Chapter 6, Section 1Chapter 6, Section 1Ancient IndiaAncient India
Geography and Early IndiaGeography and Early India
India- PhysicalIndia- Physical
Indus Valley CivilizationsIndus Valley Civilizations Thrived between 2300-1700 BCThrived between 2300-1700 BC
Indus River TodayIndus River Today
Geography of IndiaGeography of India The geography of India includes high mountains, The geography of India includes high mountains,
great rivers, and heavy seasonal rain.great rivers, and heavy seasonal rain. India is so large that it is referred to as a India is so large that it is referred to as a
subcontinent. A subcontinent. A subcontinentsubcontinent is a large is a large landmass that is smaller than a continent. landmass that is smaller than a continent. Subcontinents are usually separated from the rest Subcontinents are usually separated from the rest of their continents by physical features. India is of their continents by physical features. India is largely separated from Asia by the Himalayan largely separated from Asia by the Himalayan Mountains in the north and the Hindu Kush Mountains in the north and the Hindu Kush Mountains in the west.Mountains in the west.
West of the Himalayas is a vast desert.West of the Himalayas is a vast desert. The rest of India is covered by fertile plains and The rest of India is covered by fertile plains and
rugged plateaus.rugged plateaus.
Geography of India (cont.)Geography of India (cont.)
The Indus Valley was the location of The Indus Valley was the location of India’s first civilization.India’s first civilization.
The Indus Valley is west of India in The Indus Valley is west of India in present-day Pakistan.present-day Pakistan.
When heavy snows in the Himalayas When heavy snows in the Himalayas melted, the Indus River flooded. Like melted, the Indus River flooded. Like Mesopotamia and Egypt the flooding Mesopotamia and Egypt the flooding left a layer of fertile silt. The silt left a layer of fertile silt. The silt created ideal farmland for early created ideal farmland for early settlers.settlers.
ClimateClimate
In summer some parts of India In summer some parts of India receive as much as 100-200 inches receive as much as 100-200 inches of rain.of rain.
The climate of India is mostly hot and The climate of India is mostly hot and humid. India’s monsoons (seasonal humid. India’s monsoons (seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons) influence India’s climate.seasons) influence India’s climate.
In winter, the winds that blow down In winter, the winds that blow down the mountains force moisture out of the mountains force moisture out of India to create warm, dry winters.India to create warm, dry winters.
Harappan CivilizationHarappan Civilization
Historians called the civilization that Historians called the civilization that grew up in the Indus Valley the grew up in the Indus Valley the Harappan civilization.Harappan civilization.
Like other civilizations, towns and Like other civilizations, towns and cities grew once food surpluses cities grew once food surpluses resulted from progress in irrigation resulted from progress in irrigation and agriculture.and agriculture.
Mohenjo-daro CivilizationMohenjo-daro Civilization
Harappan CivilizationHarappan Civilization
Dancing girl statue and child’s toy Dancing girl statue and child’s toy found at excavation. found at excavation.
Well and CourtyardWell and Courtyard
Harappan Priest KingHarappan Priest King
India’s First CitiesIndia’s First Cities The Harappan civilization is believed to have The Harappan civilization is believed to have
thrived between 2300 and 1700 BC.thrived between 2300 and 1700 BC. The Harappan civilization consists of two large, The Harappan civilization consists of two large,
and similar cities, Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. and similar cities, Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. Both cities lay on the Indus River 300 miles apart.Both cities lay on the Indus River 300 miles apart.
What are some characteristics of the cities of What are some characteristics of the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro?Harappa and Mohenjo Daro?
1. well planned1. well planned 2. protected by fortresses2. protected by fortresses 3. brick streets that crossed at right angles3. brick streets that crossed at right angles 4. storehouses4. storehouses 5. workshops, market stalls, and houses5. workshops, market stalls, and houses 6. public wells6. public wells
Mohenjo-daro TodayMohenjo-daro Today
Harappan AchievementsHarappan Achievements What were the achievements of Harappan What were the achievements of Harappan
society?society? 1. houses with bathrooms1. houses with bathrooms 2. pottery, jewelry, ivory objects, cotton 2. pottery, jewelry, ivory objects, cotton
clothing clothing 3. high-quality tools3. high-quality tools 4. system of weights and measures4. system of weights and measures 5. India’s first writing system5. India’s first writing system 6. believed to have a strong central 6. believed to have a strong central
governmentgovernment Harappan civilization ended around 1700 Harappan civilization ended around 1700
BC. BC.
Ancient Harappan Civilization Ancient Harappan Civilization
Ancient Bath and LatrineAncient Bath and Latrine
Ferry BoatFerry Boat
Today’s boats are very similar to Today’s boats are very similar to ancient ones.ancient ones.
GranaryGranary
Ancient Harappan BeadsAncient Harappan Beads
Aryan InvasionAryan InvasionGovernments and SocietyGovernments and Society
A new group of people called the Aryans took A new group of people called the Aryans took power in the Indus Valley.power in the Indus Valley.
The Aryans were invaders from Central Asia. It is The Aryans were invaders from Central Asia. It is possible they caused the end of the Harappan possible they caused the end of the Harappan civilization.civilization.
How were the Aryans different from the How were the Aryans different from the Harappans?Harappans?
1. the Aryans were nomadic and more warlike 1. the Aryans were nomadic and more warlike (used advanced weapons and chariots)(used advanced weapons and chariots)
2. didn’t farm at first, didn’t build cities2. didn’t farm at first, didn’t build cities 3. no single ruling authority-society was based 3. no single ruling authority-society was based
on family ties. Each group had its own leaderon family ties. Each group had its own leader 4. no written language4. no written language 5. village leaders were called rajas5. village leaders were called rajas
Aryan ReligionAryan Religion
Aryan priests wrote the Vedas.Aryan priests wrote the Vedas. What were the Vedas?What were the Vedas?
They were a collections of poems,They were a collections of poems,
hymns, myths, and rituals written by hymns, myths, and rituals written by
Aryan priests. Aryan priests.
Aryan LanguageAryan Language
Because the Aryans did not have a Because the Aryans did not have a written language at first, they had to written language at first, they had to memorize the poems and hymns.memorize the poems and hymns.
The first Aryan language was The first Aryan language was SanskritSanskrit, , the most important language of ancient the most important language of ancient India.India.
Sanskrit started as a spoken language. Sanskrit started as a spoken language. Eventually people figured out how to Eventually people figured out how to write it down so they could keep records.write it down so they could keep records.
SummarySummary
The earliest civilizations in India The earliest civilizations in India grew in the Indus Valley. At first the grew in the Indus Valley. At first the Harappans and then the Aryans lived Harappans and then the Aryans lived in this fertile valley.in this fertile valley.
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