Indus River Valley Civilization

Maps

Geographic/ Environmental Conditions unpredictable rivers (similar situation to Mesopotamian region) strong winds / monsoons

Early Settlements Inhabitants began farming along Indus about 3,200 B.C. Size of settled region larger than Egypt or Mesopotamia

Settlements begin to grow! The Indus Valley civilization flourished around 2,500 B.C. Located in western part of South Asia (modern day Pakistan and western India)

Early Cities The early inhabitants were extremely good city planners!! 1920s archaeologists found remains of cities at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Two cities were carefully planned! Grid system Wide streets Citadels Assembly Halls Public Baths Plumbing and Sewage systems!

Lost Civilization This ancient civilization was not discovered until the 1920's. Most of its ruins, including major cities, remain to be excavated.

Images Left: The excavated ruins of Mohenjodaro – one of several planned cities laid out on a grid system in the Indus region. Right: The citadel at Mohenjodaro.

Early Society Homes were more or less equal in size indicating few class divisions Few weapons excavated revealing that the society was not warlike

Daily Life Based on excavations we know that the Harappans… -believed in many gods! -respected nature - farmers grew grain (first to grow cotton) - domesticated animals!

Artisans Worked with copper, bronze and gold Had a system of weights and measures for weighing grain and gold Baked bricks in ovens and make pottery

Indus Valley Seals Merchants used stone or clay seals to mark goods and sign contracts Seals combined carved animal design and few picture symbols Over 3,500 seals have been found so far Only example of writing found Undecipherable at this point

Seals found in Sumer! Seals have been found in Mesopotamia! Indicates that the Indus people built ports and were trading with other societies in the ancient world!

Decline After 1,000 years of prosperity, the Indus Valley Civilization began to collapse…. Cities were abandoned Trade Slowed Law and Order broke down What was the primary reason for the decline of the Indus civilization?

Reasons for the Demise? Scholars can only speculate on the causes of the decline of Harappan civilization As a result several theories have emerged regarding the decline of this civilization!

Climate? Resources? Some scholars argue either climate change or overuse of resources were responsible. The river may have changed course The rivers could have flooded excessively The people may have overworked the land overcutting trees overgrazing the land over farmed land (stripping it of nutrients)

Aryan Invasion? Others suggest it was destroyed by invading Aryans who roamed across the upper Indus about 1800 BC

The Caucasus Region The Aryans probably came from the plains of Central Asia and crossed into South Asian by way of mountain passes The Aryans originated from the Caucasus Region (consisting of modern-day Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan)

Who were they? The Aryans were semi-nomadic warriors. They built no cities and possessed no art, architecture, or written language They were warlike nomads who measured their wealth through livestock They came to India in search of land and animals

How were they so different? They were very different from the Harappans! They had a horse culture, were warriors, and two-wheeled chariots They enjoyed chariot racing, hunting with a bow and arrow, gambling and fighting. They were ruled by authoritarian males (each tribe was ruled by a king who reported to a tribal council)

Why is there uncertainty? Because the Aryans had no written language there are no written records of the invasion The only evidence that we have comes from the VEDAS composed in India between about 1500 and 1000 BCE collection of hymns and other religious texts most important part is called the Rig-Veda (contains 1,028 Sanskrit hymns)

Vedas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMRjWJZkwdk 6-12 mins

Question How did the Aryans change the Indus River Valley cultures?

Do Now: Take a handout and address the question in your groups.

Aryan Social Class System The Vedic Aryans were originally a semi-nomadic and non-urban people Society was organized into families and tribes where the power was concentrated in the hands of men Rajah - chief Warrior-nobles Priests Commoners Dasas (original inhabitants of the Indus River Valley)

Aryan Beliefs “The Brahmin was his mouth, his two arms were made the Rajanya [Kshatriya, king and warrior], his two thighs [loins] the Vaishya, from his feet the Sudra [servile class] was born.” What does this quote tell us about the social class system? Source: Bayly, Susan. Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age. New York: Cambridge UP, 1999. Print.

Caste System = Varna Over a long period of evolution, however, a more complex and rigid fourfold class or caste system (Varna) developed, and it was more or less in place by the 7th century BC: the Brahman (priestly) class the Kshatriya [=kuh-SHA-tree-yuhz] (warrior/noble) class the Vaishya [=VYSH-huhx] (commoner/herdsmen/tradesman) class the Shudra [SHOO-drah] (peasant/servant) class.

Discuss! How did the caste system impact this society? (What were some potential pros and cons?)

How does this impact India today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_xvKLhZHg