E. Napp India is a peninsula in South Asia.

E. Napp  India is a subcontinent.  A subcontinent is a large land mass that is smaller than a continent.  A subcontinent is usually split from the rest of a continent by a mountain range.

E. Napp The Himalayas are mountains. They separate India from China.

E. Napp  The Himalayas are mountains in northern India.  The Himalayas are the highest mountains on the surface of the earth.  The Himalayas have passes.

E. Napp Passes allowed travelers to enter India.

E. Napp India also experiences the monsoon. The monsoons are winds that bring rains.

E. Napp The monsoons are vital for farming.

E. Napp The Indus River is an important river in Indian history. It was the birthplace of South Asia’s earliest civilization.

E. Napp  The name “India” is derived from the Indus River.  An early civilization developed along the banks of the Indus River.  Today, the Indus River flows mostly through Pakistan. Pakistan was once part of India.

E. Napp The Ganges River is an important river in India. It is a sacred or holy river for Hindus.

E. Napp India’s earliest civilization is called Harappan civilization. It developed in the Indus River Valley. It lasted from 3000 to 1500 B.C.

E. Napp Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were important cities.

E. Napp Cities show evidence of urban planning. Every brick was the same size. Indoor plumbing and toilets have been uncovered. Writing was developed but cannot be deciphered.

E. Napp It may have declined if the monsoons did not come. Its decline is a mystery.