Indus Early River Valley Civilization Yay for Planned Cities!

Objectives: Why did the Indus develop in a river valley? Where was the Indus civilization located? What were the social, economic, and political characteristics of the Indus civilization? What religious traditions developed in the Indus civilization?

Geography

Map of Early River Valley Civilizations

Geography Subcontinent: A large landmass that can be part of a continent such as India is to Asia. The subcontinent of India is separated by the Himalayan Mountains Monsoons: Seasonal winds that are either dry air or heavy rains. Monsoons affect India by either pushing dry air through or moist air through the country. Dry air comes from NE from October to May Moist air comes from SW in middle of June till October

Environmental Challenges

Environmental Challenges Unpredictable flooding Indus sometimes changed course Monsoons brought extreme dry and wet seasons too little rain was bad for crops and brought hunger too much rain meant flooding and death

Natural Barriers

Natural Barriers Himalayas in the North Desert in West (modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan) Indian Ocean to the South THINK ABOUT IT: What did these natural barriers prevent AND allow for the Indus civilization?

Complex Institutions

Complex Institutions Government: No evidence of a single ruler, but they must have had a centralized government. Planned cities point to a centralized government Religions: Not a lot of evidence, but were polytheistic and connected to modern day Hindu Gods

Advanced Cities

Advanced Cities Major Cities: Kalibangan Mohenjo-Daro Harappa Cities in Indus are unique because they were planned in a grid system. Grid System: Planned streets that form a grid. Separated residential districts Plumbing and sewage system Buildings made out of standard sized bricks Citadel: fortified area that contained major buildings

Society and Technology

Society and Technology Uniform housing suggests no divisions in society Clay and wooden toys suggest a prosperous society Few weapons of warfare suggest limited conflict Technology Stamps/Seals: made of carved stone, used by Indus to identify goods Sign of long-distance trade---these stamps were found in Sumer, while Sumer goods were found in Indus