Indus River Valley Civilization

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley1. GeographyA. Physical barriers such as the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, and the Indian Ocean made invasion difficult.B. Mountain passes, such as the Khyber Pass, in the Hindu Kush provided invasion routes.

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley2. River ValleyA. The Indus and Ganges rivers are the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent

INDUS RIVERGANGES RIVER

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley3. Seasonal WindsA. Monsoon Winds1. Summer winds (July-Sept.) from the SW bring large amounts of rain2. Replenished the soil, but heavy rains also killed people, animals, and destroyed villages.

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)1. Centrally Planned CitiesA. Major Cities-States1. Harappa2. Mohenjo-Daro

MOHENJO-DARO

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)B. City Design1. A fortress, called a citadel, built of brick overlooked each city2. Each city laid out in a grid system

Each city had a strong central fortress, or citadel, on a brick platformExcavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)B. City Design3. Used oven-baked bricks to build housesa. Homes had flat wooden roofsb. Some homes were several stories high4. Sewer system beneath the streetsa. Some homes had a bathrooms and garbage chute

Both cities were planned with wide streets, water systems, public baths, and brick sewers Ruins of Harappa

Storehouses for grain indicate careful planning and a strong central governmentHarappa granary

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)2. Harappan Life (Social Division not significant in society)A. Most people were farmers1. Grew wheat, barley, rice, and cottonB. Cities also had artisans1. Worked with metals2. Mass-produced potteryC. Trade1. Traded with Mesopotamia as early as 2300 BC

Ceramic sculpture of a small cart with vases and tools pulled by oxen, from Mohenjo-daro

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)3. Language and ReligionA. Pictograms1. We cant read this

Indus Valley Seals

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)3. Language and ReligionB. Religion1. We dont know much about their religion (no temples or shines have been found)2. Animal and human figures suggest Harappans worshipped gods associated with natural forces.

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)4. Collapse (Occurred around 1500 BC)A. Not sure why. Theories include:1. Floods or Invasions from enemies

One theory is the Indo-Aryans invadedaround 1500 BC andTook over the Indus River Area.

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