Geography: The Indian Subcontinent Geography: The Indian Subcontinent (DNWTD)(DNWTD)
Subcontinent- A large landmass that juts Subcontinent- A large landmass that juts out from a continentout from a continent
The Indian continent is divided into three regions:The Indian continent is divided into three regions: 1. Indus River keeps the northern watered plain-1. Indus River keeps the northern watered plain-
defined by mighty rivers, and fertile landdefined by mighty rivers, and fertile land 2. Dry triangular 2. Dry triangular Deccan Plateau- arid, Deccan Plateau- arid,
unproductive, and sparsely populatedunproductive, and sparsely populated 3. Coastal plains on either side of the Deccan- Coastal 3. Coastal plains on either side of the Deccan- Coastal
people used the sea for fishing, and the highways for people used the sea for fishing, and the highways for trade.trade.
ClimateClimate
Monsoons- A seasonal wind, that brings Monsoons- A seasonal wind, that brings rain.rain.
defining feature of Indian lifedefining feature of Indian life people welcome the rains they need for their people welcome the rains they need for their
cropscrops if rains are too heavy, they could cause deadly if rains are too heavy, they could cause deadly
floodsfloods
Indus Valley Civilization (DNWTD)Indus Valley Civilization (DNWTD)
Archeologists have not Archeologists have not uncovered many Indus uncovered many Indus Valley sitesValley sites
-No names of King -No names of King and Queensand Queens
-No tax records-No tax records -No literature-No literature
Two Main CitiesTwo Main Cities
Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro both were large (3 miles in circumference)both were large (3 miles in circumference) Huge warehouses to store grainHuge warehouses to store grain both carefully planned, each city was laid out in a both carefully planned, each city was laid out in a
grid patterngrid pattern -There were city blocks like we have today-There were city blocks like we have today All houses were built in uniform All houses were built in uniform using ovenfired using ovenfired
clay bricksclay bricks -Houses had plumbing systems, with baths, -Houses had plumbing systems, with baths,
and drainsand drains
Indian Cities:Indian Cities:
Well organized GovernmentWell organized Government Powerful leadersPowerful leaders Many Indus people were farmersMany Indus people were farmers -grew a wide variety of crops-grew a wide variety of crops -wheat, barley, melons and dates-wheat, barley, melons and dates -were first people to cultivate cotton and -were first people to cultivate cotton and
weave its fiber into clothweave its fiber into cloth
Indian ReligionIndian Religion
Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs PolytheisticPolytheistic Mother goddess seems Mother goddess seems
to be the center of their to be the center of their creation creation
Worshipped sacred Worshipped sacred animals such as the bullanimals such as the bull
Decline and DisappearanceDecline and Disappearance
Ecological disasters Ecological disasters may have contributed to may have contributed to the decline of the Indus the decline of the Indus peoplepeople
-Too many trees were -Too many trees were cut down cut down
-devastating -devastating earthquake possiblyearthquake possibly