Indus River Valley Notes PDF

8Name: Eliott Bassett Indus River Valley: Notes My Learning Targets: 1. Analyze how geography affected ancient river civilizations and their culture 2. Explain how river civilizations made major contributions to social, political and economic development 3. Describe the major beliefs...

8Name: Eliott Bassett Indus River Valley: Notes My Learning Targets: 1. Analyze how geography affected ancient river civilizations and their culture 2. Explain how river civilizations made major contributions to social, political and economic development 3. Describe the major beliefs of the religion of Hinduism Locate India on the map below: The Geography of India The landmass that includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is often referred to as the Indian subcontinent. ○ India is cut off from the rest of Asia by the Himalayan, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram mountain ranges. ○ The world’s tallest mountains to the north and the large Thar desert to the west helped to protect the Indus River Valley from invaders. ○ An enormous flat and fertile plain called the Indo-Gangetic Plain is created by the Indus River and the Ganges River which made crop production possible. Monsoons ○ Seasonal winds called monsoons dominate India’s climate. From October to February, winter monsoons from the northeast blow dry air westward across the country. ○ Then, from the middle of June through October, the winds shift and blow eastward carrying moisture from the oceans in great storm clouds. ○ These storms bring flooding and large silt deposits from the rivers. Environmental Challenges Like the previously discussed river civilizations, the Indus River Valley also faced a  number of environmental challenges. ○ Yearly floods spread deposits of rich silt over the plains, but the floods were unpredictable ○ The rivers sometimes changed course. ○ The cycle of wet and dry seasons brought by the monsoon winds was unpredictable. If there was little rain, the crops would wither and die, and if there was too much rain, then whole villages could be swept away. Civilization Emerges on the Indus River Historians know less about the Indus Valley civilization than about those of the west ○ What we do know of this civilization largely comes from archeological digs, but many sites remain unexplored and floods most likely washed away many sites long ago. ○ However, at its height, the Indus Valley civilization influenced a much larger area than either Mesopotamia or Egypt. Earliest Arrivals ○ No one is sure how people first came to settle in the Indus River Valley. Some theories are that people arrived by sea from Africa or that northern migrants made their way over the Khyber Pass. ○ Archaeologists have found evidence of domesticated goats and sheep and agriculture in the highlands as far back as 7000 BCE. By 3200 BCE, people were farming along the Indus River. Planned Cities Around 2500 BCE, while the Egyptians were building pyramids, people in the Indus Valley were laying bricks for India’s first cities. ○ They built strong levees, or earthen walls, to keep the water out of their cities. Once these levees could no longer prevent the flooding, the people created human-made islands to raise their cities above the possible floodwaters. ○ Archaeologists have found the ruins of over 100 settlements along the Indus. The largest were Kalibagan, Mohenjo-Daro, and Harrapa. The Indus River Valley civilization is often called the Harrapan civilization because of all archaeological discoveries made at that site. One of the greatest achievements of the Indus River Valley civilization was their complex city planning. ○ The people of India laid out their cities in a precise grid system. Cities featured a fortified citadel, which contained the major buildings of the city.  There were also complex sewage and plumbing systems The uniformity of these cities suggests a strong central government. Harappan Culture Harappan culture spread throughout the Indus Valley. ○ Language Harappan culture developed a written language, but has so far proved impossible to decipher because there have not been any bilingual inscriptions found to date. The Harappan language has been found on stamps and seals made of carved stone used for trading pottery and tools Around 400 symbols make up the language ○ Culture The housing layout of Harappa and other cities suggests that social divisions within the society were not great. Artifacts, such as clay and wooden toys, suggests they were a prosperous civilization Few weapons of warfare have been found, suggesting that conflict was limited The presence of animals on many artifacts suggests that animals were an important part of their culture. Harappan Economic Development Trade ○ The Harappans conducted a thriving trade with peoples in the region. ○ Gold and silver came from the north in Afghanistan and semi- precious stones from Persia were crafted into jewelry. ○ The Indus River provided an excellent means of transporting goods. The Indus people traded with people far away using the Indus river to travel to the ocean. Indus River Culture Ends Around 1750 BCE, the quality of the building in the Indus River Valley declined and gradually the great cities fell into decay. ○ The fate of the cities remained a mystery until the 1970s, then satellite images revealed shifts in the tectonic plates. These shifts most likely caused earthquakes and floods which changed the course of the Indus River. Some cities survived these disasters but many were destroyed  It is likely that these environmental changes made it difficult to grow large quantities of food and people were forced to leave these cities in order to survive. ○ Another potential cause of the downfall of the Indus Valley peoples may have been the invasion of the Aryans from the north around 1500 BCE. Indian civilization would grow again under the influence of these nomads. Mauryan Empire The Mauryan Empire began in India around 321 B.C.E. ○ Chandragupta He united the small kingdoms of India into the Mauryan Empire ○ Emperor Ashoka (304 B.C.E.-232 B.C.E.) Expanded the Mauryan Empire. Converted to Buddhism United much of India Ordered the building of free hospitals, veterinary clinics, and good roads The Gupta Empire The Gupta Empire began in India in 320 C.E. and lasted until 550 C.E. ○ The Gupta Empire was a golden age of classical Indian culture Medical Advances Setting bones Mathematical Advances Figured out the earth was round Developed a concept of zero Textiles Cotton and silk were in demand throughout Asia Kalidasa: The greatest Indian playwright & poet Kalidasa lived during the Gupta Empire The Harappans even traded with the ___________________________________. Rise of Hinduism The Role of Religion ○ The rulers of the Harappan civilization were believed to have had close ties to the religion. Archaeologists believe that the civilization functioned as a theocracy,  but no temple site has yet been discovered. Priests most likely prayed for good harvests and protection from the flooding. ○ Religious artifacts reveal links to modern Hindu culture as figures show what may be early depictions of Shiva, a major Hindu god. Other figures relate to a mother goddess, fertility images, and the worship of a bull. All of which became part of later Indian civilizations. Rise of Hinduism ○ Originated with the Aryan peoples around the Indus River Valley No clear founder ○ As the beliefs of Hinduism became more popular, the religion traveled along trade routes and spread to places in India, China, Korea, and Japan. Hindu Beliefs Gods ○ God is one, but also many. There are thousands of Hindu gods that are made up of the spirit of Brahman. ○ Brahman One god with three (main) personalities: Shiva, Vinshu, and Brahma. Beliefs ○ Karma Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences ○ Reincarnation Rebirth based upon Karma ○ Moksha State of perfect understanding Hindu Religious Books Vedas ○ The earliest of the Hindu sacred writings. ○ Hymns that taught how to keep the gods happy. Upanishads ○ Explains WHY people should follow the Vedas These religious books were written in Sankrit, a language developed in India around 1,700 BCE. ○ Sanskrit is considered the sacred language of Hinduism. Did I Meet the Learning Targets?  1. Describe the impact of geography on the Indus River Valley culture. They had unpredictable floods and the rivers sometimes changed course. 2. Describe how the Indus River Valley developed socially, politically and economically. a. Social: The cities didn’t interact with each other very well b. Political: India had a big empire with a hereditary leader system c. Economic: Had a thriving trade system 3. What are the major beliefs of Hinduism? Be sure to describe them in detail. Karma - Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences Reincarnation - Rebirth based upon Karma Moksha - State of perfect understanding