Chapter 2- Section3

Indus valley

2500-1500 BC

Much known/left behind by Mesopotamia/EgyptCuneiform,Hieroglyphics,Hammurabi,pyramid Not so for this culture,due to language never having been deciphered

Indian sub-continent

PakistanBangladeshPart of India

Natural Barriers

Highest mountains in the worldHindu KushKarakorumHimalayasServe to separate this area from the rest of Asia

Natural BarriersLarge desert to east protects this valley from invasion

Indus and Ganges rivers

The huge fertile plain that is formed by these two rivers is guarded by the

natural barriers

FarmingTigris/EuphratesNileIndus/Ganges

All of these rivers deposit silt after flooding which leaves land fertile

MonsoonsOctober-FebruaryJune – OctoberPowerful storms!Much flooding!

Monsoons, cont.If monsoons do not come-there is droughtIf they are too severe-crops are destroyedMesopotamia/Egypt did not have to worry about this!Indus river also floods, and it is very unpredictableWho wants to live here?

Emerging CivilizationEarliest people-7000B.C.-3200B.C.Where did they come from?Historians not sureNo Rosetta stone for their languageNever been decipheredWe rely on artifacts to tell the story

Harappan CivilizationStarted about 2500B.C.About the time Egypt was building the pyramidsOver 100 settlements in this area(Indus valley)

What sets these people apart?PLANNING!Strong centralized gov’tGrid system for streetsUniform brick sizeSewers/plumbingBathrooms in house!3 story housesCity districts/walls

ReligionMesopotamia-Ziggurat

Egypt-Pyramid

Harrappans-Citadel

Religion,con’t.Artifacts suggest one religionTheocracy?Shiva(a major Hindu god) has been found in excavations

Harappan cultureAgricultural based

Traders

River linked to ocean

Traveled far!

Culture on the declineWhat happened?EarthquakesFloods 1970’s science suggests some of eachResult was to alter the course of the river

No river-Now what?No trade

No transportation

No farming

Cities/settlements vanish

Things to rememberThis area is called the Indian sub-continentPakistan/Bangladesh/part of IndiaMonsoons and effectsHarappansNo Rosetta stone to decipher languageHow city was plannedHow they endedTrade items-cotton,gold,silver,brightly colored cloth