India: Geography & 1st Civilizations

Map of India You are going to draw a map of India by hand on a sheet of typing paper. Use pg. 195 in the book as a model. label the following items: Arabian Sea Indian Ocean Deccan Plateau Ganges Plain Himalaya mountains Karakoram Range Ganges River Indus River 30N, Tropic of Cancer, 10N Label Rivers in blue and color mountains brown. Draw a compass with the cardinal directions

India’s Geography

Geography & 1st Civilizations Subcontinent: large land mass; part of continent, but separate Himalayan Mtns.: northern India; highest mtns. In world Two River Valleys Ganges: flows from Himalayas to Indian Ocean Indus: flows into Arabian Sea D. Deccan plateau below river valleys

India Vocabulary (UNIT 1: Vocab 5) Caste: A social group that one is born into and cannot change Raja: Prince or tribal leader Sanskrit: Written language developed in India Guru: Hindu teacher usually for wealthy boys Stupa: Buddhist shrines shaped like a dome or mound Pilgrim: A person traveling to a religious shrine or place Subcontinent – See Map for Definition Monsoon – See Map for Definition

Indus Valley Civilization I. Civilization A. 1st in the Indus R. Valley: Harappa or Indus 1. farmers: rice, wheat, barley, peas, cotton 2. no written records, no weapons found in ruins 3. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa – major cities (Pg. 251)

Indus Valley Civilization B. Aryans or Indo-Europeans from central Asia 1. herders – became farmers, good warriors a. pepper, ginger, cinnamon, wheat, barley 2. settled Indus river valley, expanded to Deccan Plateau 3. Organized into tribes led by a Raja 4. Brought written language called Sanskrit

Societal Organization II. Caste System A. Caste 1. Cannot change 2. determines job, who you marry, people you socialize with B. Four Castes (Varnas – pg. 255) 1. Brahmans: priests 2. Kshatriyas: warrior, rulers 3. Vaisyas: common people – farmers/merchants 4. Sudras: unskilled labor/workers, few rights, biggest caste population C. Pariahs do not belong to a caste – “untouchables” collected trash, skinned animals, handled dead bodies

Societal Organization III. Family Life A. Only men are educated or become priests. B. Grandparents, parents, kids live together C. Wealthy families had a guru who taught the boys

India’s first empires I. Mauryan Dynasty A. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya B. Alexander the Great’s invasion = Indian kingdoms weak 1. Maurya seized opportunity to conquer/unite them C. Centralized government – capital = Pataliputra D Strong communications system, postal service.

Mauryan dynasty

India’s 1st empires continued II. Asoka – ruled Mauryan dynasty from 273 – 232 B.C. A. Mauryan dynasty’s greatest ruler. B. Became Buddhist, devoted life to peace 1. Built hospitals (people and animals), roads, and roadside shelters. 2. Sent Buddhist teachers throughout India 3. Built dome-shaped stupas – Buddhist shrines

Gupta empire Founded by another man named Chandragupta. Empire was wealthy from trade Owned gold and silver mines Guptas were Hindu and built many shrines Gupta empire was golden age of Indian art and culture.

Gupta Dynasty

Ancient Indian Culture I. Songs and literature A. Vedas: Hymns and prayers for religious ceremonies B. Epics: Mahabharata & Ramayana 1. Mahabharata: longest poem in any written language II. Science & Math A. Arybhata: one of 1st scientists to use algebra B. Indians developed concept of “zero.” C. Created symbols for 1 through 9. D. invented algorithm F. 1st to come up with idea of atoms G. Doctors set broken bones and performed surgery