The Indus Valley civilizations were the first to cultivate cotton. India held a global monopoly on cotton for about 3,000 years - from 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D. Cotton was traded first to Greece and the Roman empire before becoming a major export to Europe, from basic prints to complex multi-step resist dye and hand-painted fabrics. In the 19th century, the first steam-powered cotton mills were built, ushering in the modern age of the Indian cotton industry. After World War II, cotton became an important symbol of independence from British colonialism.