Indus River Valley

Bell RingerWhich Mesopotamian invention do you think

is most important?

irrigation wheel sailboat plow cuneiform calendar

Ancient IndiaMap Activity:Hand in your Venn-Diagram and thesis statements

Use book – page 42Use colored pencils to complete map activity

Indus Valley

(2500 – 1500 BCE)

The Indian Subcontinent

Subcontinent

Hindu-Kush & Himalaya Mts. Natural barrier between Huang He and

Indus RVC

Located near 2 rivers – Indus and Ganges

Monsoons of India

Monsoons are seasonal winds that blow across the subcontinent. Winter – blows from North & West;

bring cool, dry airSummer – blow from South & East;

bring hot moist air; rainy season

EvidencePeople settled around 3000 BCEwriting undeciphered must rely on archaeology and artifacts

Harappan CultureWritten language – pictograms

Little division in social classSimilar housingExtra goods (children’s toys)

Strong central government – theocracy; similar to later Hindu tradition

Seal from Mohenjo-Daro

Cities Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro well-planned grid pattern standard size bricks, extensive plumbing system uniform weights & measures

Mohenjo - Daro

Set of weights from Harappa

Economy Farming: grew wheat, barley, melons, dates Trading: cotton cloth, grain, copper, pearls, ivoryTrade with other cultures including those in Mesopotamia is evident (soapstone seals found in Sumer)

Religion polytheistic

included a mother goddess of creation -- Shiva sacred animals

DisappearanceWhat Happened to Harrapa???Examine theories in groups

Use your textbook p. 45 “Mysterious End to Indus…” Name each of theories Identify key points of each theory

As an Individual: Use key points of each theory to write your own theory of what

happened to the Harrapa Use notes to back up your theory

Disappearance Theories damage to environment volcano eruption blocks Indus

earthquakeNomadic invaders overrun Indus valley

Aryans (c.a. 1500 BCE)

Tour of Harappa: http://www.harappa.com/indus/indus0.html

Aryan Civilization(1500 – 500

BCE)

Aryans an Indo-European people invaded India through Khyber Pass Vedas – prayers, hymns, religious teachings

Society divided by occupation Brahmins – priests Kshatriyas – warriors Vaisyas – herders, farmers, artisans, merchants

Sudras – Dravidians, non-Aryans, laborers, servants

Society warriors on top at first, priests rise when people settle into the area hierarchy develops into caste system

Religion polytheistic Brahmins offered sacrifices to the gods ideas will evolve into Hinduism & Buddhism

Religion developments brahman – single spiritual force beyond all the gods

mystics – people who devote their lives to seeking spiritual truth

Writing Sanskrit writing developed by 500 BCE priests write down the Vedas still maintained oral traditions

Gupta EmpireGolden Age of Classical IndiaContributions of GuptaMathematicsTextiles-elaborate designs

Literature-Mahabharata