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Ancient India
Chapter 6.1
Geography of India
Bellwork: THINK! 1. From where are the first people said to have migrated?2. After early people decided to stop hunting and gathering their food, why do you think they chose to settle in these areas of the world?3. Can you name these ancient civilizations?
After migrating north from Africa, early people settled along the Indus River to start their communities. Just like other civilizations, they started to farm and build their own communities by setting up a unique written
language, trade system, and government.
The Geography of India
• India is a subcontinent– Large landmass– Smaller than a
continent– Part of the continent
of Asia
Mountains, Plains, Valleys, and Rivers Oh my!
To what region in India would you migrate?
Major Geographic Landforms
• Himalayas- northern border
• Ganges and Indus Rivers most important rivers
• Deccan Plateau makes up southern part
Himalayas
Deccan Plateau
Mountains
• Himalayas– Tallest mountain range in the world– Contains Mt. Everest
• Tallest mountain peak in the world• 29,000 feet tall (5.5 miles)
Mountains
• Hindu Kush– Border India to the northwest
Plains and Valleys
• Fertile plains at the foot of the mountains– Ganges Plain, Indus
River Valley– Owe rich soil to 3
great rivers• Indus River• Ganges River• Brahmaputra River
– Rivers provide farming, transportation, trade
3 Major Rivers
1) Indus River = major river in Asia
• Flows through Pakistan
• Fed from glaciers in Himalayas
2) Ganges River• Located in plains of northern India • Holy River of Hinduism• For most of its course it is a wide and sluggish stream, flowing through one
of the most fertile and densely populated regions in the world. Despite its importance, its length of 1,560 miles (2,510 km) is relatively short compared with the other great rivers of Asia or of the world.
3) Brahmaputra River
• major river of Central and South Asia.• It flows some 1,800 miles (2,900 km) from its source in the
HIMALAYAS to its confluence with the GANGES (GANGA) RIVER,• For most of its length, the river serves as an important inland
waterway; it is not, however, parts of it you can not travel on• In its lower course the river is both a creator and a destroyer—
depositing huge quantities of fertile soil but also causing disastrous and frequent floods.
Other Landforms• Along west coast,
fertile lands• Inland are two chains
of mountains (Western and
Eastern Ghats) • Between mountains
Deccan Plateau
Climate• Monsoons-seasonal winds
– Winter-monsoons blow cold, dry air from Himalaya east to west
– Summer-warmer land temperatures cause the winds to change direction. Winds blow west to east-bring warm, wet air and pouring rains
The Indus Valley Civilizations
• About 5,000 years ago, nomads settled in Indus River Valley
Think -- 3 reason: Why do you think they settled here?
• Modern day Pakistan
• Spread over western
India and Pakistan
Work on and study all your student notes on Ch. 6 India (2 pages)
Quiz tomorrow over India Vocab and Map
The Indus Valley Civilizations
• About 5,000 years ago, nomads settled in Indus River
• Modern day Pakistan
• Spread over western India and Pakistan
Indus Valley Civilization
• Indus River Valley– 2600 B.C. – 1900 B.C.– Most were farmers
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
• Large cities– Houses made of mud bricks– Indoor plumbing– Left no written records
Aryan Migrations and Settlements
• c.1900 B.C Indus Valley people left
- drought
- earthquakes and floods
• Aryans came from Asia
- Ruled by rajas (prince)
Writing
• Aryans developed a written language, Sanskrit
• Vedas
- sacred texts
- songs, stories, and prayers
Caste System
Caste System
• Aryans developed social classes or groups
• Could never change groups
• Rules for life (marriage, work, and friendship)
• 4 classes called the varnas
Caste System
• The Brahmins were at the top
- priests
- most power
• Next were the Kshatriyas or the warriors– Ran the government and army
Caste System
• Vaisyas
- common people
- farmers, craftspeople, and merchants
• Sudras– manual workers and servants– few rights– largest group
Caste System
• Untouchables
- too low to even be part of the system
- live apart
- did the dirty work
