mohenjodaro&harrapa.pdf - Ancient Indus Valley Harappa Mohenjo-Daro Indus Valley The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in what is

Ancient Indus Valley Harappa Mohenjo-Daro

Indus Valley  The Harappan culture existed along the Indus River in what is present day Pakistan.  It was named after the city of Harappa.  Harappa and the city of Mohenjo-Daro were important centers of the Indus valley civilization.  This Indus Valley civilization flourished around 4000-1000 B.C.

Old World Civilizations

Comparative Timeline

Physical Map

Natural Resources  The Indus Valley contained numerous natural resources that were an important part of Harappan civilization.  Resources included:  Fresh water  Timber  Gold, silver, semi-precious stones  Fish  Sea Shells / Stones

Himalayan Mountains  The Himalayas provide a continuous source of water for the Indus River  These mountain ranges also provided: timber, animal products,, gold, silver, tin and semiprecious stones, which were traded throughout the Indus Valley.

Valleys  Cedar in Chitral valley is still used to make houses and coffins, following a tradition that dates back to the first Indus cities.  Beyond the mountains in the background is the region of Badakhshan, Afghanistan, a source of the deep blue lapis lazuli.  This was mined during the Indus period and traded throughout the Indus Valley and to far off Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Coast  Harrappan coastal settlements were involved in fishing and trading, using the monsoon winds to travel back and forth to Oman and the Persian Gulf region.

Natural Resources  The Indus Valley contained numerous natural resources that were an important part of Harappan civilization.  Resources included:  Fresh water and timber.  Materials such as gold, silver, semi-precious stones.  Marine resources.

Early Harappan -3300-2800 BC  Trade networks provided distant sources of raw materials, including lapis lazuli and other materials for bead-making.  Domesticated crops included peas, sesame seeds, dates and cotton.  Domestic animals also used, such as the water buffalo.  Mud brick for building.

Middle Harappan- 2600-1900 BC  By 2500 BCE, farming communities had been turned into cities  The two largest cities: Harappa & Mohenjo Daro  HOWEVER…In total, over 1052 cities and settlements have been found  Irrigation was used to increase crop production and mud brick structures.