The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization

1. Geography

   • South Asia
     • The Indian Subcontinent stretches almost 2,000 miles from north to south
       • India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan
   • The subcontinent is separated from the rest of Asia by the towering Himalayas and the gigantic Hindu Kush, the two mountain that ranges to the north

2. River Systems

   • The Indus River flows across the northwestern part of the subcontinent
     • To the east of the Indus, the Ganges river stretches more than 1,500 miles across the northern part of the subcontinent.
       • Its floods created a huge, fertile plain which is suitable for farming.
   • The Indus and the Ganges River

3. Climate

   • The Indian subcontinent has a tropical climate. Most of the year, the land is very hot. Monsoons, help shape life in this region.
   • During winters, little rains fall. The wet winds provides water for the crops and a break from the intense heat.

4. Government and Religion

   • The Indus Valley showed a surprising level of planning. They all used a common system of weights and measures
     • This suggests that the Indus Valley people had a strong central government. Yet no royal statues or tombs have been found. This makes it seem unlikely that kings ruled the Indus Valley.
   • Religion is another part of the civilization about which very little is known. Scholars have found no obvious temples and a clear sign of priests.

5. Society

   • After the settlement of india's Vedic Age, The Aryans and the Indians followed their Caste System
     • The Brahmins (Priests) were on top, the Kshatriyas (Rulers and Warriors) are next, then comes the Vaishyas (Landowners, bankers, merchants), next are the Sudras (Farmers, laborers and servants) and lastly, the Dalits (people who performed dirty jobs, sometimes considered as slaves)

6. Mysteries

   • There are a lot of mysteries yet to be discovered of the Indus Valley, the Writing, the Language, the Government and so many varieties of their every day lives, and of course, their disappearance

7. The Indo-Aryans

   • By 1500 B.C another group of people were living in the Indus Valley. They called themselves Aryans. THe Aryans had their own way of mostly, everything.
     • The theories and views regarding the origins of the Indo-Aryans are numerous. Some claims that the Aryans were invaders and were nomadic warriors, some says they were simply just India's original inhabitants. But there are even wider varieties taken by historians.
   • Culture
     • Since not many cultures are found in the Indus Valley people, the cultures we mention will be more of indo-Aryans
       • The Aryans composed the Vedas. Each Veda is a collection of hundreds of sacred hymns. Priests memorized and sang as well as chanted these Vedas to call upon gods to make the people's offerings. Typical offerings might be barley, butter, or milk.

8. Trade

   • The Indus Valley Civilization was a resourceful place, their system of trade is successful and prosper.

Images and files in the map