Ancient India section 1 Ms. Lanier

India One of the earliest civilizations India is located in Asia. It is HUGE –Many call it a subcontinent.

Land Features Protected by sea or mountains - Hindu Kush- Himalayas - Thar Desert- Arabian Sea - Indian Ocean Much of India is covered by fertile plains and rugged plateaus.

Himalayas The highest mountains in the world. Several major rivers flow out of the Himalayans. –Including the Indus River

Climate Usually hot and humid. Influenced by monsoons –Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons.

Weather SUMMER –Blow from the Indian Ocean –Causes heavy rains, terrible floods As much as inches of rain WINTER –Blow down from the mountains –Causes warm, dry winters

Harrappan Civilization Resided in the Indus River Valley Controlled large areas on both sides of the river. Harrappa grew as irrigation and agriculture improved. –JUST LIKE EGYPT, MESOPATAMIA, & KUSH

First Cities Through studying Harrapan artifacts we believe: –Harrapan civilization thrived between 2300 BC and 1700 BC. Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were the two major cities. –300 miles apart but very similar.

Harappa & Mohenjo Daro Both cities were well planned out –Fortress to protect –Streets crossed at right angles –Had many public wells. Modern

Harappan Society Most houses had bathrooms with indoor plumbing Made excellent pottery, jewelry, clothing Used high-quality tools Developed a system of weight and measures Developed India’s 1st writing system

What we think… …But we don’t know how to read it. –As a result we know little about their society. They had Kings Strong central governments Like Egypt, worshipped their King like a god

The Decline of… Harrapan civilization ended by the early 1700’s BC –No one is sure why May have been invaders or natural disasters.

Aryan Invasion Took power in the Indus Valley –Were invaders from Central Asia May have helped end Harrapa Were skilled warriors –Used chariots and advanced weapons By 1200 BC had swept through the Hindu Kush and controlled the entire Indus Valley. Most of what we know about Aryans are because of Vedas –Religious writings.

Government and Society Were nomads taking their animals as they moved Lived in small communities No central ruling authority –Each group had its own leader, often a warrior –Villages governed by a raja. Would work together or against each other.

Language Sanskrif- the most important language of ancient India –First only spoken –Written records are major source of information for historians No longer spoken today.