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