1. Geography of India/First Cities
A subcontinent- a large landmass that is smaller than a continent.
Separated from the rest of their continents by physical features.
Himalayas- largest mountains in the world
Hindu Kush- mountains west of the Himalayas
Indus- location of India’s first civilization, present day Pakistan

2. Climate
Hot and Humid
Monsoons- wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
Summer- wet and rainy
Winter- dry and warm

3. India’s First Cities Harappan Civilization- city of Harappa, Pakistan
The first two large cities were Harappa and Mohenjo.
Very advanced. The first people with indoor plumbing.
Developed the first Indian writing system

4. Aryan Migration
A new civilization formed after the Harappan. They were called the Arayans.
What we know about the Arayans comes from religious writings known as Vedas.
Vedas- collections of poems, myths, hymns, and rituals.

5. Gov.’t, Society and Language
Lived in small communities based on family ties.
No single authority
A skilled warrior in each group was their leader.
Villages were governed by rajas.
Rajas- a leader who ruled a village and the land around it.

6. Language
Sanskirt- the language in which Aryan poems and hymns was composed.
The most important language in India.