1. India’s Geographic Setting India is a subcontinent that is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains. Water runs down these mountains, creating two great rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, and bringing silt for rich farmland along the rivers’ banks. In winter, monsoons from the northeast bring dry air. In summer, monsoons from the Indian Ocean bring rain that benefits crops but can devastate communities. 1 of 4 Ancient India Section 1: The Indus and Ganges River Valleys MapMaster: India: Monsoons

2. Life in the Indus River Valley From 2500 to 1500 B.C., cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro arose in the Indus Valley. The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro show that the city had houses, workshops, public buildings, and streets, all dominated by a high citadel. The city also had a sewer system and canals to control flooding. Around 2000 B.C., the city was in decline for unknown reasons. 2 of 4 Ancient India Section 1: The Indus and Ganges River Valleys

3. A New Culture Arises Newcomers from Central Asia entered the region between 2000 and 1500 B.C. They overwhelmed the Indus people with chariots and mixed with the local population. They called themselves Aryans. The Vedas describe the Aryan life of herding and warfare. Their society was organized into classes, which served as the basis for the caste system in India. 3 of 4 Ancient India Section 1: The Indus and Ganges River Valleys Section Reading Support Transparency

4. Ancient India: Section 1 Section Reading Support Transparency 4 of 4