Indus River Valley

Key Vocabulary Grid system – an organized method of planning the layout of a city (such as Philadelphia).

Warm Up Describe how Ancient Egypt dealt with their natural, environmental problems. Evaluate how what happened in the New Kingdom relates to a modern day world issue. Compare and contrast Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

Indus River Valley Unpredictable yearly floods created deposits of rich fertile soil. Too little rain = starvation. Too much rain = floods would wash away villages. People had to deal with the cycle of wet and dry seasons brought on by monsoons. The area was protected from invasion by mountains and desert (natural barriers). Lasted until 1500 BC when the Aryans invaded.

Advanced Cities There were over 100 settlements along the Indus. Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan Cities were built using the grid system of planning. Buildings were made of oven- baked bricks cut in standard size. Cities also featured a citadel which contained major buildings.

Technology Plumbing and sewage systems Most houses had private bathrooms & toilets. More advanced than some cities in the late 1800’s! Had a writing system, but it has not been deciphered.

Specialized Workers Workers included sanitation workers (sewage system), brick layers, merchants & government employees

Complex Institutions There was a well organized strong central government. This is evident by the construction of cities. Stable Economy - traded with Mesopotamia. Religion has links to modern Indian Culture. Polytheistic The cow was sacred - basis for Hinduism.

Record Keeping Did have a system of writing, however, it has not yet been deciphered.

Reflection Why is the Indus River Valley considered a civilization? Explain. Complete the triple Venn diagram graphic organizer. Compare and contrast Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Indus River Valley.