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Indus River Valley Civilization

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

I. Geography of the Indus River Valley

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.

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

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.

II. Indus River Civilization (2500 BC 1500


BC)
1. Centrally Planned Cities
A. Major Cities-States
1. Harappa
2. 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 city
2. 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 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

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 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

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. Pictograms
1. We cant read this

Indus Valley Seals

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.

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.

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