Final answer:
The Indus Valley Civilization was the first major settlement in ancient India, noted for its advanced agricultural practices and urban planning. The Aryans invaded later, bringing social castes and the Vedic religion, setting the stage for Hinduism. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient Indus Valley Civilization was a primary settlement in ancient India. Flourishing around cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, this civilization developed around 2600 BCE with a strong agricultural base, focusing on crops such as wheat, barley, and millet.
They developed a complex society, marked by advanced urban planning including sophisticated water management systems, orderly streets, and a distinctive system of writing known as the Indus script, which remains undeciphered. Following the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization around 1700 BCE, northern India was invaded by the Aryans, a group of nomadic pastoralists.
These Aryans brought with them their own social structure based on hereditary social castes and the Vedic religion, which laid the foundation for Hinduism. The caste system and religious practices heavily influenced the societal framework of ancient and subsequent periods in India.