INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

1. INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

2. The Indus Civilization began about 5,000 years ago and was one of the first civilizations. Indus Valley Civilization is the biggest among Mesopotamia (Iraq) China and Egypt Civilization The Indus is the longest river in Pakistan. The Indus River begins in the Himalaya Mountains, and flows nearly 3,000 kilometres to the Arabian Sea.

3. Indus Cities An Indus city was made of mud-brick buildings. It had walls and roads. Water was very important to Indus people, so the builders started by digging wells, and laying drains. Some cities had citadel high on a mound. Most Indus people did not live in cities at all. Perhaps 9 out of 10 people were farmers and traders who lived in small villages.

4. Indus Gods Indus people believed in Gods. One of their God looks like a Mother Goddess. People probably believed this goddess gave health and fertility to people, animals and plants. Another was a male god with horns and three faces. Around him are animals, including an elephant, tiger, rhino and buffalo. This god is a bit like the Hindu god Shiva (who also has three faces).

5. Arts and Writing Indus Valley Sculpture Indus Valley people made small figures of people and animals using metal and clay. Making pots Indus Valley people used bowls, dishes, cups, and vases made of terracotta. They had metal dishes made from copper, silver and bronze. They are also making clay pots that were shaped on a potter’s wheel Making jewellery Archaeologists have found evidence that Indus Valley people wore lots of jewellery, especially beads, necklaces, ear-rings and ear-studs, amulets, bangles and brooches. Indus Valley Writing Writing was done using a pointed stick in soft clay, or with a sharp tool to scratch marks on stone or metal.

6. Food and Farming Indus people kept cattle, pigs, sheep and goats for food. Cows provided milk and meat. Farmers grew fruit such as dates, grapes and melons, and field crops such as wheat and peas. To feed people in the cities, Indus Valley farmers had to grow lots of food. They cultivated big fields using their wooden ploughs pulled by oxen. Farmers made good use of water from the rivers. They sowed seeds after the rivers had flooded the fields, as flood water made the soil rich. They planted different crops for winter and summer. They were probably the first farmers to take water from underground wells. They may have used river water to irrigate their fields. Farmers kept sheep, goats and pigs, and possibly donkeys and camels. They had chickens too.