Indus River Valley Civilizations? AIM-How did geographical and environmental settings establish agricultural prosperity in the Indus River Valley Civilizations? 1

I. INDUS RIVER VALLEY & THE BIRTH OF SOUTH ASIAN CIVILIZATION. a. HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION (3rd millennium B.C.E./Indus River system) : Huge complex of cities and villages, developed; the two principal cities were Harappa, in the north, and Mohenjo-Daro, in the south. 3

b. Rivers were nourished by the melting snows of the Himalayas and monsoon rains and deposited rich soil in the valley plains. 1. Early settlers profited from the region's rich environment: domesticated animals, practiced sophisticated agricultural techniques; made pottery, mirrors and bronze tools and weapons.

II.GREAT CITIES OF THE INDUS VALLEY a. Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro were densely populated, walled cities built on a square grid pattern. b. Cities possessed fortified citadels which served as defensive sanctuaries, community centers, assembly halls or places of worship, and public bathing tanks. 5

c. Large granaries stored grain; the state regulated its production and sale. An advanced agricultural system based upon wheat, rye, peas, and rice supported Harappa's people. 1. Irrigation systems controlled the rivers' flow. Cotton was cultivated and domestic animals were reared. d. Bathing areas and drains emptied into a citywide sewage system, one of the best in the ancient world. 6

e. Cities were major trading centers; there is evidence for trade with Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, & Burma.

f. POWERFUL PRIESTLY CLASS, drawing authority from their role as intermediary between the populace and gods, dominated society. POLYTHEISM utilized fertility gods and worshipped trees. g. WRITING SYSTEMS developed in Harrappa, which remain undecipherable today.

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AIM:HOW DID THE ARYANS BUILD AN EMINENT CIVILIZATION IN INDIA?

Define the term Aryan. Based on this timeline what can you infer about the Indus River Valley Civilizations?

I. ARYAN INCURSIONS AND EARLY ARYAN SOCIETY IN INDIA a. 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C.E.: Aryans migrated into Asia Minor, Europe, Iran, and the Indus and Ganges river systems and ended the Mohenjo Daro-Harappan civilization. 1. Aryans were speakers of lndo-European languages, and herders coming from the region between the Black and Caspian seas.

II. ARYAN WARRIOR CULTURE a. Aryans were warrior people who settled and became agriculturists. b. The Aryans possessed a rich oral lore. The Vedas (religious hymns) depicted Aryans as a restless and warlike people. c. They were superb horsemen, employed chariots, and had more effective weapons than the Harappans. d. Were polytheistic their chief deity was Indra, god of battle and lightning..

III. ARYAN SOCIETY a. Aryans were divided into three main social groups: warriors, priests, commoners, and later, slaves or serfs (dasas). b. Rigid social differentiation existed between the Aryans and dasas. The effort to prevent mixture gave rise to the CASTE (varnas) SYSTEM, that was based upon male domination: 1. priests (brahmins) 2. warriors 3. merchants 4. peasants Beneath them were the descendants of non-Aryan conquered peoples.