Civilizations of the Indus By: Molly Lord, Alanna Bonavitacola, Amanda Browne, Nia Scott
Geography Indus is a subcontinent. – It is separated by the Hindu Kush, Karakorum, and Himalayan ranges. – The mountains surround a enormous flat and fertile plain, formed by the Indus and Ganges rivers. – The Indus river can be used for irrigation and silt, which produces rich land for agriculture.
Environmental Challenges Monsoons – From October to February, winter winds blow dry air westward from the northeast. From June through October, wind carries moisture from the ocean. Powerful storms may cause flooding. Yearly flooding, cycles of wet and dry seasons, and rivers shift their courses.
Planned Cities They had very advanced cities. – Build strong levees to keep out water. – Because of the many archaeological discoveries made, the Indus valley civilization was also called the Harappan civilization. – Their cities were such a success because they were laid out on a precise grid system. – They baked bricks and had sophisticated plumbing and sewage systems.
Religion It was theocracy but no temple has been found. Priests prayed for good harvest and safety from floods. Artifacts can be linked to modern Hindu culture.
Gods Early representations of Shiva, a major Hindu god have been found. They may have also worshipped a mother goddess, fertility images, and the bull. – These all have become part of later Indian civilization.
Language The Harappan language has not been deciphered yet. – Linguists have not found any inscriptions that are bilingual. The language is made up of about 400 symbols. – They also represented objects and sounds. The language was essential for trade.
Trade They used the Indus River for transporting goods. The river provided a link to the sea. – The enabled them to trade with distant people such as the Mesopotamians. – Ships used the Persian Gulf to bring copper, lumber, precious stones, and luxury goods to Sumer. Trading began around 2600 B.C. until 1800 B.C.
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