Indus River Valley Indus River Valley

By: Noah Cicogna, Jon Ramos, By: Noah Cicogna, Jon Ramos, Austin Russo, and Andrew Austin Russo, and Andrew

Longhurst Longhurst

Social Social

► Classes, egalitarian societyClasses, egalitarian society► Known for advancements in public Known for advancements in public

conveniencesconveniences► Common ancestors with MesopotamiaCommon ancestors with Mesopotamia► Began as an urban civilization in the hills Began as an urban civilization in the hills

around the valley.around the valley. People migrated down into the valley through the People migrated down into the valley through the

millennia.millennia.► To the north of the cities were citadels.To the north of the cities were citadels.

Raised platform holding public and personal baths; Raised platform holding public and personal baths; along with food storages that would be safe from along with food storages that would be safe from flooding. flooding.

Completely surrounded by walls Completely surrounded by walls

Customs and Traditions Customs and Traditions

►Dice and small sculptures of bullock carts Dice and small sculptures of bullock carts were used as toyswere used as toys

► Simple ritualistic barriers that showed no Simple ritualistic barriers that showed no sign of hierarchy sign of hierarchy

Language, Communication, and Language, Communication, and Technology Technology

► Uniform system of weights and measures Uniform system of weights and measures ►Harappan language Harappan language ► Little written records have been found.Little written records have been found.

Difficult to decipher Difficult to decipher

Arts and Architecture Arts and Architecture ► Crafts included pottery making, dyeing, metal working in Crafts included pottery making, dyeing, metal working in

bronze, and bead making. bronze, and bead making. ► Fire-baked bricks Fire-baked bricks ► Steatite stone toolsSteatite stone tools► Materials included jade, lapis lazuli, turquoise, amethyst, Materials included jade, lapis lazuli, turquoise, amethyst,

and steatite beads. and steatite beads. ► Small stone structures thought to represent priestly or Small stone structures thought to represent priestly or

government officials and goddesses. government officials and goddesses. These are only inferences since there is no adjoining text.These are only inferences since there is no adjoining text.

► First known use of cotton fibers used in weaving textiles.First known use of cotton fibers used in weaving textiles.► Lower city laid out in a gridiron with main streets about Lower city laid out in a gridiron with main streets about

45 feet wide. 45 feet wide. ► Brick lined drains carried liquid and solid waste into Brick lined drains carried liquid and solid waste into

sumps. sumps.

ReligionReligion

►Three headed figure in Harappan seals Three headed figure in Harappan seals can be connected to later Aryan god can be connected to later Aryan god Shiva.Shiva.

►Sculptures suggest religious Sculptures suggest religious connectionconnection

►Nothing is known for sure about the Nothing is known for sure about the Indus River valley’s religion due to Indus River valley’s religion due to limited information. limited information.

Government and Politics Government and Politics

► Controlled territories:Controlled territories: as far west as the Makran Coastas far west as the Makran Coast north and west into Punjabnorth and west into Punjab the upper Ganges River valley the upper Ganges River valley South and east to Dholavira in Kutch, onto the banks of the South and east to Dholavira in Kutch, onto the banks of the

Narmanda RiverNarmanda River► Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

3 miles in circumference3 miles in circumference Able to hold 40,000 peopleAble to hold 40,000 people Fortified walls Fortified walls

► Cities but no clearly delineated state structures.Cities but no clearly delineated state structures.► Great organizational and bureaucratic capacity. Great organizational and bureaucratic capacity.

EconomicEconomic

► Sheep, cattle, zebuSheep, cattle, zebu► Trade by boatTrade by boat

Indus riverIndus river Arabian SeaArabian Sea Persian Gulf Persian Gulf Tigris and Euphrates Tigris and Euphrates

► Indus valley goods found in Mesopotamia and vise Indus valley goods found in Mesopotamia and vise versaversa

► Ganges valley allowed the discovery and use of:Ganges valley allowed the discovery and use of: Rice Rice Iron Iron