All about the Indus River Valley
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Transcript All about the Indus River Valley
All about the Indus River Valley
General Information
River Civilizations
The 1st civilizations arose near rivers.
The people of the Indus Valley farmed along the Indus
River.
Subcontinent – a large landmass that is set apart from
the rest of the continent by a physical feature
Indian Subcontinent – separated from Asia by the
Hindu Kush and the Himalayas ~ includes: India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan
Questions 1 and 2
What physical feature was
central to early civilizations?
Which river formed the basis of
India’s first civilization?
Question 3
What countries make up the
Indian Subcontinent?
• Identify at least 4
Physical Features
Features on the landscape
that were formed by natural
processes. Ex. mountains,
rivers, lakes
Himalayas
The planet's tallest mountain range, including the
highest, Mount Everest. Provides a natural border for India.
Indus and Ganges Rivers
Two of the most important geographic features in India, providing water
sources and creating fertile land.
Question 4
What natural barriers
separate the Indian
subcontinent from the
rest of Asia?
Question 5
The continental United
States is about 2,400
miles wide. How does
this length compare to the
Indian subcontinent?
River Systems ~ Indus River
• Flows across the Northwestern part
of the subcontinent
• Snow and ice from the mountains melt
and drain into the rivers, when the
rivers flood it leaves behind silt
• River water allowed for irrigation
part 1 envelope
India’s 1st Civilization
Civilization grew around the Indus
Valley
Developed in an area that is DRY most
of the year
part 2 envelope
River Systems ~ Ganges River
part 3
envelope
Flows across the Northern part of
the subcontinent
Floods create a HUGE, fertile
plain good for farming – this is
the Ganges Plain
The rich Ganges Plain was the
CENTER of another civilization
Question 6
Why were river floods
a welcome event for
early Indus Valley
people?
Question 7
What fertile plain is
located in the northern
part of the Indian
subcontinent?
Climate
part 4 envelope
Monsoons-seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
Much of India has a Tropical climate
Winter- dry blow from the land
Summer-wet blow from the ocean
Question 8
What impact do
monsoons have on
agriculture in India?
Beginning of Indus River Valley
The Indus River Valley Civilization
started about 2500 B.C.E.
Along the south-western part of the
Indus River.
The largest city was Mohenjo-Daro,
in present day Pakistan.
Settlements stretched all along the
river.
below envelope
Impact of Geography
3 tab
NATURAL BORDERS
Borders made of land or water
Mountains- Himalayas, Hindu Kush
Water- Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and
Indian Ocean
Prevented invasion and disease
FARMING / IRRIGATION
Used the rivers and rain from the
monsoons to wter crops
TRAVEL
Location to rivers allowed for easy
travel and trade
Timeline
7000 B.C began growing crops around Indus River System
• With a steady food supply population grew
3000 B.C cities began to develop on the Indus Valley plain
2500 B.C cities were the center of civilization
1700 B.C civilization disappeared
1921 ruins were discovered for Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Question 9
When did cities begin
to develop in the Indus
Valley?
Question 10
When did the
Indus Valley
civilization flourish?
Technology
3 tab
Cities were well planned
Wide straight streets built in a grid a pattern
Built thick walls around the city
Built huge raised mound of earth and brick-remained above water during
floods
Houses
had bathrooms and toilets
Trash chutes in many houses led to a bin in the streets
Waste water flowed into brick-lined sewage channels-1st sewage
system
Math
Advanced system of weights and measurement based on units of 10
Question 11
Why do archaeologist
say that Indus Valley
cities were well
planned?
Farming
2 tab
Irrigation channels
the monsoons were not predictable
Irrigation channels and ditches brought water to the
wheat and barley fields
Crops and animals
1st farmers to grow cotton for cloth
Raised cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens
Surplus crops were stored in a GRANARY~ a
special building to hold grain
Trade ~The economy depended greatly on trade
3 tab
Items made and sold
Made jewelry from precious stones
Cotton cloth was woven and sold
Teak wood
Trade
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Advancement in technology led to carts and early
boats that were used as the main method of trade and
travel.
• Seals and Weights
• Traders used seals to identify their goods.
• Seals were stamped on clay squares attached to their
goods.
• Accurate weights and measures increased trade.
Question 12
What items were
exported for
trade?
Question 13
What
advancements aided
trade?
Cities
Mohenjo-Daro
3 tab
Design
Laid out in 12 blocks
Blocks measured 1260 feet north to south
750 feet east to west
A central block on the west was raised 20 to 40 feet above
the other blocks
The raised block is believed to be the center for religion
Large buildings with verandas
Supersized granary
Two assembly halls
Houses had bathrooms and sanitation facilities
Government
3 tab
These items suggest that there was a STRONG central
government:
Cities were well organized and show a high level of planning
Used a common system of weight and measurements
No royal statues or tombs makes is unlikely that a king ruled.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO
DETERMINE THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THAT
DID EXIST.
Religion
3 tab
Little is known
No temples and no clear signs of priests
The statues that have been found resemble the Gods in the
Hinduism
Many Indus Valley carvings look like people meditating – an
important practice in Hinduism
Writing
We are still not sure how to
read the Seals that have
been found.
Social Structure- Caste System
Caste system with four main classes
Verna- a caste grouping
People were born into social classes that could not be
changed.
Brahmins (priests and the king)
Kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats - rulers)
Vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants)
Shudras (peasants and serfs)
Twice Born
Men in the TOP 3 varnas were “twice born”
1st physical birth
2nd spiritual birth – this happened after the
individual read the Vedas and mastered
writing using Sanskirt
Dalits
a caste grouping that was added later for people
they others Castes are untouchables
These pole completed the ‘dirty’ jobs: cleaning the
toilets, butchering animals, etc
Buildings and Structures
All houses had access to water and were about the same size
Houses had one or two stories
Most buildings were made of dry bricks
No large monuments or structures
Individual buildings for bathing and using the restroom (had an early
"sanitation" system)
Citadels were used for defense
Tools
Weapons
Technology
Used Bronze, Copper, Iron
Used Bronze to make
Large Irrigation System
Clay Used for Art and Tools
Not as advance as
Mesopotamia
1st to create measurement
and weighing equipment
Measuring system and tools
for measurement
(1st and most accurrate)
Arrows were crafted
Most technology was used to
help agriculture
Swords were made
Because of isolated
Boats and carts were used to
geography there was no need help with trade
for advanced weaponry.
Religion
Hinduism 1700-1100 B.C.E.
Buddhism 365 B.C.E.
Gender Roles
Men worked within their designated caste social class
Women were valued because of their ability to produce
offspring and nurse
When children were old enough, they adopted their
parents' role