Ancient India and China Section 1

Reading Focus 1.How did India’s geography affect the development of civilization there? 2.What were the defining features of the Indus Valley Civilization? 3.What do we know about life in India’s Vedic period? Main Idea Early civilization arose in the Indus River Valley, flourished, and then mysteriously died out. Later India’s Vedic civilization developed a culture based on old and new beliefs. Early India Part 1 Notes

India’s Geography Indus River flows across northwest edge of Indian subcontinent—large landmass, part of a continent Indian subcontinent includes three major geographic zones  Far north: Himalaya, Hindu Kush mountain systems, separating India from rest of Asia  South: Deccan Plateau, high plateau receiving less rain than other parts of subcontinent  Between mountains, plateau are Northern Plains, where society first developed in India

Flood deposits from Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra rivers enrich soil of Northern Plains, make it very fertile Heavy rains also add to fertility of plains Much of rain brought to India by seasonal winds, monsoons Fertile Region Floods and Annual Rainfall

Summer, monsoon winds from southwest bring warm air, heavy rains from Indian Ocean; most of annual rainfall at this time. Winter, northeast monsoons blow cool, dry air from Central Asia, drier months. Monsoon Winds Floods and Annual Rainfall

The people of India’s first civilizations depended upon the monsoons to bring the water that their crops needed. Monsoon rains flooded rivers; rivers deposited fertile silt in which farmers could grow crops With abundance of rainfall came threat of devastation Monsoon Rains Monsoon rains too heavy— crops, homes, lives could be lost Monsoon rains too late, did not last long enough—people could not grow crops; famine became danger Devastating Effects Water Critical Factor

People have lived in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years. At first people lived as hunter-gatherers, but slowly people began to settle down in farming communities. Farm communities gave rise to India’s first civilization. Developed in valley of Indus River. First Civilization Indus Valley Civilization Economy Most probably farmed, herded livestock In cities, many specialized in crafts like pottery, metalwork, jewelry Indus traded goods with people nearby, distant civilizations Traders from Indus Valley brought goods to locations as distant as Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Mesopotamia

Decline No one knows what led to decline, or if single cause Environmental damage suspected; flooding, disappearance of Sarasvati river Invasion, disease may also have helped end civilization Similarities of people in the Indus Valley: People shared common tool designs, standard set of weights, measures Suggest single authority in control Civilization thrived from about 2500 BC to 2000 BC, then began to decline Society

Sometime after 2000 BC, a new people took control of India. Historians often refer to this group as the Aryans, from a Sanskrit word meaning “noble.” Historians not sure when Aryans arrived, where they came from Some assume they moved from area between Caspian, Black seas Others argue Aryans developed in northern India, did not move into area Origin of Aryans The Vedic Period Most information about these Aryans come from sacred writings called the Vedas. Include many details about Aryan history, society Archaeological Evidence

Vedic society divided into four social classes, varnas Each played particular role in society Social Structure Brahmins came from mouth, source of speech, wisdom; were priests Kshatriyas: warriors, rulers Vaisyas: common people, farmers Sudras: servants Varnas Vedic Society

Social hierarchy developed, some castes had more privileges than others Not everyone belonged to a caste. -Untouchables:  Performed tasks no one else wanted to do. Social Hierarchy Over centuries, four varnas of Vedic period divided into hundreds of smaller castes Membership in caste determined what jobs one could hold, whom one could marry Castes Jobs and Privileges

Prayer People prayed to many aspects of single eternal spirit One aspect was Indra, who ruled over heaven Complex Priests said order in universe maintained only through rituals Brahmin varna gained more influence in society Vedic Religion

Review questions: 1.How did India’s geography affect the development of civilization there? 2.What were the defining features of the Indus Valley Civilization? 3.What do we know about life in India’s Vedic period? Main Idea Early civilization arose in the Indus River Valley, flourished, and then mysteriously died out. Later India’s Vedic civilization developed a culture based on old and new beliefs.