III. Indus Valley Civilization. Objective: To Understand that the Indus Valley Culture was rich and prospered in the Indus River Valley. Quick Review.

III. Indus Valley Civilization

Objective:

To Understand that the Indus Valley Culture was rich and prospered in the Indus River Valley.

Quick Review from last time:

1. What do we call the pictograph style writing of the Ancient Egyptians?

2. What made it possible for people to read and understand ancient Egyptian writing?

3. Where was the Kingdom of Egypt located? (be more specific than just saying…Egypt)

A. Indus Valley• 3rd major civilization to develop

• Know less about Indus Valley because their language has never been translated

• Subcontinent – Includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

B. Environment

• Indus & Ganges Rivers – Indus Valley developed along these two rivers

• Wall of mountains isolates India

• Himalaya Mountains – Tallest mountain chain in the world

Himalayan Mountains

Mt. Everest

• Khyber Pass – Major passage way that cuts through the mountains surrounding India

• Yearly floods spread rich deposits of soil

• Floods along Indus River are very unpredictable

Khyber Pass

C. Planned Cities• Most famous cities are Harappa and

Moherjo-Daro

• Very sophisticated city planning

• Built cities according to a precise grid system

• Also created sophisticated plumbing and sewage systems

• Almost every house had a private bathroom and flushable toilet

• Pipes connected each house and carried wastewater to underground sewer systems

Remains of Harappa in modern day Pakistan

D. Harappan Culture• Indus Valley had a written language but we

can not decipher it

• Question: If you can decipher a groups language how can you possible know anything about their culture?

Indus Valley Board Game

E. Mysterious End• 1750 BC – Indus Valley began to decline

• We do not know the exact reason why

• 1970s – Satellite images suggest that a huge earthquake or flood probably altered the course of the Indus River

F. Four Theories

• 1) Rivers may have changed course, and without flooding no crops could be produced

• 2) People may have wore out the land through overgrazing, farming, and deforestation

• 3) Natural disasters may have destroyed cities

• 4) Outside invaders may have attack