1. Early South Asia & Early China
Chapter 3 Notes

2. Early South Asia
3rd civilization on the rise = Indus River Valley in South Asia
Arose on the subcontinent of Asia = landmass that is part of a continent but is distinct from it

3. The Subcontinent
3 modern nations there today = India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
Mountains separate it from the rest of Asia = Himalayas & Hindu Kush
Indus River drains into the Arabian Sea

4. Climate & Seasonal Winds
Mountains block cold air & give the area a warm climate
Monsoons = seasonal winds that affect the climate and way of life
Summer monsoons bring heavy rains, causing flooding that helps the soil
People depended on monsoons to grow crops
Monsoons sometimes unpredictable
- Unusually heavy rains drowned people, animals, whole villages
- Late or light monsoons caused poor crops & starvation

5. The Indus Valley Civilization
Often called Harappan Civilization
Major cities: Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro
Cities were carefully planned – used a grid pattern
A fortress built on a brick platform overlooked each city – probably the center of government and religion

6. The Indus Valley Civilization
Houses were made of oven-baked bricks
1) Each house had at least one bathroom with plumbing to sewers
2) Houses rose to several stories and had enclosed courtyards

7. The Indus Valley Civilization
Most people farmed
Trade = bronze and copper tools; jewelry out of gold, shells, ivory; clay pots; woven cloth; silver containers
Used pictograms – still haven’t been deciphered
Not much is known due to a lack of written records
Collapsed around 1500 BCE