RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS INDIA AND CHINA OBJECTIVES WHI

RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS INDIA AND CHINA

OBJECTIVES WHI. 3 • Objective: • The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient river valley civilizations, including the Indus River, by: • Locating the civilization in time and place • Describing the development of social, political, and economic patterns, including slavery • Explaining the development of religious traditions • Explaining the development of language and writing • Essential Questions: • Why did Ancient Civilizations develop in river valleys? • Where were the earliest civilizations located? • When did these civilizations exist? • What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of early civilizations • What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations? • What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations?

GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH ASIA • Indian Subcontinent • Modern day countries of India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh • Mountains • Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Himalaya • Rivers • Indus and Ganges • Cover 1, 500 mile area called Indus-Ganges plain • Indus river provided access to trade • Monsoons • Seasonal winds • Oct- May: dry winds • June- Sept: winds shift, brings rain

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY • Mountains • River Valleys • Dry Interior Plateau • Fertile Coastal Plains

INDUS RIVER

GANGES RIVER

HIMALAYAS

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES • Floods • Indus river floods yearly • Deposits silt • Unpredictable, river can change course • Monsoons • Wet/Dry seasons • Mountains/ Desert • Creates natural boundaries

INDUS RIVER PEOPLES • Had contact with Mesopotamia • Developed own distinctive alphabet and artistic forms

CIVILIZATION EMERGES ON INDUS • Lack of evidence • Haven’t deciphered language yet • Many sites have washed away • Earliest Arrivals • Evidence of agriculture and domestication of animals 7000 B. C. E. • 3200 B. C. E. evidence of farming villages

MOHENJO-DARO AND HARAPPA • Planned Cities • 2500 B. C. E. • Sophisticated grid system • Featured fortified citadel, Separate residential districts • Plumbing/sewage systems, Strong central government • Advanced irrigation and large granaries • Culture/Trade • • Little social hierarchy Prosperous society Religion similar to Hinduism Long-distance trade • Traded with Akkad (2300 B. C. E. )

RULERS AND ECONOMY • Divine rule • Royal palace and temple were in 1 building • Part of citadel, or fortress • Farming economy • Relied on Indus River flood for silt • Grew wheat, barley, peas • Trade with Mesopotamia • Copper, lumber, precious stones, cotton, luxury goods

MOHENJO- DARO

END TO THE INDUS CIVILIZATION • 1750 B. C. E. cities declined • Theories? • • • River changed course Flooding Over farming Natural disaster Attack • Aryans • Arrived around same time • Nomadic people from Central Asia

ARYANS • 1500 B. C. E. • Nomadic Indo-Europeans • From Central Asia - crossed Hindu Kush • Conquered Harappans • Merged two cultures • Excelled at war • Used chariot • Eventually controlled all of India

OBJECTIVES WHI. 3 • Objective: • The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient river valley civilizations, including the Indus River, by: • Locating the civilization in time and place • Describing the development of social, political, and economic patterns, including slavery • Explaining the development of religious traditions • Explaining the development of language and writing • Essential Questions: • Why did Ancient Civilizations develop in river valleys? • Where were the earliest civilizations located? • When did these civilizations exist? • What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of early civilizations • What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations? • What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations?