Indus River Valley Civilization

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Indus River Valley Civilization
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I. Geography of the Indus River Valley
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I. Geography of the Indus River Valley
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I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

• 1. 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.

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I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

• 2. River Valley
• A. The Indus and Ganges rivers are the
  most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent

INDUS RIVER
GANGES RIVER
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I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

• 3. Seasonal Winds
• A. Monsoon Winds
• 1. Summer winds (July-Sept.) from the SW
  bring large amounts of rain
• 2. Replenished the soil, but heavy rains also
  killed people, animals, and destroyed
  villages.

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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• 1. Centrally Planned Cities
• A. Major Cities-States
• 1. Harappa
• 2. Mohenjo-Daro

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MOHENJO-DARO
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• B. City Design
• 1. A fortress, called a citadel, built of brick
  overlooked each city
• 2. Each city laid out in a grid system

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• Each city had a strong central fortress, or
  citadel, on a brick platform

Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• B. City Design
• 3. Used oven-baked bricks to build houses
• a. Homes had flat wooden roofs
• b. Some homes were several stories high
• 4. Sewer system beneath the streets
• a. Some homes had a bathrooms and
  garbage chute

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• Both cities were planned with wide streets, water
  systems, public baths, and brick sewers

Ruins of Harappa
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• Storehouses for grain indicate careful planning
  and a strong central government

Harappa granary
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• 2. Harappan Life (Social Division not significant
  in society)
• A. Most people were farmers
• 1. Grew wheat, barley, rice, and cotton
• B. Cities also had artisans
• 1. Worked with metals
• 2. Mass-produced pottery
• C. Trade
• 1. Traded with Mesopotamia as early as
  2300 BC

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Ceramic sculpture of a small cart with vases and
tools pulled by oxen, from Mohenjo-daro
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• 3. Language and Religion
• A. Pictograms
• 1. We cant read this

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Indus Valley Seals
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II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500 BC)

• 3. Language and Religion
• B. Religion
• 1. 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.

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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 invaded around
1500 BC and Took over the Indus River Area.