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People began to settle in the Indus River Valley.
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The Indus River Valley civilization began in 2500 B.C. Cotton workers were at the center of this civilization. Two very important cities in the civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
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By this time, the Harappan civilization was thriving and its culture had spread through much of the Indus Valley.
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The Harappan civilization quickly vanished sometime around 1700 B.C. Most archaeologists believe this was because of a natural disaster. The region's location and physical geography could have made a natural disaster likely.
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In 1500 B.C, the Aryans invaded the Indus River Valley. They spoke Sanskrit, herded animals, and brought new technology. The Aryans soon developed towns and villages where they farmed and traded.
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By 600 B.C, the Aryan culture made Sanskrit into a written form. The Persians from the north began to arrive in the Indus River Valley. Also, this was a time of conflict and religious questioning in Asia.
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Siddhartha Gautama, the man who late came to be known as the Buddha, was born in 563 B.C. Siddhartha was born royal and he lived in a palace. When he became an adult, he left the palace. After this, he began on his great journey.
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From 550 to 320 B.C, Cyrus II's Persian Empire stretched from the Mediterranean to the Indus River Valley. The Persian Empire ruled 20 provinces.
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During this time, a soldier named Chandragupta established his power in India. He started the Mauryan Empire. He lived a life of luxury. After he got tired of that life, he became a monk.
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Chandragupta Maurya's grandson, Ashoka, seized power of the Mauryan Empire in 270 B.C. The government was very organized, but seemed highly controlling.
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After Ashoka, the rulers were less successful at controling an empire, and the Mauryan Empire ended about 185 B.C.
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When conflicts broke out in India, they ruled themselves until A.D. 320. At this time, the Guptas took control.