Archive · 4 Jan 2026
Mumbai Exhibition Rethinks Ancient Civilizations Beyond Greece and Egypt
A new exhibition in Mumbai is trying to change how we think about ancient history.
Instead of focusing on Greece and Egypt, it highlights the Harappan civilization, which was in the Indus Valley.
The exhibition shows over 300 objects from different ancient cultures, like India, Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
These objects help tell the story of how these civilizations were connected through trade, farming, and culture.
The exhibition is in a museum in Mumbai and will be there for three years.
It includes things like a model of an ancient city, a mummified cat, and tools used for farming.
The goal is to show that these ancient civilizations were all important and connected in many ways.
The exhibition 'Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World' opened at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai on December 12 and will run for three years.
It aims to shift the focus of ancient world history from Egypt and Greece to the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilization, featuring over 300 objects from various ancient cultures.
The exhibition includes artifacts from six international and eight Indian museums, with the British Museum and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin contributing the most objects.
A model of Dholavira, a key Harappan site, is prominently featured, showcasing its urban planning, architecture, and sustainable water management systems.
The exhibition highlights the connections between ancient civilizations through trade, farming, and cultural exchanges, using a thematic approach rather than a chronological one.
- Who
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, in collaboration with international museums
- What
- An exhibition titled 'Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World'
- When
- Opened on December 12, to run for three years
- Where
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai
- Why
- To shift the focus of ancient world history from Egypt and Greece to the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilization, highlighting its significance and connections with other ancient cultures
- Exhibition Name
- Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World
- Location
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai
- Duration
- Three years
- Number of Objects
- More than 300
- Key Site Featured
- Dholavira (Indus Valley Civilization)
- Major Donors
- Getty and CITI
- Collaborating Museums
- British Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, and others
- Significant Artifact
- Painted mummified sacred cat from Roman-ruled Egypt