Ancient and Classical India

India’s Geography

Indus River flows across northwest edge of Indiansubcontinent—large landmass, part of a continent Home of one of ancient world’s great river valley�civilizations Indian subcontinent includes three major geographic �zones:

-Far north: Himalaya, Hindu Kush mountain systems, separatingIndia from rest of Asia

South: Deccan Plateau, high plateau receiving less rain �thanother parts of subcontinent

Between mountains (Valley), plateau are Northern �Plains, where society first developed in India

Geography of the Indian subcontinent• Three Regions• Monsoons• Cultural diversity

Water Critical Factor

Monsoon Winds

• Summer Monsoons broughtrain that flooded rivers; riversdeposited fertile silt in whichfarmers could grow crops• Winter Monsoons brought cool, dry air to the region. Lack of rain during this period.

Devastating Effects

• Monsoon rains too heavy—crops, homes, lives could belost• Monsoon rains too late, didnot last long enough—peoplecould not grow crops; faminebecame danger

The people of India’s first civilizations depended upon the monsoons to bring the water that their crops needed.

Indus Valley Civilization cont.

• Farming and trade– Most people were

farmers– Created dams and used

irrigation – Traded with Sumer

(Mesopotamia) – Used record keeping but

we are unable to decipher

Harappan Writing

Indus Valley Civilization cont.

• Religious Beliefs–Polytheistic–May have

worshipped sacred animals

Sanskrit

writing

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.

written in SANSKRIT.

Hindu core of beliefs:

hymns and poems. religious prayers. magical spells. lists of the gods

and goddesses.Rig Veda oldest work.Rig Veda oldest work.

Decline and Disappearance of I.R.V.C.

• Evidence of decline by 1750 B.C.E.– Cities no longer kept up– Pottery became more

crude

• Explanations for decline– Environmental damage– Volcano or earthquakes

Gupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I

r. 320 – 335 CE “Great King of Kings”

Chandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CE Profitable trade with

the Mediterranean world!

Hindu revival.

Huns invade – 450 CE

Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India

Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the

Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.

He was following the path of the Buddha.

He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.

Chandra Gupta 11

Chandra Gupta 11

International Trade Routes during the

Guptas

International Trade Routes during the

Guptas

Extensive Trade:4c

Extensive Trade:4c

spices

spices

gold &

ivory

gold & ivory

rice & wheathorses

cotton goods

cotton goodssilks

Gupta

Art

Gupta

Art

Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art &

architecture.

Medicine Literature

MathematicsAstronomy

Printedmedicinal

guides

1000 diseasesclassified

PlasticSurgery

C-sectionsperforme

d

Inoculations

500 healingplants

identified

DecimalSystem

Conceptof Zero

PI = 3.1416

Kalidasa

SolarCalendar

The earth

is round

GuptaIndia

Gupta

Achievements

Gupta

Achievements

The Decline of the Guptas

The Decline of the Guptas

Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Guptas defeated them.

After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.