Indus Valley River Civilization Or the Civilization of Harappa

Location

Geography A subcontinent Himalayas, highest mountains in the world Indus and Ganges Rivers Rivers bring rich soil Deccan Plateau blocks weather

Monsoons seasonal winds that bring wet and dry season winter monsoons are dry summer monsoons are wet

Challenges floods unpredictable rivers change course too much or too little from monsoons

Emerging Civilization Arrival earliest arrivals are unknown 7000 BC farming and domestication 3200 BC people live in the Indus Valley Amazingly, the Indus Valley civilization appears to have been a peaceful one. Very few weapons have been found and no evidence of an army has been discovered. Excavated human bones reveal no signs of violence. All evidence points to a preference for peace and success in achieving it.

System of Writing The first artifact uncovered in Harappa was a unique stone seal carved with a unicorn and an inscription. Similar seals with different animal symbols and writings have since been found throughout the region.

. Planned Cities Built levees to keep water out -Sophisticated city planning -Grid system -Standard sized bricks -plumbing and sewage systems The findings clearly show that these societies were well organized and very sanitary.

Hygiene The brick houses of all city dwellers were equipped with bathing areas supplied with water from neighborhood wells. Sophisticated drainage systems throughout the city carried dirty water and sewage outside of living spaces. Even the smallest houses on the edges of the towns were connected to the systems — cleanliness was obviously of utmost importance.

Harappan Planning -thick wall surrounding city -grid system with roads -built on mud-brick platform to protect from flooding -thick wall surrounding city -grid system with roads -multi-story houses -indoor plumbing

Culture Animals were important and even sacred

Role of Religion No temple found Government- theocracy early Hindu gods pray for harvest

Caste System or the Structure of Society Society was divided by what was a person’s occupation. With people doing “unclean” work at the bottom of that society. They were called “untouchables.”

Trade thriving trade stones, jewels used rivers for transportation access to sea and ocean increases trade

End of the Civilization Possibly: Shift in tectonic plates brings earth quakes and changes river flow trade diminished crop failure Aryan Invasion