Early Indus Valley Civilizations

Do Now On a piece of paper, identify some of the key aspects of the early civilizations: On a piece of paper, identify some of the key aspects of the early civilizations: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

Harappan Culture Located in the Indus Valley along the Indus River Located in the Indus Valley along the Indus River

Cities Lived in large, well laid out cities Lived in large, well laid out cities Walls around the city Walls around the city Significant industry and trade Significant industry and trade Straight streets that were lined with bricks Straight streets that were lined with bricks

Cities Warehouses to store food for the city Warehouses to store food for the city Elaborate bathing facilities with drains Elaborate bathing facilities with drains Sewer systems Sewer systems

Great Bath

Did Harappa look like this?

Harappa Street

Life outside of the City People who lived outside of the city farmed. People who lived outside of the city farmed. Grew barley, wheat, peas, and sesame. Grew barley, wheat, peas, and sesame. Raised cattle, sheep, goats, and water buffalo. Raised cattle, sheep, goats, and water buffalo. First to grow cotton and domesticate chickens. First to grow cotton and domesticate chickens.

Trade Traded goods such as cotton with people in the Middle East. Traded goods such as cotton with people in the Middle East.

Writing Used pictographic writing on clay seals. Used pictographic writing on clay seals. Unable to decipher the pictographs which means there are many questions about the Harappa culture. Unable to decipher the pictographs which means there are many questions about the Harappa culture.

Harappa Seal

Decline of Harappa Civilization Around 2000 B.C. the city became run down. Around 2000 B.C. the city became run down. Streets were broken, large houses were divided into smaller homes and towns were abandoned. Streets were broken, large houses were divided into smaller homes and towns were abandoned. Could this have been because of the climate? Could this have been because of the climate?

Aryans Nomads Nomads Warlike Warlike Entered South Asia through the Hindu Kush Mountains Entered South Asia through the Hindu Kush Mountains

Aryans Learned how to make iron tools and weapons from people in the Middle East. Learned how to make iron tools and weapons from people in the Middle East. It took the Aryans hundreds of years to come and gain control of Harappa. It took the Aryans hundreds of years to come and gain control of Harappa.

Aryan Culture Vedas – Hymns, prayers, and rituals Vedas – Hymns, prayers, and rituals Polytheistic Polytheistic Gods were very different Gods were very different Sacrifices to gods (food and drink) Sacrifices to gods (food and drink)

Aryan Culture Made sacrifices in order to receive wealth, good health, and success in war. Made sacrifices in order to receive wealth, good health, and success in war. Placed great value on cattle. Placed great value on cattle. Rajahs – Chiefs that ruled the Aryan villages. Rajahs – Chiefs that ruled the Aryan villages.

Caste Systems Caste – A ridged social class system where your social group is determined when you are born. Caste – A ridged social class system where your social group is determined when you are born.

Aryan Social Classes Varna – made of 4 classes Varna – made of 4 classes Brahmans – priests Brahmans – priests Kshatriyas – warriors Kshatriyas – warriors Vaisyas – landowners, merchants, herders Vaisyas – landowners, merchants, herders Sudras – servants and peasants Sudras – servants and peasants