Ancient IndiaAncient India

Unit 4Unit 4

GeographyGeography Subcontinent: a large Subcontinent: a large

landmass that is part of a landmass that is part of a continent. continent.

The subcontinent is The subcontinent is occupied by India. occupied by India.

3 geographic zones.3 geographic zones. Far north, the Himalaya Far north, the Himalaya

and Hindu Kush mountains and Hindu Kush mountains that separates India from that separates India from Asia. Asia.

South, the Deccan Plateau, South, the Deccan Plateau, receives less rain. receives less rain.

Between are the Northern Between are the Northern plains society developedplains society developed

Geography cont. Geography cont. Flood deposits from three Flood deposits from three

rivers (Indus, Ganges, rivers (Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra) enrich and Brahmaputra) enrich the soil of the plains, the soil of the plains, making it very fertile.making it very fertile.

Indian OceanIndian Ocean Heavy rains add to the Heavy rains add to the

fertility of the Northern fertility of the Northern Plains. Plains.

Brought by seasonal Brought by seasonal winds called monsoons. winds called monsoons.

Monsoons- summer Monsoons- summer winds from southwest winds from southwest bring warm air and heavy bring warm air and heavy rains. rains.

Geography cont.Geography cont. People depended upon monsoons to bring the People depended upon monsoons to bring the

water needed for crops. water needed for crops. Rain flooded the rivers that deposited rich silt. Rain flooded the rivers that deposited rich silt. Too much rain resulted in the danger of homes Too much rain resulted in the danger of homes

and crops being destroyed. If they came late or and crops being destroyed. If they came late or did not last long then crops had trouble growing did not last long then crops had trouble growing resulting in famine. resulting in famine.

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization Hunter-gatherers settle Hunter-gatherers settle

down in Northern India down in Northern India to start India’s first to start India’s first civilization. civilization.

Harappa was the first Harappa was the first ruin discovered of this ruin discovered of this civilization. civilization.

Hundreds of other cities Hundreds of other cities and civilizations have and civilizations have been found since. been found since.

What we know of them What we know of them come from these come from these discoveries. discoveries.

Cities and settlementsCities and settlements They were well planned and They were well planned and

carefully laid out. carefully laid out.

Streets ran in a grid pattern Streets ran in a grid pattern with major avenues twice as with major avenues twice as wide as others. wide as others.

Community wells, public Community wells, public drainage systems. drainage systems.

Large cities containing a Large cities containing a walled, elevated walled, elevated CITADELCITADEL, or , or fortress, enclosed buildings fortress, enclosed buildings (granaries, warehouses, and (granaries, warehouses, and meeting halls)meeting halls)

Homes, workshops, and Homes, workshops, and shrines were build outside the shrines were build outside the citadel.citadel.

EconomyEconomy This kind of organization This kind of organization

implies a central implies a central authority/ government. authority/ government.

Economy focused on Economy focused on agriculture and trade.agriculture and trade.

Most farmed and herded Most farmed and herded livestock. livestock.

Specialization in crafts Specialization in crafts like pottery, metal work, like pottery, metal work, and jewelry.and jewelry.

Traded with those nearby Traded with those nearby and other civilizations as and other civilizations as well (Central Asia, well (Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, and Arabian Peninsula, and MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Society Society

Not many details are known about Indus Not many details are known about Indus society. society.

They had a writing system but historians They had a writing system but historians are unable to read it. are unable to read it.

Debate whether it was one civilization or Debate whether it was one civilization or city-states but each cities are remarkably city-states but each cities are remarkably similar. similar.

DeclineDecline

Thrived from about 2500 BCE to 2000 Thrived from about 2500 BCE to 2000 BCE but then declined. BCE but then declined.

City of Mohenjo Daro was abandoned, not City of Mohenjo Daro was abandoned, not sure why but evidence points to excessive sure why but evidence points to excessive flooding. flooding.

Evidence shows that some rivers may Evidence shows that some rivers may have disappeared (sarasvati river). have disappeared (sarasvati river).

Not sure how it came to an end (invasion, Not sure how it came to an end (invasion, disease, environmental).disease, environmental).

The Vedic PeriodThe Vedic Period

A new people took control of India, referred to as A new people took control of India, referred to as the Aryans (a Sanskrit word meaning “noble”).the Aryans (a Sanskrit word meaning “noble”).

Took control of most of India except for the far Took control of most of India except for the far south. Debate continues on where they came south. Debate continues on where they came from. from.

Came through the Khyber Pass, a mountain Came through the Khyber Pass, a mountain pass where many invasions happened through. pass where many invasions happened through.

Most of what we know comes from sacred Most of what we know comes from sacred writings called the Vedas (vay-duhs) and why writings called the Vedas (vay-duhs) and why the period is called the Vedic period. the period is called the Vedic period.

Vedic Society Vedic Society

People settled in villages smaller then People settled in villages smaller then cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Groups banded together under regional Groups banded together under regional leaders known as rajas.leaders known as rajas.

Rajas (RAH-juhz)- primarily a war leader Rajas (RAH-juhz)- primarily a war leader responsible for protecting the people. In responsible for protecting the people. In return he received payment of food and return he received payment of food and money. money.

Vedic ReligionVedic Religion

Prayed to many aspects of a single eternal Prayed to many aspects of a single eternal spirit, one such aspect being Indra, who spirit, one such aspect being Indra, who ruled over heaven. ruled over heaven.

Worshipped through fire sacrifices and Worshipped through fire sacrifices and chanting sacred hymns. chanting sacred hymns.

Priests offered food and drink into the fire. Priests offered food and drink into the fire. The rituals grew more complex and were The rituals grew more complex and were

believed to maintain order therefore believed to maintain order therefore priests become more influential. priests become more influential.

Social StructureSocial Structure Divided into 4 social Divided into 4 social

classes called varnas, classes called varnas, and played a particular and played a particular role in society. role in society.

A creation story tells of A creation story tells of each being created from each being created from the body of one. the body of one.

Over centuries the four Over centuries the four was divided into was divided into hundreds of smaller hundreds of smaller divisions called castes. divisions called castes.

Membership in a caste Membership in a caste determines what jobs determines what jobs one can hold. one can hold.

Social structure cont. Social structure cont. A social hierarchy A social hierarchy

developed where some developed where some had more privileges than had more privileges than others. The order could others. The order could and did change frequently. and did change frequently.

Untouchables- did not Untouchables- did not belong to a caste and had belong to a caste and had none of the protections of none of the protections of caste law. caste law.

Could only perform jobs Could only perform jobs others did not want, like others did not want, like handling dead animals or handling dead animals or garbage. garbage.