University:
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
Course:
World History
Academic year:

2014
Views:

192

Pages:

4
Author:

imaginetikp5qt

Indus River Valley Civilizations E.Q. What innovations were used in Indus Valley civilizations that improved the quality of life? Indus River Valley Civilization • Mohenjo-Daro, which scholars believe means "hill of the dead," was an ancient Indian city located on the west bank of the Indus River in the IndusSarasvati region. The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro were discovered in 1922. The other Indus-Sarasvati city that was known of at that time was Harappa, discovered in 1826. Over time, thousands of ancient settlements have been discovered along the banks of the Indus River and the nowdried-up Sarasvati River. Indus River Valley Civilization • The people of MohenjoDaro and the IndusSarasvati region belonged to what many scholars refer to as the Indus River Valley Civilization or Harappan civilization. • The Harrappan civilization flourished for over 800 years; dating from approximately 2700 BCE to 1900 BCE. Mohenjodaro.net www.harappa.com Indus River Valley Civilization • Mohenjo-Daro was an extremely well-planned city that was similar in design to Harappa in the north. Both cities were approximately 3 miles in diameter, laid out in a grid-like formation with roads intersecting at right angles, and were built primarily of baked mud bricks. This helped to make the bricks stronger and waterproof. Like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro was divided roughly into two areas: a fortress-type area, or citadel, to the west and a lower city to the east. • The citadel was built on a mud and brick platform that raised it 50 feet above the lower city. A wall surrounded the citadel and contained notches from which people could look out and defend the area. • The lower city primarily consisted of houses. • Archeologists have also discovered what they believe to be craft workshops in both parts of the city. • Today, archeologists continue to excavate various areas of Mohenjo-Daro, and their finding help build our understanding of this great Indian civilization.