History
The Indus Valley Civilization's Urban Planning and Drainage Systems
Quick fact
The Indus cities had a network of covered brick drains that could be cleaned by shifting stone slabs, and nearly every house had a flush toilet connected to this system—a luxury not seen in many parts of the world until the 19th century.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a city built 4,500 years ago with indoor toilets, wastewater drains, and a street grid so precise it would work for a modern suburb—long before Rome or Greece even existed. Could this be the world’s first planned urban society?