what have historians learned from the vedas about the indus valley civilization do you think the vedas are a reliable source of information why or why not

Historians have gained some insights about the Indus Valley Civilization from the Vedas, but it is important to note that the Vedas primarily provide information about the later Vedic period, which is believed to have occurred after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. Therefore, historians rely on other archaeological and textual sources to learn about the pre-Vedic era and the Indus Valley Civilization.

The Vedas are considered a valuable source of information for understanding the social, cultural, and religious aspects of ancient India. They offer insights into the religious beliefs, rituals, and customs practiced during the Vedic period. However, they may not be a reliable source for studying the Indus Valley Civilization itself because they do not directly mention this civilization. The Vedas focus on a different time period and region, potentially implicating biases and limitations in terms of capturing historical information about the Indus Valley Civilization.

To learn about the Indus Valley Civilization, historians predominantly rely on archaeological excavations, findings of ancient cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, seals, pottery, and other material remains. These sources give a more direct understanding of the civilization, its economy, urban planning, trade networks, writing system, and other aspects of daily life.

In conclusion, while the Vedas are valuable for exploring certain aspects of ancient Indian history, they might not be considered a reliable source of information about the Indus Valley Civilization. The understanding of the Indus Valley Civilization is primarily based on archaeological evidence and analyses rather than textual sources like the Vedas.

can you explain it simpler and make it sound like a 6th grader

Sure!

The Vedas are old texts from ancient India that tell us about their religion and culture. However, these texts were written after the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. So, while the Vedas help us learn about later periods, they don't give us much information about the Indus Valley Civilization itself.

To learn about the Indus Valley Civilization, we rely more on things like digging up old cities and looking at the things they left behind, like pottery and seals. These physical discoveries give us a better understanding of how people lived in that time and help us piece together the story of the Indus Valley Civilization. So, while the Vedas are useful for different things, they aren't the most reliable source of information about the Indus Valley Civilization.