Introduction to Ancient India – Life in the Indus River Valley

India is a fairly large country. Can you find it on this map?

Here it is!

Geography of Ancient India The Indus River Valley is in modern-day Pakistan and India. The Indus River Valley civilization was able to thrive because…you got it, the Indus River! Remember, ALL of the first civilizations started near rivers in fertile valleys! This was important for farming, which is how people got most of their food.

Indus River Valley

Indus River Valley

Geography of Ancient India The Himalaya Mountains kept India isolated. They served as a natural barrier.

Geography of Ancient India India has monsoons – seasonal wind patterns that cause both rainy and dry seasons. The monsoons could bring water to help with farming. Sometimes the monsoon would bring too much rain, sometimes not enough. When there is not enough rain, it is called a drought.

Geography of Ancient India Sometimes, the monsoon would bring so much rain that it would cause flooding. The biggest city in the Indus River Valley civilization was built above-ground to protect it from the seasonal floods.

City built above-ground

Harappan Civilization The first people who lived in the Indus River Valley civilization are called the Harappans. The civilization thrived between 2300 BC and 1700 BC. Our greatest sources of information about the Harappan civilization come from studying the ruins of two of its largest cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Well-Planned Cities The ancient Indian cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were remarkable in their time because they were well planned out cities. Although they are about 300 miles away from each other, both Harappa and Mohenjo Daro are surprisingly similar, which suggests to historians that there were plans drawn out for the cities before they were built.

Well-Planned Cities The buildings in the cities were made from fire-baked bricks. Strangely, there is no evidence of a temple or other religious building in Harappa or Mohenjo- Daro.

In each city, there was/were… Streets laid out in a grid pattern The streets met at right angles that were slightly curved to allow for carts to turn easily

In each city, there was/were… Houses Flat roofs Indoor plumbing (first time in history!) Up to two stories high Opened up to a courtyard or side street (never the main street) Indoor and outdoor kitchen Indoor—for colder weather or rainy days Outdoor—mostly used

In each city, there was/were… Many large public wells to get water from The Great Bath A public bath house with large pool Central marketplace with shops and stores The Granary Large building to hold grain that was delivered by carts from the fields

The Great Bath

In each city, there was/were… Citadel (fortress) To guard against invasions A wall around the entire city To protect against invasions and floods, and to control trade