Chapter 5-1 Geography of Early India

Geography and Early India The Big Idea Indian civilization first developed on the Indus River. Main Ideas The geography of India includes high mountains, great rivers, and heavy seasonal rain. Harappan civilization developed along the Indus River. The Aryan invasion of India changed the region’s civilization.

Geography of India India and several other countries make up the subcontinent of India. A subcontinent is a large landmass that is smaller than a continent. The Indian subcontinent is part of the continent of Asia.

Geography of India The mountains in the north of India is called the Himalayas.

Geography of India The Mountains in the West: The Hindu Kush provide protection from enemies.

The Himalayas and Hindu Kush

Geography of India Rivers flow out of the Himalayas The valleys of two of these rivers, the Indus and Ganges

Geography of India Development of Farmland Heavy snows settled in the Himalayas Rivers and melting snow kept the plains fertile. The flooding left behind a layer of fertile silt, which created ideal farmland for early settler.

Geography of India Climate: Hot and Humid Climate was influenced by monsoons-seasonal wind that occur in regular patterns and that cause wet and dry seasons.

Harappan Civilization One of the most fascinating yet mysterious cultures of the ancient world is the Harappan Civilization. It was named after the city of Harrapa which it was centered around.

Harappan Civilization The Harappan civilization developed along the Indus and the Sarasvati Rivers.

Harappan Civilization People Population grew in the Indus River Valley from 2300 to 1700 BC. Growth came as irrigation and farming techniques improved. Cities were built as surplus food was produced.

Harappan Civilization Cities The two major cities were Harrapa and Mohenjo Daro. They were 300 miles apart but very similar. Both were well planned and stood near a towering fortress.

Ruins of Harappa

Harappan Civilization Achievements Wells and indoor plumbing Pottery, cotton clothing, jewelry India’s first writing system, which can not be translated today

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa The Indus Valley people used oven- baked bricks to build their homes. Most houses had enclosed courtyards and some were several stories tall. The civilization’s engineers and builders were highly skilled. Large buildings stored grain, wells supplied water and every house had at least one indoor bathroom. Wastewater flowed through pipes and houses also had garbage chutes connected to bins in the streets.

Trade Most Indus Valley people resided in farming villages surrounding the cities. City residents were merchants, shopkeepers and artisans. Indus Valley merchants traveled as far as Mesopotamia to trade.

Aryan Migrations and Settlements Around 1900 B.C., the people of the Indus Valley began to abandon their cities and villages due to a severe drought that destroyed crops and caused people to starve. Earthquakes and floods killed many people and changed the course of the Indus River.

Aryan Invasions Invaders from the West When the Harappan civilization dissipated in 1700 BC, Central Asians called Aryans began taking over territory.

Aryan Invasions They spread all the way to Ganges River Valley. Most of what we know about the Aryans comes religious writings called the Vedas.

Aryan Invasions The are vast collections of poems, hymns, myths, and rituals written by Aryan priests Aryans fought each other nearly as often as they fought outsiders

Aryan Invasions Government Aryans abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and began to farm, so they stayed in one place. Over time they settled in villages. Each village had its own leader, usually a skilled warrior.

Aryan Invasions Government The Aryan system of government was different from the Harappan system. The Aryans lived in communities based on family ties.

Aryan Invasions Government They had no central government, except for small communities ruled by rajas Rajas was a leader who ruled a village and the land around it.

Aryan Invasions Language Like most nomads, early Aryans had no written language. After settling in villages, they developed Sanskrit which gave people a way to record sales, trade and land ownership.

Aryan Invasions Language At first it was only a spoken language Eventually hymns, stories, poems and prayers were written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the root of many modern South Asian languages.

Harappan Civilization Summary Harappan Civilization Two major cities: Harappa, Mohenjo Daro Advanced civilization that thrived between 2300 and 1700 BC Culture, artistry, city planning Aryan Invasion South Asian warriors pushed through the Hindu Kush mountains and settled in the Indus Valley Oral tradition in religion and mythology resulted in the most important language of ancient India: Sanskrit.

Questions pages 124-129 Copy Question and answer in a complete sentence What were the two main cities of the Harappan civilization? When did the Harappan civilization thrive? What were three similarities between the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro? Where did the Aryans come from? What is our source for information about the Aryans? What was two differences between the Harappan civilization and the Aryan civilization? What is Sanskrit?

Questions pages 124-129 Copy Question and answer in a complete sentence What were the two main cities of the Harappan civilization? What is our source for information about the Aryans? Where did the Aryans come from? When did the Harappan civilization thrive? What is Sanskrit?