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Unpredictable river flooding Strong winds and monsoons Protected to the north by the massive Himalayan Mountains

Artifacts and buildings discovered in 1922 Writing discovered but still not translated

Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro Both had a well-planned grid pattern Built with standard size bricks & with extensive plumbing systems

Farmed wheat, barley, melons, dates Used irrigation systems and canals Traded cotton cloth, grain, copper, bronze pearls, & ivory in cities

Included a mother goddess of creation Polytheistic Included a mother goddess of creation Used images of sacred animals such as the bull and tiger lukerosa@gmail.com

Society ends around 1500 BC Theories include natural disasters (tsunami, earthquake) Possible invasion by Aryans

Indo-European people Migrate into India through Khyber Pass around 1750 BC Begins the Vedic Age based on the Vedas

Written in Sanskrit beginning about 1500 BC The oldest scriptures of Hinduism Include poems, prayers, and the Hindu Gods & Goddesses

Divided by occupation: Brahmins – priests Kshatriyas – warriors Vaisyas – herders, farmers, artisans, merchants Sudras – Non- Aryans, laborers, servants

This hierarchy develops into Hindu caste system Establishes the basis for Hindu society lukerosa@gmail.com

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Civilization grows along the Huang He (Yellow) River Fine soil carried in the river called loess gives it a yellow color Dikes built to keep river from overflowing

Isolated by natural barriers – mountains, deserts Led to belief that China was the sole source of civilization Little contact with traders and invaders lukerosa@gmail.com

Dynasties ruled by families From about 1650 – 1027 BC Dynasties ruled by families Kings ruled a small area, loyal family clans held the rest lukerosa@gmail.com

Shang Di was the Supreme Deity Gods will not respond to mere mortals Ancestor worship involved rituals and sacrifices to speak to the Gods

The Yin & Yang symbolize the balance of two forces Yin = Earth, darkness, female, cool, wet Yang = Heaven, light, male, warm, dry

Oldest examples found on oracle bones Over 10,000 pictograph & ideograph characters Developed into calligraphy A single writing system helped unite China

The royal family & nobles control society Artisans and merchants represent the middle class Most of the population are peasant farmers lukerosa@gmail.com

Copper coins used Expanding trade routes Develop silk thread from cocoons of silkworms Silk becomes a valuable export