The Indus and Ganges River Valleys

1. The Indus and Ganges River Valleys What Ancient Texts do you believe in?

3. Mohenjo-Daro Rich soil in Indus river valley provided surplus of wheat and other grains, population grew 2,500 B.C. to 1,500 B.C. well planned cities flourished, two most important Mohenjo-Daro and Harrapa, called Harappan civilization Mohenjo Daro built on high mound of earth because of flooding Streets laid out in squares, center was a citadel or fortress, including public buildings like a huge public bath and storehouses for grain Clay pipes ran under the streets, carrying waste away from the city, canals ran to Indus River Merchants sold goods in shops, wagons loaded w/ grain rolled through the city Goods traded from as far away as Mesopotamia Language still a mystery, writing on square seals, religion and Gov�t unknown, no royal tombs or great temples, do know they had a number of gods 2,000 B.C. Abandoned their land, climate changed turning fertile soil into desert, earthquakes caused floods, not enough food, few people left, Invaders entered valley, too weak to resist

4. Aryans The Invaders called themselves Aryans which means noble or high born, migrated from Central Asia, nomadic herders that swept into India Harappans hid behind crumbling walls, Aryans armed w/ bows and arrows and axes and chariots, made slaves of Harappans, moved into Ganges River Valley By 800 B.C. learned to make tools and weapons of iron, iron axes chopped down thick rain forests of northeast, built cities here Most of what we know comes from religious texts called Vedas, meaning knowledge, at 1st handed down by memory , not written for 100�s of years

5. Aryans Cont�d Earliest Aryans herders and warriors, herded cattle and sheep, no written language Priests called Brahmins performed religious ceremonies and composed hymns and prayers 3 classes Priests- guarded religious traditions Warriors- fought for protection Ordinary people- worked for priests and warriors Conquered people drawn into caste system, 4th class, laborers, servants and farmworkers By 500B.C. strict class system, caste system each with special duties to perform, had to stay in caste of parents Castes divided into 100�s of groups, same occupation, shopkeepers, farmers, traders, barbers, weavers each had own caste, could not leave your caste