Indus Valley

Indus Valley Geography  Subcontinent  Mountains  Indus and Ganges Rivers  Monsoons  Isolation  Cultural Diversity

Indus Valley Geography  Northern Plains  Deccan Plateau  Costal Plains

Early Indus Valley What historians know…without reading Linear A (writing sytem) 1,000 years 1,000 years Language Language Large area Large area Great Cities (well-organized government) Great Cities (well-organized government)

Cities and People  Settlement  2 Major Cities Mohenjo-Daro Mohenjo-Daro Harappa Harappa  Religion  Economy  Writing

Harappa

Mohenjo-Daro

Indus Valley Dancer Statue

Aryans Arrive in Indus Valley  Decline…Arrival!  Language  Aryan Culture  Religion  Vedas and “Vedic Age”

Aryans on Chariots

Aryans in the Indus  Social Classes / Caste System Brahmins Brahmins Kshatriyas Kshatriyas Vaisyas Vaisyas Sudras (added) Sudras (added)  Government (rajah)  Literature – Mahabarata and Bhagavad-Gita / Rama and Sita

Sanskrit (by 500 BCE)

Which coast of India are we looking at? What is the body of water called in the bottom right of this picture?

Why is this important?  Our knowledge of the Aryan migration is very limited  But… Aryan traditions and beliefs formed a framework for later Indian civilization  Middle East is the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam  India is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism (Aryans affected the creation of these religions)