INDUS RIVER VALLEY

CIVILIZATION

INDUS 2500 BC – 1500 BC River – INDUS Climate –

monsoons seasonal winds; cycle of wet/dry seasons

Writing – not known have yet to decipher

INDUS 2500 BC – 1500 BC We know less

about the Indus River Valley Civilization because the writing has not yet been deciphered

THE INDUS RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION IS SOMETIMES CALLED: HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

Planned cities – precise grid system

Citadel- protection; temple; central gov’t.

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION Buildings were

constructed of sun-dried or kiln-fired mud brick

PLUMBING SYSTEM

Private bathrooms & toilets built of brick with a wooden seat

Pipes connected to each house carried wastewater to underground sewer system

CULTURE / TRADE Language impossible to decipher 400 symbols found on stamps/seals

Housing: Social Divisions not great

Artifacts – clay/wooden toys, few weapons

Animals important part of culture

Religion- link to Hinduism Traded with Mesopotamians

END OF CIVILIZATION Shifts in Tectonic Plates

probably caused earthquakes & Floods and altered the Indus river

Trade on the river became impossible

Agriculture –prevented the production of large harvests; the soil was exhausted by over-farming