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The Indus Valley and Ancient China

  1. The old brick ruins of Mohenjo-daro, with walls, steps and a big pool Real photo

    A walk in Mohenjo-daro

    Imagine you walk into a city 4,500 years ago. It is Mohenjo-daro, by the Indus River. Another big city was Harappa. Today this land is in Pakistan and India.

  2. Baked bricks
    Covered drains

    Neat streets and drains

    The streets are straight. The houses are made of baked bricks. Covered drains carry dirty water away from homes. Someone planned this city with care.

  3. A small stone seal from the Indus Valley with an animal and writing, next to its print in clay Real photo

    A mystery seal

    In a shop, you see a small stone seal. It has an animal and some writing on it. No one today can read this writing yet. It is still a mystery.

  4. Long thin strips of bamboo with old Chinese writing on them, in a museum Real photo

    Far away in China

    Now travel far to the east, to China. Ancient China grew near the Yellow River. People there wrote on strips of bamboo and on silk. Bamboo was heavy to carry.

    1. 1
      Bark and rags
    2. 2
      Mash in water
    3. 3Paper
      dry thin sheets
    4. 4
      Spread to other lands

    Making paper

    About 2,000 years ago, people in China made paper. They mashed tree bark and old rags in water. Then they dried it in thin sheets. Paper was light and easy to carry. Later it spread to other lands.

  6. Indus
    covered drains
    China
    paper
    Egypt
    pyramids

    Rivers helped them all

    Egypt, the Indus Valley and China all grew near rivers. Rivers gave water for people and their farms.

For parents

Goal: Your child learns about the planned Indus Valley cities and the invention of paper in China.

  • Ask: what did the drains do? Why is that helpful in a city?
  • Hold a sheet of paper and a heavy book. Ask which would be easier to carry on a long trip.

Away from the screen: Find Pakistan, India and China on a globe. Trace the Indus River and the Yellow River with your finger.

World History · Early Cities and Big Ideas
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