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INDUS RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION
The Indus River Valley Civilization was a civilization that started about 2500 BC along the South-western part of the Indus River. Its biggest city was Mohenjo-Daro, in present day Pakistan, but had cities and settlements all along the river.

Impact of Geography


 Lived by a river (and some by the Arabian Sea)

Helped agriculturally (fed crops)
Helped in wars - Only had to protect one side
Helped in transportation - boats as well as land transportation

 Large Area

Was present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan

 Surrounded by mountains

Helped prevent wars/attacks
Prevented some disease from getting in

Economy


 Depended greatly on trade with other places:

 Trade was made possible by new advances in transportation technology
 A lot of trade done with early boats
 Some trade also done with cart, etc...
 A lot of trade within the Indus civilization
 Also traded with Mesopotamia

 Agricultural:

 Food production was largely indigenous to the Indus Valley
 Mostly wheat and barley, but also had rye, peas, cotton, rice, and domesticated animals
 Relied on cultivation also
 Huge irrigation systems - from river/ sea

Social Structure


 Caste system

Born into social classes
Social class cannot change

 Four main classes

Brahmins (priests)
Kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers)
Vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants)
Shudras (landless peasants and serfs)
Pariah (untouchables)

Buildings/Structures


Individual buildings for bathing and using the restroom (had an early "sanitation" system)
Had citadels, used for defense
Granaries
All houses had access to water
Most houses about the same size
Some houses had two stories
Most buildings made of dry bricks
No large monument or structures

Characters


 Priest/King Class

Highest class of characters
Leaders and rulers

 Trader/ cultivator Class

Travel a lot
Fast

 "Untouchables"/ Serfs Class

Lowest class
Not liked

Tools/Weapons/Technology


 Tools

Made tools out of bronze
Some say tools made from copper and iron too
Clay to make art and tools
Developed a measuring system and tools (first, and most precise of the time)

 Weapons

Made weapons out of bronze
Not as good as Mesopotamians
Used arrows, but did not have swords
Did not really need advanced weaponry because of isolated geography

 Technology

Large irrigation systems
First technology in the world to precisely measure and weigh things
Most technologies based on agriculture
Trade technologies, such as boats, cart, etc...

Religion


 Hinduism

Around first
"Hinduism was more than just a way of religion; it was a way of life."
Wasn't centered on one person

 Buddhism

Started in India in 365 B.C.

Writing/Literature


 Vedas Vedas - Books of Knowledge Containing:

Writings on prayers
Hymns
Religious Rituals
Philosophies

Gender Roles


Women were valued highly because of their ability to produce offspring
Men worked in their social class
When children were old enough they joined their parents
Women nursed children