Unlocking the Mysteries of the Indus Valley Civilization

1. 10/6 Focus: • Geographic conditions in the Indus River Valley allowed for the development of civilization on the Indian subcontinent • Seasonal monsoons play an important factor in the life of people on the Indian subcontinent • Do Now: • What is a peninsula?

2. River Valley CivilizationsThe Indus Valley Geography of South Asia (Indian Subcontinent)

3. The Indus Valley Civilization • Developed around 2,500 B.C. on the Indian subcontinent

4. Indian Subcontinent • Landmass that includes the modern day nations of: • India • Pakistan • Bangladesh • Separated from Asia by large mountain ranges in the North • Himalayas • Hindu Kush • Karakoram

6. Indian Subcontinent • Southern half is large peninsula • Peninsula • Landmass with water on three sides

7. Geographic Regions • Geographic regions • Mountains in the north • Deccan Plateau • Northern Plains • Coastal Plains

8. Mountains • Kept climate subtropical • Limited contact with other groups • Ways through the Mts. • Khyber Pass • Mountain pass in the Hindu Kush • Allowed movement into the Indus Valley • Thar Desert

11. Khyber Pass is still an important way through the mountains today

12. Deccan Plateau • Plateau • Raised, flat area of land • Dry, Arid region in the center of the subcontinent

13. Coastal Plains • Flat land along the east and west coasts • Farming, fishing , and trade occur here

14. Northern Plains • Three rivers pass through this area • Indus • Ganges • Brahmaputra • Silt from flooding made the soil fertile • Civilizations developed here

15. Monsoons • Seasonal winds • Summer • Heavy rains, warm air • Winter • Cool, Dry air

17. Monsoons • Brought rain needed for crops • Led to flooding of rivers and creation of fertile silt

19. Environmental Challenges • Floods along the Indus unpredictable • river can change course • Rainfall unpredictable; could have droughts or floods

20. Closure • What is the name for the seasonal winds that impact the Indian subcontinent? • Why are they so important to the people of India?

21. 10/10 Focus: • Archeologists have discovered evidence that Indus Valley civilization had developed well organized cities • Do Now: • Identify the three geographic regions of the Indian subcontinent • Explain why the monsoons are so important to the people of India

22. Civilization Emerges on the Indus • Indus Valley Civilization • Influenced an area larger than Mesopotamia or Egypt • Earliest Arrivals • About 7000 B.C.E., evidence of agricultural and domesticated animals • By 3200 B.C.E., people farming in villages along Indus River

23. Cities • Built well organized cities • By 2500 B.C.E., people build cities of brick laid out on a grid system. • Engineers create plumbing and sewage systems • Indus Valley called Harrapan civilization after Harappa, a city.