Indus ValleyIndus Valley
Indus Valley GeographyIndus Valley Geography
SubcontinentSubcontinent MountainsMountains Indus and Indus and
Ganges RiversGanges Rivers MonsoonsMonsoons IsolationIsolation Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity
Indus Valley GeographyIndus Valley Geography
Northern PlainsNorthern Plains Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Costal PlainsCostal Plains
Early Indus ValleyEarly Indus Valley
What historians know…without reading What historians know…without reading Linear A (writing sytem)Linear A (writing sytem)
1,000 years1,000 years LanguageLanguage Large areaLarge area Great Cities (well-organized Great Cities (well-organized
government)government)
Cities and PeopleCities and People
SettlementSettlement 2 Major Cities2 Major Cities
Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro HarappaHarappa
ReligionReligion EconomyEconomy WritingWriting
HarappaHarappa
Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro
Indus Valley Dancer StatueIndus Valley Dancer Statue
Aryans Arrive in Indus ValleyAryans Arrive in Indus Valley
Decline…Arrival!Decline…Arrival!LanguageLanguageAryan CultureAryan CultureReligionReligionVedas and Vedas and ““Vedic Age”Vedic Age”
Aryans on ChariotsAryans on Chariots
Aryans in the IndusAryans in the Indus Social Classes / Caste SystemSocial Classes / Caste System
BrahminsBrahmins KshatriyasKshatriyas VaisyasVaisyas Sudras (added)Sudras (added)
Government (rajah)Government (rajah) Literature – Literature – MahabarataMahabarata and and Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita / Rama and / Rama and SitaSita
Sanskrit (by 500 BCE)Sanskrit (by 500 BCE)
Which coast of India are we looking at? What is the body of water called in the bottom right of this picture?
Why is this important?Why is this important? Our knowledge of the Aryan migration is Our knowledge of the Aryan migration is
very limitedvery limited But… Aryan traditions and beliefs formed But… Aryan traditions and beliefs formed
a framework for later Indian civilizationa framework for later Indian civilization Middle East is the birthplace of Judaism, Middle East is the birthplace of Judaism,
Christianity, and IslamChristianity, and Islam India is the birthplace of Hinduism and India is the birthplace of Hinduism and
Buddhism (Aryans affected the creation Buddhism (Aryans affected the creation of these religions)of these religions)