Aim: How Have Archaeologists learned about

the Indus Valley Civilization?

Do Now: Study
the map of
India, then
answer the
three
questions on
your handout.
 India: Geography
• India is a subcontinent because it is cut
off from the rest of the Asian Continent.
• The Indus Valley Civilization developed
along the Indus and Ganges rivers.
• To the north lies the tallest mountains in
the world – the Himalayas. To the
Northwest lies another mountain chain
called the Hindu Kush. Both acted as a
natural barrier to invasion and kept India
isolated from its neighbors
• People of India, both then and now, relied
on the monsoons, or seasonal winds to bring
rain to water crops.
The Monsoons
 Manhattan
Madrid does
uses not
a grid
use system!
a grid system!
Very well
Itsplanned!
messy!
Indus Valley Civilization
• Two major cities developed along
the Indus River: Mohenjo Daro and
Harappa
• Both were very well-planned
cities, each city laid out in a
grid pattern
 Mohenjo-Daro Map

Film Clip

True or False: Mohenjo-Daro had a sophisticated water

and sewage system.
 Ruins at
Harappa and
Mohenjo Daro
Aerial View of Mohenjo-Daro
The Great Bath,
Mohenjo-Daro
Well, Mohenjo-Daro
Granary, Mohenjo-Daro
pottery, Mohenjo-Daro
Bison Seal, Mohenjo-Daro
A Horned-God Seal,
Mohenjo-Daro
A Male Head, Mohenjo-
Daro

Dravidian
A Priest-King, Mohenjo-
Daro
Necklace, Mohenjo-Daro
Female Figures, Harappa
Bull Figurine, Harappa
Elephant Figurine, Harappa
Burial Pottery, Harappa
Male Skeleton, Harappa
Female Skeleton with
Child, Harappa
Harappan Writing

Undecipherable to date.
 Aryan Migration

 pastoral  depended on their cattle.

 warriors  horse-drawn chariots.
Sanskrit
writing
 The Vedas
 1200 BCE-600 BCE.
 written in SANSKRIT.
 Hindu core of
beliefs:
 hymns and poems.
 religious prayers.
 magical spells.
Film Clip  lists of the gods
Rig Veda  oldest work. and goddesses.
Varna (Social Hierarchy)
Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaishyas

Shudras

Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables

The Caste
System Brahmins

WHO IS… Kshatriyas

 The mouth?
 The arms? Vaishyas
 The legs?
 The feet?
Shudras
What is a JATI?
The Vedic Age

The foundations for

Hinduism were
established!