Ancient - Indus Geography What is a subcontinent? 1. a large, distinguishable part of a continent 2. The Indian Subcontinent is separated from the rest of Asia because of the Himalayan Mountains. Geography Monsoons affect India 1. Seasonal winds, bring either dry air or heavy rains Environmental Challenges 1) floods – unpredictable, Indus and Ganges Rivers 2) monsoons – seasonal dry/wet winds extreme Environmental Challenges Natural Barriers for the Indian Subcontinent? 1) Himalayan mountains to the north 2) Thar Desert to the west a. (modern day and ) 3)Indian Ocean to the south Complex Institution: Government of Ancient Indus 1) No evidence of a single ruler, but must have had a centralized government Complex Institution: Religion of Ancient Indus 1) Polytheistic – connection to modern day Hinduism and their Gods, a) theocracy- priests head of religion & government in Indus Specialized Workers-Economy • Trade- we know they had specialized workers, therefore must have had an agricultural surplus. Examples: Mohenjo-daro Sindh, Pakistan modern day Punjab, Pakistan Kalibangan a pre-historic site in Northwest India Advanced Cities 1) Center of trade 2) city planning – streets are perpendicular, grid system, & parallel 3) Uniform housing 4) Drainage system that lead out to the Rivers 5) Citadel Advanced Cities What is a Citadel? A fortified area, which contained the major buildings of the city. Society 1) No social class or division– no difference between the peoples 2) Peaceful society – no weapons Technology 3) Seals/ Stamps- trade with other civilizations including Sumerians. 4) Seal/Stamps were carved in clay. 5) Children’s Toys and games- prosperous society that could afford goods. 6) Public wells , advanced drainage, & irrigation system Record Keeping: 1) Language and writing system, but there is no translation tool like the Rosetta Stone.

Do not know how Indus civilization ended. •Stop Geography • India is a subcontinent separated from Northern Asia by the Hindu Kush, Karakorum & Himalayan mountains. Geography • Mountains: protect Indus Valley from invasion • Indus & Ganges Rivers: provide fertile silt for farming. • Monsoons- seasonal winds: control India’s climate. Cause flooding or droughts

Indus Valley Civilization (2500 – 1500 BCE) Indus Valley Civilizations

• 2500 BCE- Earliest cities were built in Indus Valley –Kalibangan, Mohenjo-Daro. & Harappa are largest. Harappa

• Sophisticated city planning. Had: – Citadel- fortified area which contained major buildings. – Precise grid – Standard sized – Plumbing and sewage system – Built on platforms to protect it from flooding Harappa Government

• The extensive planning and uniformity in construction suggests that Harappa had a strong central government. Culture

• Harappa culture developed a written language –It has not been deciphered –Inscriptions have been found on stamps and seals. –Made up of 400 symbols. Let’s See

• Ted Talk: Indus Language • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwYxHPXIaao

• Crash Course • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ndRwqJYDM Seals from Harappa Culture continued…

• Clay and wooden toys were found • Few weapons have been found • Many animal images Religion • Archeologists think it was a theocracy. • No temples have been found • Gods- Shiva (major Hindu god) & a mother goddess. Economy

• Traded with people in northern Afghanistan, Persia, and Mesopotamia –Traded brightly colored cotton for gold, silver, jewels, copper. • Farming: grew wheat, barley, melons, dates Decline 1750 BCE • Tectonic plates shifted causing: –Earthquakes, floods and altered the course of the –Agriculture was depleted from this and overuse. • Nomadic invaders then overran Indus valley