1. Indus River Valley Civilization

2. Indian Subcontinent Set up villages in the Indus River Valley
Humans moved to India before 2,000 B.C.
Set up villages in the Indus River Valley
India’s situation is a little different because it’s a Subcontinent—landmass including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – that almost separates from the rest of Asia
The Himalayas and Hindu Kush Mountains separate India from much of the rest of Asia

3. Geography of the Indian Subcontinent
Mountains to north, desert to east (Isolates Indus people from much of the world)
Indo-Gangetic Plain – Fertile plain created from Indus & Ganges Rivers
Southern India, a dry plateau flanked by mountains with few rivers
Narrow strip of tropical land along coast
Farming is only possible along the Indus River, like with the other Mesopotamia and Egypt
Mountains
Desert

4. Geography (Cont.) Monsoons – Seasonal winds that bring rain to India
Early Indians rely on two things to grow their crops – The Indus River and Monsoons
Monsoons – Seasonal winds that bring rain to India
Occur between July and September
They are necessary to much of India’s crops – without the rain the crops could die and cause famine
Rainfall is unpredictable – Could cause droughts or floods
Depending on which way the Monsoon winds blow, they could end up pushing the rain away from most of India out back into the ocean

6. Arrivals and Cities
2500 B.C. – While the Egyptians were building their pyramids, the Indus villages grow into cities
Built in a square grid system – Think graphing paper!! (Also, streets were 30 feet apart)
Suggests that there were strong central governments that spent a lot of time planning their cities
A lot more well thought out than the Mesopotamian cities were
Indus Engineers make sewage systems
As good as any sewage system until the 1800s
Sewage system allows Indus people to get rid of waste so it doesn’t pile up
Not removing waste means that germs and diseases spread
The largest cities were Kalibangan, Mohenjo Daro and Harappa
Called Harappan Civilization after on major Indus city called Harappa

7. Culture Writing system has 400 symbols – can’t be understood
Cities are uniform in culture
All are built on square grids, have plumbing, etc.
All have a central location - citadel
Few social divisions – men and women could have high status (priests – probably led the city or helped lead it)
Few weapons of war have been located – suggest limited conflict
Found clay children’s toys
Possibly polytheistic – pictures of gods or spirits on pottery and tablets
No actual temples have been found as of yet
May have been a major fertility goddess that was worshipped

9. Trade Traded pots, beads, shells, gold with other societies
Gold and silver came from Afghanistan
Precious stones came from ancient Persia (Mesopotamia) and the Deccan Plateau (inner India)
Other metals like copper were also traded along the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf
Indus seals were found in Sumer (Mesopotamia) – probably identifying Indus goods
Eventually the Indus cities were abandoned due to several factors
Famine
Decrease in quality of city building
Invasions from foreign groups (Aryans)

10. Harappa City Planning Activity
Students will draw a quick sketch of a city found in Harappa
Drawn in a grid/square slot style
Students will draw and sketch the city – city must include the following items:
Granaries
Great Bath
Town Hall
Housing District
Streets
Drainage System – drawing sewer pipes or lines
Crops
Lastly, give the city a name and turn it in

12. Drainage System/Sewer
Town Hall
Granary
Great Bath
Houses
Streets
Drainage System/Sewer

14. ASSIGNMENT Name: Ancient India, 2500 – 1500 B.C. pg. 45 Date Period:
Note: 1.) Draw in the rivers using pg. 45; then label them
2.) Use compass rose and pgs. 44 – 45 to answer questions on the back!
Term List
India
Himalayas
Hindu Kush Mountains
Himalaya Mountains
Karakorum Mountains
Khyber Pass
Bolan Pass
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Thar Desert
Deccan Plateau
Western Ghats
Eastern Ghats
Arabian Sea
Bay of Bengal
Indus River
Ganges River
Brahmaputra River
Godavari River
Krishna River
Harappa
Kalibangan
Mohenjo-Daro
*Draw peaks for Mountains, use two colors for the map*

15. Compass Rose Questions!!
Questions from pgs
Compass Rose Questions!!
What countries are part of the Indian Subcontinent?
What are the two rivers that flow through the Indus Valley?
What lies below the Indo-Gangetic Plain?
How do the Ghats mountains affect the Deccan Plateau?
What are monsoons? What do they do?
What are some environmental challenges that the Indus Civilization faced?
What direction is the Brahmaputra River from Harappa?
What direction is Mohenjo Daro from the Thar Desert?
What direction are the Himalayas from the Declan Plateau?
What direction is the Bay of Bengal from the Arabian Sea?
What direction is the Eastern Ghats from the Himalayas?
What direction is the Indo-Gangetic Plain from the Arabian Sea?
What direction is the Bolan Pass from Kalibangan?