Indus ValleyIndus Valley

Indus Valley GeographyIndus Valley Geography

SubcontinentSubcontinent MountainsMountains Indus and Indus and

Ganges RiversGanges Rivers MonsoonsMonsoons IsolationIsolation Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity

Indus Valley GeographyIndus Valley Geography

Northern PlainsNorthern Plains Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Costal PlainsCostal Plains

Early Indus ValleyEarly Indus Valley

What historians know…without reading What historians know…without reading Linear A (writing sytem)Linear A (writing sytem)

1,000 years1,000 years LanguageLanguage Large areaLarge area Great Cities (well-organized Great Cities (well-organized

government)government)

Cities and PeopleCities and People

SettlementSettlement 2 Major Cities2 Major Cities

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro HarappaHarappa

ReligionReligion EconomyEconomy WritingWriting

HarappaHarappa

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

Indus Valley Dancer StatueIndus Valley Dancer Statue

Aryans Arrive in Indus ValleyAryans Arrive in Indus Valley

Decline…Arrival!Decline…Arrival!LanguageLanguageAryan CultureAryan CultureReligionReligionVedas and Vedas and ““Vedic Age”Vedic Age”

Aryans on ChariotsAryans on Chariots

Aryans in the IndusAryans in the Indus Social Classes / Caste SystemSocial Classes / Caste System

BrahminsBrahmins KshatriyasKshatriyas VaisyasVaisyas Sudras (added)Sudras (added)

Government (rajah)Government (rajah) Literature – Literature – MahabarataMahabarata and and Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita / Rama and / Rama and SitaSita

Sanskrit (by 500 BCE)Sanskrit (by 500 BCE)

Which coast of India are we looking at? What is the body of water called in the bottom right of this picture?

Why is this important?Why is this important? Our knowledge of the Aryan migration is Our knowledge of the Aryan migration is

very limitedvery limited But… Aryan traditions and beliefs formed But… Aryan traditions and beliefs formed

a framework for later Indian civilizationa framework for later Indian civilization Middle East is the birthplace of Judaism, Middle East is the birthplace of Judaism,

Christianity, and IslamChristianity, and Islam India is the birthplace of Hinduism and India is the birthplace of Hinduism and

Buddhism (Aryans affected the creation Buddhism (Aryans affected the creation of these religions)of these religions)