HTST 202 Lecture 3: India 3000 - 600 BCE
21 Sep 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Flourished from 2500 - 1700 bce, then vanished. Cities were built on indus flood plain and were built on manmade hills. Suggested that there may have been a centralized ruler. No palaces or temples existing at the time. Possible trade empire existing mainly in outposts etc. Early religion is mysterious, including phalluses, animal statues etc. Indus valley demonstrates that archaeology is assumed knowledge and interpreted. Sophisticated water system, baths, toilets, wells and water proof flooring. Advanced civilization on par with egypt, hittites and assyrians. Cities are uniform with streets on north/south and east/west axes. Drains and gutters connected to elaborate sewer system. Homes are uniform in construction of brick with private baths and plumbing. Could have been due to river movement away from the city. Irrigation could have ruin soil by creating a salt layer on top. Possible internal collapse present and could have ended violently from within. Introduction of horses (from asian steppes) and chariots.
