The Indus Valley Civilization

Impact of Geography “Wall of Mountains” Rivers Monsoons Hindu Kush, Himalaya, Karakoram separate south Asia from the Indian subcontinent. Rivers Indus and Ganges Monsoons Seasonal winds dominate India’s climate Winter wind blows dry air/Spring carries moisture from the ocean in the form of rain clouds.

Environmental Challenges Cycle of wet and dry seasons due to monsoon winds. Too little rain = drought Too much rain = flood Natural barriers Mountains north & desert to the west helps to keep invaders out Indus River provides a link to outsiders, traded with others such as Mesopotamia. Q: Why are the people of India dependent on the pattern of yearly monsoons? A: They rely on monsoons to bring moisture for crops. If the monsoons don't come, the crops fail, and many people starve

Civilization Emerges on the Indus Historian know very little about the Indus civilization All info comes from Archaeological digs We cannot read their writing How people came to the area is unknown, perhaps by sea from the south or through the Hindu Kush from the north. Planned Cities, Culture, and Trade Archaeologists have found more than 100 settlements in the area Cities were well planned, laid out on a precise grid system Citadel – fortified area of the city with major buildings Oven baked bricks were uniform in size unlike the irregular sized mud baked bricks of Mesopotamia Plumbing and sewer systems Uniformity suggests a strong centralized government Uniform housing also suggest that gaps in social class were not very large Children’s toys show prosperity Non-essential goods = extra money Few weapons indicated war was not a frequent problem Stamps and seals found were used by merchants to mark their goods. First example of “branding” Q: What is branding and why is it important? A: Your brand is the way your customer perceives you, it sets you apart from the competition, and helps customers know what to expect.