Ancient India VocabularyAncient India Vocabulary

MigrateMigrate

• Definition: movement from one area to another, usually due to famine, war, government, economic changes…

• Connect: Aryans migrated to the Indus Valley

SubcontinentSubcontinent

• Definition: a large land mass geographically separated from the rest of the continent.

• Connect: India is a subcontinent, separated from Asia by Himalaya Mountains.

monsoon

Definition – seasonal winds that bring heavy rains

Connect – Indus Valley farmers depended on the rains to help irrigate their land

Caste SystemCaste System• Definition: social class

system of India (Hinduism, in particular)

• Connect: jobs were based on which caste a person was born into; Brahmans were at the top; Untouchables (outcasts) not acknowledged

ReincarnationReincarnation

• Definition: cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

• Connect: Belief of Hindus and Buddhists

DharmaDharma

• Definition: duties and rules for life/social status in Hindu religion

• Connect: Hindus believe if you follow your dharma, you can be reborn in a higher caste.

KarmaKarma

• Definition: force caused by good and bad acts – your future is affected by them!

• Connect: Hindus and Buddhists believe in this idea.

MonkMonk

• Definition: A man dedicated to service and religion.

• Connect: Monks followed Buddha and still teach about Buddhism.

ConvertConvert

• Definition: to change, usually to change religions.

• Connect: Asoka converted to Buddhism due to violence.

goods

Definition – things that are produced for people to buy

Connect – Indus Valley people made goods from ivory, copper, and grain

Impact on supply and demand

Definition – things like technology, climate, weather, natural disasters, war that affect amount available and amount wanted

Connect – Floods, drought, war, and irrigation impacted the amount of food supply in the Indus Valley

CivilizationCivilization

• Definition: people with government, religion, economics, artisans, technology, and social classes.

• Connect: Indus Valley was a civilization.

Write three ways the physical geography of ancient India shaped the development of its civilization.

Geographical Feature Impact

Indus River When it flooded, it left behind “good dirt” for better farming

Indus River People could settle close to drinking water and irrigation water

Himalaya Mountains/Hindu Kush Kept invaders out or made it harder for invaders

Himalaya Mountains/Hindu Kush Isolated Indus Valley from trading opportunities

Indian Ocean Kept invaders out or made it harder for invaders

Monsoons Brought rain to crops and to flood the Indus River

Indus River When it flooded, it could wipe out crops and homes

List some accomplishments of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

• Large city (Over 35,000 people!)

• Even and paved streets (grid pattern)

• Strong central government

• Citadel (walled fortress) in each city

• Baths

• Writing

• Toilet system

• Tools of copper and bronze

• Same size of bricks on buildings

• Standard system of weights and measurement

• Garbage chutes

• Large storage bins for grain

List some facts about Hinduism.• Polytheism (many gods/goddesses)• Caste system important• Many paths to follow• Vedas – holy book• Dharma – duties• Karma• Reincarnation • Sanskrit – old language – used for religion• Began as a mixture of Aryan ideas/beliefs and the

Indus Valley people who were already in India

List some facts about Buddhism.• Started in India by a prince (Siddhartha Gautama)• All equal, nonviolence• Not as popular in India because of belief of all

being equal (the top caste people wanted to keep caste system)

• Spread to many other parts of the world• Four Noble Truths• Eightfold Path• Middle Way• Search to end suffering• Reach Nirvana (Ultimate Peace)

Buddhism: Eightfold Path

Accomplishments of theMaurya Empire

• Strong Army

• Well-Run Government

• Efficient Postal System

• Spread of Buddhism (Ashoka)

• Hospitals for People and Animals

• Great Roads that stretched all the way to the Mediterranean Sea (TRADE!)

• Many stupas (Buddhist shrines) for worship

Accomplishments of theGupta Empire

• Famous literature (epics)

• Temples for worship & stone pillars with Buddhist messages

• Math Concepts: Algebra, Infinity, Symbol for Nothing (the number ZERO – “0”)

• Arab Numerals 1 through 9 (we use today!)

• Science Concepts: Earth is round; Earth revolves around the sun

• Advanced metalworking

• Had advanced doctors: dental surgery and tools, medical instruments for doctors, plastic surgery, herbal medicines

What geographical feature did the people of India first settle by like the other

ancient civilizations?

• Water (A RIVER)

Label the chart with the correct religion from the Fertile Crescent.

Islam Judaism Christianity

Belief in one God Belief in one God Belief in one God

Muhammad founder Abraham founder Jesus is important

Koran holy book Torah holy book Bible holy book

Egypt Review:

The Egyptian __PHARAOHS___ united Egypt into a __CENTRALIZED___

government. The people worked together to build __PYRAMIDS___

and __CANALS__.

List the three branches of government in the United States.• Legislative

• Judicial

• Executive

Maps

• Label:– Fertile Crescent– Ancient Egypt– Indus Valley