1. Rise of Civilization Indus River Valley Civilization (1500 – 3500 B.C.)
first Indian civilization: built well-planned cities on the banks of the Indus River
Indian culture of today has its roots in early Indus River Valley civilization

2. Geography of Indian Subcontinent
landmass that includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
Separated from the rest of Asia by world’s tallest mountain ranges
subcontinent: land mass that is a distinct part of a continent

3. Geography of Indian Subcontinent
-mountains to north & desert to east protect Indus Valley from invasion -southern India: dry plateau flanked by mountains -narrow ribbon of tropical land along coast

4. Geography of Indian Subcontinent
monsoons:
seasonal winds that dominate India’s climate
winter monsoons are dry
summer winds bring rain, can cause flooding
rainfall = unpredictable; frequent droughts, flooding

5. Indus Civilization Emerges
Indus Valley Civilization influenced area larger than did Mesopotamia or Egypt 7000 B.C. = evidence of agriculture & domesticated animals 3200 B.C. = farming villages established along Indus River

6. Indus Civilization located in present-day Pakistan
-Indus Valley Civilization also called Harrapan Civilization
-included settlements
-Harappa = capital city
located in present-day Pakistan
highly organized, planned city
still large city today
At its height, Harappa had 35,000 inhabitants

7. Indus Valley Civilization Planned Communities
Harappa
-large capital city
-located in present-day Pakistan
-highly organized, planned city
-buildings made of brick & laid out on a grid system
Harappa is one of the best known sites in Pakistan
People of Indus Civilization built cities made of brick & laid out on a grid system
All houses built to same plan — a square courtyard surrounded by rooms — but some larger than others
Streets = laid out in a grid pattern
A system of chutes took household trash from houses to street-level garbage bins. Only a well-organized government could have maintained such carefully ordered cities.

8. Urban Planning Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
city built on mud-brick platform
brick walls protect city and citadel
wide streets, rows of houses
plumbing & sewage systems
City = built on platform to protect against flood waters
Citadel = fortress at center of a city; protects the people in case of attack or weather disasters
Advanced drainage system moved wastewater from bathrooms to sewage pits beyond city walls (so understood importance of sanitation to health)
Public wells supplied all residents with fresh water
System of chutes took trash from houses to street-level garbage bins.
Had to have a well-organized government b/c they couldn’t have maintained such carefully ordered cities otherwise

9. Harrapan Government and Religion
rulers based power on belief in divine help
close link between religion and political power
royal palaces also served as temples
“priest-king” statue

10. Harrapan Economy -based on agriculture -wheat, barley, peas
-engaged in trading
-Indus Valley goods traded as far away as Mesopotamia
-also traded luxury goods for Sumerian textiles
✦copper, lumber, precious stones, cotton
Main crops = wheat, barley, peas
Also traded copper, lumber, precious stones, cotton, & other luxury goods for
Sumerian textiles
Bronze statue “Dancing Girl”

11. Language
-writing system of 300 symbols scientists still unable to decipher Leisure Time -toys & games suggest prosperity -artifacts found include different types of dice, elaborate toys, board games
WHY do toys and games suggest these people were prosperous?

12. End of Harrapan Civilization
-decline of Harrapan Civilization remains a mystery
begins around 1750 B.C
Possible Factors:
-flooding or earthquake
-change in climate
-environmental change caused by human settlement
-change in course of Indus River
-influx of nomadic Aryan people from central Asia