Indus Valley Civilization

SLMS/12
The Setting The Setting The Setting The Setting

The earliest people to settle in the Indus
Valley may have done so as early as 3300
BCE, but the society known as the
Harappan civilization began
around 2600 BCE.
The Indus River is located to
the northwest of India, in the
nation of Pakistan today. Its
headwaters are located in
the Tibetan Plateau, and the river winds
3,100 miles through northern India and the
entire length of Pakistan to finally empty in
the Arabian Sea.
The Indus River did not regularly flood its
banks like the Nile, though occasionally it
would (and will) do so when monsoon rains
are particularly heavy.
Harappan Achievements Harappan Achievements Harappan Achievements Harappan Achievements

The cities of the Indus Valley were
carefully planned, with streets running
along a grid-like pattern.
Additionally, these cities generally had
large graneries (storage areas for grain),
wells and public baths in the downtown
area. The wells and baths were supplied by
drains! Wealthy homes had their own water
supplied to them, and waste drained away
to sewage pits. The first indoor plumbing!
The Harappan civilization
was among the first to use
uniform weights and
measures to help in fixing
prices in trade.
Craftsmen worked with bronze, gold, terra-
cotta, shells and stone to create figurines,
jewelry, dishes and other household items.
Harappan Society Harappan Society Harappan Society Harappan Society

The Indus Valley civilization takes the
name Harappa from one of its major cities.
The Harappans left many written records,
but historians have not yet been able to
translate their language. Thus, what we
know about their society is partially
based on archaeological artifacts, other
civilizations accounts, and speculation.
Given the uniform nature of the mud brick
used in construction, the well planned na-
ture of the cities, and the existence of con-
sistent weights and measures, many histori-
ans speculate that the civilization was gov-
erned by a single, centralized state.
Numerous clay seals have been
found depicting both human
and animal figures. These may
have been used as labels or as
aids in trade. These seals have been un-
earthed in Mesopotamia, suggesting a trade
relationship between the two civilizations.
Collapse Collapse Collapse Collapse

Seemingly, the Indus Valley Civilization be-
gan a long decline around 1800 BCE. Sev-
eral theories have been offered for this de-
cline.
Most believe the civilization experienced
some sort of climate related disaster, such
as a shift in the course of the Indus river,
excessive flooding from monsoons, or con-
versely an eastward shift in the monsoons
resulting in drought. Others have speculated
that epidemic disease or a destructive
earthquake is responsible.
It is clear that in 1500 BCE, an
Indo-European group known as
the Aryans the Aryans the Aryans the Aryans conquered what remained.
1. How early did the first civilization settle
Indus Valley region?


2. When did the Harappan civilization begin?


3. Describe the Indus River. Length, Headwa-
ters, Mouth







4. Describe the flooding of the Indus.





5. Why dont historians know a lot about
Harappan society?



6. What do historians base their Harappan
speculations on?





7. What leads historians to conclude there
might have been a centralized government?





8. Describe the seals found in Harappa. What
might they have been used for?




9. How do historians know the Indus Valley
cities were carefully planned?



10. What did these cities have in their cen-
ters (ie. the downtown area)?





11. Why was the use of uniform weights and
measures important?




12. What kinds of materials did Harappan ar-
tisans work with?




13. When did the Indus Valley Civilization be-
gin to decline?


14. List the possible reasons historians offer
for this decline
Global History Name _____________________________________
Indus Valley Civilization
1. How early did the first civilization settle
Indus Valley region?
As early as 3300 BCE.

2. When did the Harappan civilization begin?
Around 2600 BCE.

3. Describe the Indus River. Length, Headwa-
ters, Mouth
Its headwaters are located in the Tibetan
Plateau, and the river winds 3,100 miles
through northern India and the entire length
of Pakistan to finally empty in the Arabian
Sea.

4. Describe the flooding of the Indus.
The Indus River did not regularly flood its
banks like the Nile, though occasionally it
would (and will) do so when monsoon rains
are particularly heavy.

5. Why dont historians know a lot about
Harappan society?
Historians have not yet been able to
translate their language.

6. What do historians base their Harappan
speculations on?
What we know about their society is
partially based on archaeological artifacts,
other civilizations accounts, and speculation.

7. What leads historians to conclude there
might have been a centralized government?
Given the uniform nature of the mud brick
used in construction, the well planned nature
of the cities, and the existence of consistent
weights and measures, many historians
speculate that the civilization was governed
by a single, centralized state.

8. Describe the seals found in Harappa. What
might they have been used for?
Clay seals have been found depicting both
human and animal figures. These may have
been used as labels or as aids in trade.

9. How do historians know the Indus Valley
cities were carefully planned?
The streets running along a grid-like pattern.

10. What did these cities have in their cen-
ters (ie. the downtown area)?
Additionally, these cities generally had large
graneries (storage areas for grain), wells and
public baths in the downtown area.

11. Why was the use of uniform weights and
measures important?
It helps in trade everyone was using consis-
tent measures of weight.

12. What kinds of materials did Harappan ar-
tisans work with?
Craftsmen worked with bronze, gold, terra-
cotta, shells and stone to create figurines,
jewelry, dishes and other household items.

13. When did the Indus Valley Civilization be-
gin to decline?
The Indus Valley Civilization began a long
decline around 1800 BCE.

14. List the possible reasons historians offer
for this decline The civilization experienced
some sort of climate related disaster, such as
a shift in the course of the Indus river, exces-
sive flooding from monsoons, or conversely
an eastward shift in the monsoons resulting
in drought. Others have speculated that epi-
demic disease or a destructive earthquake is
responsible.
Global History Name _____________________________________
Indus Valley Civilization Key
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