaked at approximately five million people, outnumbering the populations of modern civilizations such as Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and ancient China combined.

Mohenjo-daro, another important city of the Indus civilization, had a population of 30,000 to 35,000 people. For its period, the city displayed forward-thinking urban planning by including an advanced sanitation system with fully-equipped indoor toilets connected to a drainage network. It was separated into residential and citadel sections, with the latter housing vital amenities including as grain silos, trading rooms, baths, and a vast public water tank.

The Indus people possessed a writing system that was represented by ceramic tablets or seals representing diverse animals, deities, and symbols, albeit its exact meaning is unknown. Surprisingly, despite their rich trade and great civilization, they did not have an army or weaponry. Instead, they used diplomacy and trade to resolve issues without resorting to combat.

However, the once-thriving Indus civilization perished without explanation around 1300 BC. According to some ideas, environmental causes such as a drying river causing drought may have caused the Indus people to relocate to the Ganges plains, gradually integrating with other cultures through time. However, the exact destiny of the Indus Valley Civilization is unknown, leaving us with only intriguing city ruins and undeciphered tablets as clues to their mysterious past.

In relation to another idea, the mysterious disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization could have been caused by a combination of circumstances. According to one theory, the civilization's demise was caused by deforestation. The Indus people relied largely on lumber to burn the bricks they used to build their cities. As the demand for wood grew, large forests were removed, causing ecological imbalances. The formerly lush environment rapidly degraded into a desert, compounding the impact of drought on agricultural fields and eventually compelling the civilization to abandon the Indus Valley.

A different view suggests that the urban population died as a result of a cholera or malaria pandemic. Archaeological excavations, however, could not support any of these explanations. Furthermore, the mythological Saraswati River, depicted in ancient epics, is unknown, as its presence in historical documents is lacking.

Surprisingly, during excavations in 1922, scientists made an unusual discovery in Mohenjo-daro's lower city. Approximately 40 bodies were discovered, several in unusually contorted postures, implying quick and potentially violent deaths. In 1977, researcher David Davenport discovered a hollow area of 50 meters in diameter where rocks looked to have melted and turned into a glassy substance. The temperatures required to produce such an impact were extremely high, maybe as high as 1500 degrees Celsius, similar to those produced by nuclear explosions.

This intriguing evidence has led some to suggest that Mohenjo-daro may have witnessed a massive explosion, possibly comparable to a nuclear bomb. Furthermore, archaeologists working in the Indian state of Rajasthan detected a layer of radioactive dust 700 kilometers away from Mohenjo-daro. The presence of this radioactive cloud may indicate that a nuclear explosion occurred in the region thousands of years before nuclear power plants and weapons were developed.

This concept is supported by references in ancient Indian epic books, such as the Mahabharata, to a massive explosion with the brilliance of 10 thousand suns, capable of incinerating entire nations. The combination of these data suggests that a nuclear explosion may have occurred in Mohenjo-daro in the ancient past.