I NDUS R IVER V ALLEY Harappan Civilization

S ECTION T HREE : T HE I NDUS R IVER V ALLEY C IVILIZATIONS

I. Geography A. Rivers, Mountains, Plains India called a subcontinent – northern border has world’s tallest mountains mountains guard enormous plain formed by 2 rivers- Indus and Ganges rivers bring water for irrigation, silt for rich farm land seasonal winds called monsoons dominate climate: Oct- Feb dry winds, June-Oct. brings great rain, even floods

B. Environmental Challenges yearly floods that are very unpredictable rivers sometimes change course Monsoons can be unpredictable

II. Civilization Emerges on the Indus A. Early Arrivals to Planned Cities Historians know little about earliest inhabitants b/c they can’t decipher Indus writing Around 2500 BC- ppl in India building their 1st cities

One of largest cities was Harappa Harappan civilization was very advanced and built planned cities- laid out on a precise grid system Some houses/buildings even had bathrooms with running water

B. Culture culture in Harappan civilization based on agriculture was a writing system but it has not been deciphered in modern times ruled by a theocracy with little social class distinction conducted thriving trade network w/ their neighbors

C. Indus Valley Culture Ends around 1750BC Indus Valley culture on the decline There are a couple theories as to the decline of the Indus River Valley Civilization…