6th+hour+2011-2012+Indus+Valley

6th hour Indus Valley 2011-2012 **//Want to learn about the Indus Valley?//** The Indus Valley was a very interesting period of time in Indian history. Ranging f rom about 2600 B.C. to 1700 B.C. a vast number of settlements were built on the banks of the Indus River and surrounding areas. In this time period a number of interesting things had started such as; settlements, jobs, a written language, religion, government, social classes, and so on. Today, you will read and learn about these topics. And who knows? Maybe you could learn a few new things!

**﻿****The Indian Subcontinent:** The Indian Subcontinent is made up of 3 different countries; India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This is divided into 3 major zones which are well watered northern plain, a dry triangular Deccan plateau, and coastal plains.

This picture is the Indian Subcontinent (Moxon, 1995)

**Job specialization: ** The Aryans were among many groups of Indo- European people who migrated across Europe and Asia. These people were divided by occupation: Brahmins, which were priests, Kshatriyas, which were warriors, Vaisyas, which were herders, farmers, artisans, or merchants and Sudras, which included farm workers, servants, and other laborers.In conclusion, all of these different occupations came to different roles between Aryans and non Aryans. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)

 This picture is of a Kshatriyan (unknown)

**Written Language:** In about 500 B.C., a new Indian civilization had begun. During this time, the Indian people had developed a written language called Sanskrit. Priests began to write down their sacred texts after this. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)

This is the ancient language Sanskrit. (steihl, n/a)

** Religion: ** The Aryans were Polytheistic and worshiped sacred animals like the bull.These religious views later influenced Indian beliefs.They worshiped gods and goddesses that embodied natural forces such as sky, sun, storm and fire. They honored animals such as monkey gods and snake gods.Some major gods included Varuna, who was the god of order and creations, and Agni who was the god of fire.Brahmins would sacrifice their food and drinks to the gods. Aryans believed that they could call the gods for health, wealth, and victory in wars. Mystics were people who devote their lives to seek spiritual truth. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)

The Aryans Worshiped Monkey Gods like the one shown above (Apple, 2010)

** Social Class: ** Rajahs were often the most skilled war leader, elected to his position by an assembly of warriors. Some Rajahs became powerful hereditary rulers. Aryans divided people into 3 groups by occupations. Warriors had highest prestige at first, but eventually, priests got the most respect. Separated, a fourth group called non-Aryans called the Sudras, which included farm workers, servants, and other laborers who occupied the lowest level of society. Castes are social groups in which you are born into and from which they cannot change. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)

This is the Caste System, or how the social groups were divided. (Phan, 2010)

** Cities: ** Indus Valley is located in Southern Asia. In the top ten most popular countries there are three that are in South Asia which are : Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. There are three major regions that surround Southern Asia. The first one is the well-watered northern plain, this is located near the mountains. The second major region is the coastal plains, they are not located near the northern plains or the Deccan plateau by mountain ranges, lastly, the third major region is the Deccan plateau, this is a triangular plateau that you can spot while looking at a map of Asia. Archaeologists think that the cities had a well organize government.

(Ellis, Esler, 1997)

This is a part of an Indus Valley civilization. (Ritchard, 1998)

**Architecture/ Arts:** Rajahs sponsored the decision to build stone temples. Hindu temples were designed to reflect cosmic patterns. The shape was based on a square inscribed in a circle which symbolized eternity. Buddhists built large some-shaped shrines called stupas, which housed the remains of Buddha and other holy people. The gateways to these stupas featured carvings that told you stories of the life of the Buddha. Hindu temples also were covered with carvings of gods and goddesses. On the walls of the cave temples in Ajanta in western India, Buddhist artists painted murals that recalled Buddhist stories and legends.

(Ellis, Esler, 1997)

This is an ancient Stupa. (Coutsoukis, 2002)

** Public Works: ** Asoka was the greatest emperor of Ancient India. He had stone pillars set up across India which announced and promised righteous government. He helped his people by building roads, rest houses for travelers, and hospitals. He also planted trees for shade made her people and animals.

(Ellis, Esler, 1997)

This is a stone pillar in India. (unknown)

Indus valley's government is a mystery because nobody knows if they have a government system or not. Even though its a mystery we all think that they have a central government. Because they don't know if there is a government, to operate, they use their religion to keep things in order. They weren't big on school so they had one person that could teach the kids at the age of 5 until the age of 8. (Ellis, Esler, 1997)
 * Government:**

So now you know a little bit more about the Indus Valley! We hope that you enjoyed learning about it because it was a very interesting part of history! __Works Cited__ -Elisabeth Gaynor Ellis and Anthony Esler, 1997, World History Connections to today. -Moxon, M. (1995-2011) "India: Map of India" //Moxon.net// Web. 3 October 2011. http://www.moxon.net/india/ -Aras, S. (2001-2011) "Hindu Society" //shreedarshan.com// Web. 3 October 2011//.// http://www.shreedarshan.com/hindu-society-culture.htm -Stiehl, U. (unknown) "Sanskrit Documents" //Sanskritweb.net// Web. 3 October 2011. http://www.sanskritweb.net/sansdocs/ -Apple, L. (2010) "Wonkette" //Wonkette.com//Web. 3 October 2011. http://wonkette.com/415571/teabagger-apologizes-for-monkey-god-comment-but-not-for-all-his-other-comments -Phan, H (2011) "The Caste System" //Wikispaces.com// 3 October 2011 http://bbsapworld.wikispaces.com/Compare+the+caste+system+to+other+systems+of+social+inequality+devised+by+early+and+classical+civilizations,+including+slavery -Ritchards, K. (1998) "The African Presences in India" //Cwo.com// 3 October 2011. http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/india.html -Coutsoukis P (2002) "India Photos" //theodora.com// 3 October 2011. http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/india/india_photos_12.html