1. The Indus Valley
Civilization

2. Impact of Geography “Wall of Mountains” Rivers Monsoons
Hindu Kush, Himalaya, Karakoram separate south Asia from the Indian subcontinent.
Rivers
Indus and Ganges
Monsoons
Seasonal winds dominate India’s climate
Winter wind blows dry air/Spring carries moisture from the ocean in the form of rain clouds.

3. Environmental Challenges
Cycle of wet and dry seasons due to monsoon winds.
Too little rain = drought
Too much rain = flood
Natural barriers
Mountains north & desert to the west helps to keep invaders out
Indus River provides a link to outsiders, traded with others such as Mesopotamia.
Q: Why are the people of India dependent on the pattern of yearly monsoons?
A: They rely on monsoons to bring moisture for crops. If the monsoons don't come, the crops fail, and many people starve

4. Civilization Emerges on the Indus
Historian know very little about the Indus civilization
All info comes from Archaeological digs
We cannot read their writing
How people came to the area is unknown, perhaps by sea from the south or through the Hindu Kush from the north.
Planned Cities, Culture, and Trade
Archaeologists have found more than 100 settlements in the area
Cities were well planned, laid out on a precise grid system
Citadel – fortified area of the city with major buildings
Oven baked bricks were uniform in size unlike the irregular sized mud baked bricks of Mesopotamia
Plumbing and sewer systems
Uniformity suggests a strong centralized government
Uniform housing also suggest that gaps in social class were not very large
Children’s toys show prosperity
Non-essential goods = extra money
Few weapons indicated war was not a frequent problem
Stamps and seals found were used by merchants to mark their goods.
First example of “branding”
Q: What is branding and why is it important?
A: Your brand is the way your customer perceives you, it sets you apart from the competition, and helps customers know what to expect.