CSIndia

Home Page __**Geography/Location**__ modern day Pakistan highest mountains in world (Hindu-Kush, Karakorum, Himalayan) tall mountains in north desert in east (protects Indus Valley from invasion) Khyber Pass- people pass through North Indus and Ganges River Eastern & Western Ghats-mountain range (keeps moist air from reaching plateau) Plateau-elevated flat land __**Challenges **__ unpredicatable flooding along Indus Rivers changed course sometimes Monsoons (seasonal winds) - cycle of wet and dry seasons was unpredictable too little rain --> plants died=hungry people! too much rain--->floods swept village __**Religion **__ Theocracy Hindu culture Priests Caste System (see Social class) Believed in Karma and rebirth 1. Brahmins (Priests) 2. Kshatriyas (warriors and kings) 3. Vaishyas (traders and farmer) 4. Shudras (laborers and artisans) 5. Untouchables (carried out work related to bodily decay and dirt) __**Writing/Language **__ impossible to decipher no bilingual inscription 400 symbols __**Culture/Cities **__ domesticated sheep and goats Indus Valley people were laying bricks for cities by 2500B.C Built walls (levees) Built human made islands to raise cities Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization) sophisticated cities (plumbing/sewage) Grid System __**Time Period **__ 3000 B.C 1750 B.C - declined, 1500 B.C- people come in to build back up __**Architecture **__ mud-brick platforms to protect from flooding Citadel (inside a 1/2 mile wall) protected royal family and temple Streets as wide as 30 feet Gold and silver came from North in Afghanistan Stones from Persia and Deccan Plateau Indus River good for transportation Overland Routes: Persia to Caspian Sea Seals found in Sumer (to identify Indus merchandise) trading began as early as 2600B.C until 1800B.C 1750B.C quality of buildings declined decayed plate movements =quakes and floods (altered course of Indus River) some cities survived may have caused another river, Sarswati, to dry up trade=impossible=no cites : ( Agriculture dried out (perhaps exhausted soil) Aryans ( Nomadic people from N. of Hindu kush mtns)..1500B.C came to Indus valley and civilization grew Shiva- major hindu god Few weapons have been found (conflict was limited)  mountains keep people from crossing
 * __Social Class __**
 * __Trade __**
 * __Declind of Indus Valley __**
 * __People __**
 * __War Military __**
 * __Natural Barriers __**