Do Now: Translate this image. What can you learn from this image about the society that made it? Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations Harappan Excavations 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. I. Geography and Climate Indian civilization developed in the Indus River valley about 4,500 years ago A. Physical Geography The Indian subcontinent extends south from central Asia into the Indian Ocean A. Physical Geography High mountain ranges cut India off from immigrants and invaders A. Physical Geography Two great rivers - the Ganges and Indus – rise in the mountains and drain Indo-Gangetic Plain A. Physical Geography Narrow coastal plains lie along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal A. Physical Geography The peoples of these coastal plains became sea traders B. Climate Two features dominate India’s climate: monsoons and high temperatures B. Climate Monsoons - seasonal winds that blow from the NE Nov. to Mar. and from the SW June to Oct. B. Climate The NE (dry) monsoon drops moisture on the Himalayas before reaching India B. Climate The SW (wet) monsoon carries warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean and brings heavy rains 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 B. Climate If the wet monsoon arrives late or brings little rain, crops fail; too much rain, flooding destroys the countryside B. Climate Temperatures can reach 120ºF in the IndoGangetic Plain Aurangabad, India 15 C = 59 F 30 C = 86 F 45 C = 113 F 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 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 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 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. 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. 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 II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley Storehouses for grain indicate careful planning and a strong central government Harappa granary 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 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 Indus Valley Seals II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley A written language was developed but it has not been deciphered or connected to other languages 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 Terracotta Figurines II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley The Harappan civilization disappeared theories include changes in the Indus River, earthquakes, or invasion Collapse of Harappan “Civilization” • The de-urbanization period of the Harappan Civilization saw the collapse and disappearance of the urban phenomena in the South Asia. • The theme for this period is localization. • Architectural and ceramic forms changed along with the loss of writing, planned settlements, public sanitation, monumental architecture, seaborne and exotic trade, seals, and weights. (McIntosh, 2002) II. Early Civilizations in the Indus River Valley Harappan Excavations A Walk through Mohenjo-Daro A Walk around Harappa