Indus

Indus Valley Civilization The largest of the ancient world civilizations

Known as the Harappan Civilization, as the first of its cities to be unearthed was the one at Harappa

Excavated in the 19th century

Present day Pakistan

Most noted for their urban planning and sanitation system

Their writing system has not been deciphered (no Rosetta Stone, which is Greek, Demonic and Hieroglyphics)

No great monuments, pyramids, ziggurats

Mohenjo Darohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRNgJJjTh8I&f

eature=related

City Planning of IndusMohenjo-daro and Harappa were a mile square, with

defensive outer walls.

Cities had a citadel for public meetings.

Harappan settlements were found built of mud bricks, burnt bricks and chiseled stones

The streets of major cities such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were laid out in a perfect grid pattern,

The street layout showed an understanding of the basic principles of traffic, with rounded corners to allow the turning of carts easily.

These streets divided the city into 12 blocks.

Citadel of Mohenjo Daro

Grid System

Drainage & SanitationThe Indus civilization had an elaborate sanitary

and drainage system, the hallmark of ancient Indus cities.,

Each and every house had a connection with the main drain.

Inspection holes for maintenance.

Drains in the streets for rain water

EconomicsThe economies of the Harappan and Sumerian

civilizations were very similar.

Relied on trade

Traded with each other

The Sumerians exported mostly textiles and crops, while the Harappans traded in lumber, copper, gold and ivory, which were bought by the Sumerian royalty.

The Harappans developed ox-carts and small flat-bottomed boats all of which were used commercially.

Ancient ChinaMs. Jerome

What is of value to Ancient Chinese culture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWb7Rvvtblc

Ancestral Veneration “in the absence of

organized religion or official priesthood in ancient China, the patriarchal head of the family presided at rites and ceremonies honoring ancestors’ spirits.”

Therefore, the family patriarch possessed tremendous authority.

No organized religion in ancient China (change from other river valley civilizations)

Oracle Bones In Mesopotamia and

India, merchants pioneered writing

In China, the earliest known writing served the interests of rulers rather than traders.

One medium for writing was oracle bones.

Oracle BonesUsed by fortune-tellers in ancient China

Specially prepared bones (turtle shells, bones of sheep) to inscribe questions.

Subjected to heat

When heated, the bone cracked

Fortune tellers then studied the patterns and determined answers

Will the harvest be productive?

Chinese writingThe earliest form of Chinese writing was the

pictograph

The characters used in contemporary Chinese writign are direct descendants of those used in Shang times.