1. Early Indian Civilization
Lesson 2 pp
All information taken from
World Adventures in Time and Place.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

2. Vocabulary
Citadel
Migrate
Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro
Sanskrit

3. READ ALOUD
In 1921 archaeologists gathered around a huge dirt mound on the southern plains of the Indus Valley. They knew remains of the past lay hidden beneath the mound. Earlier visitors had found artifacts there. But how old were the remains? What would they reveal about how Indian people lived long ago?
As the archaeologists dug down, the ruins of a great city began to appear. A new understanding about India’s ancient past had begun.

4. The Big Picture Location Knowledge 1000 miles from Iraq (Mesopotamia)
Civilizations still traded 4000 years ago
Knowledge
Least is known about Indus River Valley
Archeologists can’t read the writing
Few artifacts and remains have been found

5. A Civilization in the Indus Valley
Harappa
In the northern part of Indus Valley
Ruins named after an Indian god
What people called themselves when they lived is unknown
It lasted from 2500 B.C. to 1600 B.C.
Mohenjo-Daro – “Mound of the Dead” (Sanskrit)
Found a year later
Exactly like Harappa
400 mile south

6. A City Along the Indus Mohenjo-Daro (p. 135)
Population – 40,000
Dozens of crisscrossing streets
Large – paved with tan bricks
Smaller – narrower; unpaved
Brick houses
Small
One-room buildings
Multi-sotries
Airy courtyards/balconies
West end – citadel
Surrounded by thick walls protecting from flood and attacks
Huge grain warehouse for barely and wheat

7. Life in Mohenjo-Daro (p. 136)
Challenge for archaeologists because they can’t read language but can look at structure of city
City Planning
Exact measuring of buildings
Same sized bricks
Dug wells located throughout city
Sewers with manholes

8. Drawing conclusions Historians think
Mohenjo-Daro had a “strong central government” since Harappa had same layout
Citadel exhibited a building with large pillars
that perhaps served as city hall that “overlooked the city”(p. 137).
- bath may have been used for religious practices

9. Working in Mohenjo-Daro
Metalworkers
Copper fish hooks
Razors
Bronze statue
Weavers
- First time in history
- wove cotton cloth
Farmers
Produced surplus
Stored in warehouse
Grain collected for taxes
Possibly payment to government workers
Workers were highly skilled
Builders
Engineer
Craftworkers
Stone carvers
Figures in small squares of stone
May be used to mark belongings
Potters
Water jars
Cooking bowls
containers

10. Harappan Trade Traded near and far Sold stone seals to “Iran”
Bought blue stones from “Afghanistan”
Beads/necklaces made on stones from India
Above were traded in Mesopotamia
Trip made in sail boats
Used field birds to locate land

11. Newcomers Mohenjo-Daro deserted around 1600 B.C.
Earthquake changed course of river
No water; no civilization
Earthquake could have caused destructive flood
1500 B.C.invaded by Aryans
Originally from central Asia
Herded cattle and sheep on horseback
Came from Hindu Kush Mountains
Means “noble ones” in Sanskrit
Brought their language
Brought new ideas
Brought new religion

12. Why It Matters Harappan civilization lasted 1000 years
Farmers produced a surplus food
Population fed
Civilization grew
Workers produced cotton cloth, stone seals and drainage systems for all of civilization
Destroyed by waters that also produced it.
Aryans came blending cultures

13. Main Ideas
Little is known about the Harappan civilization because its writing system has not yet been figured out.
The city of Mohenjo-Daro included many brick buildings and a huge citadel. The city also had a sewer system more advanced than any other of its time.
The orderly layout of the city and its large grain warehouse suggest that Mohenjo-Daro wa ruled by a strong local government.
Harappan merchants traded goods in many places, some of which were as far away as Mesopotamia.
In about 1500 B.C. people called Aryans migrated to the Indian sub-continent. They brought new ideas to the region.

14. Think About It
Why is the ancient Indus Valley civilization called Harappan civilization?
What have historians learned about Harappan civilization from written sources? What have they learned from building remains in cities like Mohenjo-Daro?

15. Focus
What do we know about the early culture of Mohenjo-Daro?

16. Thinking Skill
Based on the information in thi leson, what conclusions can you make about the people who lived in Mohenjo-Daro? What evidence supports your opinions?

17. Geography
Draw the map showing the migration of the Aryans and trade routes