India’s First Civilization’s

The Land of India India is a subcontinent because it is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. The Indian subcontinent contains five nations: India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. India has two fertile river valleys created by the Ganges River and the Indus River.

A monsoon is a strong wind that blows one direction in winter and the opposite direction in summer. Monsoons bring rain in summer. The first civilization in India arose near the Indus River after the river flooded and left fertile soil behind. Can you name any other civilizations that settled along big rivers?

This civilization started about 3000 B.C. and lasted until about 1500 B.C. There were more than a thousand villages and towns that were a part of this civilization that stretched from the Himalaya to the Arabian Sea. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were large, well-planned cities in ancient India.

Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara The cities had wells, drains for wastewater, garbage chutes, and organized governments. The houses were made from baked mud bricks. Most people were farmers. They grew rice, wheat, barley, peas, and cotton.

City dwellers were artisans, who made jewelry, pottery, tools, and cloth.

The coming of the Aryans The Aryans from the areas north of the Black and Caspian seas Invaded Northern India in 1500 BCE. Came through the Hindu Kush

The Aryans moved about in horse-drawn chariots. Were light-skinned warriors. Swept down into Southeast India.

Aryan Influence on India Religion

Aryan Ways of Life Nomadic tribes. Led by a RAJAH – chief. Lived a “wild life” Waged war Gambled Singing Dancing Partying

Once in the fertile Indus Valley they settled down – a bit. Cattle and farming. Cattle were prominent in life. This is when it began to be that cows were considered sacred and not to be eaten.

VERY male dominated society. Women had little say. BUT – both boys and girls of high rank got educations.

Language and Traditions As a nomad group – Aryans had no written language. SANSKRIT – Major language of India. Influenced other languages English Spanish French German

Aryans had EPICS Long Poems celebrating their heroes Passed on by oral traditions. Warriors and priests were responsible for accurately keeping the EPICS and hymns

Eventually writing was developed. The stories, epics, hymns were gathered into the VEDAS “Book of Knowledge.” Contained Aryan religious practices.

Without it, we’d know nothing about the Aryans in India. Unlike other civilizations there are no artifacts or structures of the Aryans in India.

It describes life in India 1200 – 1500 BCE – the VEDIC AGE. Rig-Veda oldest of the four Vedas was written 3000 years ago. One of the oldest religious texts still used today.

Only priests and warrior families were allowed to hear and recite the Vedas. Eventually the priests replaced the warriors with secret and complex ceremonies that made them the highest class.

Each Varna had its own duties. Brahmans performed the elaborate rituals and taught the Vedas. Kshatriyas could study the Vedas but not teach it. Led the government and army.

Varnas became so rigid by 500 BCE Varnas divided into smaller groups called JATI. Jati were formed by occupation. Jati determined your diet, marriage and social customs. Lived in separate neighborhoods and did not mix socially

The Pariahs Did unclean work Skinning animals and tanning hides for leather. Cleaning barns Garbage. Lived outside the villages and shunned.

Indian Beliefs Priests created elaborate rituals to appease the gods and win favor. Aryan religion changed into Hinduism.