Archaeological excavations at Harappan sites have helped researchers find many objects from the past. These objects also include toys.

The toys were made from clay.

Some of these toys were made in the shapes of animals. The page specifically mentions bulls, dogs and elephants.

The Harappan people also made other types of toys, such as wheeled carts, spinning tops and whistles.

The Harappan civilisation was highly advanced and prosperous. This means that it had developed greatly and was economically successful.

However, after some time, the Harappan civilisation gradually began to decline. In other words, its progress and prosperity slowly started to decrease.

Researchers have tried to find the underlying causes of this decline. These are the deeper reasons that may have caused the civilisation to become weaker.

One possible major cause was a change in the course of the river. A river changing its course means that the river begins to flow in a different direction or through a different path.

The change in the river's course may have caused water scarcity. Water scarcity means that there was not enough water available.

The shortage of water then affected agriculture and daily life adversely. Agriculture needed water, and people also needed water for their everyday activities.

Another possible reason was natural calamities. The page gives examples of massive floods, droughts and earthquakes.

The textbook also says that there might have been one more reason for the decline.

Around 2300 BCE, trade with the Sumerian civilisation began to slow down.

According to the textbook, this slowing down of trade contributed to the beginning of the decline of the Harappan civilisation.

Sargon was a powerful king of the Akkadian Empire.

Evidence suggests that during Sargon's reign, maritime trade between Mesopotamia and the Harappan civilisation became successful and active.

This trade involved exchanging valuable goods such as Lapis Lazuli, gold, silver, copper, beads and other precious items.

After Sargon's era, political instability developed in Mesopotamia. This means that the political situation there became unstable.

This political instability had a harmful effect on Harappan trade.

As a result, the trade that had flourished during Sargon's time gradually came to a halt. In simple words, the trade slowly stopped.

Because trade declined, the economy of the Harappan cities was endangered. Their economic condition was affected.

The text then says that trade declined and people began migrating from the cities toward smaller villages.

Therefore, this section connects the decline in trade with changes in the economic condition and settlement pattern of the Harappan people.

Even though the Harappan civilisation declined, its influence did not become less important.

The Harappan cities do not exist today as they did in the past. However, the archaeological remains of these cities are still important.

These remains give us valuable information about the history, traditions and lifestyle of the Harappan people.

Therefore, the textbook describes the Harappan civilisation as a prosperous civilisation.

It also says that the Harappan civilisation forms the base of our cultural legacy. In simple words, the civilisation has left an important cultural heritage for us.