12/8/1112/8/11

BR- There were no BR- There were no advanced cities in the advanced cities in the Indus valley. Prove me Indus valley. Prove me wrong.wrong.

TodayToday: Writing a Letter : Writing a Letter about the Indus Valley!about the Indus Valley!

You Are the Archeologist:You Are the Archeologist:• Imagine that you have been studying Imagine that you have been studying

ancient civilizations in the Indus ancient civilizations in the Indus valley. I would like you to write a letter valley. I would like you to write a letter back to your famous colleague back to your famous colleague Professor Indiana Jones.Professor Indiana Jones.

Details of the LetterDear Indiana,

The civilizations of the Indus valley are ___________. I have learned a great deal about them but much remains a mystery because_____________.

We have discovered that civilization began to emerge in this area around__________. (include 3 details.)

One people we have learned about were the Harappans. (Include one detail each about the Harappans (1) Language, (2)Culture, (3) Religion, (4) Trade.)

Sadly, much of what happened here may remain lost to us. We do know that the people of the Indus went into decline and disappeared. (discuss 2 theories of what happened to the people of the Indus valley.)

That’s all for now! Take care of the crystal skulls you found and I’ll see you at the next museum party!

Your Friend,

Monsoon-Seasonal WindMonsoon-Seasonal Wind

• Summer monsoon-Wet seasonSummer monsoon-Wet season• MonsoonMonsoon means wind that means wind that

changes direction with season. changes direction with season.

• Monsoon is the seasonal Monsoon is the seasonal weather pattern that dominates weather pattern that dominates India. Means “season” in India. Means “season” in Arabic.Arabic.

OROGRAPHIC CLOUDS, AKA Rain OROGRAPHIC CLOUDS, AKA Rain ShadowShadow

• Lifting due to Lifting due to TopographyTopography

produces orographic produces orographic cloudsclouds

• When air is confronted by When air is confronted by a mountain, it is lifted up a mountain, it is lifted up and over the mountain, and over the mountain, cooling as it rises. cooling as it rises.

• If the air cools to its If the air cools to its saturation point, the saturation point, the water vapor condenses water vapor condenses and a cloud forms. and a cloud forms.

Winter Monsoon

• Winter-Dry season• During the winter, the flow During the winter, the flow of air reverses. of air reverses.

The continent cools rapidly The continent cools rapidly forming a large area of high forming a large area of high pressure over north central pressure over north central Asia. Now the drier, colder Asia. Now the drier, colder air of the continent blows air of the continent blows offshore creating the offshore creating the dry dry monsoon seasonmonsoon season..

IndusIndus

• The The Indus Valley Indus Valley CivilizationCivilization (3000BC– (3000BC–1500 BC)and matured 1500 BC)and matured around (2600BC–1900 around (2600BC–1900 BC)BC)

• The mature phase of The mature phase of this civilization is this civilization is known as the known as the Harappan CivilizationHarappan Civilization

Advanced Citiesvanced Cities• Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro - - one of the one of the

administrative centers of the administrative centers of the ancient Indus Valley Civilizationancient Indus Valley Civilization. . ..• The planning and The planning and

engineering showed the engineering showed the importance of the city to importance of the city to the people of the Indus the people of the Indus valley.valley.

• HarrappaHarrappa • was built according to was built according to

plans of well-laid-out plans of well-laid-out streets, streets,

• differentiated living differentiated living quartersquarters

• flat-roofed brick houses, flat-roofed brick houses, and fortified administrative and fortified administrative or religious centers.or religious centers.

Advanced CitiesCities

• Lothal Lothal

• was a trading center was a trading center with its trade of beads, with its trade of beads, gems and valuable gems and valuable ornaments.ornaments.

• had the world’s first had the world’s first dock. dock.

• Lothal's people were Lothal's people were responsible for the responsible for the earliest-known earliest-known portrayals of portrayals of realismrealism in in art and sculpture.art and sculpture.

Continued…Continued…

Specialized workersSpecialized workers

• Bronze workers that worked metals into jewelry, Bronze workers that worked metals into jewelry, weapons or toolsweapons or tools

• BricklayersBricklayers• ScribesScribes• MerchantsMerchants

Complex InstitutionsComplex Institutions

• This ancient civilization had a strong central government

• The Indus civilization had a polytheistic religion.

• Certain animals and human figures were worshipped.

Writing and Record Writing and Record KeepingKeeping

• The people of the Indus The people of the Indus Valley Civilization developed Valley Civilization developed a writing system that we are a writing system that we are still unable to read .still unable to read .

• Over 2,000 stone seals Over 2,000 stone seals have been found have been found

• These seals were in These seals were in quadrangular shapes quadrangular shapes

• The most common seal The most common seal found was of an unicorn. found was of an unicorn.

• Those found in Indus Valley Those found in Indus Valley were similar to those found were similar to those found in Mesopotamia. (Which in Mesopotamia. (Which suggests …..what?)suggests …..what?)

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY:One of the first early civilizations to have:

- wide streets laid out in a grid pattern- plumbing- sewer system

The cities of the Indus Valley were well planned and had covered drains.Indus houses had protection against noise, odors, and thieves. Standardized weights and measures