The Indus Civilization Present-day Pakistan and India Isolated by Hindu Kush, Himalaya Mountains, and Indian Ocean Migrant people used Khyber Pass (route in Hindu Kush) to travel through Called a subcontinent because its geographical features sharply separate it from the rest of Asia. usToons/FamousToons3.html

Geography of India 3 physical zones – Fertile northern plain – contains Indus and Ganges Rivers –Deccan Plateau – dry, unfertile, no one lived here –Coastal Plains – lush, tropical and most populated

Hindu Kush Mountains Himalayas Indian Ocean

Bring on the Monsoons! Monsoon – heavy, seasonal rain/wind in Asia Summer monsoons very wet, needed to water the crops. Indus Valley also depended on snow from Himalayas melting each year and flooding the valley.

Early Indian Civilizations Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro 2 major cities of Indus Valley. Very advanced and organized Polytheistic, believed in afterlife Also created writing system - pictographs

What Happened? Cities disappeared for unknown reason 3 Theories – People overfarmed the land – Volcanic eruption killed everyone – Violent attack by outsiders killing everyone After collapse, Indo - Aryan people migrated in. s/WarnerBros.html

The Indo-Aryans Migrated through Khyber Pass Very structured society Measured wealth by cows Used caste system I NEED MORE COWBELL!!!

The Caste System Hereditary social groups The system: –Brahmins – priests –Kshatriyas – nobles/warriors –Vaisyas – middle class –Sudras – slaves, peasants –Untouchables - final group below the caste system. es/ jpg

Hinduism Upanishads and Vedas main books for Hinduism. Believed in Karma – reincarnation is based on behavior. Also Dharma – set of religious and moral duties for each caste. Hinduism is most common religion in India today. u1.gif

The Great Asoka King of Mauryan dynasty in 270BC. Sends Buddhist missionaries across Asia. Converted thousands to Buddhism.

A. Asoka spread Buddhism to China & SE Asia Buddhism spread here “A soka you, A soka you!” Asoka’s super soka!

Buddhism Developed in India by Siddharta Gautama (Buddha) around 500 BC. Created 4 main ideas for new religion – Four Noble Truths Also had guidelines for living – Eightfold Path. Stressed religious duties and moral principles. m/img/BUDDHISM_graphic.gif QUACK QUACK !

The Gupta Empire – India’s Golden Age Rules around 320 AD. Pushed for Hinduism, basically kicked out most of Buddhism in India. Gupta contributions: –Mathematics - Arabic numerals, concept of zero, decimal system, & symbol for infinity. –Literature –New Textiles Invaded by Huns 600AD

Questions for Understanding Write the question and answer in your notes How does geography affect India? What happened to the first Indian settlers? How was wealth measured by the Indo-Aryans? Who created the caste system in India? What is karma? How does Asoka spread Buddhism? What factors led to Buddhism’s disappearance in India?