RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS INDUS RIVER VALLEY

Essential Question: What were the important characteristics of the civilizations in the Indus River Valley? Warm-Up Question: What do you see in this picture? What does this picture tell you about the civilization that created these ruins?

The Indus River Valley (India)

India began along the Indus River, which flooded and left behind fertile soil (yet another perfect place to start a civilization) Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains and floods, which helped create more fertile soil

The people of the Indian “subcontinent” were well protected by several natural barriers: the oceans, Himalaya Mountains, and the deserts that surrounded the Indus River Valley kept out invaders

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Advanced cities: Indus cities were laid out in a grid system with high walls, wide streets, and citadel One of the most remarkable achievements of the Indus Valley people was their sophisticated city planning. The people of the Indus laid out their cities on a precise grid system. Cities featured a fortified area called a citadel, which contained the major buildings of the city. Buildings were constructed of oven-baked bricks cut in standard sizes, unlike the irregular mud bricks of the Mesopotamians. Early engineers also created sophisticated plumbing, sewage, and bath systems.

The dominant cities were: Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa This grid system would be used in many modern cities (such as New York City) The dominant cities were: Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Specialized Workers: Not a lot of social division Toys found show prosperity Culture based on agriculture

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Specialized Workers: Traded with distant lands Stone Harappan seals have been found in Mesopotamia

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Government: Ruled by a strong central government headed by a king

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Writing: Indus writing has not been fully translated so much of Indus life is still a mystery Unlike cuneiform and hieroglyphics, the writing of the Indus people has not been translated. Historians believe that Indus people used about 400 symbols in their language. Scientists believe the symbols, like hieroglyphs, are used both to depict an object and also as phonetic sounds. Some signs stand alone and others seem to be combined into words.

Writing contained about 400 symbols that were both pictograms and phonetic characters Unlike cuneiform and hieroglyphics, the writing of the Indus people has not been translated. Historians believe that Indus people used about 400 symbols in their language. Scientists believe the symbols, like hieroglyphs, are used both to depict an object and also as phonetic sounds. Some signs stand alone and others seem to be combined into words.

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Technology: Advanced plumbing: most houses in the Indus Valley had toilets and private bathrooms connected to underground sewer systems One of the most impressive technologies of the Indus people was their extensive and modern-looking plumbing systems. Almost every house in Indus cities had a private bathroom and toilet. The toilets were neatly built of brick with a wooden seat. Pipes connected to each house carried wastewater into an underground sewer system. No other civilization had such sophisticated plumbing until the 19th century. In addition, the Indus people built standard, oven-baked brinks, unlike the irregular mud bricks of the Mesopotamians.

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS Technology: They also made standard-sized, oven-baked bricks One of the most impressive technologies of the Indus people was their extensive and modern-looking plumbing systems. Almost every house in Indus cities had a private bathroom and toilet. The toilets were neatly built of brick with a wooden seat. Pipes connected to each house carried wastewater into an underground sewer system. No other civilization had such sophisticated plumbing until the 19th century. In addition, the Indus people built standard, oven-baked brinks, unlike the irregular mud bricks of the Mesopotamians.

THE ARYANS Around 1500 BCE, the Aryans came from Central Asia into the Ganges River Valley of central India. The Aryans conquered the Dravidian people living in India.

Every Indian was born into one of the 5 castes (social class). The Aryans established the caste system (a social hierarchy) to secure their place at the top of India society. Every Indian was born into one of the 5 castes (social class).

The Aryans developed their own writing known as Sanskrit. Only the higher castes were taught to read and write.

The Aryans religion was Hinduism. Today, Hinduism is the world’s oldest organized religion and its 3rd largest with nearly a billion followers Hinduism is based on the search for “perfect understanding” and liberation from the human world