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Monsoon: A pattern of winds that controls the weather of the Indus region. Harappan Civilization: Another name for the Idus Valley civilization. Harappans: The main culture in the Indus area.
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__//**Summary:**//__


 * The Geography of the Indian Subcontinent**
 * The area of land that consists of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh is referred to as a subcontinent because the high mountain ranges (Hindu Kush, Karakorum, Himalayas) separate them from the rest of Asia.


 * Rivers, Mountains, and Plains**
 * The Himalayas and the Thar desert to the north help keep out invaders, and they alo "guard" a huge flat and fertile plain surrounded by two rivers, the Indus and the Ganges.
 * The Indus, Ganges, and the area the surround stretch 1,700 miles across northern India (this area is called the Indo-Gangetic Plain), and these rivers also carry silt for good crops.
 * In the southern part of the subcontinent at the center of the penninsula, there is a high area called the Deccan Plateau that is surrounded by "twisting" rivers.


 * Monsoons**
 * From October to February, the winds blow dry air westward across the country, then shift and blow eastward, causing great clouds of moisure, which rain down and casue flooding during June to October. If these summer rains failed to happen, the drought would cause the crops to dry out and fail to grow.

-The yearly floods were unpredictable, despite the benefits they brought. -The rivers sometimes changed course. -The monsoons were unpredictable, and if there was too little rain, the crops dried up, an if there was too much, floods destroyed villages.
 * Environmental Challenges**
 * The Indus civilizations went through many of same challenges as Egypt and Mesopotamia:


 * Civilization on the Indus**
 * The civilizations of the Indus valley influced a larger area than Mesopotamia or Egypt.


 * Earliest Arrivals**
 * No one knows how the Indus became populated, but some think that the people came from africa when the arrived by sea. By about 3200 BC, there were farmers along the Indus.


 * Planned Cities**
 * In 2500 BC, people were "laying the bricks" for the first Indian cities. They built leeves out of mud, and when this wasn't enough, they raised the cities above the waters using human made islands.
 * The Indus, who were good at planning, laid out building plans on a precise grid system.
 * Engineers also created sophidticated plumbing and sewage systems.


 * Harrapan Planning**
 * Harrapan was a good example of this planning. For example, they knew that floods would destroy the houses, so they built them on mud platform bricks.
 * There were walls that divided the residental districts from each other, and narrow lanes separated rows of houses from each other.
 * Houses had sophisticated bathrooms were waste water flowed out to the street and then to sewage pits outside the city walls.


 * Harrapan Culture**
 * Harrapan culture, which was based on agriculture, spread throughout the Indus valley.


 * Language**
 * The 400 symbol language of the Harrapans is impossible to decipher because the inscriptions aren't bilingual.


 * Culture**
 * The Harrapan culture was relatively prosperous and could afford to make unneeded goods. The socal divisions, however, weren't great.
 * Animals, which are seen on pottery, children's toys, small statues, and seals were apparently a very important part of their culture.


 * Role of Religion**
 * Archeologists believe that the cuture was a theocracy and followed the Hindu religion, although no sign of a temple has been found.


 * Trade**
 * Harrapans traded with Afghanistan for gold and silver, and semiprescious stones in the Persia. In return the gave brightly colored cotton.
 * The Indus river provided a link to the sea, which allow the people to trade with others farther away than they were.


 * Indus Valley Culture Ends**
 * In 1750 BC, the qualtiy of the buildings declined, and evetually the cities collapsed.
 * Although some cities along the river survived, another river dried up, which affected Harrapan agriculture.
 * The Aryans came and conquered the society, which eventaully rose again with their culture.