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. Geography
A. 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 Valley
A. The Indus and Ganges rivers are the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent
INDUS RIVER
GANGES RIVER
I. Geography of the Indus River Valley3. Seasonal Winds
A. 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 Cities
A. 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 Design
1. 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 platform
Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro
II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC – 1500 BC)B. City Design
3. Used oven-baked bricks to build housesa. Homes had flat wooden roofsb. Some homes were several stories high
4. 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 government
Harappa 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 cotton
B. Cities also had artisans1. Worked with metals2. Mass-produced pottery
C. 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 Religion
A. Pictograms1. We can’t read this
Indus Valley Seals
II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC – 1500 BC)3. Language and Religion
B. Religion1. We don’t 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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