Indus River Valley Civilization

What continent is India located on?

Asia

What present day country was the settlement of the Indus River Valley?

Pakistan

What is a civilization?

A society with a complex government, religion, trade, writing and learning.

Why did early civilizations develop near great river systems?

The silt from the flooding rivers made the farmland fertile.

Why did the river valley civilizations have a surplus of food to trade?

They had a surplus of food because of the invention of irrigation.

How do historians explain Indus Valley clay seals being found in Mesopotamia?

The Indus Valley merchants used the monsoon winds to travel by sea to trade with Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq)

What physical features were natural barriers?

Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Thar Desert, and Persian Gulf

Why do historians know so little about the Indus River Valley culture?

Historians have found stone seals with a written language
The writing has not been deciphered
Meaning of the symbols is a mystery.

What evidence gives us clues that the Indus Valley cities had a complex government?

Cities were laid out in a consistent grid pattern, advanced sewer systems, and weights and measurements.

What present day countries have ruins from the Indus Valley?

Pakistan and India

What were some of the innovations/inventions of the Indus Valley?

1.Oven baked bricks - water proof so they offered protection from floods, supported large populations and helped develop complex civilization
2.grew cotton - wove cotton to make clothing
3.domesticated chickens - eggs and meat for eating
4.grid pattern - uniform design and careful planning of cities
5.sewer system - kept cities clean and allowed homes to have indoor plumbing

What are some legacies that are important to us today?

1.Domesticated cotton and chicken - our clothes are made from cotton
2.oven baked bricks - still used in construction because of durability
3.grid pattern - many cities, like NYC still use this design in planning
4. irrigation
5. sewer systems

What are possible reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley?

1.over farming and grazing - used up natural resources
2.salt build up in soil - limited food production
3. cutting down too many trees for fuel and bricks - led to erosion and destruction of farmland
4. natural disasters - changes in the rivers caused by climate change or earthquakes, droughts, violent floods destroyed cities and farmlands
5. famine or starvation weakened people and made it more likely that they could have died from disease.

What are some interesting facts about Indus Valley buildings?

1.cities were in a grid pattern
2. large streets were paved with bricks
3. small streets unpaved
4. citadel surrounded by thick walls and other public buildings
5. sewer system keep cities clean
6. buildings made of oven baked bricks - protection from flooding

What are some interesting facts about Indus Valley houses?

1. individual rooms for cooking, sleeping and bathing
2. enclosed courtyards and several stories high
3. wells to provide water and indoor bathrooms
4. chutes for garbage collection

What are interesting facts about Indus Valley clothing and jewelry?

1. jewelry was made from shells,ivory and gold
2. clothing was made of cotton

What religion do most people in Pakistan follow?

Muslim religion

What religion do most people in India follow?

Hindu religion