1. AIM: What have archeologists discovered about the early cities of the Indus River valley?
Do Now: What is archeology? Why is it important in studying history?
HW: Choose three objects that if found by archeologists would describe who you are. Draw these objects and explain why you chose them.

2. Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations
Harappan Excavations

3. Section 1: Indus River Valley Civilization
The Story Continues
Thousands of years ago near the Indus River valley there existed a village called Amri, whose citizens were makers of fine pottery. Indus River valley people like those in Amri helped lay the foundation for cultures in the modern countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

4. I. Geography and Climate
Indian civilization developed in the Indus River valley about 4,500 years ago

5. A. Physical Geography
The Indian subcontinent extends south from central Asia into the Indian Ocean

6. High mountain ranges cut India off from immigrants and invaders
A. Physical Geography
High mountain ranges cut India off from immigrants and invaders

7. A. Physical Geography Two great rivers - the Ganges and Indus – rise
in the mountains and drain Indo-Gangetic Plain

8. A. Physical Geography
South of the I-G Plain is the Deccan Plateau, bordered by the Eastern and Western Ghats

9. Narrow coastal plains lie along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
A. Physical Geography
Narrow coastal plains lie along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal

10. The peoples of these coastal plains became sea traders
A. Physical Geography
The peoples of these coastal plains became sea traders

11. Two features dominate India’s climate: monsoons and high temperatures
B. Climate
Two features dominate India’s climate: monsoons and high temperatures

12. B. Climate
Monsoons - seasonal winds that blow from the NE Nov. to Mar. and from the SW June to Oct.

13. B. Climate
The NE (dry) monsoon drops moisture on the Himalayas before reaching India

14. B. Climate
The SW (wet) monsoon carries warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean and brings heavy rains

15. B. Climate
The wet monsoon brings most of the year’s rainfall and is important for agriculture
20cm = 7.9in
100cm = 39.4in
400cm = 13.2ft
800cm = 26.3ft
1000cm = 32.8ft

16. B. Climate
If the wet monsoon arrives late or brings little rain, crops fail; too much rain, flooding destroys the countryside

17. Temperatures can reach 120ºF in the Indo-Gangetic Plain
B. Climate
Temperatures can reach 120ºF in the Indo-Gangetic Plain
Aurangabad, India
15 C = 59 F
30 C = 86 F
45 C = 113 F

18. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
2500 BC to 1500 BC – the Harappan Civilization developed in the Indus River valley
An artistic conception of ancient Lothal

19. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
The named derives from one of the two discovered cities - Harappa and Mohenjo Daro ("Mound of the Dead“)
Early settlements date to 7000 BC

20. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
Both cities were planned with wide streets, water systems, public baths, and brick sewers
Ruins of Harappa

21. This map shows the layout of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the principal cities of the Indus Valley civilization. The larger eastern area contained the residential and commercial sections of the city, which were laid out in a grid of large rectangular blocks. Rising more than twenty feet to the west stood the citadel, built on a mound of mud brick and rubble. Fortified by a brick wall and towers, the citadel contained the city’s shrine, assembly hall, baths, and granary.

22. The Great Bath was entered using two wide staircases, one from the north and one from the south. The floor of the tank is watertight due to finely fitted bricks laid on edge with gypsum plaster.

23. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
Each city had a strong central fortress, or citadel, on a brick platform
Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro

24. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
Storehouses for grain indicate careful planning and a strong central government
Harappa granary

25. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
Harappan farmers grew crops in irrigated fields and raised livestock
Ceramic sculpture of a small cart with vases and tools pulled by oxen, from Mohenjo-daro

26. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
As early as 2300 B.C., the Harappans traded with the people of the Tigris-Euphrates valley
This seal, found in Mesopotamia, indicates a product was made in Harappa, indicating trade took place between the two regions

27. Indus Valley Seals

28. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
A written language was developed but it has not been deciphered or connected to other languages

29. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
No temples or religious writings have been found, just animal images and some evidence of a mother goddess of fertility

30. Terracotta Figurines

31. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
The Harappan civilization disappeared - theories include changes in the Indus River, earthquakes, or invasion

32. II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley
Harappan Excavations
A Walk through Mohenjo-Daro
A Walk around Harappa