Transcript Old World Civilizations Indus River Valley Civilizations

Ancient India
WHERE IS IT?
Old World Civilizations
Indus River Valley Civilizations
Harappa & Mohenjo Daro
The Indus Valley civilization flourished around
2,500 B.C. in the western part of South Asia,
in what today is Pakistan and western India.
Its first discovered city was Harappa,
But the nearby city of Mohenjo Daro
is the largest in this region.
The Indus Valley was home to
the largest of the four ancient
urban civilizations of Egypt,
Mesopotamia, India and China.
This ancient civilization wasn’t discovered
until the 1920's. Most of its ruins, including
major cities, remain to be excavated.
Left: The excavated
ruins of Mohenjo Daro.
The Geography:
Indian Subcontinent
 Northeast: Himalaya Mountains
 Northwest: Hindu Kush Mountains
 West: Arabian Sea
Indus & Ganges River Plains
Southern Deccan Plateau
 Extremely dry
 Bordered on East and West by
mountains
 Separated from north by river,
mountains
The Monsoon Winds
 October - April: Dry Season
 May - September: Wet Season
1. What challenges did people
along the Indus River face?
• unpredictable rivers
(similar to Mesopotamia)
• strong winds / monsoons
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
What were some of the Indus River
civilization’s accomplishments?
Water Wells
Grain Storage (surplus)
Streets
Public Baths
Trade Ornaments
2. What conclusions have been drawn
about Indus River cultures?
•
Farming along Indus R. ~ 3,200 B.C.E.
•
Cities laid out in grid pattern with a
defensive fort.
•
Engineered plumbing and sewage
systems.
•
Peaceful people – few weapons found.
•
Housing patterns show equality among
social classes.
•
Religious symbols linked to Hinduism.
Indus Harappan script has
not been deciphered.
Below: The citadel at
Mohenjo Daro.
What happened to the Harappan civilization on the Indus River?
Above: The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro.
Surrounding pics: various Harappan artifacts.
Harappans abandoning
their city.
3. What theories explain why the Indus Valley civilization
ended around 1500 B.C.E?
•
The river changed course or natural disaster like flooding
(caused by heavy monsoons)
•
The people overworked the land (overcutting trees,
overgrazing, over-farmed land: depleting nutrients)
•
Invaders, like the Aryans.
The Aryans
1.
Nomads & cattle
herders roaming
Southwest Asia.
2. Vedas tell the
story of the
Aryans - collection
of prayers, hymns,
and religious
teachings.
The Aryans
3. Fierce warriors
 a. Chariots
 b. Bows and arrows
4. Divided people by
occupation
 a. Caste System
The Aryans
5. Religious Beliefs
a. Polytheistic
i.
ii.
Sky, sun, storm, and fire
Indra – chief god of war
b. Brahman
i. A single spiritual power that resided
in all things
Symbol for Agni –
god of fire
The Aryans
6. Advancements
a. Sanskrit language
i.
Became basis for many
languages of India
b. Epic Literature
i.
Mahabharata : India’s
greatest battle epic
ii. Bhagavad-Gita: reflects
religious belief of
importance of duty