Final answer:
The inability to read the Indus Valley Civilization's script hinders our understanding of their political structures, religious practices, economic systems, and personal stories. Written records are crucial as they provide direct insights which artifacts alone cannot. Deciphering the script would greatly deepen our knowledge of their culture and possibly unveil the influence of other civilizations like Mesopotamia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historians' inability to read the writing of the Indus Valley Civilization significantly limits our understanding of various elements of this ancient culture. Without written documents, deciphering intricate details about political structures, religious practices, economic systems, and personal stories becomes exceedingly challenging. This is because written records provide a direct insight into the thoughts, beliefs, laws, and daily life of a civilization which artifacts alone cannot fully convey.
The Indus script, with over four hundred symbols, is believed to have been primarily used for commerce as suggested by the prevalence of written seals on goods. Since our access to the intricacies of their society is restricted due to the undeciphered script, aspects such as the political hierarchy, specifics of trade agreements, religious texts, or the life of an individual remain a mystery. Moreover, the collapse of the civilization around 1500 BCE led to the abandonment of their writing system and other cultural achievements, further complicating historical analysis.
Understanding why language origin matters to the people of India, deducing the influence of Mesopotamia on the Indus culture, or interpreting their social and religious dynamics could be possible if the script were deciphered. Additionally, while modern technology and computing might assist in analyzing patterns and fostering new theories, the core essence of their culture cannot be completely grasped until the script is readable.